It's not often I get to wake up to nothing happening, like today that record holds strong. With that stated being woken up to a lavender unicorn levitating me and shaking me quite violently, was something I didn't quite expect today.

"Oh good you're finally awake." Twilight said with a smile, noticing I was awake and dizzy.

"Twilight?" I asked.

"Yes?"

"Why is the room spinning?" I inquired as I felt I just got off one of the carnival rides that spin you super-fast.

"Oh sorry. I may have over did it there." Twilight said after she put me down. I shook my head till everything wasn't spinning anymore.

"Now that I'm not riding the Twi go round any more. Why was I woken up?" I asked then turned my head and yawned.

"Well I have something to show you and it couldn't wait. Now follow me." Twilight said as she left the room. I let out another yawn and folded my blanket. Then proceeded to follow Twilight.

"You know, there are easier ways to wake a pony right?"

"And I tried a lot of them. Short from splashing water on you and smacking you awake."

"Honestly I wouldn't mind the smacking awake part. Wait... How hard of a smack are we talking?"

"Well you seem to be a heavy sleeper so maybe something moderately hard." Twilight said. A small shiver ran down my spine at that. I was afraid to ask what she defines moderately hard.

"Something wrong?" Twilight asked.

"It's nothing. Just a thought is all." I said as we made our way down the castle halls. About a good hour of walking with nothing but complete silence between us. We arrived at a set of wooden double doors.

"Here we are." Twilight said smiling.

"And where is here?"

"Oh you'll see." She said in a singing voice. Why did I not like when she did that. Of course I had to be right. Shortly after Twilight said that the door flew open. Me being the bad luck prone idiot I was, jumped back and ducked. "You are really jumpy today." Twilight said.

"Well sorry. Last time a door flew open like that. It was Rainbow Dash and it collided with my face." I said.

"You don't have to worry." She said as she lifted me up with her magic. You know after the whole party with Rarity doing that, She would have taken her own advice to heart. I shouldn't really be surprised about this should I?

"Ah so there's the pony of the hour."Celestia said from inside the room. She was standing by a little model of a town. I couldn't quite tell from how far away it was. But she wasn't alone. Everyone was there standing around the model. Wait... Where did Pinkie go?

"Did we surprise you with the door? I bet'cha we did." She said just materializing next to me.

"Ah! Pinkie stop doing that. You're going to give some pony a heart attack." I said holding a hoof to my chest. I was set back down and the three of us trotted up to the model. It looked like Ponyville. If it was shrunk down to a child's play set. Now granted I never really got a chance to see all of it since everything has happened. It did look like a peaceful little town that just so happened to be by a dangerous forest.

"So what do you think of it?" Pinkie said bouncing next to me after we got up to the model.

"Think of what?" I asked with a raised eyebrow

"Of this?" Pinkie replied holding up one of the houses. I blinked for a few moments.

"What the model of the house? It looks nice." I said still confused.

"Uh. Pinkie I think we should tell him what its a model of first." Applejack said.

"Can some pony please tell me whats going on?" I said wanting to get to the point.

"Well... Me and the girls here have been thinking that since you've gotten here you haven't had a place of your own. So we all worked together and got you a place in Ponyville. Just right down the street from the library." Twilight said as she pointed with her hoof at the spot Pinkie got the model from. I blanked for a few moments. A place of my own... My eyes shot wide.

"Whoa, hold up, you all didn't need to do this for me." I said backing up a bit.

"It's the least we could do sugarcube. After everything that's happened. We figured it's the least you deserve." Applejack said. I sat down on my haunches looking at them.

"I would agree with them." Luna said walking up next to me. "You don't have to worry about a thing. We have taken care of all of it."

"I don't deserve this." I said as I lowered my head. "I've been nothing but a headache and a half since I've gotten here." I said. This was too much. I crash landed in Applejack;s farm, got Twilight hurt twice, who was trying to help me. Lets not forget that one of them already paid for my hospital bills the first and second visits I did. Then all of them having to save me from a coma. I didn't deserve this at all. It took me a few moments to realize that Celestia put a wing on my back.

"All your friends here pitched in for this gift and you deserve this after everything." Celestia said and Luna walked up to me and whispered into my ear.

"It's the least we could do after I put you in danger like that." She said. I bit my lip and nodded. I had a feeling I wasn't going to get out of this 'gift'. The girls smiled at me quietly.

"Oh we must show you how fabulous it is." Rarity said with a smile.

"We should get going or we are going to miss the train." Twilight said

"Train?" I inquired.

"Back to Ponyville."

"Wait what about my stuff here?"

"Oh I've already dealt with that." Twilight said as Dash walked up next to me with my saddlebags on her filled with stuff. Wait... I didn't have that much stuff. Just the bags and the blanket.

"Don't worry I got everything." Dash said to Twilight.

"Alright then let's go." Twilight said as her horn lit up. Everyone but Celestia and Luna got closer to Twilight. Within a moment the castle was gone and we found ourselves on a train station. Let me rephrase that. They found themselves on the train station. I found myself above it. I hit the ground with a large thud.

"Ow." I said as I was laid flat against the ground.

"Oh sorry." Twilight said as she lifted me up with her magic.

"It's alright Twilight. I'm sure you didn't mean for that to happen." I said after I got sat back on my hoofs and was dusting myself off.

"How much time till the train arrives?" Dash said looking down the track.

"Anytime now." Twilight said as she looked up at the clock on the wall and as if it was on cue the train arrived just then. "See I told you." Twilight said with a smirk. We all got onto the train with Twilight hoofing the ticket guy our tickets. We found a car that was empty and sat down on the benches. I more laid on the bench with a yawn. I drifted off to sleep as the train departed the station. the rhythmic vibrations helping lull me to sleep.

***---***

"F.M. could you please wake up? If you don't mind."Said a timid voice next to me, that poked me.

"No Flutters you have to do it like this." Said a very Rainbow Dash sounding voice above me till I suddenly was jolted awake from, "Wake up!" being yelled into my ear from the cyan pegasus.

"Ow!" I said as I grabbed my ear. "What was that for?" I said after I grabbed my ear that was still ringing, as I shot a glare at Dash.

"Well we had to get you up." Dash said with her forelegs crossed.

"You didn't have to make my ears bleed there governor" I said with an annoy tone to my voice.

"Oh dear. Your ears are bleeding? We need to get you checked out now." Fluttershy said.

"No I'm fine Fluttershy. It was a joke." I said calming down her down. I hopped down from the bench and followed Fluttershy and Rainbow to meet everyone already standing on the platform.

"It's about time you wake up." Twilight said.

"Well I didn't get a lot of sleep because a certain unicorn decided to shake me awake." I said with small smile. She frowned a bit.

"Sorry. But." Twilight said but I cut off with.

"Twilight it's a joke." I stated.

"Oh. right." Twilight said with an embarrassed blush. I rubbed the back of my head with my hoof. Damn it, I felt like a heel now.

"Why don't we show F.M. his new house." Rarity said with a smile. Everyone else nodded,I on the other hand didn't. I simply followed. After a joint walk down the road and a stop at Twilight's library we found the place. It looked quite simple, white walls, a little garden up front with flowers, I couldn't quite name the flowers off the top of my head but they were nice. I had one large window up front and two smaller ones on the second floor. It was then I got nailed in the back of the head with the keys from Rainbow Dash throwing them at me. I cut off any one saying something with what I could guess a spark of my hair as orange flashed on the wall for a moment before it disappeared. I levitated the keys up and unlocked the door quietly. Then jumped in surprise to find Pinkie already inside.

"Surprise." Okay granted I didn't know how to fly but right then I flew up and was gripping onto the pole above the door.

"Okay I'm going to have to ask you how you do that sometime." Applejack said as Twilight floated me down.

"Hey Twilight didn't you try figuring that out before?" Dash asked and Twilight winced. Was I missing something here?

"Yeah..." Twilight said I chanced a step into the house... I guess it was my house now wasn't it? I stepped in quietly to find the house fully furnished. Each room I walked into had its own stuff. Hell the fridge had food in it, including flowers. I went upstairs and found a very large bed in the bedroom. It was like the one I laid on in Canterlot castle. I even tried the closet to find a package wrapped up in a bow. I floated it over to me. The orange box was wrapped up in a blue bow.

"Thats for you." Rarity said causing me to jump. "Oh relax darling. It's only me." Rarity said as she took the package over in her magic. She carefully undid the ribbon placing it to the side of the box. She lifted out a blue shirt. I raised an eyebrow looking at it. I sat down on my haunches and picked to myself. Rarity nodded and helped me into it. It felt like silk as he brushed against my coat. The sleeves stopped right above the knees of my forelegs. The small collar folded back like a polo shirt from home. There was even a small pocket at the front of it with an Orange handkerchief. Would it be called a Hoofkircheff? But it felt nice to have some clothes finally. It feel weird walking around with nothing on but the saddlebags. Don't get me wrong the bags kept from walking around feeling naked. I turned my face away from Rarity as the heat filled my cheeks from my thought. I really needed to stop thinking about it.

"Thank you Rarity" I said to her.

"Oh it was nothing. Especially having a fine stallion like yourself in one of my outfits." She said as the blush on my face got hotter from that. "It would be great for business" She said but I didn't quite catch that.

"And what are you two doing in here?" Applejack said with a smirk and there goes my cheeks again. I swear I must of had been a tomato at this point. At least I wasn't alone Rarity shared my blush.

"Applejack that's not funny." Rarity surprisingly keeping her demeanor as she said that.

"Oh come one Rare, I was just playing. So how are you liking the house here F.M." Applejack said turning towards me.

"It's wonderful. But you all didn't need to do this for me." I said as the blush left my cheeks.

"No F.M., we did. You helped us all." Applejack said as she looked at me.

"And I caused a good chunk of those problems" I said lowering my head.

"F.M!" Applejack said with a stomp. I jumped back snapping my head towards her. "You didn't cause anything."

"What's with the yelling up here?" Dash said flying up next to Applejack.

"Just F.M. blaming himself for all that's happened." Applejack said turning towards Rainbow Dash.

"Really F.M? With everything that has happened. You should know your not at fault." Twilight said coming up next to Applejack. I sat down on the floor next to Rarity.

"It doesn't change how I feel about all this." I said not looking at any of them.

"What do you mean?" Twilight said placing a hoof on my shoulder. I let out a sigh and started to explain.

"To put it simply. Since I've gotten here I've caused a lot of trouble. Let's start with my arrival, I crashed into Applejack's farm and destroyed a good chunk of her trees. Then how about when you tried to help me with my memory problem. Thank you, but when you tried to help me, what did I do? I sent you into a wall knocking you out." I started to explain as Twilight winced when I brought up her hitting the wall like that. "Then skip ahead to the Timberwolf and you got hurt trying to help me. Now lets skip to the whole nightmare moon thing. I was having those nightmares and drew Nightmare Moon to me. Indirectly or not in my causing her to act. Then after all that I ended up having to be dragged to the hospital by all of you. In my coma all of you had to go through my mind just to help me and you all got hurt. Then I scared the hell out of you Twilight after my disappearances."

"But it wasn't your fault. That other pony did it." Twilight chimed in.

"That's true but like I said indirectly or not I still scared you. Then there's still my storm you're all worried about." I said looking at each of them. All of them but Pinkie looked ashamed like it was true. "Which is why I feel like I don't deserve this. I caused too many problems for everypony here." I said before I walked passed all of them and headed downstairs. I started to hear murmurs from the room behind me. Honestly I didn't want to hear it. I entered the living room and sat down on the couch letting out a sigh. I sat there for a bit till I saw all of them come down. They all sat around me with me being silent. I had nothing more to say at the time. Hell, I didn't even want to look at them with me being the idiot like I was. They were being so nice to me, getting me this house, and the stuff in it. But what do I do? Throw it in there face like that. Damn it, Why am I such an idiot?

"F.M." Twilight said with my eyes being shifted to her. "I know you blame yourself for all of this. But you're not at fault, none of us think that. Which is why we got you this house." She said giving me a gentle smile.

"We know you feel like you're the one to blame and everything. But your not. If there is something to blame then it's bad timing is all." Applejack chimed in.

"Your a nice pony and wouldn't do anything to hurt anypony." Fluttershy said timidly.

"And super duper fun to be around" Pinkie said bouncing in the chair.

"Your also quite the gentlecolt to everyone you meet." Rarity said. "I still think you should go through the coronation."

"Rarity!" Everyone but Pinkie and I said.

"Kidding." Rarity said as she shrank back a bit.

"Let's not forget that you're willing to stand up for any of us when we are in danger. Like a true friend." Rainbow Dash said giving me a rather hard pat on the back.

"And before you say you don't deserve this. You do. With all that bad luck you have going for you. We figured you need some good to balance it out." Applejack said. "Now why don't we throw you a house warming party?"

"Way ahead of you!" Pinkie said bouncing off the chair landing perfectly on her hooves. She then proceeded to kick the wall as all the party stuff just fell right into place. Including other ponies... Okay, now I have to ask how she did... Wait. That's right. Don't question the paradox perplexing pink party pony. You never know what else could happen. Surprising enough to find almost all of Ponyville could fit in my house. Let alone hide in it. Everyone smiled and got up to enjoy the party, I didn't. This was too much for me. It wasn't the party that was the problem. It was me being at the party, so before anyone noticed I slipped out the door and sat quietly on the front bench away from one of the windows. I knew it was fruitless to do so but... I just felt off in there. The nice breeze went through town as the music started to play inside. It was a rock beat that I heard before but I could place a hoof where. But it didn't matter. Shortly after I sat outside to enjoy the fresh air, Applejack found me.

"Hey why aren't you inside with everypony? It's a party for ya'll." she said in her normal draw.

"Oh hey Applejack. I just needed the fresh air." I said, sort of lying.

"What's wrong sugarcube?" She said as she sat next to me and handed me a mug. I took it gently in my magic and had a sip.

"It's just too much for me." I said not really looking at Applejack just off into space.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it. We went from me not feeling like a deserve this place. Which I still feel like that, to having a party out of no where. It's like feeling whiplash." I said then took a big swig of the delicious nectar Applejack brought me.

"Look, I know I have no right to say this but..." she paused like she was trying to choose her next words wisely. "What ever happened in the past has happened and there's no changing it. Regardless of what we saw or who did what. You deserve to be happy and have a good time." Applejack said. My eye's didn't meet hers.

"Applejack."

"Yes F.M?"

"Thanks." I said then took another swig from my mug. As we sat there for a bit longer the both of us noticed a chariot flying towards us being pulled by two pegasi stallions. It was pulling another stallion in it. I guess we were not the only one to notice because Rarity and Twilight both came out of the house to see what was going on. The chariot stopped and a white unicorn stallion with a blond mane and tail stepped out of it. He had on the front part of a tux that I could tell and on his flank was a compass star, done in blue and yellow. He walked up to me and stared at me with his sky blue eyes. I sat the mug down and got to my hooves to meet him. It was then I noticed the angry look on Rarity's face.

"Blueblood what are you doing here?" She asked angrily.

"Oh hello there... Oh what was it again hairity?" He said in a posh uptight attitude.

"It's Rarity" She said now looking even angrier.

"Hello Mr. Blueblood." I said stepping in front of Rarity.

"That's Prince Blueblood." He corrected in that same tone.

"Hello 'Prince' Blueblood. What brings you here? If you don't mind my asking."

"Oh I'm here to meet another soon to be royal. A Mr. F.M. I believe." He said looking around.

"That would be me and please just F.M." I stated.

"Ah so you're the new alicorn I've been hearing so much about." He said looking me up and down. Like he was sizing me up.

"Yes I would be." I said with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. F.M. I Prince Blueblood shall take you away from these peasants and show you how real high class ponies live." He said giving me a oh so fake smile. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Rarity was about to say something but I put up a hoof to shop her.

"So let me guess this straight." I started to say with my eyes open staring at him taking a step closer. "You want me to leave my house in the middle of a party that my friends, who you just insulted in front of me. To go back to Canterlot where I just came from not..." I said then paused to turn to Twilight. "How long ago was it?"

"Three Hours ago." Twilight said.

"Thank you." I said then turned back to Blueblood to was not looking worried as I saw that familiar orange glow appear around me. "Three hours ago. Just so some pompous little uptight, laughable, stallion can show me how to have a good time. When in fact I was already having a good time before your walking snob factory of a flank walked up to my house. No Mr. Blueblood."

"That's prince." He got out.

"I don't care Mr. Blueblood. You will leave my yard and go back to Canterlot. But before you go." I stated then grabbed him by the collar as fear started to set in to his pin pricked eyes. "If you insult any of my friends again. Regardless of if I'm in ear shot or not. Just by hearing about it. I will make sure I find you and deal with you myself. Before you think you can use the law on me. I don't care. Hell you can send Celestia and Luna themselves to deal with me if you want. Nothing, and I repeat nothing will stop me. Do I make myself crystal bucking clear?"

"Perfectly." He said in a squeak.

"Good." I stated as my horn lit up and I picked him up. Then deposited him with a painful thud on his pompous rump back on the chariot. "Now Go!" I said so angrily it almost sounded like a roar from a dragon.

"L-l-let's go." He stuttered out before they left. I took a few deep breaths.

"That was awesome!" Rainbow Dash said behind me. I turned as the orange glow faded away to see four ponies shocked and one grinning.

"Did you really mean all that?" Rarity said.

"Yes. Yes I did. No one hurts or insults my friends like that." I said with a stern look on my face as I levitated my drink over to me and finished it.

"I see you getting a hang with that cool fire hair trick of yours." Dash said landing next to me.

"No Dash. It only happens when I'm quite angry." I said followed by a sigh.

"Yes. Angry as a cowardly monster." said a very familiar voice. The pupils of my eyes turned into pinpricks. Oh please tell me its not who I think it is. I slowly panned my head to see her. Those soulless black eyes staring at me and that grin. That rotten tooth unnatural grin, it was her.

"How dare you!" Applejack said as he started to shoot daggers at her. My heart started to beat faster and faster as I watched her step closer. But I followed her steps, one step closer to me and I took one step back. It was then I noticed the horn on her head glowing a pitch black as the ground around her blacken.

"How dare I do what?" Aria said as gems shot out of the ground and stay in the air around her covered in that black aura.

"She's right. You're a monster." That voice in my head said.

"He's not monster. He's brave and willing to fight for his friends." Dash said.

"Oh you mean like how I had to save his worthless hide from that car?" Aria said as her horn glowed darker.

"You are worthless as she said. You don't deserve to be their friends. You are not worth any of this. You're pathetic and weak." That voice said and it was right. The tears started to flow from my eyes as everything blurred out and then dark.

***---***

Twilight looked at the scene going on then noticed F.M. with his head lowered and the tears. This was going to far, her friend was breaking down again as he looked at this Aria from his past.

"What is your involvement with F.M." Twilight said stepping between her friends and Aria. Aria smiled as she fired those gems at them. Bringing up a shield, the gems just bounced off like pebbles on a wall. That was when she started to hear the chuckling from behind her. She turned to notice her friends looking at F.M. His horn started to glow black. A blackness that radiated a deathly chill that brings a feeling of ill will. The glow started to cover his entire body. His normally orange coat and brown mane started to change into a dark grey coat closer to a tombstones color. His mane and tail turned to jet black. The normal red scales on the top of his wings turned to a vibrate violet. His eyes opened, his normally ocean blue eyes were a devilish red and the normal whites of his eyes were a crimson red. The outfit that Rarity had made for him turned from its rich blue to deep crimson. He started to grin to show his normal pony like teeth were steel grey and razor sharp. His chuckle started to turn into a laugh. An unnerving laugh as he walked past each of her friends and her. He brushed against Twilight as she felt a cold chill run down her spine. His horn lit up as he just pass right through Twilight's shield. Her eyes shot wide.

"Ah I see you finally decide to face your problem head on for once." Aria said looking at F.M.

"I'm not the one facing his problems." F.M. said with a weird unearthly echo to his voice. It sounded familiar to Twilight and her friends.

"His problems?" Aria said with a turn of her head.

"Oh yes. But he's out of the way now." He said with a laugh. Aria shot a glare at him with those unnatural black eyes as she shot more gems up from the ground that flew at F.M. He smirked and his horn glowed taking over the gems from Aria's magic. Then the gems flew at each other and fused together into a large spear. It then shot at Aria spearing her in the chest. Every ponies eyes shot wide beside F.M.'s as he only grinned as the spear started to burst into flames engulfing Aria. She let out a ear piercing scream as her horn lit up and disappeared in a flash of light. F.M. stood there and laughed. "Oh I hope she remembers that." He said as he continued to walk away.

"F.M?" Twilight said after she dropped her shield and took a step closer.

"I'm not that loser." He said as he continued walking away.

"Then what's your name then?" Applejack said.

"Oh that's easy Applejack. I'm Shadowstorm." He said with a smirk

"Wait... Do you mean?" Twilight said.

"Nice to meet you again Twilight and friends." he said with a laugh.

"How could this be?" Twilight thought.

"I have to bid you all adieu." Shadow said as he spread his wings out.

"Oh no you don't. I want answers and you're the only one that knows them." Twilight said as she reached out with her magic to grab him. But as soon as she did, a chilled feeling swept across her body and down to her very core. This feeling was filled with an anger and darkness that she never felt before. It scared her like if she was a little filly afraid of the dark again. "Dash stop him." Twilight got out as she pulled her magic away. Shadowstorm smiled and flew up into the air with Rainbow Dash hot on his trail. His horn glowed as sparks of sinister black electricity radiated from it. Before anypony could react the pitch black lightning bolt struck Rainbow Dash turning her wings equally as black as she let out and ear piercing scream of pain. She plummeted towards the ground Twilight reached out to grab her now unconscious friend and sat her on the ground. Shadowstorm smiled then inhaled a lot of air. Within moments he breathed fire as it started to engulf and disappeared as soon as the flame put out from the simple gust of wind that soon followed. The only thing left to be heard was.

"Goodbye Elements of Harmony. Hope to see you soon." The group of them rushed Rainbow Dash to the Ponyville intensive care. The nurses took her into the back to do a full check up. Within moments the visiting room was lit up as Princess Celestia and Luna both appeared.

"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, What are you two doing here?" Twilight said walking up to the both of them.

"F.M. sent us a letter saying that we should meet here. Is everything alright?" Celestia said with a worried look on her face. Luna's face mirrored her sisters. Twilight started to explain what happened just mere moments ago. Celestia looked unnerved by all this. The confusion and unease easily told on her face.

"This does not bode well. So this Aria appeared and started to attack for no reason at all?" She asked. Twilight nodded. "Is this the same Aria you encountered sister?" Celestia said turning to Luna.

"It sounds like the same pony me and F.M. faced back in the dream world. But I don't know how she left that world." Luna said rubbing a hoof on her chin.

"Could she have done it the same why I did, With magic?" Twilight inquired.

"That's impossible Twilight Sparkle. She's not a unicorn." Luna replied.

"Wait... Yeah she was. We saw the horn and everything. Right?" Twilight said turning to Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy. The nodded in agreement.

"She was a unicorn clear as day Princesses" Applejack said.

"It wasn't hard to miss the horn she had. Especially with that ghastly dark glow around it." Rarity said as she let out a shiver. Fluttershy kept quiet as she started to stare at the doors to intensive care where Rainbow Dash was taken.

"Princesses do you know what kind of magic he used. I felt all kinds of wrong when I tried to stop him." Twilight said as she had a shiver herself remembering that feeling she had.

"Felt wrong how?" Celestia asked with a stern look on her face.

"It felt cold. But not like winter weather cold but a dreadful cold that could consume somepony. It also felt angry. Oh so angry, it scared me Princess." Twilight said as that fear crept back into her.

The sisters looked at each other with deep dread in their eyes

"Do you know what's going on?" Rarity said stepping up.

"Not exactly but we have a good feeling what it is. This is old magic Twilight. Well before the magic of unicorns. Before either of us were around."

"That's mighty old." Applejack chimed in.

"Yes and it's also forbidden. We were not aware that any pony knew of this magic but us till now." Luna said.

"Why is it forbidden?" Twilight asked.

"Because its a magic that taints the soul of any pony that uses it. It also can have devastating effects on any pony it was used on." Celestia said all the other ponies looked at each other worry.

"What?" Celestia questioned.

"Rainbow Dash was hit with that spell. It turned her wings black." Twilight said now worried more the ever but that went straight to dread at the looks both Celestia and Luna's had when there eyes shot wide and there pupil shrank to pin pricks. They both rushed into intensive care with their horns both emitting over glow. They found the room quite easily from the screams that Rainbow Dash started to have. Her wings had expanded to three times their normal size to a point it looked like water filled balloons. The sisters both ran in and before anypony could say anything. Their magics both fired in an ethereal white beam at Rainbow Dash causing her screams to cease and her wings to return to normal just slightly darker.

"Princesses what happened?" Twilight and the two doctors asked.

"That spell..." Celestia said before she shuttered.

"How... How could he have known it. We made sure no pony could find that spell ever again." Luna said as she heavily breathed.

"There's more to this than we thought." Celestia said then turned to Twilight. "Follow me Twilight and I'll explain. As for you two make sure she is well enough to be moved then have her brought to Twilight's home." The doctors nodded to confirm. Celestia left the hospital without a word even at Twilight's requests for answers. Luna stayed behind to help the Doctors. It only took them a few moments before Celestia and Twilight entered her house.

"Please Princess?" Twilight pleaded.

"I'm sorry Twilight but I didn't want any other pony to know about this. That spell is a very deadly spell. If Luna and I didn't interfere like that then Rainbow Dash would have lost her wings forever. No magic could ever bring them back." Celestia said not even looking at the now paled Twilight. "That was only a very small spell compared to what I fear that this Shadowstorm may knows. Twilight froze in fear.

"What could be worse than body parts doing that?" Twilight thought then shuttered from the mental images that followed.

"Twilight. It comes with a heavy heart to say this but I going to have to put a stop to Shadowstorm." Celestia said with a frown.

"What's going to happen to F.M?" Twilight said as a torrent of fear course through her.

"He's... He's not going to come back... Ever."Celestia said with the look of pain on her face. A look said that she decided she is going to have to do something she is going to regret.

"What do you mean not going to come back?" Rarity said as she slowly came up next to Twilight. Celestia closed her eyes as a tear rolled down her face.

"I'm going to end his life." She said with a tone of sadness to it.

"But you can't!" Twilight said in surprise.

"I have to. If there was another way then I would. But I fear that not even the Elements of Harmony can stop him." Celestia said.

"But you won't know till we try." Twilight said.

"Twilight I can not let you do that. It's far too dangerous. Beyond what you have faced. Nether Nightmare Moon or Discord is as dangerous as these spells." Celestia said looking at the group of them.

"No offense Princess but we have to. He is our friend and isn't friendship that magic you sent me here to study and learn about?" Twilight said stepping forward.

"That is true Twilight but." Celestia said before getting cut off.

"Then it's that friendship we have that will let us save him no matter what." Twilight said having an serve determined look about her. Celestia wore a look of worry as she tried to decide. Luna on the other hoof agreed with Twilight.

"Then we will help." Luna said with a nod.

"Luna." Celestia said with surprise to her voice.

"Sister I believe Twilight Sparkle is right. Especially after what he has done already for us and Equestria. It's only fair." Luna stated as she turned to her sister. Celestia on the other hoof bit her bottom lip. She knew her sister was right but she also wants to make sure Twilight and her friends are safe as well. It was a fruitless however. She in turned nodded quietly.

"Your right Luna." She said as her gaze moved over to Twilight "I'll let you try but you need to be very careful. If my assumption is correct he know a lot more nastier spells."

"Is there any way to protect ourselves from it?" Twilight inquired.

"Am afraid there is only one thing I can teach you on short notice. A redirection spell." Celestia said.

"A redirection spell?"

"Yes, to show you how it works I want you to fire a small magic bolt at me." Celestia said letting her horn glow with a sunshine yellow color. Twilight hesitated for a moment and fired a small one. The pebble sized purple blot fired at Celestia. Almost connecting with Celestia, two blue swirling vortexes appeared, one in front of the bolt and another on just to the left of it. The magical bolt entered one and exit the other. Twilight watched it amazed. "It allows you to simply redirect a spell but it redirects it back at the caster." Celestia explained as the magical bolt sparked and popped as it connect with Twilight. It didn't take long for Twilight to acquire the spell to already large repertoire of spells that is ever growing.

"Do you have any idea where he could have gone?" Twilight asked.

"I don't" Celestia said.

"Nether do I." Luna added.

"Hmm. We need some clue to where he's at." Twilight said thinking out loud.

"Did he say anything that would give a clue to where he may have went?" Celestia offered.

"No all we could heard was good bye and he hoped to see us soon." Rarity said.

"Hmm..." Celestia pondered this as a scroll appeared within a puff of black flames. It dropped to the ground at Celestia's hooves. Where normally the Canterlot Royal seal would be from a letter Celestia would send Twilight. A very Dark seal was there. Something that neither Celestia or Luna has seen in a very long time. It was Sombra's seal. Celestia levitated the scroll up to her and started to read out loud.

"Dear Princesses and Elements bearers of Harmony. I know you may be wondering where I have gone off to just so you can try and stop me. Especially since I know the two princesses know what spell I used on your prismatic friend. Which no doubt has been reversed or cured by now. Your welcome by the way. Now I will leave you this set of clues to find me. Oh and before anypony thinks of following this message back to me though magic. Lets just say I called in a very old favor so it won't lead back to me. Ta ta for now. Shadowstorm. P.S. Boom." The group of them looked at each other worriedly.
"What did he mean by that and what clues?" Twilight thought.
But before anypony could voice their opinion and earth shattering boom came from outside. All seven of them as well as all the other ponies there ran to the windows. The sky was filled with what was Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom but the colors were all wrong. The normally bright colors where dark and ominous as a stream of the same dark rainbows was flying right at the hospital at the very window everyone was looking at.

"Everypony get back!" Celestia, Luna, and Twilight yelled. Each pony did so as the foreboding prismatic rainbow collided and broke through the window completely destroying it, taking out chairs on one side of the room as it came to a stop. Every pony walked over to the still smoldering wreckage. Right there in the middle of it was a large sphere. Luna reached out with her magic as her body gave a shiver. The metallic sphere floated over and opened on its own as soon as it got close to all the element bearers except Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. Pinkie stayed behind at the party to make sure no pony was the wiser about the events that had transpired just outside. Out of the sphere rose a scroll and a gem.

"Is that what I think it is?" Rarity said her eyes widen. She rushed over to grab it but Celestia put a wing out to block her.

"Yes it's a Fire Ruby. But I wouldn't touch it just yet." Celestia said glaring at it as Rarity deflated a bit. She wanted to get her hooves on another one. Since the only one she had was a gift from Spike. Twilight lifted the scroll up the seal on it was different from the one before this one was a flame with the symbol of infinity that crossed in the center of the flame. Twilight pondered this.

"Could this be a clue?" She thought reaching out with her magic and opening the letter carefully so the wax seal would remain intact. The large scroll of mainly empty but some writing at the very top of it.

"Well what does it say Twilight?" Applejack said.

"There are three riddles here. The first one goes... It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter." Twilight finished as she started to look puzzled.

"What in the cotton pickin’ Ponyville does that mean?" Applejack asked with anger in her voice.

"That's what we have to figure out." Rarity said. Fluttershy squeaked something behind her mane.

"What was that Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy let out a little louder squeak.

"Darling you need to speak up." Rarity said as Fluttershy shuttered.

"Darkness" Fluttershy said just loud enough to be clearly heard.

"Darkness?" Twilight said then suddenly it dawned on her. "She's right. It's darkness."

"How does that make any sense?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well think about it. You can't see darkness or feel it. You can't hear darkness or smell it." Twilight stated.

"It lies behind the stars at night and it's always under hills. And my night come before and after my sisters day." Luna added.

"I hope the last part is self explanatory." Celestia said. Applejack nodded with a gulp.

"What's the next riddle?" Rarity asked. Twilight look down at the scroll and started to read.

"A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid." Twilight read out loud.

"That one is easy. It's an egg." Celestia pointed out. "What's the last riddle?"

"What has roots as nopony sees, Is taller than trees, up, up it goes and yet never grows?" Twilight recited then stopped for a moment. "Isn't that a mountain?"

"A mountain?"Rarity inquired.

"Yeah a mountain can be taller than a tree. Larger mountains can go up and up but it never grows because its just rocks." Twilight pointed out.

"That's good an all but what does it mean?" Applejack asked.

"Darkness, an egg, and a mountain. Hmm..." Twilight stated. Her mind started to work out the clues.

"Sister could it be Darkegg Mountain?" Luna said.

"But how would he have gained entrance there?" Celestia pondered out loud until it clicked in her head. "The Infinity Torch!"

"The Infinity Torch?" The group of them question.

"Yes. The Infinity Torch. It's a very old magical artifact from days well before Luna and I. It holds such great power that it was locked away. But was unsealed over a thousand years ago and was in the hooves of someone who used it for dark deeds." Celestia said.

"What was the pony that used this Torch?" Applejack said.

"Sombra..." Celestia trailed off then pulled up the first note they received."This is not looking good at all my little ponies."

"What do you mean princess?" Twilight asked.

"Look at the seal on the first letter. Its the seal of Sombra when he was ruling over the Crystal Empire." Celestia said showing Twilight the seal. "Now look at the seal on this one. Its a flame with the symbol for infinity. If my assumption is right. He is in Darkegg Mountain looking for the Infinity Torch. I don't know why just yet but we have to stop him."

"Princess where is Darkegg Mountain?" Twilight asked.

"A few hours travel from the Crystal Empire through a special portal. I'll send a letter ahead to Shining Armor and Cadence. They should know that you'll will be arriving and how grave it is. In the meantime Luna and I will return to Canterlot and get the Elements of Harmony. Then meet you there." Celestia said. Luna nodded in agreement as well as the others.

"Not without me you're not." Rainbow Dash said entering the room.

"Rainbow!" The group of them said.

"Are you alright?" Luna said as she walked up to her.

"Yeah I'm fine now. The Doctors said that there no lasting magical effects after what you two did princess. But they did say my wings are going to be darker for the next few days." Rainbow said spreading her wings and taking to the air.

"That is good. Now that time is of the essence go get Pinkie Pie and make your way to the Crystal Empire." Celestia said as her horn lit up. Within mere moments both her and Luna were gone. The ponies nodded at each other and left.

***---***

It took them four hours to get to the crystal empire. Normally the trip there would take only an hour but the weather around the kingdom started to get worse. The icy wind picked up as well as the snow fall. The train came to a halt at the Crystal Empire train station. Twilight and her friends stepped out to find both her brother Shining Armor in his royal guard armor and Cadence.

"Twily!" Shining Armor said coming up to his sister.

"Hello B.B.B.F.F." Twilight said after giving her brother a hug.

"Cadence." Twilight said smiling.

"Sorry Twilight not this time. Follow us." Cadence said with a note of sadness in her voice. Twilight sighed with a nod as the group then followed Cadence and Shining Armor.

"So this is all F.M.s doing? I know I shouldn't have trusted him after his disappearance." Shining said with a huff.

"Shining Armor!" Twilight said surprised.

"You take that back right now. I don't care if your Twi's brother or not. This is not his doing." Applejack said as she got up in Shining's face.

"I'm with AJ on this. Take that back." Rainbow added as she was equally in his face.

"Shining that is not F.M. something is using his body. So you shouldn't fault him because I remember a certain unicorn guard who was used as well." Twilight said narrowing her eyes.

"Point made." Shining said looking ahead as they get under the Crystal Castle where both Celestia and Luna stood with the familiar box that housed the Elements of Harmony.

"Welcome my little ponies." Celestia greeted as she noticed the irritation on each of their faces, besides Cadence who wore a face of worry. "Let's get started." She said as she opened the chest as both her and her sister floated the necklaces and tiara.

"Alright lets go kick some shadowy butt and get our friend back." Rainbow said as she hovered in the air.

"Darn tootin’. We have a score to settle with that pony." Applejack said.

"Of course then we can throw a welcome back to your body party for F.M." Pinkie added as she jumped in the air.

"Where is this mountain Princess?" Twilight asked Celestia.

"It's through here Twilight." She said as her horn glowed that bright sunshine yellow. Luna's horn started to glow a midnight blue. Two beams of magic shot out of the alicorn sister's horns. Upon impact with each other a swirling vortex appeared in between the two of them.

"You and your friends will have to go without us. We will keep this portal up as long as we can." Luna said. The six of the nodded and past through the threshold in a crystallized cavern which glistened in the multitude of colors. Rarity stopped at a fairly larger crystal.

"Rare we don't have the time for you to pretty yourself all up." Applejack said.

"Oh but Applejack I need to always look my best. Even in the face of danger." Rarity said as she fiddled with her mane.

"Focus girls." Twilight said as they continued down the passageway. It wasn't until the portal behind them disappeared in the distance when reverberation of music echoed off the cavern walls. The ominous tune continued coming from what sounded like a grand piano. It unnerving tunes sent chills down the spines of each of them. Even Rainbow Dash looked uneased by this music. They slowly entered the larger cavern room to see a suspended golden torch high above that radiated a rainbow flame that gave the cavern it's color. Standing there against the back wall stood him. In an aura that showed on him gave a spectral sinister look upon him.

"It's about time. I thought I was going to wait a dogs age before you got here." Shadowstorm said as he stepped into the more vibrant light the Torch produced. His horn still glowing that murky blackness as the piano's tune continues to play terrifyingly throughout the cavern.

"What have you done with F.M. Shadow?" Twilight said as she lowered herself ready to pounce at moments notice.

"Oh. Nothing much really, just lock him away for now." he said with a vile grin on his face.

"Release him now before you regret it." Rainbow said as she prepared to strike him.

"Oh I see they did cure you before your wings went... pop." He said that grin still showing. Rainbow shuttered at the mental image that appeared in her head as he said that. "Though it makes me wonder what it would look like." His horn started to ignite in a hell storm of sparks.

"Don't you dare bucko." Applejack snailed.

"Dare what? This?" he said as the black lightning shot acrossed at Rainbow again. Twilight thinking fast cast a redirect spell on Rainbow sending the lightning back at Shadow. He continued to grin letting it strike his right foreleg. It blacked more than its already tombstone grey coat had of color. It started to inflate and bend in angles that no pony foreleg should. This turned all of Twilight and her friend’s stomachs as the leg exploded in a meaty pop all across the ground around Shadow. He didn't scream, didn't flinch as this all happened. All he did was hold his now missing leg out as it did this. All could be seen was strips of the muscles that was once inside the leg and a bone shattered into pieces with a large piece of it still attached, almost a third of the normal bone. Fluttershy turned away to avoid seeing this. Rarity on the other hand turned even whiter than the normal color spectrum would allow. Twilight's mind screamed inside her at the sight but her body and voice didn't change.

"Girls we are going to have to use them now." Twilight said as her normal dark purple eyes turned into an ethereal white as the gem on her tiara started to glow. The other necklaces started to follow suit as it lifted each pony off the ground surrounding them in a warmth. Shadow watched this grinning even more devilishly as each drip of blood dropped from his wound. It wasn't long when the prismatic magic from the Elements of Harmony shot out at Shadowstorm. He laughed as with a stomp from his remaining foreleg. A triangular prism shot up from the ground right in front of the magic causing it to enter it and exit in a beam of pure white. That beam struck Shadowstorm causing his coat, mane, eyes, scales, and shirt colors to return to normal as a revolting smoke left out. An unconscious F.M. appeared, as a new body began forming for Shadow. A form that resembled F.M.'s but without the missing foreleg. His cutie mark was dark tentacles and sickening violet bolts from the storm cloud. The girls dropped to the ground with a smile till they saw the sight before them. "How is this possible? That should have worked" Twilight said.

"Oh you mean how it worked on Nightmare Moon? Oh Twilight, Twilight, Twilight. The elements of harmony only brought back him. By expelling me from this weak sack of uselessness."Shadowstorm said giving the unconscious body of F.M. a kick to his side as a very grotesque crack could be heard followed by a red liquid that flowed from his mouth. "You can have him. I have no further use of him." Shadow said walking away.

"Oh no you don't. I want my payback for what you did to me." Rainbow said as she flew at Shadow who disappeared into smoke. This caused Rainbow Dash to crash into the wall. Twilight look snapped right at F.M. as she reached out with her magic.

"Girls we need to go now. F.M. is badly hurt and I don't know if we can save him here." Twilight said as she floated his almost lifeless body next to her before taking off at a full gallop towards the vortex. The body floating next to her the whole way. Every second that passed all that could be heard was the galloping of four sets of hooves, two sets of wings flapping, and the slow drips of blood from F.M.'s destroyed leg.

"Hold on F.M. you're going to make it. I promise you." Applejack said looking right at F.M. who was floating in front of her.

"You should Pinkie promise so you can never break it." Pinkie added.

"Darn right Pinkie. You hear that F.M. I Pinkie promise you're going to be alright." Applejack said. The eyes of F.M. opened slightly as a faint almost unheard question was asked.

"Applejack?" F.M. said faintly before he passed out again. The girls and F.M. passed the threshold and didn't stop as the three alicorns and Shining Armor looked surprised at the sudden burst from the vortex. It wasn't long before they noticed the floating F.M. next to Twilight and the trail of blood that lead the way they went.

"Twily!" Shining said as he took off at a full gallop himself fearing that Twilight was the one hurt. Cadence, Celestia, and Luna flew after them all. Celestia was the first to catch up and saw F.M.'s condition and took over floating him next to her. She took off faster than even Dash could do leaving something that was almost unseen in a long time until then, a sonic sun burst that caused every crystal pony there to glint a blinding light off there crystal like coat.

"Twilight Sparkle. How did this happen?" Luna said as she flew up next to her. It didn't take long for Twilight to go over the events in there. As the story progressed the face Luna wore became more worrisome.

"What's going to happen to F.M?" Applejack got out between her pants.

"It's not going to be good for him. I just hope my sister knows of some way we can help him. Because as it stands, I fear the worse." she said as the trail Celestia left behind started to fade pass the borders of the Crystal Empire. She was headed to Canterlot. They all stopped when they noticed this. "Sister" Luna said as the trail finally disappeared from sight.

"We need to follow. Where is she taking him?" Twilight said as tears started to flow from her eyes. This was all too much for the little unicorn. But she wasn't alone. Almost all of them had started crying except Shining Armor and Cadence. They started to hug each other, Shining Armor held his sister and Cadence helped the others. Luna watched this as a tear came from her eye as well.

"This is my fault. If I didn't take him back to the dream world then none of this would have happened." Luna thought then turned to the group of them. "I believe she is taking him to Canterlot to have the best doctors help him. Right now we need to get to Canterlot." she said as they headed to the train platform. She wasn't going to leave them alone for the trip. She knew that each of them needed each other and as many friends and family they could to help. She wasn't as close to them as she would have liked to be. But none the less she stayed. Within moments they will be in Canterlot.

***---***

The dreams were vivid. I remembering spearing Aria, shooting at Rainbow Dash twice with black lightning, then facing against all of my friends. I felt so much pain that I wanted to rip my skull out. Then it started to fade in and out. All I could make out was sounds.

"You hear that F.M. I Pinkie promise you're going to be alright." I heard from the darkness. It sounded like Applejack. I thought I said something but I can't remember.

"Nurse get him in the ER now!" A male voice said.

"Doctor he's flat lining." A scared female voice said.

"Not today!" that male voice from before. Then nothing for the longest time.Then suddenly.

"Are you sure you want this Princess?" an older male voice said.

"Yes. He deserves the best we can offer him." A regal voice said. There was nothing else I could make out. Just murmurs and sounds. Then right before another sharp pain that felt like it spring boarded me awake. I shot up causing as a lot of ponies to jump including the three alicorns... Wait. Three Alicorns!?

"F.M. your wake!" Twilight said running up to me and jumped on me in a hug. Followed by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy and Rarity just walked up and hugged me. I reached around to hug them but I could only feel my left foreleg. I turned to my right foreleg. My eye's shot wide and the pupils shrank to pin pricks at this metal thing where my right foreleg was.

"Wha...What... Ha... Happened?" I said as the tears started to roll down my cheeks. I felt my heart starting to beat so rapidly I could have swore my heart was firing a full clip of unlimited ammo from a full auto machine gun.

"You lost a leg..." Rainbow Dash said.

"No shit I lost a leg." I snapped out at Rainbow. She looked surprised at my outburst. Even Celestia and Luna looked surprised.

"Calm down sugarcube. I know this looks bad." Applejack got out before I opened my mouth again.

"Bad... Bad! My leg is gone! Applejack I want to know how. So some pony better answer the 'damn' question. How did I lose my leg?" I said before a sharp pain in my chest caused me to grab at it with both real and fake forelegs. The edges of my vision started to blacken as every pony yelled something but I couldn't make it out. All I could hear was the beeping from the heart monitor. A few moments of that beeping then a pain in my neck caused everything to lighten up and the pain subsided. I could see and hear fine again. I laid back breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry everypony I forgot to say that his sensitivity to his emotions are heightened because of the magics we used. Which could cause his heart to beat too fast for his body. It will take a few days for him to return to normal." The doctor said as he floated the syringe away from my neck.

"And I'm sorry I snapped like that." I apologized to everyone. They nodded understanding. "Doctor." I said.

"Yes?"

"Can you explain this?" I asked lifting up the new metallic add on that went up to a few inches under my shoulder.

"Ah yes. This may as well be the best time to explain your prosthetic limb. This magically infused device will act in time like your umm..." he paused trying to think of the right word. "limb." Which did not help. "The difference here is that this limb is stronger than your old one. It will last far longer than you could." he said tapping it. It gave a very metallic clunk sound. "It also has a few useful features." He said as his horn glowed a light pink color as a compartment that I couldn't even tell was there opened up.

"Whoa!" Dash and I said in unison.

"This allows you to insert music crystals to play songs so theirs normal quiet walks are livelier." He said.

"What about some of the other features?" I asked.

"That;s what they make instruction manuals for." He said as a large book floated over and dropped onto the bed. It bounced me for a moments as this book was as big and thick as my head. "I hope you enjoy reading." He said then left with a small chuckle. I sighed rubbing my face with my still normal hoof.

"Um... F.M?" Twilight said stepping closer to me since she and the other girls all jumped away from my little outburst.

"Yes Twilight?"

"Mind if I talk to you alone?" She said scratching a hoof against the floor.

"Well I'm not going anywhere." I said with a shrug. Every other pony got the hint and left.

"We'll be right outside the door if any pony needs us." Applejack said then closed the door. Twilight's horn lit up and shot magic at the door. A grown could heard a few moments later.

"F.M. are you alright?" Twilight said showing that she was honestly worried. Her question sent a spike of anger through me. I fought to suppress it.

"No Twilight. I am not fine." I said and lifted my up new hoof and closed the little trap door on it. "Could you explain what happened. The last thing I remembered was seeing Aria at my um... House." I said then on cue Twilight started to explain everything. How I started to change in color, voice, and mannerisms. I shuddered thinking about it. I didn't know the story took a turn for the worst even faster as she went over spearing Aria, almost destroying Rainbow Dash's wings, trying to kill ponies in the hospital with that dark sonic rainboom. She stopped for a moment, after some prodding she explained what Celestia wanted to do originally. I would have preferred that if it meant my friend here were safe. She then got to the crystallized cavern and explained everything that happened as she was trying to piece everything together. She didn't have all the pieces to this puzzle. She turned to me and asked what I remembered. I summed it up rather fast compared to Twilight's recall of events. But I there was one thing that I remembered after I started thinking about it. I had some of Shadow's memories and knowledge. I told of such but I also said that I didn't want to try because of the head splitting headache I was dealing with at the moment. Twilight then hopped onto the bed with me. She sat there and we stared at each other. There was one thing I did want, to feel better. So I motioned for Twilight to come closer and she did. It took a few moments to get her close enough before I used my magic to give her a little unbalancing shift of the blanket. She fell towards me and I caught her giving her a hug. She looked confused for a moment then caught on returning it. This is what I wanted now, a hug. No being dogged piled by ponies worried about me or anything. Just a hug. I was entitled to a little shiftiness for a hug. Tears started to flow down my cheeks. It wasn't long till Twilight noticed.

"Talk to me." Twilight simply said.

"It's just. All of this. Everything that has happened. From crash landing to being controlled by a second personality I didn't know I had. It feels like there's just too much rain and not enough sun. Not even a rainbow to make the rain bearable. I know in some way I deserve this. But I don't know why." I said as the tears flowed even more.

"You don't deserve any of this. No pony deserves it. If it's about that night, I don't blame you for what you did." Twilight said trying to reassure me. I know her heart was in the right place.

"No Twilight. It's not just about that night." I said after I turned my face away from her. "That is only one chapter in a very long book." I said.

"But you know I like books." Twilight said with a little smile.

"I don't think you would like this one. This is sad, tragic, dark, and brutal. Rarely there’s a bit of happiness in it." I said. Twilight hugged me tighter.

"F.M. Look. No matter what happened back home. That doesn't change the pony you are now." Twilight said as she used her magic to make me face her. I did but I couldn't look into those purple eyes.

"Twilight. Thank you." I said simply, she nodded.

"How about this? After the doctor says you get out of here. You and I will go somewhere peaceful. No adventures, no wild runs through town. Just somewhere to relax." Twilight offered as I smiled.

"Honestly Twilight. That sound good but how about this. When I can get out of here. Why don't we just go to my house.since I own one. Then you and me can play chess. We can just talk, sip some tea, and stuff. So I don't feel so... Abnormal?" I counter offered, she took a few moments to think.

"That sounds like a good plan, but I didn't take you for a chess player."

"Oh I love playing the game. It's a very great mental exercise. See who can bluff who as they plan out their next move." I said with a smile. Twilight nodded in agreement. I smirked for a moment as she looked at me with a bit of confusion on her face. I know this was wrong but I just had to. Before she could react, I kissed her again. Her eyes shot wide as I held the kiss there. Then they went half lit before she closed them just sitting there.

"Oh about time you two." Rainbow Dash said from the doorway. Both me and Twilight turned in surprised. Everyone was standing there smiling at us.

"It wasn't my fault, he kissed me." She said making it sound like I did something wrong. My ears fell flat against my head. She didn't like it. She probably only did it to make me feel better about everything. I covered myself and my shame with the blanket.

"Twilight!" Rarity scolded. "What about his feelings in all this."

"No, she's right. It's my fault." I said from under the blanket. There was a few moments of silence as nothing was said between any pony in the room. But I had a feeling they all were staring at me. So I squeaked out. "Sorry" Nothing was said after my little squeak. It wasn't until someone pulled the blanket off me before I saw the worried look on all of there faces.

"F.M."Celestia said looking right at me. She was the one that pulled the blanket from me. The aura around the blanket gave that away. I remained silent as Celestia gave off a worried sigh herself. "May I have a word with him alone?" The other ponies left again, only Celestia and I were in the room.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked not looking at her in the eyes either. Celestia walked up and sat next to the bed.

"F.M. I know you blame yourself for what you did. But it's not your fault, you were used by someone." Celestia said in a motherly tone. I didn't reply, I couldn't reply at all. "F.M?"Celestia said now in a worried tone, I had a name finally I wanted to be called, it came to me during my change. This was the best time to bring it up.

"Firestorm." I stated in a small voice. Celestia blinked.

"Could you repeat yourself?"

"Firestorm." I said as I closed my eyes.

"Firestorm?" She said now confused. This did what I wanted. I shifted the subject away from the blame is not my fault topic that every pony wanted to bring up when I started to blame myself. Part of me wanted to agree with them but part of me didn't.

"Yes. I decided that to be my name." I said still not looking at her. Celestia looked at me.

"I do apologize but may I inquire why that one? Especially after the name of the one that controlled you." Celestia asked.

"That is the very reason. Shadowstorm implies that he hides in the shadows. He wants to be that looming doom that causes everypony to be on edge. Making sure he had everypony jumping at their shadows. I want to be the opposite. I want to be that light. I want to be that fire to put things right. That light to dispel the darkness that hides in the shadow. That make sure everyone is warm and safe. I'll be the storm that will clash against the shadow and..." I stopped searching for the right words in my head. "And I want to make sure he learns not to mess with my new home and every pony, dragon, or whatever I care about. I will make him burn." I said as I saw that familiar orange glow take the room again. Celestia looked me over, I didn't really look at her. I looked forward at the full body mirror on the wall. My hair was fire once again and frankly I didn't care about that. What I cared about was getting back at Shadow for all the things he did in my body.

"That does sound reasonable. But I still have to wonder why in the Infinity Torch chambers?" Celestia said. My mane returned to normal as I took a deep breath.

"He wanted to use the crystals there so he could compress the rainbow attack the Elements of Harmony produce. To make sure it only expelled him and not weaken him. He turned it into a blunt attack then the precise one that was used on Nightmare Moon. He also knew that you wanted to protect that torch no matter what." I said now as I looked directly at her. "And I know why that torch is there." Celestia looked surprised.

"How?" She got out.

"I was connected with him. So some of his knowledge and memories were shared. Like how he knew of Twilight and her friends" I stated. "I understand why you wanted that Torch hidden and why it's so important. You don't want another Sombra to happen." Celestia closed her eyes and nodded. "I won't tell anyone about it."

"I appreciate that. But I have a feeling Twilight is going to ask you about it. So I will give you permission to explain it to her and why I want it kept secret." Celestia added.

"You may want to explain to everyone else to keep it a secret. I trust Pinkie with secrets from what I remember from my dream." I stated.

"Dream?"Celestia inquired.

"During the time I was controlled. It felt like I was dreaming at bits and pieces. There are still large blank areas that I don't know what he did." I stated as I started to stare at the metallic hoof that I now have. It looked fairly simple in design. What really got my attention to it was have markings on the end of the hoof.

"I understand and don't worry about the bill for this. I will cover it as well as for your replacement limb." Celestia said noticing my gaze.

"Thanks." I said.

"I will let you rest now. I hope you feel better soon." Celestia said as she started to get up.

"Celestia." I said as she looked at me.

"I also know who They are." I know now that I shouldn't hold anything from her and that look of shocked surprise told me so.

"What do you know about them?" She said with a shakiness to her voice.

"They are your parents." I stated. "Before you asked. Same as for the Infinity Torch. He already knew about it." Celestia nodded. "If its not too presumptuous of me. But can I ask for two favors?" I asked. Celestia looked at me to go one.

"One can I please go home?" Celestia looked surprised.

"But you just woke up from being out for three days." She said trying to quill my idea in the bud.

"I figured as much. It's just. I want to sleep in my bed for once. Not in a hospital bed or one of the spare rooms in the castle. I know this is a little selfish of me but I just want to feel at home for once." I stated then took a deep breath. Celestia mulled this over.

"Alright. I'll have a doctor come in every so often to check on you. So tonight you will be transferred home. What is the other favor?" Celestia said.

"A sword." Again this surprised the princess.

"A sword? Why a sword?" She asked.

"You may not know this but I do know how... Well I knew how to fight with one before coming here. I know it's a dangerous thing to have but. I'm tired of being the one who can't defend himself anymore." I started to say as I started to slide off the bed and onto my hooves. my new forelegs started to buckle and a pain shot right through at the point it connected. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes but I bared it. "I want to be the one to protect my friends. Not the other way around." I stated as I held stern face. Celestia eyed me then nodded.

"Alright. I will have a blacksmith forge you a sword. But on one condition." She stated returning a stern look herself. "You go through training to use it." I nodded in agreement.

"I want Shining Armor to train me."

"What me?!" I heard from behind the door. Both Celestia and I looked at the door. I rolled my eyes at this. Why shouldn't I be surprised I had ponies listening in on conversations.

"Yes you Shining Armor." I stated loud enough for everypony to hear. The door slowly opened as nine ponies looked guilty for listening in. I smiled as they all entered. Shining Armor walked over to me still.

"Your sure you want me to train you?" He stated.

"Yes. Your Twilight's brother and I trust you." I said.

"Oh come on Shining. You heard why he wanted to do it." Twilight added.

"Dear, I have to agree with Twilight on this." The pink alicorn added as she moved up to be next to Shining Armor. I turned and bowed to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Princess" Shining eyed me. Ok so sue me. This alicorn looked surprised at me.

"Cadence." She finished.

"It's a pleasure Princess Cadence." I said with a warm smile.

"And of you Mr. Firestorm." Cadence said. Twilight bit her lip at the mister part.

"Firestorm will do. No need for the mister part. I'm not one for formalities." I said. The group of us talked for some time and I got much more context. Well more then I knew at the time. I was told about Twilight and her friends adventure here at the Crystal Empire. It was about an hour in before I had to go use the facilities. As I headed off to the restroom Shining decided to follow me.

"Firestorm can I ask you something?" This time being in a better mood then I was I couldn't help but say.

"Besides the one you just asked?" I said with a light chuckle.

"Uh... yeah." He said.

"Go ahead." I stated as we continued on the way.

"It's about Twilight." Shining said and I stopped. Okay now I knew what this was about. I turned around to face Shining.

"Is this going to be that big brother trying to protect his little sister speech?" I said.

"How did you?" he got out.

"Because that doesn't work on another big brother." I stated. He drew his head back in surprised. "You may not know this. Well honestly I didn't remember it till a few moments ago after looking at the two of you." He stopped and looked me over.

"So you were protective of her?" He asked and I nodded.

"Look. I don't know how she feels about me but I will be honest with her and treat her right if she will have me in that way." I said then turned around then uttered under my breath. "I doubt I'm worth it." as we made our way to the restroom. I entered it alone. I did like Twilight a lot. Was it a crush? I mean yeah she was nice and cute. Her thrust of knowledge was so nice. Granted she thought me a bit crazy. The whole flying thing still being an issue. Then what the doctor said echoed in my head. His sensitivity to his emotions are heightened because of the magics we used. Was this because of the magic they used on me? Did I really like her like that? You know what? Screw it, I didn't care anymore. What was done was done. It was up to Twilight now if she wanted to or not. After my use of the restroom was done we returned to see the doctor with another shot. His red coat seemed a little odd to me with his lab coat he wore. I didn't say anything. So the doctor was informed about what is going to happen. He actually agreed with my idea on this. He wanted me to feel as comfortable as possible. Especially after he was told that I had a cloud bed. What the hell was a cloud bed? I mean it sounded like a bed made out of clouds. He retrieved a case of needles and said to give me a shot every hour till I went to bed then I should take this blue pill. The color was almost a dead match for Rainbow's coat color. We got on the train back to Ponyville about an hour later. Floating up the needle, Twilight gave me the shot I needed.

"Thank you Twilight." I said as she placed the empty needle back into the case.

"It's no problem but I don't know why you wanted me to help you with this. Fluttershy is more proficient when it comes to medical needs." she asked as I looked up from the manual to my new foreleg. This thing surprised me. I could extend the five little markings at the end of my hoof and have fingers, well sort of. I flipped over another page with a finger.

"Well because I know you would make sure I took them." I said. Which wasn't a complete lie. It was partly true to my reason.

"Fluttershy would do the same thing." she said then shifted to a smirk. "Or is it because you want a cute mare to help you." She got it spot on. I turned red and nodded behind my book. She also turned red realizing she was right.

"But, I'm not cute." She said as she looked down with a blush.

"Your wrong Twilight, You are cute." I said.

"But I'm just an egghead and eggheads aren't cute." Twilight said.

"One." I said raising up one of my new fingers. "You're not an egghead, your brilliant. Two." I raised another finger "Who says eggheads can't be cute?" I stated. Twilight tried to piece my argument together and work a counter argument. She started to open her mouth but shut it again. This happened a few times then she sighed. My head turned a bit. We sat there in silence as the train clanked down the track. It wasn't broken until we arrived in Ponyville.

"Alright everypony. We're home." Applejack said. We all smiled as we hopped down from the benches. I tripped a little from my next step and fell flat on my face. Thank you universe, you jerk. You had to kick me when I was down already. I sighed and got back to my hooves. I saw Applejack walk up to me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"You alright partner?" Applejack said.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just still getting use to the new leg."

"I know what you need." She said with a smile on her face. "You know what? I know what everypony here needs."

"What's that?" Rainbow said as she flew over to me.

"Some good ol’ fashion Apple Family Cookin’" she said with a smile. My stomach answered for me as it growled quite loudly, I blushed red in embarrassment.

"That does sound good." Twilight added.

"Oh my. Oh I must get dressed up. Can't go to a dinner without looking fabulous." Rarity added.

"Rare it's just dinner at my house." Applejack said.

"That sounds lovely." Fluttershy said. Rainbow Dash hovered as she smiled. I on the other hand. Err... Hoof. Started to laugh. Everypony turned to look at me like I was crazy.

"What's got you all laughing?" Applejack said confused.

"Just moments like this." I said as I wiped the tear from my eye.

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked in her timid voice.

"It's just moments like this I enjoy the most. It makes me feel like a normal pony." I said as we got off the train and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"What do you mean by that?" Rarity asked.

"I'm not from here remember." I stated then Rarity had the looks like it dawned on her.

"Oh I'm so sorry. I completely forgot. With everything that has happened it completely slipped my mind." She apologized.

"It's quite alright." I said. This was nice, being just a normal pony. That was till we arrived at Sweet Apple Acres where both Big Mac and little Applebloom galloped up to us.

"Applejack you're safe!" Applebloom said as she jumped up giving Applejack a big hug, I smiled. That was when Big Mac looked at me then down to my right foreleg. His gaze widen then moved his head up.

"What happened?" he said in his low drawl. I sighed since I figured this was going to be the first of many times I would have to answer that.

"A spell took my leg in a very bad way." I stated in the simplistic way.

"How bad is bad?" Applebloom asked as she came over and tapped the leg. It gave a metallic clunk at her taps. I smiled and leaned down to her.

"The bad kind of bad." I said in a spooky voice. Applebloom gulped and let out a nervous smile.

"Firestorm!" Applejack said to my surprised.

"What?"

"Don't give my little sister ideas like that"

"Idea's like what? Would you prefer me telling her the honest details?" I said as I knew I won the fight.

"Good point." Applejack said. Both Applebloom and Big Mac looked at each other confused. I turned to Big Mac.

"I'll explain it to you later." He nodded in understanding.

"Why don't we go in and get dinner ready?" Fluttershy said as she came up to Applejack's left. Applejack nodded, then the both of them headed to the house. Applebloom looked at me for a moment then ran off after the other two mares. After they entered the house Big Mac turned to me. Not expecting to have the moment so soon. I shrugged and started to explain the events that happened. To my surprised Big Mac didn't question or interrupt. He gave a look of understanding after we finished.

"And that's it. I do apologize for causing so much trouble." I said at the end. He put a hoof on my shoulder and said.

"It's okay." he said.

"Dinner Time every pony!" Applejack yelled ringing a metal triangle. Did our explanation take that long? We all ate the hardy meal. Granted I got a few funny looks I got from my metal hoof being used. The fingers I had to say came in handy to use silverware. Especially since the last time I used one that wasn't in my magic was back during my second visit to the hospital. It didn't help Applebloom continued to question about the hoof. After dinner was done we all sat around in Applejack's living room. We all had a great time telling stories. I remembered a few from my old life, the happier ones.

"And after I got off the shed and out of the creek. I let out a large burp causing a tree branch to break off and doing so took the shed out with it." I said when I finished the story. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash laughed out loudly. Rarity, Twilight, Fluttershy, Big Mac smiled and Applebloom just giggled. I did find it quite funny when Equestria had an equivalent to booze. It was some of the apple cider the Apples made but they had two different brands one with and one that was safe for foals to drink. They got me talking about a lot of stuff from home. It felt nice to reminisce on things. It was after dark when I finished going over a series of stories that I enjoyed. I did get a few questions about things throughout it but I wasn't surprised. Twilight did make sure I got my shot on time throughout it as well.

"I think it's time to get some sleep. Especially for F.M. err... Firestorm I mean." Twilight said with a small nervous smile.

"You can call me Storm for short if that helps." I offered. Twilight thought it over.

"I reckon you're right. After all he's been through I think a good nights sleep will do him fine. I think I'll be hitting the hay as well. I have a long day of Applebucking ahead of me." Applejack said with a yawn.

"I hope angel is alright with me gone so long." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah. I'm tired too. I'll see ya all later." Dash said then flew out the door.

"This was quite a lovely evening." Rarity added before she excused herself and left.

"Indeedy Do. But I should get going. I need to get the Welcome back to your body party planned for tomorrow." Pinkie said then zipped out the door before I could say anything.

"That's Pinkie being Pinkie for ya'll." Applejack said as she showed Twilight and I out. We started down the road back towards Ponyville. We walked in silence for a bit before that was broken.

"Um... Storm?" Twilight said nervously.

"Yes Twilight?" I said as I glanced over to her.

"Mind if I ask you something?" she asked not looking at me.

"Go ahead."

"Why... Me?" She asked with a faint blush.

"Why what?" I asked dumbly.

"Why do you like me... Like that?" Twilight inquired.

"Like what?" I was being really stupid here. Twilight stopped and looked at me.

"Why do you like me? In that special somepony way." Twilight said still had that blush across her face.

"oh... Oh! I'm sorry I didn't realize what you meant sooner. But like I said. I think your cute and I know for sure you're brilliant." I said as I stepped closer.

"But I'm not cute. I'm just an Egghead." She said.

"You're not an egghead Twilight. You're brilliant, you put my little bit of intelligence to shame. I'm just a coin compared to the dragon's treasure that you are. That is no egghead to me. You are cute and beautiful."

"I'm not as good looking as somepony like Rarity."

"No your not." I started to say. Twilight had the look like she was depressingly right. "your even more beautiful than she is." I finished when Twilight shot up and looked up at me in surprised. I stared at the perfect purple pools that made up her eyes. She returned that look back at me. I smiled warmly then leaned in slowly giving Twilight a kiss right on her velvet lips. She turned even more red then suddenly we both heard a click and then a flash. We both turned to see Pinkie Pie looking at us with a camera hanging from her neck.

"It's about time you two got together like. I mean really it was quite obvious this was going to happen. I mean think about it you're the strong down to earth pony that Twilight reads every night when she can. Especially that book about a vamp pony that twinkles in sunlight. Which I find really cool. I mean just thinking about it. Twinkling in the sun would make daytime parties really fun. But what would be best is if you shot out multi color rays of light at night. So parties can be even more cooler or like how Dashie would say 20 percent cooler. Especially when you see Vinyl Scratch who always has fun playing music at my parties. Oh I should totally get her for your party. I think you would like her." Pinkie rambled

"Pinkie." I stated.

"She is really cool. You could get into her rave party. but I would watch out for her bass cannon. Which doesn't have anything on my party cannon because my cannon fires party stuff. Her’s just fires 'wubs' as she puts it."

"Pinkie" Twilight said getting louder then I did.

"What are wubs anyway and I wonder what it tastes like. Oh could you put wubs in a cupcake and me it a wubcake?"

"Pinkie!" Both Twilight and I yelled.

"Yes?" Pinkie said as she stopped like she didn't even say anything at all.

"What are you doing?" Twilight inquired.

"Taking a picture silly." Pinkie said still smiling.

"Why?" I asked this time.

"Oh that's easy silly. So you have a picture of that moment." Pinkie said making it sound like I had asked the stupidest question in all of Equestria. I know it wasn't my last one either.

"But why?"

"Oh so you can put this somewhere special so you two could always remember it." Pinkie said. Both Twilight and I gave each other a look. When we turned back to where Pinkie was. She disappeared all there was two framed photos of our kiss.

"I really should ask her how she does that." I said floating the pictures over to us.

"I wouldn't suggest that." Twilight said as she overtook one of the pictures from my magic. She also winced as she remembered something.

"You may be right. I don't think I should question the paradox perplexing pink party pony." I said as I floated the picture into my saddlebags.

"You have no idea." Twilight said then leaned against me with a blush dawned on her face. I smiled and placed a wing around her as we walked into the night. After everything has happened, I don't think anything could top this perfect night.

-End of Chapter-