Celestia had called an emergency meeting at Twilight's library, as it was the closest spot to fill the bearers of the Elements of harmony in on what has come to pass. The mane six, Midnight, Hazel, and the Captain of the Royal guard had assembled there to be briefed. Celestia looked around to the chattering ponies clearing her throat to gain their attention as she began.

"My little ponies. I am afraid that an evil far greater in power than anything you have ever known has come to this world. Shadow Hunter has once again shown itself. Now before you ask your questions, please listen to what I have to say." She began as she looked around the room, all eyes trained on her as she picked up again.

"Shadow hunter is an evil far older and far more powerful than myself. I honestly do not know of it's origin. But I had the disadvantage of coming across its path eons ago when I was very young. I had just ascended into adulthood. I had just turned twenty when this abomination found its way into my world. It started out as it did today. A few ponies loosing their lives. Then as night fell, the number of deaths doubled each night until I was the only one left. Every single living thing on the planet had perished within only a few weeks. All life including the plants and animals died. But not as you know it. Their bodies roamed the world in search of prey. I managed to find a very small group of ponies that had survived. There were about fifty. I left the planet with them in tow within my magic. They watched as I forced the planet into the sun, killing off the evil and setting the dead free from it's plight.

"Over the next few days we scoured the solar system. A few ponies died within my care during that time, but we finally found a new home. This world. We started anew, bringing forth new lives into the world. The world had already been inhabited by several sentient species. We were alien to them, but over time gained their trust. It has been five thousand years since that monster has shown itself." Celestia began to cry again, falling to her haunches. Midnight as well as the rest coming to her side.

"I'm alright." She spoke as she continued. "I had asked the ponies how they came to survive. All of them were quite young. They stated they were not sure but over time I came to find out about the Shadow Hunters weakness. They were all innocent in every way. To young to be corrupted by the plagues of the world. Never having been in a relationship. Just pure and innocent. The shadow cannot manipulate such innocence."

"But what about me?" Hazel interrupted causing all eyes to fall on her.

"What do you mean child?" Celestia asked.

"The shadow took over my body because I gave it to him. How am I not dead along with my retched parents." She snapped causing the princess and others to recoil.

"Child, the Shadow will manipulate you and others that are innocent into doing it's bidding. When you gave yourself to it, it's power increased. But part of you still held on to the hope that what it said to you was a lie. That alone kept it from taking over fully. If you, or any of you ever meet it, get to the light as quickly as possible. Do not listen to it or anything it says. It will all be lies to sway you to its side. Once you have become one with it. You may not be able to get free." Celestia exclaimed.

"Then how did I get free?" Hazel added causing Celestia to stare at her in confusion.

"I do not know. Midnight, what happened in there exactly.?" Celestia asked looking to the tiny Alicorn.

After an explanation to the princess she hummed in thought.

"I take it that the spell cast on you Midnight, reverted your body back to its stage of innocence. This will give us a fighting chance against the monster. However I am not immune to its wrath. I will remain under guard at all times, I must keep the rotation of the sun constant so that the plant life will not perish on either side of the world. I know that during the night the shadow will grow stronger and ponies will continue to die. However I believe that we can revive them as long as they are held by the Shadow Hunter."

"What about the Cake's?" Pinky asked.

"Although they have not yet awakened, time will tell what will happen. For the time being, everypony remain in the light. I will have a set of unicorn guards stationed here in Ponyville to keep magical light orbs all around to keep the shadows at bay. As for you young one." Celestia glared at Hazel causing her to whimper.

"You will show me how you found the shadow." She growled.

"What if I don't wanna." She attempted to stand up for herself. She soon found out how big of a mistake she made as Celestia rose slowly, an eery red glow about her. Her horn slowly ignited in a red aura, her eyes glowing a bright white as she wrapped the young filly in her grasp of magic. She slowly pulled the screaming filly toward her face as she spoke, venom and ice dripping with mirth from her voice as she spoke, everypony in the room recoiling from her.

"You listen to me you little whelp. That shadow killed an entire planet and wanted more. I saved a hoof full of ponies to repopulate this planet when I wasn't much older than you. I have lived for five thousand years rebuilding my crushed species. I have seen your thoughts and what has happened to you. I can tell you that the shadow killed your parents before they did what happened in front of you. I am prepared to go to any extent in order to save this planet from that monsters wrath. If that means torturing you until you tell me what I want to know, or using forbidden magic to pry the memories from your skull, leaving you destroyed beyond repair. Then I will by all means do that to save my subjects. One life to save many."

"That's enough!" Midnight shouted causing Celestia to snap her attention to him, forgetting about the filly she dropped her to the floor. Hazel quickly running to the nearest pony, shaking with such fear that she wet herself.

"What was that you little runt?" Celestia spoke again, venom dripping from her voice as she neared the tiny Alicorn.

"I said that is enough. The young one will bare the information in time. You do not *GACK*" Midnight was cut short as Celestia grabbed a hold of him around the neck with her magic lifting him off the ground, squeezing gently to prove her point as she spoke, bringing him to just in front of her face, he flailed wildly trying to remove the choking grasp.

"You above all know that time is one thing we do not have. Even now as my sister raises the moon, the shadow kills, growing stronger at each passing second."

*WAP*

Celestia's face quickly turned to the side, a look of utter shock on her face as she slowly turned back to see who had hit her. She gasped softly seeing the pony who had magically slapped her to her senses. Dropping Midnight from her choke hold.

"T-Twilight?" She spoke rubbing her sore jaw. Twilight had tears streaming down her face as she walked up to the princess pulling her into a warm embrace.

"P-please princess. I know it's hard. B-but please stay calm. I am sure we can find a way through this together.." She sobbed softly into her chest. Celestia wrapping her own hooves and wings around Twilight as they set there for a moment.

Celestia looked back up, determination chiseled into her face as she began.

"Please forgive me everypony. I know we must go to whatever lengths to save this planet and every living thing on it. But if I harm one of my subjects in order to do so. Then I am no better than the shadow."

After the meeting had taken place and strategies discussed. It was decided that Shining Armor would lead the towns Unicorn guard. There would be two shifts through the night. Each guard casting a special light spell that would reflect off of any surface and cascade its light into every direction. The town looked as if it was radiating light from Canterlot. The spell also prevented unwanted teleportation or phase shifting from one place to another. It would keep the shadow at bay for the time being. However. Once daylight returned though, the spell would be of no use as normal daylight would overpower the magical light.

Celestia had returned to the castle to continue working on other plans to try and stop the Shadow Hunter. Midnight and the girls had all stayed at the library talking things over to see if they could come up with any plans. They had fell asleep late in the night and awoke early. Everypony, with only a few hours sleep at most, was in no mood to fight that day. Many mixed feelings and signals were given that morning by each of them. Pinkie had been the worst of the bunch, having already lost her adoptive parents, the Cakes. However she found more courage in herself than she thought as she took care of the foals. Midnight coordinated many of the tasks during the day, Twilight at his side with her checklist of the things that needed to be done. Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy stayed with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, whom wanted to continue crusading despite the risks that were outside awaiting them. Rainbow Dash was flying perimeter checks all over Ponyville looking for anything strange.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. That is, until Dash busted in through the Libraries front door.

"We have a problem!" Dash yelled as she flew through the front door to the library, scaring everypony inside.

Midnight strode up in his tiny form. "What's going on?" As the others came to attention as well.

"There is a lot of movement in the Everfree forest. I was doing my rounds when I noticed a clearing that was occupied by a lot of wildlife. Including a Manticore. They were all gathered in a pile in the middle of the clearing looking out into the forest. I circled a few times before they noticed me. I was going to land near them but as I got closer I looked into the forest seeing a ton of darkness and glowing red stuff." She spoke breathlessly as everypony listened.

"This is not good, it's going after all the weaker species first. fighting them one on one won't be a problem, but fighting an army of them is suicide. Twilight, you and the others stay here and formulate a plan. Fluttershy I'll need you with me. Your ability to talk to animals will make this far less troubling. Dash continue your perimeter checks. Report anything you see out of the ordinary." Midnight spoke as he headed toward the door. He stopped as his magic grasped the handle opening the door a little. Looking back he saw a pink tail poking out from some pillows on the couch.

"Fluttershy, come on. we need to get going." He yelled causing her to dig further into the couch, shaking violently in fear.

He turned heading back to the couch. "Shy, we need to get going. I know you're scared but if we don't hurry then those animals and anything else in that open area will be swept up by the Shadow. I will protect you so please don't worry."

Midnight sat next to the shivering yellow Pegasus as she pulled her head from the couch. Gently wiping a tear from her face she looked to Midnight, Her scared expression turning to determination as she spoke.

"Let's go save those animals." She spoke out proudly flaring her wings but then hunching down slightly as she continued.
"Um........ if that's ok with you."

Midnight sighed grabbing her up in his magic as he bolted out the door taking flight Fluttershy giving a soft scream as she was dragged along through the air. Dash close behind them.

They arrived together flying above the glade of open land that Dash had discovered. It was roughly fifty feet in diameter and all of the animals were in the direct center. The sun was still high in the sky as they slowly landed near the animals whom were all shaking in fear. The manticore and bear that was in the ground stepped forward growling loudly taking a defensive stance.

"Oh my, I've never known manticores to be protective of other creatures. This is odd. And bears don't like manticores either. Something terrible must have happened in order for them to stay like this." Fluttershy spoke as she headed toward the group slowly.

"I don't think approaching them is a good idea Shy." Midnight spoke as he looked around the perimeter of the glade where the forest sprouted up. An endless moving shadow ran around them. never once moving into the light. Sounds of dieing animals filled the air as Fluttershy moved closer to the group in the center of the glade.

"It's ok, we're here to help. We need to get everyone to safety. But in order to do that you need to let us help you." Shy spoke quiet and calm easing the tension in the air. The manticore came forward giving her a slight sniff, it began to purr quietly as it gave her a gentle lick. She gave a slight giggle then looked to the bear who gave her a sniff and gentle nudge with its snout. All of the animals came forward surrounding her. They stopped for a moment as Midnight began to walk toward Fluttershy, all giving a low growl making him stop.

"It's ok everyone, He is here to help me." She spoke causing the mob of animals to sit back down, awaiting for thier safe departure.

"Alright everyone. I'm going to lift us all into the air and fly us back into town. I don't know if any of you have experienced magic or not but please, do not panic while we are in the air." Midnight spoke as his horn began to glow. A roar escaped the forest as he did so causing them all to look back, seeing a large shadow running forth from the treeline into the light, charging at them with untold fury.

"No you don't!" Midnight shouted as he whipped around fast, his horn slicing through the air send a large white sickle through the air crashing into the shadow and splitting it in half. The shadow evaporated quickly from the being that it held captive. The captive was only there for a moment as it began to quickly evaporate as well. It was a large dark grey wolf.

Another roar escaped the forest as many more began to rush forward from the darkness into the light.

"Time to go!" Midnight shouted as his magic grabbed every living thing in the group and launched himself with them into the air, just barely in time as the group of shadows closed in slamming into each other in the sunlight. Everyone looked down at the field of shadows as they began to evaporate into the air. The bodies strewn about as if they had all just up and died as the shadows melted away from the forms. Midnight looked in disbelief at them as he noticed one of the forms crawling back toward the shadows. It didn't make it and soon evaporated as well. Midnight gave a sigh as he looked down toward the perimeter. The shadows all but gave up moving away and back into the forest.

Midnight arrived back in Ponyville with the small group of animals, upon setting them onto the ground they all marched over giving the little Alicorn so well deserve love as the chittered/murred happily to be saved from the darkness.

"Alright everyone, lets get you into the the shelter." Fluttershy smiled as she led them away to a shelter that had been set up with a magical barrier to house and keep safe any who needed it.

Midnight made a quick B-line to the library to check in and see what was going on. Upon entering he saw nothing but chaos as everypony was running around and doing something. He made his way upstairs, seeing Twilight standing at a table with a sad look on her face looking down. As he arrived next to her he noticed the map she way looking at. It was a huge map of Equestria, The outline of the forest was marked in red while many areas were outlined in green, others in blue surrounding the green.

"What's going on Twi?" Midnight asked catching her attention.

"Celestia sent this map to me while you were gone to save those animals. It shows how much the Shadow Hunter has already taken control of, what areas are at risk and what areas remain safe from harm. As you can see, anything outline in red has been taken over. Anything outlined in blue has yet to be and possibly will be taken over. Anything in green is safe as long as a unicorn is present to cast the spell needed so that shadows cannot form."

"I thought shadows could form under any light as long as something was there to block the light." Midnight spoke rather confused.

"This spell makes a light orb that can penetrate and go through almost any object. As long as the the orbs are present, then no shadow can form and everything in that are will be illuminated. Celestia said it took her almost thirty years to make this spell and was very proud to show it to me. She even had small parchments with the spell on it so that it could be given to anypony who could use and cast magic." She smiled hoofing one of them to Midnight who immediately scanned it and cast the spell. A small white orb of light popped from the tip of his horn as it flew up to just a few feet above him. He looked down gasping as everything below him was covered in light, as if he wasn't there at all.

"This is amazing. We need to get this to every unicorn in Equestria as soon as possible." He spoke as he headed toward the stairs.

"It's already taken care of. The princess has already sent out an untold amount of these parchments to everypony in Equestria. Only non magic using beings will be susceptible to the shadow, and every magic user has been order to have the spell cast and in use twenty four seven, and to cast it on any and all creatures as well. This will stop the shadow before it can take over." She gave a determined smile as she spoke.

"That's good to hear, but what happens when night falls. I know that the spell will have a limited distance and casting that spell time after time will tire out the unicorns. Is there a way to just cast a huge one and destroy the shadow in one blow?"

"No, unfortunately the spell becomes unstable if the diameter goes beyond three yards. An orb cast at that size will also drain most of the magic from the caster. The illumination distance will be great but the spell will go out quickly. Usually within a few minutes, five minutes tops. The small the orb the longer it lasts. but only a specific amount can be cast at one time. That is the only drawbacks." Twilight informed causing Midnight to nod in understanding.

"Alright then. Let's get started with gathering all of the ponies and animals into the shelter. At least there we won't have to worry about them getting taken by the Shadow and its growing army. We can also cast the spell as a shield around Ponyville. I will need you to calculate the distance each orb will need to be in order to last a minimum of ten hours each. I'm going to do a perimeter check with Dash, check on Pinkie, and have a quick word with the princess. Ill be back before nightfall." Midnight spoke, getting confirming nod from Twilight.