"Curse those wretched creatures, They may have saved that small group of animals, and even cost me a few of the ones I have already taken. But when the night falls, I shall show no mercy in obtaining their very souls, yeeeeesssssss." Shadow Hunter hissed loudly as he moved through the forest, careful to avoid any beams of light that happened to flow through the canopy of the Everfree forest.

He moved silently through the forest. Every inch of any shadow that touched the ground or living creature he could feel. It was as if the the entire shadow of the forest had become an extension of his very being. After a few minutes of capturing some other creatures he stopped for a moment in surprise. It's deep crimson eyes going wide for a moment before returning to slits, a smile of what seemed to be dripping blood curled up onto its face.

"My MY! What an excellent surprise this is." It cackled evilly as it melded into itself reappearing inside of a very dark cave near the far edge of the Everfree forest. The Shadow looked up at its next victim as it began to pull even more of its shadow unto itself, increasing its size exponentially. Its eyes now at least thirty feet wide as it looked down from the ceiling of the cave at its prey as it slept.

"You are truly the largest creature I have seen by far. Even your child is a remarkable size." It hissed happily looking from the Ursa Major to the Ursa Minor. The two celestial bears twinkling slightly in the darkness.

The shadow slowly began to envelope the two bears in its darkness. covering every inch of them, only leaving their faces untouched as it waited for the right moment to finish off its prey.

"Pinkie, how are you doing?" Midnight spoke as he trotted into the hospital room where the Cakes were resting.

"I'm doing better, I just wish the Cakes would wake up. The doctors just don't understand why they won't wake up. I-I wish they would......." Pinkie trailed off as another wave of tears came pouring from her eyes. Midnight trotted over to her standing up on his back legs as he looked up to her, spreading his arms wide offering a hug to the pink pony. She gave a slight sniffle and weak smile as she pulled the small Alicorn into her embrace, gently hugging him.

"Everything is going to be alright Pinkie. I give you my word that I will not rest until that monster has been removed from existence, and all those that it has hurt have been returned to normal." He spoke softly into her ear gently stroking her mane.

She pulled back giving the Alicorn a disheartened smile. "Thank you Midnight. You truly are the best friend a pony could have." She smiled kissing his forehead gently, then letting him hop back down to the floor. "Here, if you need me for anything just say my name out loud." He smiled as his horn began to glow softly. Pressing the tip of it gently toward Pinkie as a small flash erupted from it onto her. She Blinked a few times as her vision returned to normal.

"What was that?" She asked quietly.

"A communication spell. Go ahead and speak my name." He smirked as he stepped back a few spaces.

"Midnight Flame." She spoke quietly as she felt a slight jar to her head.

"Can you hear me Pinkie?" Midnight spoke, but not out loud.

Pinkie gasped as she could hear him but his mouth wasn't moving. "OMIGOSH!" She thought as she let out a gasp.

"Oh my gosh is right Pinkie." Midnight smirked.

"How far will this spell work to?" Pinkie thought.

"Any distance. And anyone with the spell cast on them will also work. If you wish to speak to more than one pony at a time, just say their names one after another. If you want to add them to the conversation just say Add and their name. If someone doesn't want to be heard they can speak, Silent to and the pony's name. They will become mute to that pony. There are a few other details about the spell, but overall it is great for long distant communications." Midnight thought, a smile spreading across his face.

"Cool. Ill let you know if the Cakes wake up. Also, the foals are in daycare in the hospital maternal wing. That way I can be here in case the Cakes wake up."

"Cool. Ill seeya around, Oh and if you need to end the conversation, just say end convo." He smirked as he spoke out the phrase ending the telepathic link.

"Later Pinkie." He smiled heading out the door.

"Now to find RD." He thought to himself as he headed out of the hospital.

Midnight looked up seeing the sun just past three fourths of the way to the horizon. He gave a shudder as he thought of what is to come upon nightfall. Leaping into the air and giving a hard flap to accelerate himself, he flew upwards toward the cloud line looking around as he came to a hover. After a quick look in all directions he could see a blue blur racing toward Ponyville.

"That can't be a good sign." He groaned heading toward RD.

"That took more effort than I thought it would." Shadow Hunter hissed in annoyance looking to the giant bear as it sat quietly awaiting its command. "It is a shame that the smaller one could not be taken and escaped. I shall find and kill it soon enough however." It smiled looking to the bear in front of it coated in a dark shadow.

"You will attack the town outside of the forest upon sunset. Destroy everything in sight. Kill anything that moves." It hissed again seeing the two bears nod in unison.

"Yessssssss, this will be most entertaining." It cackled loudly, its bellowing voice echoing throughout the cave in a thundering tone.

That was all that was needed though as Rainbow Dash had seen the shadows moving through the forest below and began to follow them to the cave from which the shadow entered. She hovered in the air outside of the cave and well above the tree line as she listened. After a few minutes there was a thunderous roar and the sound of a massive struggle. After roughly ten minutes the noise died down until a loud laughing was heard. She flew back toward Ponyville as fast as her wings could carry her.

As she made it back to Ponyville she saw Midnight heading toward her as she landed near the library.

"We have a big problem." Dash spoke as she breathed hard, attempting to catch her breath.

"I could tell by how fast you were going. What's going on?" Midnight asked trotting up to her as she headed into the library.

"Rainbow?" Twilight said as her attention came to the opening door of the library.

"I think the Shadow just captured something big." Dash spoke as she finally caught her breath.

"Big as in?" Midnight added.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it was it was in a huge cave on the edge of the Everfree forest."

Twilight gasped recoiling, she began to shake slightly as she talked.

"Did the cave have a huge open area in front of it?" Twilight asked.

Yea, why? Is that bad?" Dash spoke in a concerned tone.

Twilight fell to the floor shaking violently in fear, Midnight and Dash rushing to her side as she spoke.

"That cave was home to the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. If the shadow has taken control of them. We may not have a chance to defend ourselves." She spoke as tears fell from her eyes.

"Oh crap." Midnight spoke as he recalled the story of the two beasts in part of one of the history books of Equestria he had scanned a while back. Comparing the size of each of the two beasts was nothing to laugh at. The Minor could be around seventy feet tall while the Major could reach two hundred fifty feet tall. He sat down for a moment before remembering the spell he had cast for Pinkie. After he explained the spell and how to operate it he cast it on Twilight and Dash. Advising Twilight to do the same to the other members of the group of six.

"I'm going to see the Princess. She will need to know about this." Midnight said as his horn lit up, and in a burst of light he vanished reappearing near Celestia in the castle.

"Tia, we have a problem." He shouted as he appeared causing the guards to bound forward protectively in front of the Princess. Celestia waved them off as Midnight approached in his tiny Alicorn body.

"What has happened?" She asked concerned.

"I have reason to believe that the Shadow has captured an Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. I need to know what we need to do at this point. That species is near extinction as it is. Being the size that they are and how powerful they are, if they are to......." Midnight was cut short as the princess raised a hoof to stop him.

"You have permission to take the lives of those already lost tot he shadow. If there is a way to save them then we need to use as little force as needed for their safe return. Please Midnight We must destroy this thing before it wipes out the entire planet." Celestia spoke, almost in tears.

Midnight nodded to her as he teleported back to Ponyville.

*RRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*

"What the hell was that?!" Midnight shouted as he looked around inside the library only to see books and no pony in sight. He rushed outside freezing in fright at what he saw. The biggest fucking bear he had ever seen roaring like mad and roughly fifty feet tall standing right in front of him. He tried to move, tried to speak, even tried to piss himself but just couldn't He was frozen in awe and fear. That is until he saw a yellow and pink Pegasus flying up to the bears face. He gave a loud snort finding his protective instincts as he began to power up his horn attack.

"Wait a sec. It's still daylight." He stopped looking at the soon to set sun, then back to the bear who slowly sat down onto the ground with a ground shaking thud. Midnight looked up see Fluttershy trying her best to console the poor creature. He took flight moving next to her as she pet the giant crying bear.

"There there. It'll be ok little one." Fluttershy spoke in a soft voice looking into the Ursa Minors eyes. It gave a quiet rumble gargling sound causing Fluttershy to gasp slightly.

"We will try to save your mother little one. You can stay here in Ponyville until then." She spoke quietly as she led the giant bear toward a field just outside Sweet Apple Acres.

"Fluttershy, whats going on?" Midnight asked coming up to her as she led the bear on.

"This poor babies mother was taken by the shadow. It wants to help fight to get her back." She spoke looking back to see a determined look on the bears face. It giving a low growl in confirmation.

"Wow, I have to admit little guy, you scared me so bad I almost molted my wings." Midnight laughed nervously. The bear looked to Fluttershy who just smiled giving a little giggle, the bear gave a low chuckle shaking its head.

Midnight was taken aback for a moment as he continued talking. "You can understand me?"

The bear nodded as it continued following Fluttershy.

"Fantastic. I think you are our ace in the hole for the fight against your mother." Midnight smirked feeling confident once more.

The bear let out a slight snarl toward Midnight causing him to move away slightly.

"Don't worry. We won't hurt her. If I think to be true what I am thinking, then we can get your mother to return to normal without harming her. Just bare with me alright." He smirked at his pun, Fluttershy and the Minor shaking their heads disapprovingly.

"Sorry." Midnight squeaked rubbing the back of his head.

Upon arriving at the field outside Sweet Apple acres and setting up a plan for the possible events to unfold he cast the telepathic spell on the bear and Fluttershy, he headed toward the farmhouse were he could see Big Macintosh and Applejack setting up some equipment. He landed near them as he spoke.

"Whats up with this weird equipment you two?"

"Hey Night, This here's enchanted gear to ward off them Shadows. It's being distributed around Equestria by the princess' royal guard. All Earth ponies get it." AJ said as she pulled up the final pole. She went over to the base of it pressing her hoof to it. Upon coming in contact with her the pole ignited into a bright light. They all recoiled looking away as the light penetrated everything around them.

"Damn that's bright." Midnight shouted.

"Eeyup. an just in time to." Big Macintosh spoke pointing a hoof to the setting sun.

"Listen you two, I need to let you know about a couple things." Midnight spoke quickly filling them in on the Ursa Minor and the events that had unfolded earlier. He cast the telepathic spell on them letting them know how it works as well.

"Alright. I need to get back into town. If you need anything you know what to do." He said receiving a nod from the two as the looked toward him. He took of quickly toward the field where the Minor was casting the light orb spell many times and attaching them to the baby so that it could move freely with them as protection against the dark. After that he cast it On Fluttershy and himself as they flew back toward Ponyville. The setting sun causing their hearts to race with dread as the night was on the verge of becoming their last.