Kitsune slowly nibbled at the food that had been brought to her knowing it would be some time before she would have anything to besides her usual activity. She had to admit that she was well cared for except for the fact that she had to remain in total darkness for some reason that was never fully disclosed. Even when Darkfire brought her food, she could never see beyond the doorway. When she realized that she had eaten everything, she scooted her plate towards the door before searching for something that she had been privileged to keep in her cell. She had tried talking to Darkfire but a few conversations later she found him a little too disturbing so she kept quiet whenever he appeared.
Feeling her hoof touch the object she was looking for, Kitsune picked up the ball and looked at where it –and her hoof– would be if she could see. She had taken to bouncing the ball against a wall and attempted to catch it, often failing so she had to search for the darn thing again. After a while, she started to get better until she could catch it with no problem… until that got boring after a while.

Throwing the ball into the air a few times, she counted the seconds until she felt the ball land or hit her hoof. With a deep breath, she lobbed it upwards once more and as the ball came down, she punched it hard as she could. The ball hit the wall and rebounded towards her until she dodged it at the last second. Without turning around, she lifted a hoof and stopped it before turning slightly so she was facing a corner of the cell. When she launched the ball this time, it bounced off two of the walls but she still dodged it without trouble and every time the ball rolled on the ground, she repeated the process from wherever she happen to be.

“That’s impressive.” Shadow said as she stepped into the cell as Kitsune was getting ready to do another volley.

“Who are you?” Kitsune asked, her voice cracking a little from the lack of use, facing Shadow only by following her voice.

“I’m Shadow.” Shadow introduced herself as she walked around Kitsune, who spun on the spot keeping herself facing the Shadowbolt.

“Nice to meet you, Shadow. How did you get in here?” Kitsune asked cheerfully.

“Special ability.” Shadow admitted and stopped walking. “I’d like to continue talking with you, but you’re not the reason I’m here.”

“What do you mean?” Kitsune asked the darkness not able to determine where Shadow was. She grunted as she felt a hoof slam into her stomach knocking the air from her lungs and sending her to her knees.

“I’m here to speak with Feral Lupus.” Shadow explained by Kitsune’s side.

“Who?”

“She’s talking about me.” Feral Lupus said as she lounged against an obsidian rock shaped into a crude throne minus the back. All around her was a dead wasteland with withered trees and a sky that showed nothing but a deep blackness.

“You’re Feral Lupus?” Kitsune asked pointing a hoof to the pegasus as realization dawned on her. “You’re the one that takes over every night on the full moon!”

Feral Lupus held her forelegs to the side as she gave a wicked grin. “Yep, the one and only.”

“And you were the one that hurt Blue Jay?”

“Two for two. And I have to tell you, she was the most fun I ever had.” In hindsight, Feral Lupus should have expected it, but she had been caught off guard by a snarling Kitsune slamming and shoving her off the rock with Kitsune coming out on top. Before Kitsune could do anything, Feral Lupus kicked up flipping Kitsune off her and she got up in time to meet Kitsune’s hoof to her face.

“You. Bitch! How. Dare. You. Do. That?” Kitsune emphasized each word with a punch.

Feral Lupus took a couple hits, but was able to dodge most of them thanks to Kitsune’s anger. Waiting for the right moment, she grabbed Kitsune’s hoof and flipped her onto her back. Feral Lupus quickly sat on Kitsune’s stomach and pinned her forelegs to the ground. “I knew there was a reason I took great pains to keep you in the dark about me.”

Kitsune struggled but found that she couldn’t get Feral Lupus off her and she eventually stopped trying but continued to glare up at her.
“Listen, I’m your best chance at you ever seeing daylight again.” Feral Lupus said calmly now that Kitsune stopped thrashing about.

“What would you do if I let you take over my body? Help the Shadowbolts or attempt to kill Nightmare Moon again?” Kitsune challenged. “You don’t think I was completely unaware of what happened those nights a thousand years ago?”

Feral Lupus blinked and was nearly bucked off in her surprise but she slammed Kitsune against the ground. “There’s no way you could have known about that.”

Kitsune shook her head. “I might not have realized it was you, but sometimes your dreams blended into mine. Especially when you plotted to kill Nightmare Moon and take control of Equestria.” She paused to take a breath. “I questioned why I was having those dreams about killing anypony and thought I was going crazy. Of course, had I told anypony, I would have been thrown into the dungeon.”

“Which is where you are right now, need I remind you?”

“Not at all, though I would rather die here than to help you.” Kitsune smirked. “And you can’t take over my body this time by force because you need the moonlight, right? Given how the sky above us is pitch black, it means the moon isn’t full or it can’t reach you, right?”

Feral Lupus yelled as she reared back and aimed her hoof straight for Kitsune’s head. Kitsune shut her eyes and heard a hoof connect with something solid, but upon opening her eyes, she found Feral Lupus’ hoof next to her face and she sighed in relief.

“What are you going to do if I let you have control of my body?”

“Show the current Shadowbolts what they’re lacking. After that… try to defeat Nightmare Moon.”

“Fine. Not happening.” Kitsune folded her forelegs across her chest.

“So you don’t mind if Luna gets defeated by Nightmare Moon?”

“I don’t get it.”

“Nightmare Moon is alive, I know she is. Currently dormant and gaining strength while moon butt believes her dark side has been banished.”
“And by defeating Nightmare Moon, you’ll save Luna?” Kitsune asked, figuring there was only one alicorn that could be called moon butt.
“Yes.” Feral Lupus replied in all seriousness.

“You just want to get out more often?” Kitsune asked suddenly, all traces of anger vanishing and being replaced by pity. “That’s the root of your anger.”

Feral Lupus snarled as she glared down at Kitsune. “Part of it. I never felt it was fair that I only got one night every month while you got to experience every day and night besides that one.” She looked away so she didn’t have to look at Kitsune. “When did you get so perceptive?”

“Being trapped in total darkness gives a pony a long time to think.” Kitsune replied as her pity gave away to understanding, and then to a neutral expression. “What’s the other part?”

“I’m not telling you.” Feral Lupus already felt she had shared way too much personal information and thankfully Kitsune didn’t press it. However, she did jump when she felt Kitsune’s hoof touching her cheek tenderly and she looked down at the mare.

“I’ll make a deal with you.” Kitsune said.

“Oh? You’ll make a deal with the devil?” Feral Lupus grinned and Kitsune nodded.

“You and I need each other, there’s no getting around that now. You get us out of here and not go after Princess Luna or my friends and I’ll… I’ll let you have control of my body whenever you want.”

“Whenever I want?”

“So long as it doesn’t get us in trouble or killed, and you can’t target my friends.”

“Some friends they are.”

“Feral….”

“Alright, touchy subject. What if I want to get bucked by all the Timberwolves in the Everfree forest?”

Kitsune looked down towards her tail. “That would explain all the leaves and twigs I always found in my tail.” She muttered before looking up again and raising her voice to normal. “Yes, if you really want that, fine.”

Feral Lupus looked at Kitsune for several minutes. “Now it’s my turn to ask a question.” Feral Lupus grinned as she locked their eyes. “Do you have the courage to ride with the devil?”

Kitsune didn’t reply, instead she leaned up and kissed Feral Lupus’ lips as everything around then turned white.

Shadow sensed movement a few seconds after she sucker punched Kitsune. “It’s good to see you again, Feral Lupus.”

“The feeling ain’t mutual, Shadow.” Feral Lupus said as she stood up and stretched her wings to their fullest before retracting them. “That felt good.”

“How did you get stuck inside a nice mare like that?” Shadow made a gagging sound as she found herself pinned to a wall with Feral Lupus’ hoof pressing against her throat.

“Trust me, you wouldn’t like the story.” Feral Lupus smirked though it was impossible to see and she removed her hoof.

Shadow massaged her throat for a moment. “Have you made your decision?”

“Helping you rookies would be much better than staying here for the rest of my life.” Feral Lupus admitted and felt Shadow’s hoof on her shoulder before feeling the familiar pull of shadow hopping.

The two emerged on top of one of the taller buildings to a setting sun with roughly three colors left in the sky before the sun would completely set. Opposite of the sun, a half-moon rose into the sky. “Welcome, Feral Lupus, to the eve of the battle.” Shadow said happily.

“I did it! …somehow.” Harmonious Flash rejoiced as she looked down at the game she had won. There was a triangular block of wood along with fifteen holes in it but there was only fourteen pegs. The object of the same was to take a peg and jump over another one to an empty hole until there was only one peg left and she managed to get it on the ninth try, often getting two or three pegs in the end.

“That’s great, Harmony.” Paige said as she levitated the pieces back into the game before sliding it away. “Now eat, your dinner is getting cold. The girls sat around a table eating dinner and though none of them had planned to continue the vacation this long, they had decided it would be better to head back to Ponyville the next day.

“I’m stuffed.” Blue Jay said leaning back with a content smile on her face as she looked at the sunset before sighing, noting there were only two colors left before the sun fully set. “Wish we weren’t going back tomorrow.”

“I understand the feeling.” Lyla Firecracker said reaching over the table and patting Blue Jay’s shoulder. “But we all agreed this would be for the best.” They made idle conversation until all four of them were finished and once they paid the bill, they got up and headed down the street.

“So what’s the plan then?” Blue Jay asked as the conversation came to a comfortable lull.

“Well, it is our last night Lyla Firecracker said as she looked around at the buildings. “Why don’t we walk around Canterlot and do the things that catch out interest until we get tired?”

The other three looked at each other and nodded. “Sure, not a bad way to end the night.” Paige replied as they walked by the store windows but sadly, it wasn’t meant to be as a pegasus landed a few pony length away behind them.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite plaything.” Feral Lupus chuckled and watched the reactions.

Blue Jay froze in mid-step as her eyes widened in fear when she instantly placed the voice. Her friends spun around and made a pony wall between Blue Jay and Feral Lupus.

“How did you get out?” Harmonious Flash growled.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Feral Lupus smirked, but it faded as her coat started changing colors. “No! You agreed-” She was cut off as Kitsune opened her bright blue eyes and smiled apologetically. “Sorry about that.”

“Kitsune?” Blue Jay asked as she turned around, having missed the transformation and expecting to see Feral Lupus instead.

“Yep! That’s me.” Kitsune walked up to the others and looked at each of them. “I guess I owe you an explanation.”

“That would be nice.” Lyla Firecracker muttered.

Kitsune walked over to a bench placed on the sidewalk and sat down before telling the girls about the events that had only taken place shortly before hoof.

“Why not tell the princesses?” Harmonious Flash asked when Kitsune was finished.

“Are you kidding me?” Kitsune asked. “They would have put me right back in the dungeon.”

“Okay, point. But why us?”

“Well… you’re my friends.” Kitsune missed the uncomfortable glance that passed between them. “I just thought it would be fair so you could escape before the fighting starts.”

“So, why not leave with us?” Paige asked.

“Because… we owe the Shadowbolts our freedom.” Things got quiet around them to the point where a pin could be heard. “Either side I choose, I’ll be hunted by the other. But by choosing the Shadowbolt side, I can help them save Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon.”

Blue Jay stepped up to Kitsune and put a hoof onto her shoulder. “Kitsune, do you really believe the Shadowbolts want to save Princess Luna, or bring back Nightmare Moon?”

“I… I…” Kitsune stuttered.”

“Better make that choice fast. We got company!” Lyla Firecracker gasped as she pointed to the sky as Shadowbolts swarmed Canterlot.
In the blink of an eye, there was total chaos in the streets with ponies running about seeking shelter, shop shades being pulled down, doors were being locked and lights being turned off all along the street.

Seeing a Shadowbolt flying towards a filly, Blue Jay flapped her wings hard flying and successfully pushing the filly out of harm’s way but got hit by the Shadowbolt hard enough it sent her bouncing across the ground a few times.

“Blue Jay!” her friends shouted with Paige running after her. “Are you alright?” Paige asked as she helped Blue Jay back to her hooves.

“Yeah, cobblestones aren’t the softest thing to land on.” Blue Jay joked. She was sure there would be a few bruises but otherwise she would be fine.

“I’ll make sure to remember that.” Paige smiled back as they rejoined their friends.

“You did it now plot-hats!” Kitsune shouted at the Shadowbolts as Blue Jay and Paige made their way back over. “You don’t hurt Blue Jay unless you want me to beat you within an inch of your life!”

“Um… Kitsune… that sounds like something Feral Lupus would say.” Harmonious Flash pointed out.

“We’re the same pony after all.” Kitsune replied and before Harmonious Flash could counter that, Kitsune’s eyes glowed white. Her brown mane grew longer with the blue tips becoming navy in color accompanied by the navy stripe. Half the tips and the stripe glowed pale blue with the moonlight. Ash grey wings appeared on her cream color body before they spread themselves out. Her pale orange stomach and neck darkened to ash grey to match her wings. Her cutie mark changed to be a mask partially blending into a grey wing. Her hooves became light brown with a little ash grey just above them spiraling upward until it reached the halfway point of her legs. When the light died down, the left eye was navy blue while the right eye remained bright blue.

“I’ll make you regret hurting her.” Kitsune told them, though it was a mixture of hers and Feral Lupus’ voice speaking in unison. Standing on her rear-hooves, she stood sideways and pointed a wing at them, letting the top feather point upwards, the second top feather pointing straight and the rest of them perpendicular to her wing. “Now, count up your sins.”

The twenty or so Shadowbolts glanced at each other before they followed their orders to clear the streets of any and all ponies. Except they hadn’t counted on the five ponies to fight back and eventually the Shadowbolts were defeated.

“I think it’s safe to say, we’re a part of this now.” Blue Jay panted as she walked away from the last Shadowbolt she had managed to trick into flying into the wall.

“We could have avoided this if we left yesterday.” Harmonious Flash teased and nudged Blue Jay’s side. “But noooo, we had to stay an extra day.” She finished and Blue Jay just stuck her tongue out.

Four pegasi and one alicorn touched down in the street not too far from them with Feral Lupus recognizing Shadow and Fainthoof. “I take it you’re the Shadowbolt leader?” She asked Frost Aura, given he seemed the most likely choice by being in the middle.

The sun had nearly set, most of the sky having turned black except for a splash of color near the horizon and on a cloud sat Frost Aura, White Rose, Neon Echo and Serenity Dreams. “Couldn’t we just start the attack now?”

“We could, Serenity Dreams.” Frost Aura replied. “But we’ll wait until night time, after all, Nightmare Moon wanted more ponies to enjoy her beautiful nights.” He would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited for this battle as well.

“Frost Aura.” Shadow alerted them to her presence as she slipped out of the cloud’s shadow. “Feral Lupus has agreed to fight with us.”

“Yet she’s not with you.” Frost Aura pointed out.

“Because she wanted to surprise somepony, her… favorite plaything… she said before flying away.” Shadow hung her head, worried that Frost Aura would see it as a partial failure for not bringing Feral Lupus straight to him.

Frost Aura stared at Shadow for a few seconds, then shrugged. “Oh well, as long as she joins us for the battle. You did well, Shadow.” As he praised her, he saw her head come up and noticed Fainthoof coming into view.” And what have you found out, Fainthoof?”

“The Harmony Element Bearers are currently at the Crystal Empire.” Fainthoof told him, not liking the fact he had to spy for the enemy. “Luna has meetings all night and Celestia is currently sleeping.”

“Good. I’m sure Luna would be glad for any excuse to escape those boring meetings.” Frost Aura grinned and turned to White Rose. “Gather our comrades near the Wonderbolt Academy, it’s time.”

“Yes, master.” White Rose bowed before jumping off the cloud and shadow hopping.

Frost Aura waited until fifteen minutes once the sun fully set. “As Serenity Dreams is itching for the fight, she can have the honor of starting it.”

“ALRIGHT!” Serenity Dreams cheered and shadowed hopped to the mansion while the rest watched the night life of Canterlot come to life. They didn’t have to wait long as Serenity Dreams emerged shortly after with at least four hundred Shadowbolts.

Fainthoof’s jaw dropped as he saw the pegasi hovering in the sky awaiting for orders. He knew there probably would have been a lot, but his estimate was way lower than what was before him. He had been stunned silent that he nearly missed Frost Aura giving him a command. He gave the first twenty-two the specific road that the closest secret entrance was.

“Thank you. First twenty-two, clear the street of any and all ponies. Now, go.” Frost Aura said as they dived down for that street. He looked at the rest of the assembled Shadowbolts. “The rest of you, attack the other side of Canterlot first. Show no mercy to those who resist. After ten minutes, feel free to spread out over the entire city.” Frost Aura watched as the Shadowbolts saluted before flying to the far side of Canterlot.
“My friends, I think it’s time to pay the princess a visit.” Neon Echo suggested as they were the last ones.

“Yes, my thoughts exactly.” Frost Aura agreed before leading them off the cloud heading towards the correct street.

Author's Notes:

I don't own My Little Pony, Hasbro does.

The OC's and Shadowbolts OC's are mine though.
Except for Fainthoof. He belongs to Damien, a good friend of mine.

Also, the awesome artwork goes to Jesuka Jester (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/jesuka/)