“H-help!” The pink-maned, yellow coated mare screamed in her innocent, frightened voice. Her blue eyes were quivering in fear of the mare in front of her… All around her, horrible things she had never dreamed of were happening. She found herself backed into the corner of the living room in her tree home, an angry mare closing in on her slowly and eerily.

“There’s no one to help you, Fluttershy. Just calm down and be a good mare…” The pink-maned, pink coated party pony took slow, drawn-out steps toward her friend. Instead of her usual light blue eyes, she had larger black pupils and irises that seemed almost colorless.

“P-Pinkie Pie…what are y-you doing?” Fluttershy opened her right wing and propped it over her eyes, trying to somehow disappear from the situation she was in. She let out a quiet squeak of fear before cowering even lower to the floor.

Pinkie Pie picked up her pace only slightly, drawing closer as she giggled, “Nothing for you to be too worried about…” She let her face stretch into a creepy, psychotic grin.

Pinkie Pie stopped after a few more steps to pick up the butter knife that was lying on the table. She scanned it over, and her eerie grin grew wider. Fluttershy immediately knew what Pinkie intended on doing with the knife, and let out another fearful scream.

“Aw, c’mon Fluttershy! It won’t hurt that bad… Or maybe it will… Either way, it’ll be fun!” Pinkie Pie launched herself at Fluttershy, the butter knife pointing straight outward. Although not the sharpest weapon, anything can penetrate the skin when thrust with enough force.

Fluttershy let out one final desperate squeal before a loud thud knocked her onto her side. She carefully retracted her wing to see what had happened. She didn’t feel any pain, so maybe Pinkie had missed. Well, she was almost right… In front of her she saw a massive heap of red and pink laying on the floor.

“Fluttershy, get outta here! Ya gotta git to the Princess!” The orange-maned, red coated stallion screamed at her, his green eyes filled with fear and anger. Before he had time to refocus his attention on Pinkie, she tossed him aside as if he were a blanket. Whatever had gotten into her had given her supernatural strength.

Fluttershy backed up slowly as she nodded and thought about what was happening. “O-okay! The Princess, r-right! Thanks Big Mac…” When Pinkie tossed Big Macintosh off of her, Fluttershy decided it was time to high-tail it out of there. She opened her wings and flew higher and faster than she ever had before.

Normally, Fluttershy wasn’t much for flying fast, or at high altitudes. However, after what she had witnessed, and seeing all the chaos below her, she knew she had no choice but to get to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. If anyone could fix this mess, it would be the Princess…

There comes a time in every pony’s life when they must realize that life isn’t all daffodils and rainbows. For some ponies, this realization can be devastating. For others, it’s hardly a bother. Imagine that, though. To live your life happily living with all your friends and family, only to suddenly be ripped from the comfort of your dreamland into the nightmare that is reality. To some ponies, it can be an event traumatic enough for them to never recover…

Of course, at the same time, you can safely say that all ponies have to face something sad and traumatic at some point in their lives. Some ponies can tolerate this trauma, whereas others are swallowed whole by it. But regardless of some traumatic event or sad happening, there is a little shadow that lurks deep within every pony that lives. Any pony that lives holds at least a small shadow locked within their hearts.

For some, this shadow never sees the light of day. For others, it consumes them, and destroys them piece by piece. Most ponies are never forced to confront this shadow, as in the country of Equestria most things are peaceful and full of happiness. But for the few who do have to face their own shadows… well, it more often than not ends badly. It’s very rare, really, to see a pony face their inner shadow and come out on top, completely unaltered from their previous state of mind.

Keeping in mind that everypony has a small shadow inside them that they more than likely won’t ever have to face, what would happen if that shadow suddenly emerged for no reason? What if there were no traumatic events or sad occasions to bring the shadow out? What if the shadows just suddenly…emerged…one by one in each and every pony? What would any one pony be able to do to stop the madness that would emerge?

Well, there was one pony that had to face this reality. She was the only pony immune to the shadow in her own heart. She was forced to single-handedly shed light on the shadows that consumed all of her friends and neighbors. Of course, I can’t guarantee she succeeded. All I can say is that she had to fight, not only for her friends, but for the entirety of Equestria. To her, it all seemed like a bad dream. Everything was perfectly normal, when suddenly ponies began to freak out. Without warning, she was thrown into the chaos and evil of the shadows of everypony…

The pony I’m talking about is, of course, one we all know and love. One we would never expect to have to take on such a horrific reality. All of her friends called her Fluttershy. I think we will as well. Now, please keep in mind that I cannot guarantee just yet whether or not she succeeded in stopping these shadows, but for all intents and purposes, let’s stay on the positive side.

To Fluttershy, nothing would have been better than to wake up in her bed, finding out that all of this was just a nightmare. Sadly, she wasn’t going to wake up from a nightmare, because the events transpiring in front of her were real. And real scary. She found herself fighting her old friends, animals, and her very own Princess…

Perhaps I’m getting too far ahead of myself here? I might want to explain just exactly how all this mess started. In fact, let me go ahead and do that…

Let me see, just how did all this start? Oh yes, of course! After the events that transpired in Canterlot during Princess Cadence and Shining Armor’s wedding, the crystal mines underneath Canterlot were reopened for excavation by Princess Celestia. Of course, there wasn’t much in them aside from, well, crystals.

After about two months of excavating and finding nothing other than crystals, Celestia decided it best to close the mines once again. But there was one pony that just couldn’t give up the excavating. He had a feeling in his gut that there was something down there. Something more valuable and important to the Equestrian history books than crystals. After much debate between himself and Celestia, she decided to allow him and his team exclusive access to the mines.

Let’s just call this pony ‘Captain,’ because he won’t be around too much longer. So Captain and his team of miners- the best in Equestria, by the way- continued digging ever deeper into the mines. After another week of digging, Captain’s team had all but given up hope of ever finding anything in the abandoned mines. I mean, they had to be abandoned for a reason, right?

It was early on a Sunday morning, and rain was pouring from the clouds overhead. The miners didn’t want to work that day, but Captain corralled them into the mines. Today was their last day to find something, or else Celestia was sealing the mines for good. Captain wasn’t about to have wasted all those resources and hours working to leave empty-hoofed.

Captain and his team were at the very bottom of the mines. This was the only area they hadn’t yet surveyed all the way throughout. If there wasn’t something here, there was nothing anywhere. They split up into three groups, each scouring different corners of the triangular chamber.

After an hour of searching, Captain called his group to the center of the chamber, and regretfully called off the expedition. He had seen enough to know that it was a fruitless effort. He hung his head low, and some of his team members could have sworn he was crying. Of course he would be crying. After spending all that time looking for something that wasn’t there, who wouldn’t be sad?

His sorrow was interrupted when a scream echoed loudly from deeper within the chamber. The dim light given off by their lamps wasn’t enough to cover the entire area, but it was obvious where the scream came from. A few meters north of where the team was standing, a stallion charged from a hole in the crystalline wall. The stallion was all in a fit, cut up and covered in dirt. He barely took notice of Captain and the rest of his teammates; that is until he rammed head first into one of them.

Captain took the initiative, trotting forward to speak to the spooked stallion. “What’s wrong, man? What happened back there?” Captain’s voice cracked as he asked, seeing the expression on the stallion’s face.

“I-We found something, Captain! Some sort of statue! Come quick, you gotta see this!” The stallion hopped to his hooves and took off back the way he came from. Captain and the others quickly followed. In his mind, Captain was already planning his speech to Celestia about how he was right about the mines.

After passing through the narrow hole into a hidden chamber behind the main one they were just in, every last pony stopped dead in their tracks as a shimmering light came into view. The light was being emitted by a giant sapphire in the center of the chamber. The small beam of sunlight shining down through the hole in the ceiling of the cave hit just the right spot to send light refracting all over the area.

But it wasn’t the sapphire that caught Captain’s attention. In the center of the sapphire, as if suspended in midair or gelatin, a small statuette floated up and down mere centimeters from its focal point. The statuette had a strange glow around it, visible through even the sapphire’s own glow. Captain approached the sapphire with curiosity and caution.

Captain couldn’t resist placing a hoof on the sapphire once he reached it. It was in his nature to examine and survey. Sadly, this one instance of instinct cost him dearly. As soon as his hoof touched the gemstone, it jumped up his arm. As if it were some sort of sentient blob, the sapphire quickly traveled up Captain’s arm, locking him in place. It continued to spread all over his body, until he was completely encased in the gemstone’s hard surface and glow.

“Captain!” The stallion that had led them to this chamber screamed in awe and disgust.

It was too late, though. The sapphire had swallowed Captain. Just like the statuette, he was suspended within it. He still had limited movement, but no sound escaped the gem. He mouthed the words “Run away!” over and over again. His team heeded the command, and turned to run. When they turned, the sapphire shined once more in a deep blue glow, then shattered to pieces.

The ponies all turned around and watched as shards of the gemstone floated to the ground. There was no trace of Captain anywhere in the chamber. However, in the exact same spot it had been before, the statuette sat still, emitting its glow even brighter now. The stallion that had discovered the chamber took careful steps up to the statuette, trying to examine it better. Upon closer inspection, he could make out features on the stone idol.

It was shaped just like a normal pony, except it stood on its hind hooves. It was holding up something that resembled the sun, or maybe the moon. Heck, it could have been both. As the group of ponies walked up to the statue to investigate for themselves, a voice began to speak to them. It was a faint, hollow, eerie voice.

“Thank you, my silly little ponies. Perhaps your curiosity shall still yet be my salvation… But at what cost to you?” The statue shined brightly as the voice rang out. Then, suddenly, the statue vanished into thin air. All of the ponies looked around at one another. As if they all had the same thought at the same time, they turned and darted toward the exit of the chamber.

They didn’t stop running until they were in the safety and familiarity of the Canterlot Gardens. They thought they were safe in the gardens, away from whatever that thing was. And then the stallion who had investigated the statue collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud. The other ponies began to freak out again. They gathered around the stallion, asking questions, frantically hoping for an answer that never came.

Then the stallion moved his front left hoof up, as if to say “Shut up.” He slowly opened his eyes and lifted himself onto all four hooves. The other ponies calmed down and sighed in relief. The stallion started laughing hysterically, looking at each of his teammates. They started looking at him as if he were crazy, and slowly started to walk away.

The stallion finished laughing and spoke, in the same tone as the statuette, “Thanks again, silly ponies. I do have to congratulate you on doing what no other pony has ever done. Oh, by the way, your Captain… He ain’t coming back. Sorry about that, but sacrifices must be made, right?”

“Who…What are you?!” Another stallion in the group stamped his hoof into the grass defiantly.

The stallion laughed, “Me? You can call me Feilbach. That was my name before I was placed in that damnable prison so many millennia ago…” He looked to the sky, as if to absorb the fresh air and rain.

“F-Feilbach?” The defiant stallion repeated.

Feilbach grinned slyly and chuckled, “If that’s too hard to remember, you can just call me ‘Master’!” A blast of black smoke poured from his mouth, entering the other stallion. After a minute of choking and screaming, the other stallion went limp.

“What…the…?” A mare from the team fell to the ground in shock.

Feilbach turned to her. “Care to join him?” he asked hollowly. Smoke poured from his mouth again and entered her. She too struggled for a few moments, and then fell limp just like the stallion. Suddenly, a huge cloud poured from Feilbach and entered the few ponies that had not yet run away.

The first stallion rose to his hooves, eyes colorless aside from faint grey irises and large black pupils. “What is your wish, Master Feilbach?” The stallion’s voice was hollow, just like his master. The rest of the ponies rose to their hooves and asked the same question.

Feilbach smiled a wide grin, his eyes now a crimson red color. He laughed, “Bring me more vessels for my Shadows. The children are getting hungry!” He disappeared into a ball of black smoke, and flew into the sky, en route toward the castle.

The other ponies nodded to their disappearing master, and began a slow jog into the surrounding residential areas of Canterlot. Their eyes were faded, they smiles twisted, their intentions cruel. They had orders to follow, and follow them they shall. It wasn’t long before all of Canterlot had been possessed by the strange black smoke Feilbach had spawned. In fact, it didn’t take long for the Shadows to reach neighboring cities.

In a matter of two hours, almost all of Equestria had been infected. Feilbach’s minions were efficient, to say the least. You may be wondering what Celestia and Luna were doing during all of this ‘infection’ nonsense, right? Well, we’ll get to them shortly. After all, how bad could things have really gotten in two hours? Celestia has the power to raise the sun itself, surely a few Shadows wouldn’t bother her too bad, right?

…Right?

Now that I’ve explained how it started, let’s get back to our protagonist, shall we? We last left Fluttershy as she fled from Ponyville, en route to Canterlot to meet with Princess Celestia. Of course, she wasn’t the first one that day to go to the castle. However, she was the only one not infected by the Shadows to go to the castle.

Fluttershy kept her eyes glued to the world below her as she flew as fast as she could. She scanned for any pony that wasn’t already taken by the Shadows. Maybe she could save them… Just the thought of being a heroine made her shiver in fear. She never would have guessed she would be left alone, without Rainbow Dash or Rarity by her side. She knew that whatever was happening in Ponyville must have reached other areas as well.

Keeping that in her mind, she wasn’t surprised when she saw the chaos and rubble that was once Canterlot. She slowed her pace as she approached the city, once again keeping an eye out for any other normal pony. As she flew overhead, the ponies below her stared up at her, giving the evilest glares they could. They didn’t attempt to attack her. They didn’t try to possess her as they had the others. They just watched as she flew through the busted front gate of Canterlot Castle.

Fluttershy decided it best to walk through the castle, so as not to draw too much attention from the inhabitants. She noticed they were all just like Pinkie Pie had been. Their irises faded, their pupils large, evil grins covering their faces. She continued to trot through the corridors, searching for Celestia’s chambers, hoping she would find a shining light, instead of a dark shadow. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her fear began to settle in.

With each step she took, her nerves got worse and worse. She wanted nothing more than to go home and stay safe in her house. But she knew that was impossible. There was no safe place now. She continued along her way, ignoring the sneers and laughs of the possessed ponies. Finally, she came to a large, wooden door. She knew immediately that this was Celestia’s chambers, and swallowed her fear once more, throwing open the doors with all her force, eyes shut tightly. She couldn’t bear to look at whatever awaited her.

“Ah, so you’re the pony my minions have been going on about, eh? Kinda cute, if I do say so myself…” A stallion greeted her with a hollow, sinister laugh.

Fluttershy’s eyes darted open, and she scanned the room in front of her for everything she could find. Her eyes first caught on the stallion who had greeted her. His eyes were similar to the other possessed ponies, but there was a greater sense of evil in them. She then noticed something that sent her heart to her throat: The bodies of two familiar alicorns lying on the floor behind the stallion.

Fluttershy’s voice squeaked uncontrollably as she stuttered, “P-Princess C-Celestia?! L-Luna?! Wh-what happened h-here?” Her knees began to buckle, but she caught herself and cleared her throat. She looked directly at the stallion, “Who are you?”

The stallion replied with a chuckle, “And such a majestic voice, to boot! Heehee, I’m almost glad you’re immune… Nonetheless, your precious princesses are no more. Though I do feel I’m in need of a better-suited body. Perhaps Celestia’s will do? Or maybe Luna’s? I always did like black better than white. What do you think, Flutter-”

“Who…are…you?” Fluttershy demanded.

The stallion sighed, and took a few steps closer to Fluttershy. He smiled as he said, “My name is Feilbach. I am the King of the Shadows. And this…is my world now.” His voice suddenly grew even more eerie than before. Fluttershy’s knees finally gave out on her at the sound of his evil voice.

She struggled to stand back up, but it was to no avail. Feilbach proceeded closer to her, all the while admiring her qualities. She finally managed to squeak, “Why are you d-doing this?”

Feilbach replied bluntly, “Because it’s fun. Besides, payback is a bitch, right?” He laughed once more, realizing he was being impolite to his guest. “Heehee. Guess I should complement your courage, Fluttershy. You truly are brave to trot up in my castle and question my motives.”

Fluttershy finally managed to stand up. She screamed at him, “How dare you do this to my friends!?” Suddenly, Feilbach lunged backwards, taken aback by this sudden burst of anger.

He then laughed, “Dear sweet Fluttershy, anger doesn’t suit you. You’re too beautiful for anger. Wouldn’t want a young grey mane to ruin your beauty, would you?” He stepped backwards, standing behind Luna’s body. “Behold, as I, Lord Feilbach, dispose of this useless stallion’s corpse and take on a more appropriate form!”

Fluttershy watched as a gigantic black ball of smoke ripped itself from the stallion’s chest and flew into Luna’s nostrils. In an instant, the stallion disappeared into thin air, and Luna came to life. Her pupils were identical to the stallion’s…

Luna’s body adjusted itself to the new soul, and Feilbach cried, “Ah, much better! More power! Less limits! An alicorn beats a regular pony any day!”

“Why are you doing this?” Fluttershy asked again, nearly in tears. She couldn’t accept the horrible truth in front of her.

“I enjoy this. It’s been millennia since I’ve been able to do it. Stealing souls, feeding my children… I love it! The Shadows love it too…” Feilbach laughed, his voice becoming deeper than before.

Fluttershy held in a sad moan, the sound of Feilbach’s voice causing the fear in her heart to increase tenfold. She stamped her hoof and screamed, “What the hell are you?!” Her own mind was confused by what she had just said. Such vulgar words she had never been tempted to use before. What was happening to her?

“Anger truly doesn’t suit you. Your words ring hollow. Your curses are blank. You are too pure for your own good, my pony. I can see how you are immune. Dear Princess Cadence was almost immune. But her hatred for the Changeling Queen allowed me to take a hold of her. But you hold no hatred. How can this be?” Feilbach raised his front hoof, examining his new body carefully, checking for flaws. He was nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

“Ca…dence? She’s gone…too?” Fluttershy’s anger subsided, making room for renewed sadness.

A voice sprang up behind her, startling her out of her sorrow. It sounded gentle, “Of course not! Don’t let his lies get to you!” It was Cadence’s voice, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Another voice followed, “You have to leave now, Fluttershy! You have to save yourself!” Shining Armor’s voice rang out in the empty chamber.

Fluttershy scanned the room with her eyes, looking for any sign of the two ponies who had spoken. She couldn’t see them, but their voices rang with an echo of truth. They were themselves, or so it seemed. That comforted her either way, as she stepped backwards toward the door. In a split second, she broke the silent stare of Feilbach, and darted toward the door.

“Uh-uh-uh. I’m not finished with you, my little pony…” A black substance shot from Feilbach’s new horn, and suddenly the room was covered in the black smoke. All the exits were blocked and sealed. Fluttershy was stuck in the room with this monster and his victims.

Feilbach conjured a silver orb from his chest. The orb shined brightly like a mirror, and Fluttershy could see her reflection in it. Distracted by the glow, she didn’t even notice the black gunk engulfing her body. It consumed her, all the way to her head. It wasn’t painful, nor was it uncomfortable. It was only meant to hold her still. Feilbach carried the orb over to her. She was soon staring herself in the face.

“Wouldn’t you like to see what happened to your precious Princesses? Sol, Luna, Love…such a beautiful triad, eh?” Feilbach laughed as Fluttershy was pulled into the silver orb.

“See you soon, my little pony…”

“Yes, I hope to see you very soon, my little pony. Please, don’t do anything rash on the other side.” Feilbach whispered into Fluttershy’s ear as the silver orb absorbed her into it. The black gunk holding her back evaporated as it touched the orb, releasing its grip on her.

As quickly as she went through the orb, she was spit out on the other side. She found herself on the floor in the corner of Celestia’s chambers. It was the exact same room as moments ago, but it felt different. There was no evil, no sorrow, just peace and happiness. The room was normal enough. Celestia and Luna sat at table in the far corner of the room, drinking what smelled like freshly boiled herbal tea. Fluttershy noted how toned down the room looked. The colors were faded, as if trying to leave the room itself.

She couldn’t quite understand what the two were talking about. Their voices echoed wildly in the strange room. After a few minutes of wandering around the room, the door swung open and in walked Cadence with Shining Armor holding her hand. They sat down at the table with the other two and proceeded to discuss something that felt…important. Fluttershy couldn’t figure out what was going on or where she was, but she knew it was important. Important enough to warrant her attention. She tried as hard as she could to listen to the ponies’ conversation, but the echo was too disorienting.

Just as suddenly as Cadence had showed up, the door flew open once more. This time, the figure in the doorway was greeted with apprehension- an uninvited guest. It was a stallion, similar in size and shape to the one Fluttershy had seen moments ago. As soon as the stallion crossed the threshold into the room, all the colors returned to normal, and the sound became steady. The ponies didn’t seem to notice her at all, but instead directed their words at the stallion.

Celestia stepped forward, her multicolored mane and white coat shining in the light that fell through the window. She commanded, “Explain yourself, young stallion. Why have you barged into my private chambers?” Her tone was annoyed, and her expression angry.

The stallion spoke, in an all-too-familiar hollow ring, “I am but a loyal subject, Your Highness. I merely seek a counsel with my dear Princesses…” Feilbach bowed, a suspicious grin growing on his face.

“Rise, and speak, stallion.” Cadence spoke up before Celestia, trying to avoid inevitable conflict of interest.

Feilbach stood up on all four hooves, his grin even wider than before. He laughed, “My dear Princess Cadence, thank you for your kindness. However, your hospitality is…foolish…” A burst of smoke flew from Feilbach’s mouth, passing into Cadence. She began choking and collapsed onto the floor.

“Cadence!” Shining Armor dropped onto the ground to examine his wife. After a few moments, she stopped choking, and was able to stand again.

Luna’s eyes lit up bright white, her mane rising upward, as she commanded, “Explain thyself, stallion! What is the meaning behind this treason?”

Fluttershy watched as Cadence’s eyes altered form into that of the other possessed ponies. She tried to warn the others, but she couldn’t make a sound. Smoke flew from Cadence and engulfed Armor and Celestia, both of which were powerless against the evil it contained. The smoke tried to swallow Luna, but her already engaged power drove it back. Feilbach laughed maniacally as Luna shot wave after wave of magic at him, his smoke deflecting it. All he needed to do was wait for her to get tired. His smoke would do the rest.

Fluttershy watched in horror as minutes passed. Luna was steadily growing weaker, unable to continue blocking the black smoke. Her form reverted back into a normal alicorn, and the smoke quickly enveloped her. Feilbach laughed again, as he withdrew the smoke from his victims. He had done enough damage to paralyze them, but he didn’t want them as slaves.

“You ponies are useless to me. I cannot risk possessing you, because you might break free. But if I kill you…then the threat is gone. Oh, I have the perfect idea! Heehee, I can banish your souls to another realm, and dispose of your bodies! Without a body, you won’t be able to return!” Feilbach laughed as he ripped the silver orb from his chest, just as he had done earlier.

Fluttershy watched as something was ripped from Cadence, Armor, and Celestia and pulled into the orb. Cadence and Armor’s bodies disappeared into thin air, while Celestia’s remained unscathed. Luna seemed almost fine. Nothing was stolen from her. Was it on purpose?

Luna managed to raise herself to her hind hooves. She spoke softly, “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” She collapsed again.

“I am Lord Feilbach, King of the Shadows. And you are a worthless alicorn. A descendant of the ones who banished me into that damned idol. Now you and all your subjects shall pay. No, the whole world will pay!” With that, something was ripped from Luna and sucked into the orb, just like the others. Her body also remained where it was.

Fluttershy watched all this in horror. To see how easily the rulers of the country- the alicorns that controlled the sun and moon- were defeated frightened her even more. If Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were so easily beaten, then what made her immune to these Shadows?

Suddenly, the door burst open once again. Feilbach turned around with a grin on his face. “Ah, so you’re the pony my minions have been going on about, eh? Kinda cute, if I do say so myself…” He turned to face Fluttershy, while the room around them melted away into nothingness.

“Wh-what is this place?” Fluttershy asked him, knowing that he was real.

Feilbach transformed back into Luna’s body. He laughed, “The past. How does that feel, Fluttershy? Mere seconds before you arrived, I disposed of your dear sweet princesses… The triad of Sol, Luna, and Love has been busted, shattered, and destroyed. And now, there is nothing standing in my way. Not even you can stop me, surely you see that.”

Fluttershy nodded regretfully. “Of course I can’t. Not after what you did to them…” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Do you hate me, Fluttershy? Do you want me to die now? Do you think I deserve a fate worse than death because of what I’ve done?” Feilbach laughed again, a gleam in his red eyes.

Fluttershy looked him in those red eyes. She smiled as she said, “Of course I don’t hate you…”

Feilbach recoiled at those words. “What do you mean you don’t hate me?! After everything I’ve done, you don’t want me dead?! What the hell?” Feilbach gripped his head, trying to regain his composure.

“I can’t hate you. According to what you said, you have grudge because of something someone did to you. I can’t hate you for wanting revenge. I don’t think what you’ve done is acceptable, but I can’t hate you.” Her eyes cleared of tears, and her smile became genuine. She looked at Feilbach as if he were just some misunderstood kid.

Feilbach returned the look with disgust. “Bah! You can’t hate me… So, that explains why you’re immune. You’re pure, almost one-hundred percent. This is making me sick. The Shadows feed on anger and hatred. But you hold neither of those emotions. You are too pure for your own good, pony. Very well then, if I cannot possess you, I shall leave you here, all alone for an eternity. Perhaps then you may see why I feel this way…” Feilbach took a few steps back and vanished. Fluttershy was left there, in an endless void of nothing, alone.

She felt sad, scared, and nervous, but she was not mad. That’s what made her immune to the Shadows. She didn’t hate. She accepted what was given to her as it was. But now she was alone, unable to help anyone, unable to save anyone. She began to cry.

After minutes passed, a voice called out to her,

“The one immune to darkness, save us from this mess!”

“The one immune to darkness, save us from this mess!”

Suddenly, colors appeared around her, figures and shapes taking form. The smell of incense was strong, and a source of great heat was nearby. Fluttershy blinked a few times, and found herself in an old shack. It felt real to her... The bed was soft and fluffy, the incense had a strong smell, and the sound of ponies talking on the other side of the wall was almost surreal.

Fluttershy lifted herself out of the bed she was lying in. She looked around, wondering not only where she was, but also if any of that had been real. A small bamboo door flew open just as she hopped out of the bed and onto her hooves. The unexpected door nearly made her jump back into the bed.

“Fluttershy!” A purple-maned, purple coat mare darted across the hut and gave Fluttershy an incredibly tight bear-hug. The hug was so tight that it knocked the breath out of her.

“Twilight Sparkle your enthusiasm needs taming. Your friend there is not ripe for the naming…” A zebra followed Twilight through the door, wrapped in an orange cloak.

“Twilight…Zecora…You two are okay?” Fluttershy’s eyes began to tear up, and her knees gave out on her. She collapsed to the floor in a fit of comfort and happiness. At least two of her friends were okay.

Zecora spoke up, “Perhaps I was wrong, you friend’s will is strong.”

Twilight and Zecora sat down beside Fluttershy, and they started talking about what was happening all over the world. Fluttershy explained everything she had seen and done, while the other two recounted tales of the events that transpired over the last hour or two. It turned out that everything was wrecked. There were hardly any normal ponies left in Ponyville. Twilight was the only one left. Her and Zecora, anyway.

“You are brave, dear pony. But we must be alert for a phony…” Zecora looked out of her window. She didn’t want to let her guard down at all.

Twilight thought about everything Fluttershy told her. “So…Celestia, Luna, and Cadence are all…gone? But then, how can we stop this mad-” In mid-sentence, the door to the hut slammed open, and a stallion trotted right on in. “Big Macintosh!” Twilight exclaimed.

Big Mac approached Twilight, a sinister grin on his face. Fluttershy recognized that evil grin, and leaped into action. Taking a small handful of crushed herbs and peppers, she tossed them onto Big Mac’s face, stopping him dead in his tracks. He let out a loud, ear-piercing yell. Both Twilight and Zecora looked at Fluttershy as if she were insane.

Twilight screamed, “What did you do that for?!”

Fluttershy stamped her hoof, “He’s one of them… The Shadows that Feilbach made…” She pointed at his faded irises as he grasped his face.

He calmed himself down, and chuckled; “Now Fluttershy, ya shouldn’t ta done that. Eeyup…” Big Mac charged at her, tackling her against the wall of the shack.

Twilight didn’t hesitate as she placed a magical grip over Big Mac, throwing him across the room and back through the door. Zecora watched as Twilight took initiative. Fluttershy got back on her hooves, wincing at the pain in her side.

“Twilight…Zecora…you two need to run, now!” She screamed as loud as the pain would let her.

Twilight scoffed, “And leave you here alone, are you crazy?” Fluttershy shot her a menacing glare, and Twilight realized she was serious. Zecora abandoned her cauldron, took Twilight by the mane, and off she went, deeper into the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy limped out of the shack, the pain bringing tears to her eyes. She felt comforted by the fact that Twilight and Zecora escaped. Before she could revel in it, smoke wafted past her nose, and she started choking…

It wasn’t Feilbach’s smoke. It was real smoke- fire smoke! Fluttershy turned around to see the trees behind her burst into flames. The fire spread to all the surrounding trees, and a few embers reached Zecora’s shack. Suddenly, Fluttershy realized that the only way to get out of here…would be to go through the fire. Up, out, or over, she would have to touch the flames. The thought made her side sting even worse.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her wings, ignoring her pain, and shot up into the air, doing so in a spiral motion so as not to catch fire herself. With minimal effort and damage, she was above the forest, looking down on the yellow-orange glow of the flames that were killing so many of the woodland creatures she loved so much. She thought to herself that this was all Feilbach’s fault. He did this.

She quickly flew over the forest and into Ponyville, hoping to find just one hidden pony. Any pony that wasn’t possessed. Just one… After surveying the area for a few minutes, she decided it was a lost cause. She thought about Twilight and Zecora, and realized they were inside the Everfree Forest. She darted back toward the forest, heading in the direction the duo had ran off in…

Before she made it very far, a large tree went flying towards her as super-high speed, and she took the blow full force… It knocked her unconscious, and she fell right out of the sky into the fountain that sits in the center of Ponyville…

A cloud of black smoke formed in front of the fountain. Feilbach took shape as Luna, and began speaking to Fluttershy. “This was fun, little pony. Your imagination is definitely something to behold. Very well then, it is apparent that, even left unattended, you are unable to stop me. Come back to your own world, and rejoice in the chaos that is the Shadows…”

Feilbach’s voice faded out slowly, repeating that last word over and over again…

When Fluttershy opened her eyes, she was back in Celestia’s chambers, still stuck in the black gunk that held her in place before her journey into the orb. “What…is this…?” She asked softly, her mind still affixed to the fantasy she had just lived.

Feilbach grunted, “Your grave, my pony. Everypony’s grave. Just as I have done to Cadence and Celestia, so I shall do with everyone. And once this world is gone, I can return to my rest, and be happy again…” He turned to face her.

“All that was a dream…? But why?” Fluttershy struggled to get free.

Feilbach grinned, “Because, that realm is one of nightmares. Your worst fears come to life. And your worst fear is being abandoned by your friends. You fear being alone. Well, my little pony, that is one thing you most certainly are: Alone. Give up any misguided hopes that any other pony remains. You are alone here in this world. The only pony not controlled by my Shadows. Forgive me if I come off as rude, but you can kiss your hopes of saving everyone goodbye…” Feilbach trailed off here, his attention being diverted toward something moving behind him.

Fluttershy watched as small shining gemstone flew through the open window at the back of the chamber, piercing straight through Feilbach’s smoke and ooze, ridding the room of all the smoke. The blow the gemstone dealt to Feilbach made him collapse to the ground, paralyzed. The ooze holding Fluttershy evaporated, and she immediately fled the room. A deep, angry voice called after her.

“Run all you want, pony. You can’t save this world. No one, nothing, can…”

It was a cool, sunny summer’s day. To most ponies, this was a day to be spent with friends and family, relaxing in the shade of a tree with a picnic basket and blanket. To most ponies, this day was one of happiness and good tidings. To Feilbach, however, it was not. Today was the seventh anniversary of the day his parents were killed by an evil demon. His parents were soldiers in the Equestrian military force, and they had been dispatched to scout an unexplored region of the Everfree Forest. He was left in the care of his uncle.

Little had he known, the war that erupted from that day’s events would lead to his parents’ deaths. Nonetheless, today was the seventh anniversary of the day they were stripped from this world. He sat on the highest branch of the tallest tree in the greenest plains in Equestria. He looked down at all the happy pony families in the plains, playing games and eating their lunches. Why is it that they were so happy, when he was left with nothing?

Every day since he had received word of his parents’ deaths, he sat on this branch, watching the sun move through the sky and watching the seasons pass. He came down only to eat before climbing back up to stare at the sky again. A child who had lost his parents in such an unfortunate series of events. But beyond all else, he was a child who was left with very little emotion. What little emotion he had was filled with anger, hatred, and jealousy.

One day, while he napped on his branch, a strange Pegasus filly came up to talk to him. He tried to get her to leave- multiple times- but she wouldn’t. She had seen him all alone for so many years. She wanted to be his friend, to help him be happy.

“Hi! My name’s Amber! What’s yours?” The filly asked enthusiastically.

Feilbach didn’t respond to her.

“C’mon, you gotta have a name.” She giggled.

Still no response.

She landed on the branch and scooted over next to him. “You ever get lonely up here by yourself?” she asked innocently.

“Y-yes…” For the first time in almost seven years, Feilbach spoke to another pony.

She looked at him, and smiled a wide grin. “You’re kinda cute, you know.”

Feilbach blushed. “You think so? Silly filly…” He smiled.

“Wanna be friends?” she asked, grinning ear to ear.

Feilbach thought about it for a second. A friend? “Sure, why not.”

“Best friends?” She scooted closer to him.

“O-okay…” He was caught off guard by this ridiculously friendly filly.

And so the two sat on the tree branch for the rest of the day, talking to each other. For the first time in years, Feilbach was happy. He had a friend. He was wanted by someone…

Looking back now, it wasn’t meant to be…

“There’s no one to help you, Fluttershy. Just calm down and be a good mare…”

“Ah, so you’re the pony my minions have been going on about, eh? Kinda cute, if I do say so myself…”

“I enjoy this. It’s been millennia since I’ve been able to do it. Stealing souls, feeding my children… I love it! The Shadows love it too…”

“Do you hate me, Fluttershy? Do you want me to die now? Do you think I deserve a fate worse than death because of what I’ve done?”

“You are brave, dear pony. But we must be alert for a phony…”

“Your grave, my pony. Everypony’s grave.”

“Give up any misguided hopes that any other pony remains. You are alone here in this world.”

Three hours. Not even three hours ago, everything was perfectly normal. Fluttershy and all of her friends were enjoying cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner. They had smoothies, talking about their daily business. Then Mr. Cake showed up, and chaos ensued. Fluttershy fled at the first instance of something wrong. She made an excuse about her poor bunny being hungry. She left early, and was still caught by the blunt force of this crazy shit.

Everything she’d seen in the last few hours threatened to consume her completely. Her sanity was fragile right now. She’s only here because of dumb luck. If that crystal hadn’t shown up when it did, she might be Shadow Dinner right now. But it did show up. And it did stun Feilbach long enough for her to escape. Were the fates playing games with her, or was it just dumb luck?

She didn’t even know where she was going. Where could she go? Everyone was infected by the Shadows. No one was left sane aside from her. Or at least, that’s what Feilbach said. She fled as fast as she could. She had no idea where to go or what to do, but she kept running. Before she knew it, she was leaving the castle’s front gate.

As she pressed onward, crossing the bridge, she was stopped suddenly by an unseen force. Before her very eyes, a shimmering yellow gemstone appeared in front of her. She had never seen a gem like that before, not even in Rarity’s shop… And then, with the appearance of the gem, memories of Rarity came flooding back. All the time they spent in the spa, talking dresses… Nostalgia at its finest…

The gem flashed a few quick times. It then floated a few inches ahead of Fluttershy. She took a few steps toward it. Every time she would get close, it would float a few feet away. She assumed it wanted her to follow it. So she did. She continued following the crystal’s lead for almost an hour, until it stopped above a giant hole in the ground. The gem let itself fall straight through the hole, freefalling. Fluttershy, trusting of this strange gem, followed it down the tunnel.

Once reaching the bottom, Fluttershy was overwhelmed by the beauty of the place she had landed. It was a gem-encrusted cavern, every inch of the walls covered in some beautiful gemstone. Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, crystals, diamonds, amethysts, and all other sorts of gems covered the cavern. The yellow stone shined brightly in the center of the chamber, and Fluttershy approached it. The gem flashed one more time, brighter than before, and was gone.

“Where’d it go? Why’d it take me here?” Fluttershy continued to survey the chamber she was in. After a few minutes, she decided it was time to leave this cave, and expanded her wings. Before she could even get airborne, a voice called out to her.

“Wait, please! You are Fluttershy, correct?” The voice was gentle, welcoming, and familiar.

Fluttershy turned around to see a little filly sitting on the ground, holding an opal gem. “My name is Fluttershy. Who are you? Why are you all the way down here?”

The filly stood up and trotted over to her. “If you ever see Feilbach again, give him this, please. He’ll know who it’s from.” As soon as the gem touched Fluttershy’s hand, the filly disappeared.

“Wait! Who are you?” Fluttershy felt a strange connection to that filly, an air of familiarity.

Touching moment, ain’t it? A voice echoed inside Fluttershy’s head.

“Who’s there?!” Fluttershy spun around, searching for the source of the voice.

A friend. Don’t be scared, Fluttershy! Y’know who‘tis! Think long an’ hard about it! The voice became suddenly familiar. She recognized the voice, but she couldn’t place the owner.

With a loud crashing sound, the floor of the chamber collapsed underneath Fluttershy, and as she fell the familiar voice continued to talk to her. She fell for what felt like hours, listening to the comforting voice and enjoying the relaxing sight of the gems as they flew by her. Just as suddenly as the floor had collapsed, another unseen force stopped her dead in her fall, gently lowering her to the ground.

She looked around this new chamber. It was almost identical to the previous one, except in the center of this chamber was a giant circular pedestal. Hovering above the pedestal was the glowing yellow gem from before. It fell into a slot on the pedestal, and the other seven gems within it popped out and hovered in the air.

You’ve been through a lot, Fluttershy. But now, it’s time to stop Feilbach. But you can’t do it alone. You need help. Use these gems to restore your friends’ hearts and minds. If you can do that, then Feilbach’s defeat is inevitable! A calm, gentle, also familiar voice called into Fluttershy’s mind.

“These gems can save my friends?” Fluttershy looked at them with doubt. How could a few gemstones restore the damage Feilbach has done?

Yes. All you must do is pull your friends from their shadows using the gemstones! These stones will allow you into their hearts. There, you can help them fight off the Shadows that control them! The voice called to her.

Fluttershy looked at the gems again. The yellow stone that had released the others was again floating above the pedestal. In an instant, and without warning, the yellow stone shot itself right at Fluttershy. It absorbed into her chest, and before she knew it, she was standing in another empty void. Just like the silver orb, she had been sent to an empty realm once more.

Only this time, after about a minute, everything sprang to life around her. She was suddenly standing in Ponyville, right outside her house, with all of her friends. Their laughter rang out into the open fresh air. After another minute passed, the world around her froze in place. Behind her, where her house was previously, was a giant shimmering yellow gemstone. It was identical to the one that sent her here, albeit a bit larger.

The gem was shining brightly. So bright, it might as well have overpowered the sun. Fluttershy walked up to it and placed her hoof on it. It shattered into dust, and everything around her melted away. It was a serene type of transition, relaxing and carefree. When Fluttershy opened her eyes, she was still standing in the cavern. All of the gemstones remained floating, aside from the yellow stone.

Fluttershy looked up at the sunlight that shined into the cave. With these gems, she could save her friends, and stop Feilbach. She had no time to lose!

“I’m on my way, everypony! Just hold on a bit longer!”

For twenty years, they were together. They never left each other’s side. Feilbach was happy being with Amber. She was his first real friend, and the only pony he trusted. No matter how many years passed, she was the only pony Feilbach would talk to. He loved her, and would die for her in an instant. She returned his feelings tenfold, never leaving his side, and always comforting him when he would have fits of sadness.

Twenty-seven years later, and he still couldn’t get over his parents’ deaths. Only now, he had Amber to help him cope. They stayed together, happy, in that field. Ponies would pass by every day, look up at them, and wonder why they hardly ever left the tree. After so many years of being together in that tree, Amber couldn’t resist asking him…

“So, why’d you pick this tree, anyway?” She looked at him with innocent eyes, the same eyes as the day they met.

Feilbach pondered this question for a few minutes. He could barely remember the reason himself. “This is where my mother died. On this spot. The Princess told me this tree magically sprung up right after she died… This tree ended the conflict on these plains. My mother’s last gift to Equestria…” A tear dropped from Feilbach’s left eye.

Amber didn’t know what to think about this story. She believed him, but such an emotional memory is hard to interrupt. “That…That’s deep, ain’t it?” she asked quietly, gently.

Feilbach smiled, “Yeah. Deep. But the tree is dying.” Amber’s expression immediately changed to one of horror.

“Dying?! But…But why?” Her eyes started to tear up. Now that she knew what this tree meant to Feilbach, that news was devastating.

Feilbach chuckled, “Because, it’s magical. The kind of magic that doesn’t exist anymore. The war ruined that magic…” He paused to swallow an angry scream. His eyes grew larger, “The Triad of Magic that made up our world… When the three countries fought, that Triad broke. Sol, Luna, and Love aren’t united any longer…”

Amber remembered reading in historical texts about the Triad. There was a bond between Equestria, Everfree, and the Changeling nation that neighbored them. Equestria was known to control Sol, Everfree controlled Love, and the Changeling nation handled Luna. When the war started, and the bond was broken by greed and power, the Triad disappeared…

“That’s…sad. The Triad kept this tree alive?” Amber asked softly, placing a hoof on Feilbach’s shoulder.

Feilbach’s eyes returned to normal, as did his breathing. He spoke angrily, “Yes. Now, may we drop this wretched subject?” The two of them sat there the entire day. Neither one said another word. They just sat there, watching the ponies below them and seeing the beautiful sights of the plains…

Amber looked at Feilbach for the first time with a feeling she had never felt for any pony before: Pity… She pitied her friend, because she knew what would happen when the tree died. She knew that before long, she would be losing her friend…

“I’m on my way, everypony! Just hold on a bit longer!”

Fluttershy took each of the gems, placing them in the small pouch that was somehow miraculously still tied to her side. She opened her wings, and took off in a burst of energy and air back to the top of the cavern. She knew what she needed to do. All she had to do was get the crystals close to her friends, and they would do the rest.

Fluttershy flew even faster than on her way to Canterlot, dead set for Ponyville. More specifically, she was on her way to Sweet Apple Acres. If she could get Applejack back to normal, her strength would be invaluable in getting to the other ponies.

She was amazed to see the relatively calm and organized Ponyville below her. There were no fires, no ruined buildings, just clouds of black smoke. As soon as her eyes found the familiar orange coat and yellow mane, Fluttershy darted for the ground, trying to get as close to her friend as possible without conflict. She landed mere feet behind Applejack, who was munching on a red apple.

“Bout time ya showed up, Fluttershy. Ya were gonna miss the party…” Applejack turned to face Fluttershy, and launched the rest of the apple at her.

Fluttershy gently rolled mid-air out the way of the apple. She smiled wide as she laughed, “Tee-hee! I always thought you were a better aim than that, Applejack!” She skipped along the ground, getting closer to Applejack.

“You mockin’ me?” Applejack reached behind her and picked up another apple, which she then threw at her friend.

Gracefully, Fluttershy dodged the incoming projectile with ease. “Calm down Applejack! I’m only here to help you!” she giggled as she approached. Before Applejack could grab for another apple, Fluttershy was face to face with her.

Applejack took a few steps back, her faded irises returning with a faint color. “Wh-what are y’all on about now? You gotta be thick in the head ta not be scared!” Her voice wasn’t hollow, as was usual with the possessed.

“It’s okay, AJ. I have little present especially for you!” Fluttershy opened the pouch with her mouth, and from it flew a shining orange gemstone. The stone launched itself right into Applejack’s head. The two of them were engulfed in a bright orange light.

After the light faded, they found themselves in the white void. Applejack started freaking out, not knowing what this was or how she had got there. The color returned to her eyes and her evil grin faded. She settled down, and looked at Fluttershy in confusion.

“What in tarnation is this place? How did we even get here?” She stepped closer to her friend.

Fluttershy smiled and met Applejack half way. “Good to have you back, AJ! We’re in your heart.” Applejack’s look twisted into one of even greater confusion. “Tee-hee, we’re going to get rid of the thing that’s controlling you.” Behind them, a huge barn popped up out of nowhere. All around them, apple trees grew high and fences popped into view.

“Sweet Apple Acres?” Applejack asked Fluttershy, her mind in a daze from this weird place.

Fluttershy smiled as she trotted over to the barn. “Yep! You see this orange gem?” She placed a hoof on the barn door.

“Uh, Fluttershy darlin’, I think you oughta get your eyes checked. That’s just a barn.” Applejack bluntly pointed out.

Fluttershy turned to look at what was supposed to be the barn AJ talked about. “You can’t see the gem? There must be something here keeping you from-!” A giant black blob busted out of the ground and engulfed Applejack before she could finish her sentence.

“Fluttershy help me!” Applejack cried as the blob swallowed her whole.

Fluttershy looked at the blob, examining it. It looked identical to the thing that kept her from leaving Celestia’s chambers back at the castle. As soon as she made this connection, the blob disappeared into a puff of smoke. Applejack stood where it was, her eyes faded and the evil grin once more stretching across her face.

Fluttershy sighed in annoyance. She was left to fight Applejack’s inner evil by herself. “Applejack, just snap out of it! You know this isn’t the real you!”

Applejack laughed, “Y’know, on the contrary, I think this here attitude fits me just fine!” Applejack charge at Fluttershy, attempting to tackle her like Big Macintosh had in her dream. She managed to dodge. AJ’s head slammed hard into the orange gem.

The gem flashed once, repelling AJ and sending her flying backwards. “You’re supposed to help her!” Fluttershy screamed in confusion.

We can only save those who wish to be saved. Your friend does not. A voice called to her, the gem shining brightly. Fluttershy realized that in order for the gem to return AJ to normal, AJ had to want to be normal already. She had to get the real AJ back, somehow.

AJ charged for another tackle, this time stopping short of the gem when she missed. “Applejack, you have to snap out of it! This isn’t like you! Remember who you were!” Fluttershy called to her friend, darting along to the ground so as to tackle the pony.

Unlike AJ, Fluttershy didn’t miss. She tackled her friend to the ground, struggling to keep her pinned back. “You ain’t that strong, Fluttershy. You’ll wear yourself out before I do.” AJ kept struggling to get free from Fluttershy’s grip.

Fluttershy called to her friend once more, “Snap out of it! Remember all the fun things we did together! All the adventures we went on! Whether we were fighting Night Mare Moon, Discord, or Chrysalis, you never gave up fighting! Are you really going to let Feilbach get the better of you?!” Suddenly, as if her words themselves were magic, AJ’s eyes returned to normal, and her expression changed to gentle.

Her voice was still distorted, as if still possessed. She asked her friend, “Can you help me? I- I don’t want this! This isn’t me! Help me!” As she spoke, the gemstone beside them shined brightly, and they were once again engulfed in the orange light.

The light faded again, and the duo was left in the empty white space from before. AJ struggled and choked as black smoke poured from her mouth and nose, leaving her body. After a minute of this, the smoke that had accumulated disappeared completely. AJ stood up on all four hooves, Fluttershy doing the same. A voice called to them from the emptiness.

We can only save those who wish to be saved. For us to help, one must fight their own demons. If one can find their light, we can enhance it, and drive back the shadows. Find your friends, and help them find their lights. Only then can Feilbach be defeated.

The duo was returned to the tree outside Sweet Apple Acres. They gave each other approving nods, and started their trot back into the bulk of Ponyville. They had friends to save!

“Hold on y’all! We’re a-coming!”

Every day she would try to avoid the topic. She didn’t want to bring up such a painful thought again. She wanted him to be happy with his mother’s gift as long as he could. Another three years passed. Another happy three years…

“Today’s the thirtieth anniversary of the day this tree was born.” Feilbach told Amber suddenly.

She looked at him in shock. For the last three years, neither of them spoke about the tree. Then, to suddenly have him say this… “Is it? Thirty years already? It must be hard on you…” She tried to choose her words carefully, so as not to make him snap like last time the subject was brought up.

He smiled at her, “Not really. I’ve had you for most of this time. Twenty-three years, to be exact… The time sure has flown by.” His eyes sparkled kindly.

Amber blushed, “R-really?! Twenty-three years…? Well, it’s been fun! I’ve enjoyed it, anyway. Maybe we can stay together…even after the tree is gone?” She slapped her hoof over her mouth once she realized what she had said.

Feilbach sighed, his left eye tearing up at the thought, “I’d like that. But I’m afraid it cannot be…” He turned to look her in the eyes.

Amber stamped her hoof, “Why not?! We can be happy together!” Her eyes began to tear up.

“Ever wondered why I don’t leave the tree?” Feilbach asked, his voice taking a solemn tone.

Amber swallowed the lump in her throat, fearing what the reason may be. “In fact, I have… So why don’t you?”

Feilbach’s eyes filled with tears. He closed his eyes and wrapped one arm around Amber, holding her tightly. She didn’t know what to think about this sudden change. “It’s because without this tree…I’ll die.” Her eyes grew wide as this set in. She started to say something in protest, when Feilbach hushed her.

“The day my mother died, I collapsed into my uncle’s arms. My heart stopped beating, and I died with her. The exact same moment this tree sprang to life. The Princess insisted I be buried here with my mother. When they went to put me in the grave, something fell from the tree and entered my body. I was resurrected by this tree.” He paused to let this information soak in.

Amber couldn’t say anything. She stared at him as he continued his story. “The Princess told me that my life was tied to this tree’s. When it dies, so shall I. The farther I get from it, the weaker I become. Too far, and I would die. She expected the tree to live five years. Without the Triad, it should have died decades ago. Yet here we are, thirty years later… I don’t know why it lived so long. But this is the end… I can feel it in my body. My heart aches.”

Amber started to sob. She screamed through clenched teeth, “There has to be a way to save you! There has to! You can’t just…die!” She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

He placed a hoof on her head, stroking her mane. “I should have told you sooner. This isn’t fair to you… You’ve wasted your life waiting on a tree to die…” The tears continued to pour.

“Shut up! Don’t say that! I don’t regret any of these past years I’ve spent with you! I’d do it all over again, even knowing this would happen! I lo-!” She was silenced when an agonizing yell came from Feilbach.

Underneath them, the tree began to groan and quake. The lower limbs were wilting and snapping off. The leaves rained from the tree like a storm. The tree split in half, straight down the middle, and Feilbach clenched his chest with his hoof. Amber tried to catch him as his body went limp and fell over the side of the limb. She watched as the entire tree wilted bit by bit, and the branches snapped into pieces.

Mere moments ago, they were happy on their branch. Now everything was gone. The tree, the happiness, and Feilbach himself…

“Hold on y’all! We’re a-coming!”

With Applejack in tow, Fluttershy took the lead as they hurried off to Ponyville to save their friends. They decided that it would be best to get to Pinkie Pie first, because she was just a normal earth pony. She would be easier to take in a fight than a unicorn or Pegasus. Their first destination was Sugarcube Corner, the town’s candy shop. Pinkie Pie not only worked there, but loved sweet things.

Sure enough though, when they showed up, Pinkie was behind the counter snacking on a tray of red-velvet cupcakes. She greeted them with an enormous smile and laugh. “How’s it going buddies? You guys come to eat some cupcakes with me?” She took a bite from one cupcake, and then threw it with full force at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy caught it with her teeth and took a bite. “Not bad Pinkie, did you make them from scratch?” she laughed at the expression on Pinkie’s face.

“’Taint no time to be playin’ games, darlin'! We gotta help her get free!” AJ dashed toward Pinkie, tackling her to the ground.

Pinkie laughed, “Applejack, I am disappointed. I thought you were on our side! Oh well!” Black smoke flew from her mouth and into AJ’s.

“Achoo!” The smoke flew back out as AJ sneezed. It had no effect on her anymore.

Pinkie screamed, “What?! That’s not possible! How’d you do that?” She struggled to get up, but AJ held her firmly down. Fluttershy trotted up beside Pinkie, opening the pouch at her side. A pink gem rose into the air and flew into Pinkie’s chest.

“Here we go again, AJ…” Fluttershy sighed as a bright pink light swallowed them. Once the light faded, they found themselves in the white emptiness once more.

After a minute, Surgarcube Corner sprang in to color around them. Pinkie stood up, looking around at the building and her friends. “Where are we? Did I eat too much cake earlier?” She spun around, noticing a light shining from outside the window.

Fluttershy noticed it as well, and opened the door to examine it. It was the pink gemstone. Pinkie ran outside to take a closer look. AJ followed her. Fluttershy wondered why nothing was happening. If she was normal, shouldn’t the gem restore her permanently?

As ‘normal’ as she may be, she does not wish to be saved. That same mysterious voice called to her again.

“So…when can I go back to being evil again?” Pinkie asked bluntly, an annoyed look on her face.

“Why would ya wanna be evil, Pinkie?” AJ asked in confusion.

Pinkie smiled her normal Pinkie smile, “Well, because when you’re evil, you get to do all sorts of crazy fun things!” She sat next to the gem, admiring its glow.

Fluttershy stomped up to her friend and slapped her right on the face. “Are you insane? Wait- Don’t answer that! Look, we need your help, Pinkie! Don’t you want to save the others?”

AJ laughed, “She’s right y’know. We kinda need you to help stop this here Shadow stuff.”

Pinkie looked at her friends, raising one hoof into the air. “Oki-Doki-Loki! I was just playing about the evil stuff. It got boring after everypony else turned evil! But uh…how do we get out of here?”

You must beat the shadows within your heart. Only then can you be cleansed of them.

“Who was that?” Pinkie asked, raising an eyebrow. She looked up to see something falling above her.

A black blob fell from the sky, landing right on top of her. It caught both Fluttershy and Applejack off guard. They jumped back in surprise, waiting for the inevitable finished product of the slime. After a minute, it disappeared again, and Pinkie was left standing. She was back to her possessed form.

“Look guys, I like you… But if you want to keep mucking up Master’s plans, I’ll have to punish you personally.” She raised her front left hoof, and a ball of sludge formed on it. She waved her arm, and the sludge went flying at Applejack.

AJ tried to dodge, but it was to no avail. The sludge made contact, an adhesive so powerful she couldn’t even move. She was almost literally glued to the ground. “C’mon Fluttershy, you gotta get her to stop bein’ loopy. Y’know, like you did to me!”

“Right!” Fluttershy darted toward Pinkie Pie, who continued to throw the sludge at her. Just as the sludge got close, the pouch at Fluttershy’s side would flash, and the sludge would evaporate. Those gems were the only thing keeping her alive, it seemed.

“You’re joking me, right?” Pinkie Pie stared at Fluttershy as she was tackled to the ground and pinned down. “You weigh more than I thought, buddy…” Pinkie grunted with Fluttershy’s weight on her.

“Get over it, Pinkie! You’re the most fun person I know. If the whole world turns evil, everyone will be having just as much fun as you! You’re a party pony, right? Well evil people don’t party! Snap out of it!” Fluttershy smiled as she thought of what to say.

Pinkie’s eyes reverted back to normal. “No parties? But I can’t be a party pony without parties!” Pinkie screamed. Her head was throbbing as the Shadow tried to retake control. “Okay fine! Get me out of here Fluttershy! This is too much for me!”

The pink light engulfed the trio again, the world around them changing back into the empty void. Once the light faded, Pinkie sneezed one loud sneeze, and the black smoke evaporated. She smiled at her newly re-found friends.

Good. Through comedy, you allowed yourself to defeat the Shadow. Not the method I would have used, but it worked wonders. Go now, ponies. You still have friends to save.

Back inside Sugarcube Corner, AJ raised to her feet. “Who’s next, darlin’? Twilight, Rainbow, or Rarity?” she asked Fluttershy.

Pinkie chimed in, “Rarity! She’ll be the easiest to take down if we have to!”

“She’s right. Twilight’s magic is powerful, and Rainbow is fast…” Fluttershy confirmed Pinkie’s idea.

The trio shared a smile and nod, and darted from Sugarcube Corner, bound for Rarity’s home. Three down, three left to go. Before long, the whole gang would be together again…

“Yippie! Get ready Rarity!”

Tears continued to pour from her eyes, landing on his chest. She stared at his body as the sunlight beamed down on him. Feilbach was dead now, and he was the only pony she had ever fallen in love with. The leaves from the tree continued to fall. Amber knelt beside him, scooping as many as she could up and placing them over him.

She whispered in his ear, “Rest in peace, my love…”

She stood up and turned to walk away as the leaves continued to rain down on him. Just as she had taken the first step, a voice called after her. You were the only pony he trusted. You never left his side, no matter what. This doesn’t have to be the end, Amber. Feilbach can be saved.

She spun around, searching for the voice’s source. “Who are you? How can I save him?” Tears poured from her eyes, her mind prepared to do whatever was needed.

Look into the core of the dead tree you two once shared.

Amber walked over to the tree, looking inside of it where it was split in half. To her surprise, there was a round object laying on the soil. She picked it up to examine it. The object was silver, as reflective as a mirror, and was very light and spherical.

This orb contains his life, just as it contains mine. If you wish to revive him, it will cost you your own life. Would you give your life to give his back to him? His time has run out in this world, but yours is still ticking. Would you give him life in exchange for yours?

Amber stared at the orb, “Of course I would! I…I love him! He didn’t deserve to die yet! All he wanted was…to be happy…” The orb began to shine brightly, and a gem emerged from its surface.

Place this gem on his chest. It will enter him, and he will awake. In his stead, you will become a gem, and placed into the orb. If this is what you want, then I will not stop you.

Amber walked over to Feilbach’s body and placed the gem on his chest, as she was told. Instantly, the gem sank into him, and his eyes opened. He raised himself from the ground, staring at Amber. He began to speak, when the orb behind her flashed brightly. When the light faded, Amber was gone. Where she sat was a blue gemstone. It flew through the air into the silver orb. The orb began to lift into the air.

Feilbach snapped at this sight. “No! I won’t let you take her from me!” He leaped onto the orb, bear-hugging it, trying to hold it down.

The orb let out a burst of electricity, trying to shake Feilbach off. He took the full blast, not even wincing at the pain. He continued to hold the orb, trying the keep it with him. Trying to keep Amber with him. Before long, hundreds of black gems shot from the orb, flying all around it. They each shot themselves at Feilbach, one by one. As they did, they entered into him, and each essence preserved in the gem entered his own.

Minutes passed as the gems entered into him. The orb began to lose its power, and fell to the ground with a thud. The gems continued their onslaught, until there was none left. A dark fog surrounded Feilbach’s body, and his bones began to ache. His head throbbed, and his heart stung. He twitched and convulsed, the dark fog engulfing him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of pain, it all stopped. Feilbach stood in place, examining himself. The essences of all the gems filled him with anger and hatred. His only source of happiness was gone. Amber was gone. And now he was filled with the rage and vengeance of hundreds of lost souls.

His coat changed before his eyes into a pitch-black coal color. His mane was dyed silver. His eyes altered shape, growing large, and pure red. He was no longer the Feilbach he once was. He was no longer a pony like everyone else. The voices and desires of all the lost souls inside him called to him. They begged him to find their vengeance for them…

He grasped the silver orb, noting his own reflection. He pushed the orb onto his chest, and his newly formed body absorbed it with ease. Now, he and Amber could be together for all eternity…

He set out to appease the souls within him. “It’s time to feast, my children…”

“Yippie! Get ready Rarity!”

Fluttershy took point as the trio darted a little ways through the small town. She assumed Rarity would be in her workshop, just as her other two friends had been. She trotted along, Pinkie and AJ at her side, all the while smiling and thinking about what was soon to come. All they had to do was get Rarity, Rainbow, and Twilight, and then they could stop all this madness. The mysterious voice continued reassuring them as they went along.

Pinkie charged through Rarity’s door, cheering in a sing-song voice, “Rarity! Are you here?” Her voice trailed away as she spotted the purple-maned, white coat mare lying on her bed.

“Dearest Pinkie, must you be so loud?” she answered Pinkie in a soft, hollow voice. She didn’t seem too bothered by the Shadow that possessed her.

Fluttershy pushed Pinkie out of the way. She said in a happy tone, “Good to see you haven’t lost all control! You’re not one for chaos anyway, are you?”

Rarity scoffed, “Please, do you truly believe I would go out there and dirty my hooves for some Master I’ve never even met?” She lifted her head up, sticking her nose into the air. It was a sign of arrogance, naturally.

AJ whispered, “Let’s do this, darlin’. It shouldn’t be too hard with her.”

Fluttershy nodded, and opened the pouch once again. A white gemstone lifted into the air, than launched itself at her. With another flash of light, they were in the empty realm once more. Fluttershy looked at AJ and Pinkie, nodding as they prepared for the black blob to appear. With the three of them, it shouldn’t be too hard to knock some sense into Rarity.

Rarity stood up as the room regenerated around them. “What is all this, dears? Is this some sort of joke?” she asked in her state of confusion and lack of knowledge.

Fluttershy smiled, “It’s okay, Rarity. We’re going to help you get back to normal. Do you see that gem over there?” She pointed at the stone that was embedded in the wall.

Rarity’s eyes lit up, “Where in Equestria did this beautiful crystal come from?” She trotted over to it, place both of her front hooves on it.

This beautiful crystal is going to save you, Rarity. But first you must defeat the Shadows that possess you.

“The Shadows? This crystal came here to stop them? Well, get on with it then!” she scoffed at the crystal. From underneath her, the black blob formed and swallowed her, just as it had done to the other two ponies.

After another minute, the blob disappeared as per usual. Rarity was left standing, re-possessed as usual. This time, the ponies planned ahead. Pinkie bounced in front of her friend, serving as a slight distraction, while AJ came up from behind and tackled her to the ground. There wasn’t much resistance from Rarity, but at the same time it wasn’t the easiest thing to do- pinning a possessed pony. AJ actually wondered how Fluttershy had managed it twice in one night.

Rarity struggled for a moment, speaking softly, “Applejack dear, what is the meaning of this?” She stopped struggling, knowing it was a futile effort.

Applejack told her, “We’re gonna snap you outta this mess.” Pinkie hopped over to help AJ hold her down.

Fluttershy stepped up to Rarity, and said, “This sure is a beautiful shop you own. All these dresses and gemstones are beautiful. Of course, if some possessed pony decides he wants your stuff, he’ll just waltz in and take it. Feilbach won’t stop him, and you won’t be allowed to hurt your fellow minions, right?” A sly smile crept up on her face. She was starting to enjoy this whole process.

Rarity’s mouth opened wide, “No way! Nopony will ever steal my precious gemstones!” Her eyes returned to normal, “We simply must stop this madness before that time arrives! Get me out of here this instant, crystal!”

The gemstone shined again, and the room melted away. AJ and Pinkie backed away, allowing Rarity room to have her choking fit. The struggle lasted longer than usual, but ended the same way as before. Rarity coughed once really loudly, and the smoke vanished. She looked at her friends and blushed. Such behavior was unfitting of a proper pony such as herself, after all. Her friends laughed.

You are doing well, my little ponies. Continue on your way. Very soon this will be over.

Back inside Rarity’s house, the quartet was discussing the next move. They decided it would be best to go for Twilight next, because her magic could help subdue Rainbow. They shared a nod, raised their hooves into the air, and cheered, “Here we go!” They set out for Twilight’s library-tree house.

“Twilight my dear, you’re next!”

The rain poured uncontrollably. The lightning strikes were mere seconds apart. The entire country was in chaos. Clouds of black smoke flew all over the place, destroying homes and injuring ponies. Feilbach laughed maniacally as he stomped through the halls of the Castle his mother once called home.

Before he even noticed it, he was standing in the throne room, staring at the Princesses that once made up the Triad. He spat in their direction. Clouds of black smoke flew throughout the room, covering each of the exits with as much force as possible. He allowed his crimson eyes to glare at the beings in front of him. In his heart he felt that what he was doing was necessary…

The Princess of Sol commanded him, “Speak now, Feilbach. Why is it you do these horrific things?”

He chuckled, “Because it’s fun, Princess. And besides, this is your entire fault!” His eyes shined brightly, the clouds of smoke growing larger. They were slowly closing in on the room.

The Princess of Luna asked, “Why is it you blame us, stallion? We have done nothing to you.”

Feilbach’s mane stood up, almost like a silver flame. He angrily screeched, “How dare you say such lies?! It is because of your needless and senseless killing that I am this way! It is because your pointless war killed my mother that I am this being you see before you!” His eyes turned a deeper shade of red.

The Princess of Love spoke softly, “You were bound to that magical tree, were you not? Your time in this world has expired. Why is it you continue to live on?”

Feilbach laughed maniacally, “Because the souls of the ones who wasted their lives in the war want me to! They have given me life after death! They want revenge on their self-proclaimed protectors who abandoned them to die!” The black smoke closed in even farther.

The Princess of Sol spoke, “You are no more a stallion than the souls you possess. These Shadows you have summoned to this world…are they the souls of which you speak?”

Feilbach answered bluntly, “Of course. They want revenge, not me. I’m only a vessel for them to live in until they have it!”

The Princess of Luna asked, “And when they have it what becomes of you?”

“I go home. I get to be with my Mother and Amber… In here!” The silver orb burst from his chest, floating gently in the air. The Princesses could see the faces of the souls trapped within. “My mother created this orb so that she could live on and protect me! And my Amber…gave her own life to restore mine! But now, once my vengeance is had, I can be with them for an eternity!”

The three Princesses nodded to one another, and each charged their horns with a powerful magic spell. They fired at Feilbach, but the smoke blocked the attack for him. The cloud evaporated immediately.

“My children! How dare you harm them?!” A ball of black gunk flew from Feilbach’s mouth, charging the Princesses with full force. The trio fell to their knees. They charged for another spell.

The smoke blocked this attack as well. Feilbach charged forward at the Princesses, ready to end their lives. Before he made it even half way through the chamber, he was stopped dead in his tracks by a voice that called to him.

My son, why do you do these things…? You were given new life to be happy with, not to kill and harm other ponies. What has become of the child I left behind?

“M…Mother…?” Feilbach’s eyes returned to normal, and his mane fell back down. The smoke around the room started to retract into him.

Forgive me, my child. Perhaps your life was forfeit the day I died. I had hoped you would live a happy life, with her sacrifice. She died to revive you so that you could be happy, you know… Alas, it is not to be.

As the voice faded out, Feilbach turned to see the spell charging right at him. It was too late for him to react; his mother’s voice had distracted him just long enough. As it hit him, he felt his body begin to vaporize. His mind swirled through so many thoughts; his heart felt so many pains; and his body felt so many deaths…

All of the souls within him took time to show him their pain and torment, until the spell finally finished its job. In a flash of silver light, Feilbach was no more. In his place there sat a small stone statuette. The smoke that remained in the chamber was vacuumed into the statue, sealed away for good. The three Princesses lifted the statue with their magic, and warped it to some unknown place in some unexplored region of the world.

Far below the Castle he had once called home, in a cave encrusted with every different type of gemstone imaginable, at the center of a pedestal surrounded by seven magical gems, encased in a sapphire, Feilbach rested inside his statuette for ten whole millennia. The whole time his mind was swirling with thoughts and emotions of all the souls trapped with him.

Then he saw a lost stallion wander into his prison. His plan would soon be carried out…

“Twilight my dear, you’re next!”

Fluttershy was increasingly happy as the time passed by. Not even an hour ago she was all alone, forced to face this danger by herself. Now here she was, running beside three of her best friends. She owed just about all of it to the strange gem that saved her from Feilbach back in Canterlot. Maybe she’d get the chance to thank it later.

She thought about the day’s events. She went from being a coward to being a heroine in a matter of hours. She’d come face to face with the evil multiple times and didn’t give in to its presence. She was proud of herself. With this pride, she threw open the door to Twilight’s home. The four ponies stepped in, wary of Twilight’s powerful magic.

“It’s nice to see you ponies are okay.” Twilight spoke to them from the second floor of the library she called home.

Fluttershy stepped in front of the others, “Twilight, come down here so we can get you back to normal.”

AJ laughed at how polite she made it sound. “Y’know Twilight, this can’t end well for ya. Ya oughta just let us do our thing.”

Rarity nodded in agreement, “No need for this to get violent is there?”

Twilight smiled politely and said, “Of course there isn’t. Why don’t you ponies just submit to Feilbach, and we can put all this behind us.” Using her magic, she slammed the door behind them.

Pinkie laughed, “Geez Twilight, are you trying to scare us to death?”

“Here’s the deal: If you can get near me with those gems of yours, then I’ll be more than happy to undergo whatever you’ve put those three through, okay?” Twilight closed her eyes, and used her magic to collapse the stairs that led up to the second floor.

Fluttershy smiled, “That’s a deal. But…you do realize I’m a Pegasus, right?”

Twilight smiled slyly, “Of course I do. But you don’t seem to realize that I have magic.” After she finished saying this, a magical barrier appeared around Fluttershy. “Those gems may keep you safe from the Shadows, but regular magic is a different story.” She giggled.

Fluttershy stood tall as she could and spoke gently, “Well, you’d think that, wouldn’t you? It makes sense to me, anyway. But uh, I think these gems have something to say about it.” The pouch at her side began shaking violently, and every few seconds the shape of one of the gems could be seen trying to rip out of it.

“You can’t be serious! But I tested this! That sapphire was powerless against my magic!” Twilight screamed.

“Really? Well, maybe these won’t hurt you, either.” Fluttershy fought the barrier enough to reach the clasp on the pouch, which she undid. A purple gem ripped right through Twilight’s barrier, and sped toward her at full speed.

Rarity sighed, “Time for more of this nonsense…”

Honestly, I shouldn’t have to explain what happened. They were in the void, and then the void came to life to look like the library. Twilight was standing in front of them, seemingly normal. This time was a little bit different, though.

Twilight took a few steps toward her friends, about to ask just what was going on. Out of nowhere, black smoke swirled in to existence behind her, a black hoof catching her on the shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

“I have had enough of this nonsense!” An angry voice shouted, tossing Twilight against the wall. Feilbach formed where the cloud of smoke rested, looking angrier than ever before. “This rebellion must be quelled while still in its first stages… You have caused me more trouble than I anticipated, little pony!” With a blast of black smoke, all of the ponies were tossed against the walls of the library, aside from Fluttershy.

She stood her ground, not cowering down. “I’m doing what needs to be done! You have gone too far with this, Feilbach!” She stared him in the eyes, not backing down.

Feilbach sighed, “You have come a long way from the cowardly pony I met a few hours ago. But, it’s not really you, is it? It’s your friends. And those damned crystals…” He stared at the pouch on her side. A look of anger and irritation filled his face.

Fluttershy lowered her head. She spoke softly, “Of course it’s my friends. It’s always been my friends. Why else do you think I went to the castle? To save myself?” She looked back up at him, her expression still unfaltering.

Feilbach backed away, pondering his next move. “Do you still not hate me, Fluttershy? You still have no hatred towards the being that put you through this? I simply cannot understand your lack of hatred and anger. After all, they are the best emotions. Just ask my children.” A few balls of black smoke materialized in front of him.

“I can’t hate you. You want revenge for something that happened to you. You have your reasons, and I have mine. But that doesn’t matter anymore! It won’t be long, and you’ll be defeated. I have faith in that.” Fluttershy still stood her ground, even as the smoke surrounded her.

In a flash of rainbow-colored light, the smoke evaporated. From the open pouch a gemstone rose into the air. It was the same gem the filly in the cavern gave her. Upon seeing the gem, Feilbach’s expression changed to one of horror. His crimson eyes faded, only slightly, to reveal normal-looking eyes.

He screeched at her, “Where did you get that gemstone?!” Smoke poured from his mouth, engulfing the gem and carrying it back to him. “This was…This can’t be… It was Amber’s…” His mane stood up, the night-sky textures of Luna’s mane mesmerizing the other ponies.

Fluttershy took a few steps forward. “A filly gave it to me. At the bottom of the cavern where these gems came from.” She pointed at her pouch.

Feilbach looked at Fluttershy for a moment, and then turned his attention back towards the gem in his hoof. “This was Amber’s favorite gem. She brought me one of these a long time ago…before she died…” The silver orb materialized from his chest, and he held the gem up for it to see. “This is your gem, Amber… One of a kind, right?”

Suddenly, the orb shined silver, and everything in the room began being vacuumed into it. Feilbach let go of the gem, and it entered the orb in a flash of rainbow-colored light. Books, ladders, blankets, and ponies all went flying into the orb as if it were a black hole. The colors of the world around them faded, and all that was left was Feilbach and the orb.

“That gem was nothing but trouble, anyway. Getting rid of it only saved me…” Feilbach’s eyes returned to crimson, and his mane sat back down. In a cloud of smoke, he and the orb disappeared back to the real world.

Fluttershy got up from the ground, her flank sore from crashing into the wall of the library. She trotted over to her friend to examine her. While the other three ponies were recovering, Twilight was having a fit with the smoke leaving her body. Fluttershy checked her pouch to find that the purple gem was gone. Whatever that opal gem was, it did the purple gem’s job.

“Thanks everypony…” Twilight chuckled after she finished coughing up smoke.

Fluttershy nodded, “Not a problem. You are our friend, after all.”

Applejack agreed, “’Taint nothin’, Twi.”

“So, was that Feilbach?” Pinkie Pie interrupted the reunion with a sort-of important question.

“That’s something I would like to know as well. And why exactly was he talking to that orb?” Rarity added.

Fluttershy noticed the opal gem lying on the ground, so she picked it up as she explained everything she knew about the situation. She told them about how the orb sent her to watch the past; how the orb gave form to her nightmares; how she had been saved by a sapphire similar to these other gems; and how she had been given the opal from a filly that said she knew Feilbach. She also talked about each of the gems.

Twilight asked, still unsure of what exactly was going on, “So, all we have to do now is save Raindow Dash? But, what do we do then? How can we beat this thing?”

Fluttershy opened her pouch. “Well, we actually have three gems left, not counting the opal.” She picked them out of the bag with her hoof, and held them out for the others to see. The gems were blue, white, and black.

“Ahem…” Rarity cleared her throat, “The light-blue gem is an aquamarine. The white one is obviously some form of diamond, whereas the black one is a type of onyx.” The other ponies stared at her quizzically. “What? I do handle gems for a living, after all.” she sighed.

Fluttershy put the gems back in the pouch. “We have three gems. That’s three people. So far, all the gems have responded to the color of a pony’s coat. Orange reacted with Applejack, pink with Pinkie Pie, white with Rarity, and purple with Twilight. I figure the blue is for Rainbow Dash. But then who do the diamond and onyx go to?”

“We can worry about that later, Fluttershy. Before anything else we have to save Rainbow!” Twilight smiled, opening her door with her magic. “After you, Leader.”

Fluttershy blushed, “Who, me? I-I’m no leader!” She looked around to all her friends.

Applejack rolled her eyes, “O' course ya are! You just about saved all of us by your lonesome! Ya even stood hoof to hoof with that monster!”

Rarity smiled, placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, “If you haven’t earned the title of leader, then by Celestia what does it take?”

Pinkie Pie laughed, “Of course you’re our leader! You have more practice resisting these things than all of us combined!”

Fluttershy looked at all of her friends, blush on her face and a smile growing. She helped them all, and there was only one left. She nodded her head, and took off running out the door. The other ponies followed close behind, smiles on their faces and faith in their leader. They knew it wouldn’t be long before this nightmare was over.

“Rainbow have faith, I’ll bet you we’re on our way!”

“That gem was nothing but trouble, anyway. Getting rid of it only saved me…”

Those words echoed hollow in Feilbach’s mind. He said them, but he couldn’t even begin to mean them. Five-thousand years trapped in that idol. Five millennia with souls that wanted nothing more than revenge. The only comfort he had in all that time was the few moments every day where he would get to see Amber and live her memories. The orb he had tried so hard to keep, the orb that turned him in to this monster, was the only thing that gave him comfort.

Living the thoughts and memories of every soul he consumed, his emotions died. The only time an emotion existed that wasn’t anger or hatred was when Amber showed him a dream. When he removed the orb from him, Amber was no longer inside his soul. He showed her the gem she gave him on the tenth anniversary of their friendship. She told him it was ‘one of a kind, cut especially for him’.

She had loved him. She died knowing him as poor stallion who had lost everything, even his life. Even living within him, she had no idea of the monster he had become. She could never see him, though he saw her every day. He knew she didn’t see the opal gem. He still wanted to believe she did. He hung his head low as he sat on the throne inside Canterlot Castle. Tears were on the verge of forming in his crimson eyes.

Twice. Twice now he was defeated by the memory of a loved one. Five-thousand years ago it was his mother’s voice. Today it had been Amber’s gemstone. He was both disgusted with his emotions and angry at his memories. He didn’t need comforting anymore. He was no longer a lonely stallion in a tree. He was an evil monster. If he could do so, he would smash the silver orb to pieces. Alas, he knew that both the souls inside him and the soul of his beloved required the orb to carry on. Without it, they would all fade away.

A voice called to him in the silence of his despair. Can we be friends? He scoffed at the voice. Best friends? He laughed as he remembered the filly’s face. It must be hard on you… He chuckled as he heard her voice. Rest in peace… His eyes jolted open, hearing the single phrase he had never actually heard her say. He couldn’t remember her telling him that. But it was obviously her voice.

You were a good friend, Feilbach. I even gave my life for you. I loved you. You tried so hard to get me back…and you were punished by the orb… Now look at yourself. Stare at your reflection in the orb. You are nothing like the stallion I loved. You are not Feilbach! You are a monster that took his name and ruined him!

Feilbach cradled his head in his hooves, trying to ignore the voice. It sounded like Amber’s, but there was no way she would ever talk to him like that. He knew her better than that. She would never say those things. It couldn’t be her. He looked into the orb’s reflective surface. He stared into his own crimson eyes, trying to regain his focus.

“That damned pony and her opal gem! I’m going crazy! There was no way it was Amber’s gem. She had her gem on when the orb absorbed her… She was wearing it around her neck, just like I asked her to the day she gave it to me… Dammit!” Feilbach hopped to his hooves and stomped out of the room, leaving the orb where it was. He needed to clear his head.

“I swear by all the souls within my heart, I shall not lose to you ponies…”

“Rainbow have faith, I’ll bet you we’re on our way!”

The quintet rushed through the town, ever cheerful that they would soon be able to defeat Feilbach. They were heading straight for Rainbow Dash’s cloud-top home in the sky. Experience showed that the possessed ponies were still usually hanging around wherever it was they did when they were normal. It didn’t take too long for the ponies to reach Dash’s home.

The only problem was that not only could none of the ponies aside from Fluttershy even reach the house, but also only Pegasi can stand on clouds. This virtually left Fluttershy on her own to investigate the house. She looked back at her friends, nodded, and with a deep breath she opened her wings and leaped into the air, gliding upwards toward the building on the cloud.

Twilight stood on standby, waiting for the moment she may have to cast her magic. Applejack stood ready with her rope for just about anything to happen. If it came down to it, she could lasso Rainbow. She’s done it before, after all. Pinkie and Rarity waited on the side, pretty much useless for this task.

Fluttershy landed on the cloud right outside the door. Noticing the door was ajar she gently placed a hoof on it and pushed it open slowly. To her surprise there was nopony in the house. She took a few steps in, but there wasn’t any noise coming from anywhere in the cloud-house. In fact, it seemed as if no one had been in there all day.

Fluttershy walked out of the house and gently glided down to the ground. “She wasn’t in there. It was completely empty.” Fluttershy looked at Twilight, hoping she had an idea.

Twilight chuckled, “What’re you looking at me for? You’re the leader after all…”

Pinkie laughed, “I don’t know why we thought she’d be here. I mean, her home is in the sky, not some cloud-house. She’s probably off zooming around the skies somewhere.” Pinkie pointed a hoof at the sky.

“That would make sense, after all. She isn’t one to be cooped up.” Rarity agreed.

Fluttershy shook her head in disappointment, “If she’s out flying around, we may never find her. She might not even be around Ponyville.”

AJ cleared her throat, gathering the attention of the other ponies. Once she had it, she gently said, “Or, ya know, she could still be at Sweet Apple Acres.” The other ponies gave her a confused look. “I kinda just remembered her showin’ up to challenge Big Mac to a contest o’ strength. It was something about wanting to be the ‘best minion in Ponyville’.” She blushed, turning her head away.

“You just remembered that?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep. She showed up just before Fluttershy did, if memory serves right.” AJ turned in the general direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “They were headed for the apple orchard, last time I saw them. A race, if I’m right.”

Before anypony could get another word in, Fluttershy took off flying toward the orchard, leaving the other ponies behind.

“You’ll catch up later!” she called back at them as she flew away. She wanted to find Rainbow Dash and keep an eye on her, at least long enough for her friends to catch up. The other ponies took off running through the trees, trying to at least keep an eye on her.

It took maybe a minute for Fluttershy to arrive at the orchard. And sure enough, she found Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh having a contest of strength. They were pushing huge buckets of apples into a small grove at the back of the orchard. Considering how being possessed gave them extra strength, Fluttershy was sure the contest wasn’t accurate. It wasn’t much longer before her friends showed up underneath her.

At the same time the grounded ponies arrived, both Rainbow and Big Mac took notice of the Pegasus flying just a little ways away. “That’s Fluttershy, ain’t it?” Big Mac asked Rainbow.

Rainbow smiled, “Sure looks like it. And there are all my other friends!” Rainbow watched as the others emerged from the trees. “I’m guessing they want to hang out… Time to have a little fun!” Rainbow took off, darting toward her friends at a freakishly high speed.

With a loud thud, Rainbow crashed right in to Fluttershy, sending her falling to the ground. Twilight caught her with magic, while AJ tossed the lasso up at Rainbow. Of course, the lasso was easy enough to dodge, all Rainbow had to do was fly up a few feet. What she wasn’t expecting was the apple that struck her in the head. It was followed by two more, both with enough force to disorient her, sending her falling to the ground as well.

Big Macintosh came rushing out of the orchard to meet his sister’s friends. His eyes were normal, his smile average, and his responses typical. “Howdy, everypony.”

AJ looked at his brother in awe, “Were you the pony that threw the apples?”

Big Mac smiled as he said, “Eeyup.”

Fluttershy stepped right up in his face, looking him over carefully. “How didn’t you get possessed? I was sure Pinkie would’ve spread the Shadows as soon as I flew away…”

“Heh, sometimes it’s nice to be a little quiet. Ol’ bad guy can’t have a fella like me on his team. Not enough enthusiasm.” Big Mac laughed.

Twilight interrupted the cool story, “Um, Fluttershy? I can’t hold her forever! Use the gem!”

Fluttershy undid the clasp on the pouch once again, allowing the crystal to do its thing. A flash of blue light, the empty realm, and life springing up around them. This time, however, the area that spawned was unlike the others. It was different in the sense that it wasn’t where they just were. Instead it was atop the clouds, next to a massive waterfall.

“Where in tarnation is this s’posed to be? I ain’t seen this place before.” Applejack was confused.

Rainbow Dash stood up from her stupor and walked toward her friends. “It’s about time you guys showed up! I’ve been waiting for almost ten minutes!” Everypony looked at each other, confused.

“You have?” Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow shrugged, “A giant blue gem popped up out of the clouds a few minutes ago, but it disappeared before I could get to it. Now it’s back again. I assumed it was you guys trying to save me from that shadow thing.” She pointed a hoof to the side, where a ball of smoke flew around in small circles.

Pinkie Pie pointed and laughed, “What did you do to the Shadow, Dash? It looks confused!”

“I dunno. Some big black ball of sludge popped up and captured me. When it let go, that thing possessed me. Next thing I know, it wants to go so fast flying around that it actually shot out of me. It’s been flying in circles the whole time I’ve been here…” Rainbow rolled her eyes, walking over to the gemstone.

Ha-ha-ha! You did well, Rainbow Dash! You managed to beat your Shadow before it really even possessed your heart. Though it had a hold on your body, your heart remained unscathed. I am proud of you for that. Touch the gemstone, and be returned to your world.

“Suddenly there’s a creepy voice from nowhere? Okay, whatever.” Rainbow touched the gem like the voice had said, and in an instant they were back in the orchards on Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy and asked, “So uh…who was that?”

All of her friends looked at her in amazement. They couldn’t believe that she had so easily beaten the Shadow in her own heart. She wouldn’t have needed their help if not for the gem. Fluttershy started to say something, when the sound of a loud explosion broke her concentration.

Looking up into the sky, they could see smoke rising high. Both Rainbow and Fluttershy flew upward to see where the source of the smoke was. To their horror, it was coming from Canterlot…

“Come on, everypony, we’ve got to go!” Fluttershy called to them.

Twilight responded, “What’s going on up there? Where’s the smoke coming from?”

“Canterlot. We have to hurry. I think something bad may be happening!” Rainbow Dash called down to them.

Pinkie Pie scoffed, “You mean worse than the ‘Shadows are possessing people’ thing?”

Applejack stamped her hoof, “And how do you expect us grounded ponies to get there? We can’t fly y’know!”

Twilight sighed, “Well, there has to be a way.”

Rarity looked at Big Macintosh, “Well, we could always hitch a ride in a carriage.”

Big Mac, with a large grin, stated simply, “Eeyup… ‘Cept I don’t think I can carry all of you. If we had another stallion, it could be done.”

Another stallion, you say? Perhaps I can help... The mysterious voice spoke to them. In an instant, a blue light shined brightly from inside of Fluttershy’s pouch. When the light faded, there was an extra member to their party of ponies.

A crimson-red-maned, dark grey coat stallion appeared beside Big Mac. The new stallion was almost exactly Big Mac’s size, albeit a little more muscular.

“Who are you?” Rarity’s eyes lit up at the sight of the stallion.

The stallion looked at her with gentle eyes. He smiled when he said, “I’m the father of the bastard that caused all of this.” The other ponies’ jaws dropped in shock. “If you need a stallion to help pull a carriage, I’m your pony! I used to work for the Equestrian military some ten millennia or so ago…

“Ten-thousand years?!” Twilight screamed in disbelief.

“Like I said, I’m the father of the bastard that caused all this…”

“I swear by all the souls within my heart, I shall not lose to you ponies…”

Feilbach paced back and forth from one side of the room to the other, contemplating what actions he should take to secure himself from any more memories distracting him during dire situations. He had considered smashing the silver orb multiple times, but established that it would kill him. He had also considered ripping Amber’s gem from the orb, but that was too risky, as it might manifest itself as her original form…or merge directly into him.

No, no matter what action Feilbach thought of, something arose to negate the idea. If he did one thing, another thing would ruin it. He had no choice but to live with the risk. He enjoyed his daily meetings with Amber, but he could not allow her to distract him from his main goal. He needed to destroy the world that had caused him so much pain. After it was gone, he could be with her all he wanted for all eternity.

The orb flashed brightly, calling to him. He moved closer to it and stared into his reflection. He saw the group of ponies he despised so much standing on a layer of clouds next to a large waterfall. He quickly realized that they were freeing their final friend. He considered entering the orb and disrupting them again, until he realized that they probably still had the opal gem. As long as they held the gem, he couldn’t risk entering the other realm with them. Amber’s soul could captivate him once more.

No, to his disgust he had to let them be. Besides, a few ponies are nothing compared to him, anyway. He was the Lord of the Shadows in an alicorn body. There was no way a few non-alicorns could beat him. He turned away from the orb, returning to his previous set of thoughts. The orb flashed again, signaling the end of the other realm adventure.

He continued pacing back and forth, the souls within him growing hungry once more. He released some of them to go feed on the life force of the possessed ponies while he continued his thought. When the first group returned, he released another. This continued for a few minutes, until he felt a power that knocked him to his knees. It was a power that he recognized, yet he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

The Shadows that returned to him immediately expressed their discomfort and fear, which he felt almost identical to his own. Though he was unsure why, this power threatened him.

The power you feel is your father, my child. He has manifested himself in a physical body. He is going to attempt to stop you. The question is: Will he be able to? His mother’s voice called to him.

Feilbach laughed, “Surely you jest. You and father have been dead for ten-thousand years. Even if his soul lived on outside the orb, he would never be able to manifest a physical body, not without stealing it from another pony. And the old fool is too kind for such an act.”

You do not have to believe me. But it is your father. And you will regret not believing me. How much do you truly remember about us, Feilbach? Do you remember us as nurturing, negligent, loving? How about hateful, uptight, lenient? Your memories don’t matter anymore, do they?

Feilbach smiled, “How I remember you doesn’t matter. If you get in my way, you will be disposed of. You’ve already killed me twice, Mother. I won’t allow it again.”

You are mistaken, child. Your defeat at the hands of the Princesses was inevitable. I simply saved you from the pain.

“Save your lies for Father when you see him. Tell him his son loves him. That’s a pretty good lie.” Feilbach scoffed. “I’ll put his soul in the orb so you two can hang out.”

With that, his mother stopped responding. He grinned in pleasure as he realized he had gotten the last word in. He relaxed a bit and decided to take a stroll through the castle. He hadn’t left the Royal Wing since he got there in the first place, aside from a visit or two to Ponyville.

“Don’t worry Mother; I’ll play nice with Father…”

Big Macintosh and the mysterious stallion kept up a steady pace climbing the steep mountain that housed the road to Canterlot. To them it was almost a competition to see who could do the most work. Flying beside them were Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the only two ponies able to travel in the air. The earth ponies and unicorns sat in the carriage, carrying on conversation to pass the time.

Every now and again Twilight would check to make sure the stubborn stallions didn’t need to rest, to which the answer was always “Nope” from Big Mac or “Nonsense” from the other stallion. Of course, the mountain changed all of that. At the first possible chance, the stallions undid their reigns and collapsed on the ground. Halfway up the mountain there was a single area of level land so that carriages wouldn’t roll back down. This is where they stopped.

Pinkie Pie had taken it upon herself to gather some food before they left Ponyville, considering how the Shadows no longer bothered them. She packed quite a plethora of delicious snacks, ranging from daffodil sandwiches to red-velvet cupcakes. Each of the ponies took their time to pick out and devour the foods they saw fit. Well, everypony except for the stallion.

Fluttershy offered him a sandwich, “You’ve been working hard, and surely you must be hungry.” She smiled at him.

The stallion politely declined, “Thank you for your offer, but I really am not hungry.”

Applejack tossed an apple his way, which he caught. “Aw c’mon, you gotta keep your energy up. Wouldn’t wanna let Big Mac here beat ya!” She nudged her brother in the side with her elbow.

Big Mac laughed, “Eeyup, she’s right.”

“Truly, I’m fine. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to eat even if I wanted to.” The stallion slapped his hoof over his mouth after he said that.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, “And why not, mister?”

The stallion stuttered, “Uh…well…you see… The Misses would get mad. She’s always telling me to lose weight and exercise more…” The stallion had sweat beading up on his forehead.

“Sure…” Rainbow didn’t believe him.

Rarity asked in a somewhat irritated tone, “So, what is your name, mister? And who is your ‘Misses’?” Twilight nudged her in the ribs in irritation.

The stallion diverted his eyes away from the group, “You can call me Mister. After all, I probably won’t be around too long.” Again, he slapped his hoof over his mouth.

“Okay, just what are you on about here?” Rainbow put her food down, this time taking a serious tone.

The stallion sighed, knowing he’d have to explain himself after that statement. “Like I told you, I’m the father of-“

“-the bastard that started this, we get it. But that doesn’t tell us anything! You said earlier you were around ten-thousand years ago. So how the heck are you still around?” Rainbow was getting really annoyed with this new stallion.

The stallion sighed again, “The day the Misses died, so did Feilbach. The pony he loved gave up her life to revive him. Her soul was trapped in a silver orb the Misses made to protect him. The Misses, Feilbach’s lover, and I were all trapped in the orb. These Shadows that are plaguing this world are the evil souls of soldiers that died in a war all those millennia ago. Feilbach came to possess the orb that housed those souls, and used them to rain destruction on Equestria. The Princesses of the Triad sealed him away, and he was somehow released…” He paused here to catch his breath. “Does that explain it to you?”

The ponies stared at him with dropped jaws. None of them could believe what he just said. Fluttershy asked the question on everypony’s mind, “So, all of these Shadows, you, and Feilbach are just souls of ponies from the past?”

“Essentially, yes. And now the Misses is going to kick my flank for telling you all this!” The stallion let out a soft whimper.

Twilight was the first to laugh, and everypony soon joined in. They thought he was just making up some silly story to get them off his back. He started to chuckle with them, trying to play it off. Rainbow said bluntly, “You’re one crazy pony, dude!” She fell over laughing so hard.

Mister only wished he was lying. He was telling the honest truth, and whenever the ponies find that out, they’ll probably feel bad for laughing. He was surprised they didn’t believe him, after everything they’d been through. Of course, the laughter got everypony sidetracked, and they didn’t bother him anymore…

After about twenty minutes of resting, Big Mac and Mister were ready to go. All the ponies gathered back in the carriage, and they set off down the mountain en route to Canterlot. Now it was time for the easy part of the journey.

Mister noted how everything was the same as so long ago. The roads were identical, the trees almost picture perfect, and the towns were the same, albeit with different names. It was amazing to see how Equestria, after so long, was still the same. The only difference he could note was Ponyville. That town wasn’t there when he lived. In fact, that town was built on the spot he and his wife had died. It was built on the spot his son had lost his sanity…

“My son, it will all be over soon. You’ll be with us, like you were never able to be…”

Feilbach whistled a relaxing tune as he strolled through his castle. He didn’t know where the tune came from, but it was upbeat and cheerful. Normally he tried to avoid such nonsense, but he felt good about himself. The souls inside him were slowly finding peace, after being left to destroy what they wanted. They had finally started quenching their thirst for revenge, it seemed.

The power that his mother had described as his father was drawing closer to the castle. He could also feel the presence of the ponies drawing closer as well. Although he was slightly discomforted by the ponies’ presences, his father didn’t faze him. Feilbach felt he had nothing to worry about, and because of his comfort, the souls within him also felt comforted.

In fact, he would go out on a limb and say he felt happy. For the first time in ten-thousand years, he felt happy. That is, until his mother decided to muck up his fun.

Your arrogance will be your death, Feilbach. If you hope to survive the coming encounter, you’ll need to prepare yourself for a tough battle. You think you are safe here amongst your souls, but you are not.

Feilbach scoffed at the voice, “Please spare me your nonsense, Mother. I have no intention of failing today, nor do I intend on disappointing these souls. They are finally being appeased, and soon my job will be done.”

At what cost, Feilbach? Who all have you sacrificed for this appeasement?

“That is enough, Mother! I refuse to listen to your doubt!” Feilbach turned on his hind hoof and headed back to the throne room. His mother gave up her plight and stopped speaking to him...

“Well, here we are everypony!” Mister called over his shoulder as he undid his reigns.

The ponies stepped out of the carriage, staring at the humongous gate that lay before them. Somehow, the castle seemed different from before. They had just been here not a month ago, and yet the castle seemed more solemn and devoid of happiness. Twilight was the first of her friends to speak up.

“This place is creeping me out. If what you said is true, then everypony is either possessed or…dead?” She turned toward Fluttershy.

Hanging her head low, Fluttershy spoke softly, “Yes. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Armor…all of them were beaten by Feilbach.”

“No worries! Once we kick his flank out of Luna’s body and beat him, everyone will come back!” Pinkie Pie chimed in, her optimism and cheerfulness rubbing off on the ponies.

Mister quickly interrupted the group, “I believe my son’s sent us a welcoming party.” He pointed a hoof at the group of stallions in armor that were opening the massive door.

Twilight immediately recognized the blue mane of the pony at the center of the group. “Shining Armor! At least he’s alive, although possessed…” She sighed.

Shining Armor stepped forward, crossing partially over the drawbridge. “You are here to see Lord Feilbach, correct? Follow me, if you will.” He turned in an instant and marched off into the castle, the other soldiers following at his flank.

Fluttershy stepped in front of her friends. She turned to look at them, nodding. She turned to face the open gate, and started her own trot into the castle. Her friends followed close behind her. Mister and Big Mac followed them in, albeit lagging a bit behind.

In mere moments, the ponies were corralled into the throne room, staring at Feilbach and his silver orb. He turned to greet them with a wide grin, “You’ve finally made it. How wonderful. And how was your trip from the other realm, Father?”

Mister stepped forward to the center of the chamber. He laughed, “It was a rough landing. They could have had the red carpets ready when I arrived.” His smile became a frown.

“Now, now, such hostilities are not needed here, Father. Perhaps you would like some tea? Or maybe some cupcakes? Of course, I also have souls. Would you care for one, Father?” Feilbach waved his arm toward the silver orb at his side.

Mister’s voice increased in volume, “No thanks, I’m already full. So…How long were you planning on tormenting these ponies?”

“As long as these poor souls wanted, why?”

“No reason. And what does Amber think about the things you’ve done here?” This question was a huge mistake.

Feilbach released a ball of black gunk that shot through the room, wrapping itself around his father’s throat, lifting him off the ground. It carried him to Feilbach’s side.

“How dare you mention her name? You don’t deserve to utter those words! She did more for me than you ever hoped to do!” He tossed his father back to the other side of the room.

Fluttershy stepped forward, “Give up, Feilbach! You can’t win this. Not now.”

Feilbach laughed, “Silly little pony! You still continue to resist me? Sure, you saved your little friends, but do you honestly think that’s enough to stop me? Have you forgotten what I showed you on the other side, Fluttershy? You know, how easily I struck down your princesses.” A black cloud of smoke appeared above him, on the ceiling, and slowly sank down into the chamber.

The cloud landed on the floor in front of him, and retracted back into his body. On the floor lay the body of Princess Celestia… Beside her was Princess Cadence’s body. Feilbach pointed to both of them, “You see? Sol and Love were not enough to take me down! And I even possessed Luna! The Triad is powerless against me, let alone some insignificant little ponies from a small backwater town!”

Twilight started to say something, but Fluttershy held up a hoof to stop her. “Yeah, you beat Sol, Luna, and Love. But we have something you’ve never dreamed up, Feilbach. Have you ever heard the legend of the Elements of Harmony? Oh wait, of course you haven’t! They were created while you were still imprisoned!” A smug smirk covered Fluttershy’s face.

Everypony smiled with her, realizing where this was going.

“Bah, the Elements of Harmony? What are they, little gemstones? Please, like I’m afraid of some jewelry!” Feilbach scoffed at her obvious plot. “Besides, do you think I didn’t notice your missing red stallion?”

The ponies all turned around to find Big Macintosh not there. They had no clue where he went. As far as they knew, he had been with them the entire time. “But…Where did he go?” Fluttershy asked them, confused.

“Wait…you mean to tell me you didn’t send him to retrieve something inside the castle?! But then why isn’t he here with you?” Feilbach spun around, looking in every visible corner of the room, wary of a sneak attack.

“He probably got lost on his way here with us, the ol’ lug…” Applejack placed her hoof over her face.

“Aw shucks, AJ. I thought you had more faith in your big brother.” Big Mac’s voice rang out in the room.

Feilbach was on edge. He screamed, “What is this nonsense! Show yourself, stallion! Are you really trying a preemptive strike against me?” Feilbach flailed around, checking every direction he could.

“Eeyup…” Big Mac’s voice called as he charged through the doorway beside Feilbach.

The door led to a meeting room connected to the throne room, and led into the main hallway. Big Mac had taken a detour to flank attack Feilbach should things get bad. And so he did. The full force of Big Mac’s tackle knocked Feilbach all the way to the other side of the room. The silver orb flashed once briefly, as if to protest or cheer.

The pouch at Fluttershy’s side immediately responded to the orb. Without any warning, the diamond ripped a hole in the pouch as it shot itself directly at the orb. Upon making contact, the entire room was engulfed in silver light. When the light faded, everypony found themselves in the gardens outside the castle. Birds and flowers covered the area.

The ponies were in the exact same spots as before, in relation to each other. Even Feilbach and the silver orb were in the same spots. Celestia’s body convulsed as a bright white light entered it, in similar fashion to the black smoke. Her eyes shot open, and immediately she expanded her wings and situated herself of the side of the room with the other ponies.

She sighed lazily, “How long have I been trapped in this wretched orb?”

Fluttershy addressed her, “Roughly twelve hours, Your Highness.”

“Hmm? Fluttershy?” She took the time to look around her. She saw Twilight and all of her friends, Big Mac, and some stallion she didn’t recognize resting on one of the hedges. “And what could possibly have led you ponies to save me?”

Twilight was going to say something, when a scream rang out from across the garden. Cadence’s body convulsed wildly, black smoke pouring from within her. After a minute the spasms stopped and she stood up, just like Celestia before her. The white orb flashed again, this time calling for the onyx in Fluttershy’s pouch.

Through the same hole the diamond had made, the onyx flew straight into the orb, causing another reaction. This time, the light that filled the realm was textured to look similar to the night sky. Nothing sprang into life here; it just remained the same texture. A ball of white light took shape in front of them.

The light took the shape of a mare, almost Celestia’s size. The mare examined herself carefully before scanning the area with her eyes. She looked over at Celestia and the other ponies. “Big Sister, it’s about time you showed up to get me out of here!” The mare had Luna’s voice.

“Luna, is that you, sister?” Celestia took a few steps forward before Fluttershy intervened.

Fluttershy leaped in front of Celestia, holding her hoof in the air. She said, with an angry tone, “Don’t go near her, Princess. This could be some trick of Feilbach’s. And even if it isn’t Luna will have to steal her body back by herself. This is her fight, not ours.” Celestia took a few steps back, unsure of how to feel about being commanded by such a timid pony.

The other ponies stared at her in awe and disbelief. Fluttershy meant business now.

“Take my body back? Whatever do you mean?” She looked around the area once more before noticing a pony lying off to the side. The pony’s mane was textured like the surrounding area, so she barely noticed it…until it moved.

Feilbach rose from the ground, his eyes growing larger and his mane standing up in anger. “This cannot be happening. After all this time, the orb betrays me to the descendants of the Triad. The same Triad that filled it with so many hurt souls… Damn you orb!” In an instant, Feilbach’s black smoke engulfed the orb, as if it were crushing it.

Suddenly, Mister sprang back to life. “Son, don’t do it! If you destroy the orb, all of those souls will disappear! The souls that give you life! Your mother’s soul! My soul! Amber’s soul! If you destroy the orb, all of it will be lost!”

The smoke released the orb. Feilbach looked at his father, anger apparent in even the pure crimson eyes. “You’re right, Father. I have come too close to allow myself to lose. If you want your body back, Princess, feel free to take it from me.” He rushed at Luna, the black smoke engulfing him.

Stop!

In an instant, Feilbach collapsed onto the ground.

This is wrong! Luna quick, take your body while he is down!

The orb shined brightly as an aura surrounded Feilbach. It held him in place. Luna approached his collapsed figure as he struggled wildly to break free. In a flash of black light, the figure that was Luna disappeared, and the being that was Fielbach disappeared as well. After a minute of wondering what had happened, a beam of blue light fell from the infinite sky. When the beam went away, Luna was standing tall, a smile on her face.

Everypony ran over to greet her back to consciousness. The orb stayed in place, flashing faintly. After a few words were spoken, Luna turned to the orb. She remembered how it swallowed her soul. “Why did you help me, orb? I thought he controlled you.”

One does not control their mother. That is an impossible feat. For the third time, I have betrayed my son… For the third time, I have allowed him to lose his way…

“As touching as this moment may be for you, Mother, I’m afraid you are mistaken!” Feilbach’s voice echoed throughout the realm. It sounded so close, yet so far away.

Quickly, everypony! You must leave this realm! A portal opened in front of the orb. You must escape quickly! Everypony rushed to comply with the orb, trailing one after another into the portal.

They arrived on the other side to see a silver-maned, black coat, red-eyed stallion staring at them…

Many thoughts raced through Feilbach’s head as the stallion charged at him. In the few seconds he had to think, so many things clouded his common sense and reasoning. Taking the full force of the stallion’s tackle, he was sent flying into the wall on the opposite side of the room. He decided in that instant that it would be best to stay down and wait. He wanted to see just how this situation would play out, and exactly who would find the favor of the fates.

He watched as the diamond collided with the orb, and the room around him morphed into the gardens where he had claimed his first victim. He watched as Celestia’s body convulsed, soon returning to life and joining her subjects at the other end of the chamber. He watched as Big Mac darted across the room to check on Mister. He saw the orb he had trusted with his lover’s soul for so long slowly betray him.

The orb controlled everything that happened in this realm. This realm was the orb itself. He had allowed it to restore Fluttershy’s friends, thinking that it was her right to do so. Once he witnessed it revive Celestia, he realized it was more than just a right. It was a betrayal. He contemplated his next move for a few minutes. Just as he was going to act, the realm shifted once more into some majestic area. It looked like the night sky. He shifted his head slightly so as to look at his mane. He knew where this was going.

Sure enough, in a flash of light, Luna’s soul manifested itself, and would soon attempt to take its body back. Feilbach’s rational thought stopped when he realized this, leaping to his feet. He couldn’t tell if he was saying something, and if he was he had no idea what he said. The only things he could see and hear were the anger of the souls inside him and the sense of betrayal in his heart. He grasped the silver orb tightly with the smoke, determined to destroy it now. The betrayal was too much for his souls to handle. They snapped in a fit of rage.

But a light in the darkness shined through. His father’s voice pierced the veil of anger and spite, snapping him back to his senses. He released the smoke around the orb, saying something he couldn’t quite understand. He turned to Luna, spoke, and charged at her. He was unsure as to why he did it. There was something inside him that commanded him to.

Then he collapsed, and he heard his mother’s voice call to the ponies. He couldn’t understand her words, but he heard her. In a flash of light, he was no longer in the other realm. He felt the pain of the souls inside him as he was forcefully ripped from Luna’s body. He screamed in agony as he was released back into the throne room, a gathering of souls without a vessel. Desperate for an escape from this pain, he launched himself at the orb. In a blast of silver-black light, a body manifested itself around him.

It was his original body. The one he was cursed with the day he died. All of the souls entered the body, welcoming back their original home. He watched as the ponies that he had been so confident in defeating spawned from the orb he once thought was an ally. In the instant, his consciousness awoke. He was aware of everything around him, and he laughed at the ponies in front of him.

“You’re back now. How lovely. Killing a few helpless ponies would have been no fun. Now that you Princesses are alive, the real fun can begin!” He stood on his hind hooves, laughing maniacally.

Princess Celestia stepped forward, shooting a blast of magic from her horn. Smoke poured from the orb and encased Feilbach, deflecting the magical energy with ease.

Feilbach fell back to all four hooves. He closed his eyes and turned to face the window behind him. He chuckled, “Your efforts are wasted, Princess of Sol. You, your subjects, and your world are no match against the anger housed within these souls. Give up now, so as to not prolong your suffering.” He turned to face the ponies.

Celestia took a few more steps forward, anger in her eyes, “You shall not win this, Feilbach! A monster like you has only one fate!” She shot another magic beam at him, which was again deflected by the smoke.

Luna stepped up beside her sister, “This will end now! Only one side of this room will be living to see the daylight!” In tune with her sister, she added her own magic beam to Celestia’s. The smoke still easily deflected the energy.

Cadence stepped forward, “Everything you’ve done today…it can never be forgiven! You will pay for the damage you’ve done!” She added her magic to the other two beams. Again, the smoke was unaffected by the blast.

Feilbach sighed, “You are stubborn, and of that I am certain. You are also foolish.” With a wave of his hoof, the trio was cast aside into the wall of the room. The ponies on the other side gasped in horror, some of them gathering around to help them get up.

Fluttershy stepped forward, taking a deep breath, “This has to end, Feilbach. You can’t just show up and take over everything. As long as I breathe, I won’t let you win this battle!” Fluttershy ripped the pouch from her side, tossing it at the monster as hard as she could.

He caught it in midair with his teeth. He dropped it to the ground, laughing “What was this bag supposed to do? Give me an allergic reaction?” He stamped it with his hoof.

Fluttershy smiled, “It’s a present. Why don’t you open it…?” She bowed her head.

Feilbach stared at the bag in curiosity. “A present? What in the world are you talking about, pony?” He kicked the bag with his hoof, growing ever more curious.

Beside him, the orb flashed silver once more. In an instant, Feilbach realized what was inside the bag. It was too late to react; the entire room was once more absorbed into the orb. When the ponies landed on the other side, they searched the area over with their eyes, searching for some hint as to where they were. Feilbach and the orb came crashing down from the sky, landing with hard thuds on the ground. He stood, his expression fading from confidence to horror. He stared at the giant tree in the distance.

From the fallen orb, two balls of light shot forth, taking shape in front of the ponies’ eyes. One took the shape of an alicorn, similar in size to the trio across from it, except it looked even more majestic. The other took the shape of a Pegasus, floating lazily off of the ground. Feilbach turned to see them approach him. He leaped back in horror.

“Mother, what is this madness?! Why have you brought me here?!” Feilbach flailed his hooves, trying ever harder to avoid the two figures.

The alicorn spoke, “Welcome home, son. This will now be your grave, as it was mine.”

The Pegasus chuckled, “You’re not afraid, are you Feilbach?”

He collapsed to the ground. His crimson eyes reverted back into normal ones, his mane turning color from silver to brown. His coat shifted from black to white and back to black. It continued shifting.

Mister dashed over beside the figures, his body transforming into a ball of light like them. “Son, this is the end of the road. Let go of the anger, and come back to us!”

Feilbach leaped to his feet. He stepped back cautiously, and then started a mad dash toward the tree in the distance. The figures followed after him, as did the other ponies. They followed him all the way to the giant tree…

At the top of the tree, a sad looking colt sat on the highest branch. Beside him was a friendly-looking filly. The Pegasus’ figure stepped forward to Feibach’s side. “You remember this, right? The day we met.”

Feilbach turned toward her. He looked at her with horror in his eyes. “Of course I remember it! But…Why the hell are we here?!” He leaped back, away from the Pegasus.

“Your soul is still tied to the orb, you know. The orb wanted you to see this. To see who you were before.” The alicorn stepped up.

Feilbach stared at her with fright, “But who I was doesn’t matter anymore! The colt in the tree is dead!” The area flashed silver, and suddenly the tree was gone.

All around the ponies, bodies were lying lifeless on the ground. In the spot where the tree had just been, an alicorn was being cradled in the arms of a stallion. They spoke softly to one another.

“This is the end, isn’t it? This war was a mistake.” The alicorn looked at the stallion.

The stallion had tears in his eyes, “It was a mistake. Pointless violence. But this isn’t the end! You’ll be fine, we can take you back to the Princess and she’ll help you!” He pulled her closer.

The alicorn chuckled, “No. This is it for me. But Feilbach…He had his whole life ahead of him. Why must it end like this? I can feel his presence fading, Zulema. Our son is dying with me.” Tears fell from her eyes.

The stallion lowered his head to hers, “I can feel it as well. There is one thing we can do, Merlene. We can…” His voice trailed off.

The alicorn smiled, “That is an option. Let’s do it…” She closed her eyes.

The stallion placed his hoof on her side and rested his head on her own. Her horn began to glow, and in a single instant, a tree burst from the ground and swallowed the pair. Two white orbs burst from the top of the tree, spinning around one another, rapidly increasing in size and speed. They split apart from each other and flew back together, colliding into one single orb. Silver in color, it shined so brightly that all of the ponies in the field immediately ceased their fighting and dropped their weapons.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers raised into the air, being swallowed into tiny black gems. They flew into the orb as if it were vacuuming them in. Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny gems entered the orb. A single blue gem shot out of it, zooming through the sky toward the castle in the distance. The orb gently lowered itself back into the tree, falling to the ground with a thud.

The white figures of the alicorn and stallion bowed their heads, turning away from the scene. They refused to look at Feilbach. They refused to acknowledge the other ponies.

The Pegasus figure floated along the ground to the group of ponies. “You gave him my present. Thank you.” She looked Fluttershy in the eyes.

To everypony behind them, the two pegasi looked almost identical. The white figure’s eyes had a gentle red tint, whereas Fluttershy’s were blue. They both had gentle expressions on their faces, and their coats and manes were seemingly the same colors. Fluttershy nodded to the Pegasus, not saying a word.

“What a touching moment of self-sacrifice!” Feilbach’s voice called from beside the tree. “It’s a shame that your attempt to give me life left me with one of despair and loneliness! Even after Amber came to me, I knew it wouldn’t last forever. The tree was going to die and I with it!” His eyes turned crimson once more, his coat and mane changing back with them.

The alicorn stepped forth, “We had no idea your life would be bound to the tree! We thought the gem would give you life, not a curse!”

“Ah, a curse it truly was. What is life when you simply sit and wait for the day you will die? The only happiness I had was waking up to find myself with Amber. To wake up and realize I wasn’t dead yet, and that I would see her face once more! But I knew I would die. And I spent every moment of the day wondering when death would come.” Feilbach leaped to the lowermost branch on the tree.

The Pegasus flew up to meet him on the branch. “You’re right, that’s no way to live life! But at the same time, at least you still lived!” She tried to place a hoof on his shoulder.

He leaped to the next branch. He scoffed, “Bah! My life was a ticking time bomb. If I had known you would give your life to revive me, I never would have accepted your friendship. I spent thirty years waiting to die, and just when its comforting grasp held me, you took it from me. I awoke to watch the pony I loved turn into a gem and enter the orb that caused this mess…” His voice faded off.

Fluttershy stepped forward. She spoke softly, “The thought of getting to live, especially without Amber, was too much for you to handle…” She understood where he was going with all of this.

He laughed, “You are correct, my little pony. Without Amber, my life held no meaning. After thirty years, she was the only meaning I had when I died. My only friend. The only pony I so much as spoke to. So tell me, Amber… Do you hate me for what I’ve done? I took your gift of life and used it to become this monster you see before you. Do you hate me for wasting such a precious gift?” He turned to look at his Pegasus friend.

She glided over to his branch, stared him in the eyes, and smiled, “Of course I don’t hate you! Even after everything you’ve done, I still love you, Feilbach! I could never hate you, no matter how horrible the things you’ve done!”

Feilbach leaped away from her as she spoke these words. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You must be joking! After seeing all the evil things I’ve done, you still love me? This is impossible! There is no way you can mean that!” His eyes caught the opal pendant around her neck.

Amber followed his eyes to her pendant. “You remember the day I gave you this pendant? That night, you had a terrible nightmare. You squirmed and screamed for hours. I sat on the branch and held you, trying to comfort you. Do you remember the song? The song I sang to you? The song that ended your nightmare?” She turned to face the highest branch in the tree, and in a flash of light, a young stallion and young Pegasus mare sat in the branch. The sky turned to night, and the stallion began screaming and tossing around. The mare held him firmly in her arms, singing a soft melody…

“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head…
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed…
Hush now, quiet now, no need to be afraid…
Hush now, quiet now, kinder words are never made…
Hush now, quiet now, for you I will stay…
Hush now, quiet now, for you I lead the way…
Hush now, quiet now, and let this melody…
Hush now quiet now, soothe the body…”

The voice repeated this melody several times over, before finally fading away. The stallion’s screaming stopped. Feilbach leaped to the uppermost branch, listening intently to the gentle lullaby. He leaped to the bottom of the tree, and dashed toward the alicorn and stallion. His body returned to the form of the stallion in the tree, his eyes filled with tears.

His voice was still hollow, and he cradled his head in his hooves, as he screamed, “Make this stop! I don’t want this anymore!” The silver orb flashed once, and Feilbach stopped dead in his tracks.

He collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony, as hundreds of black balls of smoke ripped from his body, flying wildly all around the tree. He convulsed uncontrollably, the pain tearing at him, all of the lost souls flooding from his own. The three white figures gathered around him, each placing once hoof over him. In an instant, they disappeared into one single white ball. The ball engulfed Feilbach’s struggling body…

The souls wildly swarmed the tree, covering it top to roots in black smoke. After the final soul left his body, the white light faded away, and a stallion was left lying in the grass where the monster had just been. He struggled to stand up, his knees weak from the pain, and his head throbbing from having so many memories ripped out of him. He looked around, as if hoping to find a single person in the massive heap of souls on the tree.

Fluttershy stepped forward, making her way over to the stallion. The other ponies watched as she did.

The stallion stared at her the entire way over. He smiled as he asked her, “Is it over yet, pony? Can I go home now…?” He collapsed as he finished his question.

Fluttershy knelt beside him, whispering in his ear, “Almost. Just a little longer. You have to keep fighting. You aren’t free yet…”

“Mother…Father…Amber…Help me…”

It felt like an eternity passed in an instant. So many memories ripped from his mind. So many pains ripped from his heart. So many emotions stripped away from him. The thousands of years of torment and pain and anger he had held within his heart suddenly disappeared. All in an instant, he was free from his sorrow and anger. His hatred faded fast, and his mind soon cleared. Feilbach smiled a smile of genuine happiness. He stepped slowly through the plains, taking in the sight of his childhood home. The tree he had labeled as home now covered in the sorrowful souls of the soldiers from the war, he didn’t dare approach it.

Amber’s melody saved him from those angry souls. She gave him his life back, for the second time now. He had no intention of wasting it again. He had his sanity back. The ponies stood aside and watched as the stallion examined the area with interest and nostalgia. When he finally approached them, he smiled happily.

“This…was my home. I spent my entire life by this tree. My mother and father made this tree in the hopes that it would end the war and unite the Triad once more. They also created the orb to save my life. Using their own souls, they created the blue gem that entered my body. They gave me a limited life at the cost of their own. I see now that I was wrong about this being a prison.” He sighed deeply, looking around once more. “It was a safe haven. While I was forced to be around this tree, I never had to face to evils of the world. The greed and lust and anger of other ponies. I never had to see another war like the one that killed them…”

None of the other ponies spoke. They watched and listened to the stallion, who mere minutes ago had been a monster dead set on ending the world and appeasing the souls he now avoided. The melody Amber had sung in the tree still rang in their heads. The melody was familiar, but none of them knew why. The moment Feilbach had been restored, the white figures that represented his past disappeared, and no answers were given.

Feilbach laughed a happy laugh, “I was always safe here. Even before Amber came along, I was safe. Once she showed up, I was happy and safe. The filly that gave you the opal…It was Amber...” He turned to look Fluttershy in the eyes.

She bowed her head. She didn’t know what to say to him. “I can see why you were immune to the Shadows. You and she are exactly alike. You two are both friendly, forgiving, kind…and you even look the same.” He took a deep breath. “She said she couldn’t hate me. Just like you did.”

Fluttershy raised her head. She spoke softly, “You think we’re alike? But…”

Feilbach turned away, stepping toward the tree a few steps, “When the tree died, so did I. She gave her life to me, and I became a monster. Even after all that, she still loved me. In the end, it was her that freed me from those wretched souls.” He stared at the black cloud engulfing the tree.

The silver orb still sat where it had before. It let off a faint glow. Feilbach answered the glow with a smile. “I think it’s almost time to go home, ponies. This isn’t where your tales end. Alas, my tale ended millennia ago…” The orb lifted itself into the air, the glow becoming brighter.

Celestia called to him, “So you’re just going to stay here, by yourself?”

Feilbach answered her, “Of course. This is where I should be. Ten-thousand years ago, this is where I died. If Amber had let me die, my soul would be wandering this realm still to this day. Of course, once my soul begins its rest here, the orb will fade away.”

Twilight asked gently, “Why will it fade away? Has it been waiting on you?”

Feilbach smiled, a tear falling from his left eye, “My mother and father gave me life with this orb. They sent a crystal to revive me. Once my soul merges with this orb for good, the crystal will return here. The orb will be complete, and its job will be finished. The Shadows I have plagued your world with will disappear for good.” He raised a hoof as another pony tried to speak. “There is no need for pity or words. The souls of my loved ones gave all they had to help me recover. Even if I never see them again, knowing that is enough for me to be happy here. I’ll just have to remember to avoid the tree.”

Fluttershy took a few steps forward smiling as she cheered, “I know you’ll see them again! I’m sure of it!”

The orb’s glow grew brighter. Feilbach smiled at it, yelling, “Okay, okay! I’m hurrying as fast as I can!” He looked back at the ponies. “You’ve all done more that you can imagine. I don’t know why, but the place where I was imprisoned held gemstones specifically for restoring you from the Shadows. None of us may ever understand why the gems responded to you, but I’m lucky they did.” He laughed.

Rainbow stepped up, “You sure do have a lot going on in that head of yours, don’t you? Some things just aren’t meant to be understood.”

Applejack agreed, “I ain’t sure why the gems saved us. It looks like Fluttershy did all the work here! But y’know, sometimes you just ain’t s’posed to know.”

Luna giggled, “I really can’t say what the gems wanted with us. Whatever it was, we probably disappointed them!”

Pinkie Pie chimed in, “It was fun though, all the cool lights and magic and stuff!”

Rarity muttered, “It almost seemed like a waste of time, really. We didn’t do anything to stop you, it just happened.”

Cadence lightened the tone, “I don’t think it mattered that we were here. I think we were meant to witness how Amber’s love saved him!”

Twilight nodded in agreement, “For the second time in a month, we got to see the power of love save the day!”

Feilbach chuckled, rubbing his hoof through his mane, “Maybe. Like I said, I don’t know why they saved you, but they did. I’m grateful to every last one of you.” The orb’s glow shined brighter, this time changing from white to silver.

Fluttershy started walking toward the orb. “It’s time for us to go now. Come on everypony, let’s get this over with…” She stopped short of the orb, hanging her head low.

The group of ponies walked slowly toward the orb, knowing that once they left, Feilbach would be alone for an undeterminable amount of time. He smiled at them as they touched the orb one by one, being sucked back into the real world. Fluttershy hesitated, turning instead to look at him.

She spoke gently, “When you see Amber, tell her I said thanks.”

Feilbach raised an eyebrow, “Thanks for what?”

“For saving me in the castle. For leading me to the gemstones. For giving me the courage to save my friends… And most of all, for helping return you to normal.” She smiled widely, then turned back toward the orb.

Feilbach sighed, “I’ll gladly give her your message. Thank you, Fluttershy.”

She looked back at him, “For what?”

“For not hating me. After everything you’ve had to go through because of me…you still don’t hate me…” He blushed.

Fluttershy laughed, “Of course not. I can’t hate someone who isn’t himself.”

The orb flashed once, and Fluttershy knew it was time to leave. She touched her hoof to the orb, and for the last time she was sucked through back to the real world.

Feilbach sat in grass, staring at the orb, the image of all the ponies fading from its surface. A tear fell from his eye again, and three white balls of light appeared beside him.

Welcome home, son…

Fluttershy stared into the image displayed on the silver orb. All of the ponies were happy to be back in the comfort of a Shadowless castle. She watched as the image of Feilbach and the balls of light faded away. She knew he would be happy with his parents and Amber. She smiled as she turned to face her friends.

They returned her smile with cheers. “To Fluttershy!” Rainbow shouted, leaping into the air in joy.

Applejack added, “Everypony knows we wouldn’t be here if she didn’t save us!”

The orb behind her flashed once, a calm air filling the room. Suddenly, the air began to swirl in a vortex, almost like a tornado. The air didn’t disturb the cheering ponies. In fact, it almost seemed to avoid them. As they stepped away from the orb, they watched as clouds of smoke poured into the room, almost in a mad dash toward the orb.

It absorbed the souls, hundreds of them, steadily taking in more and more for nearly an hour. The ponies sat back and watched as all of the lost souls that Feilbach had released into their world faded away in the orb’s surface, gathering in the tree at the center of the plains. They saw Feilbach and his loved ones sitting, watching the tree take in the souls.

After the last souls entered the orb, it flashed one final time in a bright golden glow. The ponies watched as the orb began to crack and crumple, imploding in on itself. Before long, all that was left of the orb was a small, marble-sized ball of gold. It lifted itself into the air, and vanished in an instant. It could have gone anywhere, and the ponies would’ve never known where…

With heads held high, the ponies stepped outside the castles gates. They felt the warmth of the sun shining brightly in the sky, and saw the sunlight flood over everything in the distance. Not a single Shadow remained. With little to no actual damage done to the cities the Shadows had taken over, the ponies cheered once more…

“Well, it’s been two weeks. Princess Celestia is holding a ceremony today at the castle to honor all of us that helped stop the Shadows. Any damage done has been fixed, and everypony is back to their normal selves. The crystal mines were filled with tons of dirt and concrete, so nothing else will be coming from them. Looking back on all this crazy stuff, I had fun. I grew a lot that day. I’m nowhere near as shy as I was before. I feel ready to take on just about anything. Not to mention everypony seems to respect me more now. I find myself wondering how Feilbach and Amber are doing from time to time, but then I realize they’re probably happy. I guess it’s time to go now, the ceremony will start soon…”

A large crowd gathered outside of the castle that day. They were all dressed in their nicest clothes, cheering wildly for the heroes standing in front of them. Princess Celestia stood tall as she announced the names of everypony that fought Feilbach, recognizing them as heroes and awarding them medallions in memory of the day’s events. Luna and Cadence stood beside her, their smiles gracing the ponies gathered around.

Shining Armor stood off to the side, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He didn’t need some overly-excited pony starting a fight in a fit of excitement.

“My loyal subjects, we have gathered here today in honor of the brave ponies that risked life and limb to save us all from the powerful evil that entered our land. Though the worst of the day’s events you were unable to see, I assure you that these ponies did more for us than any single pony could ever imagine.” Princess Celestia addressed the crowd in front of her, standing tall and head held high.

A couple of stallions carried a long table to her side. On the table sat medallions which were to be the ponies’ symbols of heroism.

Celestia lifted a shining red medallion off of the table with her magic, holding it high for all to see. “I award this Medallion of Strength to Macintosh Apple, whose determination to help not only his sister, but also his country, allowed for a moment’s reprieve in the battle against Feilbach.”

Big Macintosh stepped forward, bowing low. He chuckled, “Eeyup.”

She lifted two white medallions into the air. “To Princess Luna and Princess Cadence, I award these Medallions of Spirit, for their persistent acts against Feilbach, until they were struck down.”

The princesses stepped forward, bowing in sync with one another. They didn’t speak a word; they only looked out at all of the ponies in the crowd.

Celestia lifted six blue medallions into the air. “Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity… For the fourth time, you have come to this country’s aid in our time of need. You have once more risked your own lives to restore your fellow ponies’. I award you these Medallions of Loyalty for your determined efforts to continuously protect our home. On behalf of every pony here, I thank you.”

The six ponies stepped forward, bowing low, unable to speak. They looked around at the princesses, the crowd, and each other. Smiles stretched across their faces.

Princess Celestia lifted one final medallion into the air. It was cut from a large opal stone. “I award this final medallion, the Medallion of Never Ending Kindness, to Fluttershy…” She paused to watch Fluttershy’s reaction. Everypony turned their attention toward her as she stepped forward, head bowed low. Celestia continued, “…for all of the work she put in to saving all of us. If it were not for her ability to forgive and accept other pony’s actions, our entire world would be engulfed in the Shadows of that monster. We owe her more than we can ever repay. Being trapped all alone in the face of danger, she never faltered, determined to save each and every last one of us from Feilbach. Everypony gathered here today, let me hear you cheer for this brave pony!”

Everypony went wild with cheer and applause. Fluttershy spun around as she looked at every last pony who cheered for her. Her friends, the princesses, the guards, and every other pony in the crowd all cheered for her. She blushed, took a deep breath, and said softly, “I couldn’t have done it by myself. I was never alone.” She looked back up at the princesses, and smiled a wide smile. She was thinking about Amber and her opal gem.

The ceremony continued for a few more minutes, a few of the ponies offering their thanks to the ponies in the crowd for showing up. After everything was said and done, the castle held a massive feast in honor of the heroes. Everyone ate delicious food that night.

Three days later, the ponies decided to return back to Ponyville. They were given a Royal Carriage, and two of the guard stallions carried them back down the road, heading for the train station that would take them home.

And so ends the tale of Fluttershy’s great adventure. She was able to save her friends, and helped to lead Feilbach back to his normal self. She helped save everypony in the world. Sure, she had a little help, but she did a lot on her own. She overcame her own obstacles and swallowed her own fears. She looked at everything with a new light, feeling as if she could handle anything that was thrown at her.

Yes, our friendly little pony was no longer a coward in the face of danger. In fact, she was the first one to take on a challenge. Her friends admired her newfound courage, and the whole world knew about her amazing bravery.

I should say that the ponies returned to Ponyville perfectly fine, and returned to their day to day activities. Every once in a while, ponies would talk about hearing a melody coming from the edge of Everfree Forest. It was a soothing sound, almost like a lullaby…

Hush now, quiet now, and let this melody…
Hush now, quiet now, soothe the body…

Nearly three weeks had passed since he had regained his sanity. He loved running around the plains with his lover. His mother and father always there by his side, and his lover there to talk to him, they passed the days happily together.

One happy family, they laughed, joked, cheered, and played games. The tree at the center of the field eventually shined a bright golden light, the souls that had once consumed it finally put to rest. Sitting by the tree in the night sky, the quartet of happy ponies would relax and talk about whatever entered their minds.

They did have ten-thousand years’ worth of memories, after all.

And in the middle of the night, in the cool breeze that blew around them, with sleep teetering on the verge of covering them with its gentle blanket, a lullaby would ring out from within the depths of the tree. A soothing song that immediately put them to sleep, resting them for the day of fun they would have…

The lullaby was simple and gentle enough to not even be a song…

Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head…
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed…
Hush now, quiet now, no need to be afraid…
Hush now, quiet now, kinder words are never said…
Hush now, quiet now, for you I will stay…
Hush now, quiet now, for you I lead the way…
Hush now, quiet now, and let this melody…
Hush now, quiet now, soothe the body…

THE END!