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…”

Next Chapter: Chapter 19: The Penultimate Showdown Estimated time remaining: 33 Minutes