Lone Shadow, hero of Equestria, was in the Nexus, a place he had spent the three months in exile in. The Nexus was a. . . unique place, as it is where those who were a large influence in their home universe went when they died. As a result, it was the most technologically advanced place Lone had seen. Though, it had a dark side. The Void.

This was, for lack of a better term, a prison for the more villainous individuals went. Assuming their deaths didn't completely destroy their brains. it was where Plasma, when he was first banished from Equis, went, though he had eventually escaped, and caused the events of the last year, including a revelation that ponies, and every quadruped being on Equis that could speak, for that matter, were once more similar to humans in their body structure, which was to say anthro.

Right now, he was sitting in a small office room in front of an desk, with the owner of said desk sitting behind it. The said owner was a mare with white skin wearing a gray, sleeveless dress. Her hair went down just past her shoulders, and had ten colors. Lavender, purple, cyan, orange, pink, ruby, emerald, gray, brick, and black. Seven of these colors represented the seven Elements of Harmony that had been found, the other three representing the ones not yet found. The mare was Harmony, the maker of the Elements.

Lone was wearing a red T-shirt and black jeans, both of which went with his skin color, as black as ink, with red as an accenting color. His hair and tail were the same. On his face, a single scar ran across the right, starting just above his eye, and ending just under his lip, and, amazingly, he hadn't lost sight in that eye. There were a few other things, though. One was the fact he had both a horn, and wings, the latter looking like a mix of pegasus wings from the base joint to the halfway point, and bat wings the rest of the way. The second was that his right arm from the shoulder down was a robotic prosthetic.

"You wanted to see me, harmony," he asked, crossing his arms.

"Indeed I did, Lone," Harmony said. "As we've become aware since your defeat over him, many of Plasma's plans have come to light, many of them having been stopped by the versions of lone team of those universes. We are currently monitoring one, while another has become drastic."

"What would that be?" Lone asked.

"That is best answered in another location," Harmony said, getting up from her seat. "Come, it is not far."

"Right," Lone said, nodding and following her.

Just as they left the building they were in, a small building with no visible windows and a single door, Harmony stopped. "Before we go, however, there is someone I'd like you to meet. He'll be recording everything you and the others do in terms of your adventures?"

"Who?"

Me.

"Okay, where'd that come from," Lone said, jumping in surprise.

"Your mind," Harmony said. "Remember how I told you of Pinkie Pie being able to speak with those of us in the Nexus when she wished? Well, she is not the only. Who you just heard has been in contact with both me and Pinkie, getting the last story of what had happened with Plasma recorded."

"Well, what's his name?"

The name's Josh. Pleasure, Lone.

"This is going to be a large headache, I just know it," Lone said. "So, what is it you do, exactly?"

Well, I mostly just record the stories and put them on a website. Readers think it's just a story. Nothing actually important is put in them, I assure you. Also, I'll be giving you guys information as to any other universes you'll be going to. Until then, I'll be silent. Well, I have some stuff to do, so I'll talk to you later."

"That was weird," Lone said, causing Harmony to chuckle.

"Yes, I can imagine so. Come, I still need to show you something."

Lone nodded, and followed Harmony as she began to make her way to the medical part of the Nexus, a place Lone knew well. When they entered, the guards, two humanoids in advanced armor, stood to the side and saluted them, but stayed silent.

They walked in, then turned left, going to the VIP section of the place. This instantly made Lone realize just how important it was, as only four people, himself, his brother, Shadow Specter, and two humans, Spartans named Maruco and John, or, as the latter was more famous for, Master Chief, had been in this part of the place in recent years.

"I warn you now, Lone, this may be confusing for you," Harmony said before the two stopped in front of a single set of doors.

"Whatever it is, I'm ready for it, Harmony," Lone said.

"I had figured you would be," the white alicorn said before opening the doors, revealing three anthro ponies laying down on three hospital beds. What surprised Lone was that they all looked familiar.

In the bed closest to the door was a lavender mare wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, her hair, with a stripe of purple, going to her shoulders. The bed directly across from her contained a mare with hair that contained alternating stripes of purple and white, and wore what would be the stereotypical librarian outfit. The weirdest one, though, was a single bed next to the one that resembled Metamorph, Chrysalis' daughter, when she was in her Twilight form. In that bed was a very familiar black and red stallion, with just a horn, no scar, and wore a short sleeved shirt and jeans, both colored blue.

"Uh, Harmony, care to explain why there's a second me here, as well as a second Twilight and her mother?"

"The specifics are best answered by them when they awaken, but I brought them here, as the universe they came from is the one that is affected by Plasma, and they are the only ones who stand a chance of removing his influence. As for why you're here, they have no combat training, something they'll need to remove the influence, and I was hoping you would be the one to train them."

Lone, the one next to Harmony, thought on this, then said, "If they're willing to fight, then I will. If not, then I'll go in my self."

"I expected nothing less," Harmony said with a smile.

"So, how long until they wake up?"

"The doctors say a week or two, due to the strain from their first inter-dimensional transport. But I am not the only one who wishes to speak with you, Lone."

"Who else wants to," Lone asked.

"That is best discussed with five others," Harmony said. "I will give you time to decide on that before returning."

Lone nodded. "Right," he said, and he then disappeared in a flash of light.

Lone reappeared in the castle that also functioned as the headquarters for the Equis lone team. It, and the surrounding city, had been built two weeks after Plasma was defeated and was named New Canterlot, the original having been destroyed during Plasma's three month reign.

The room he had appeared in was the throne room. He stood in front of his throne, made out of onyx. There were ten thrones, one each for the rulers, Lone, his brother, Fear and Chaos, their respective dark sides that had been split from them during the battle, Chrysalis, Cadence, who, collectively, ruled over the Empire and changelings, Luna, who was also Lone's beloved, Celestia, Shaodw's beloved, and Nightmare Moon and Solar Flare, the dark sides of Luna and Celestia, both of which were romantically involved with Fear and Chaos, respectively.

Lone was the only one present, as Metamorpha, formerly Twilight Sparkle, and her lover, John, were taking a vacation to the human counter part of Eqius.(1) Going with them was one of John's oldest, and probably the only friend, Cortana.(2)

"This is going to be fun," Lone said as he went to the portal room, which contained the mirror portal.

It was a short walk, and he made it there just before Metamorpha, John, and Cortana were about to go through.

"Lone, you made it," Metamorpha said as he walked in, Luna walking up to him and kissing him on the cheek.

"What, you thought I wasn't going to say goodbye to you guys before you left?" Lone said with a smile. "What kind of friend would I be if I did that?"

"Fair enough," Metamorpha said. She wore a green shirt with purple highlights, and on a pair of knee length shorts. John wore standard UNSC casual, nothing surprising there. Cortana wore a light blue t-shirt and blue jeans. Metamorpha put her backpack, which was colored purple and had Twilight's cutie mark on it, and put it on. "Well, guess we'll see you guys in a week."

"See ya, Metamorpha," Applejack said. "See ya later too, John."

"See you in a week," John said, and the three of them walked through the portal.

"Well, I hope they have a good time," Shadow said. He had on a brown, sleeveless shirt and camo, knee length shorts. Celestia, wearing blue jeans and a white shirt, one of the many changes from Plasma being royalty now dress like the average pony.

"I think we all do," Lone said. "But something's come up, guys."

"What," Nightengale said. He also wore UNSC standard casual, due to the fact he was once a soldier for the UNSC.(3)

"I don't know," Lone said. "Harmony said it would be best discussed with only five, not including myself, her, or the one who will be explaining it present."

"Then who's going with you?" Octavia, Nightengale's marefriend and a member of lone team, wearing a purple shirt with a gray, button-up over coat and a beige skirt.

"No idea," Lone said.

"Well, I'm going with you, Lone," Luna said.

"Me too," Nightengale said.

"If Nightengale's going, so am I," Octavia said.

Lone smiled. "Thanks guys, but who else is coming, because if Harmony says we need six, then we'll need six."

"Well, I've been wanting to go on an adventure recently," Chitinia, formerly Rarity, said. She wore a designer outfit that went with her chitin, and still had the elegance she did from before her secret was revealed. "So count me in."

"Ah, shoot, me too," Applejack, wearing a short sleeved white shirt and denim jeans.

"You sure, AJ? What about Applebloom and the rest of your family," Nightengale asked.

"Yeah. Applebucking season ain't for a few months," Applejack said.

"Then I guess it's time to go," Lone said.

"Good luck," Shadow said. "Make sure you don't lose another limb this time, Lone."

"Go to hell," Lone said as he lit his horn, and the six going on the new mission disappeared. Next Chapter: First meetings Estimated time remaining: 43 Minutes