Night Claw was reassigned to shadow Canterlot, making sure that the threat didn’t appear. He had seen Twilight earlier, but had gone missing after an incident during the Wedding Rehearsal. He wanted to stop what he was doing, and try to see if she was alright. However, he had his orders once more and currently perched on one of the castle’s towers, eyeing the city. Shining Armor’s and Princess Cadence’s Wedding had already started, he could hear the music being played, along with Princess Celestia.

Then silence, followed by yelling? Night Claw looked towards the wing where the wedding was, just as a flash of green and gold light collided! Without hesitation, he shot towards the wedding, in time to see Celestia get blasted away by some mutant pony. She was with Twilight, and her friends, telling them something, the six rushing off.

That was when the barrier, protecting the city, shattered and mutant ponies started to dive bomb the streets. Night Claw looked back inside, and glared at the obvious leader. He knew how to stop them, she had to be taken out and he was the pony for the job. But, before he could burs in, he suddenly heard Celestia’s voice. “Protect…. Everypony… Please.”

“Yes, Princess…” He muttered, turning around, opening his wings wide. “I’ll try to buy them time.” With that, he flew into the city streets, ready to fight off what he could for Twilight and the others.

To say there were a lot of them, would be quite the understatement. Night Claw knew he brought down at least a hundred of them, but they just keep coming. When he heard a call for help, the stallion saw a mare and her foal surrounded by the mutants. “Oh, that isn’t going to happen!” He growled, bolting down and slamming through the bulk of them. Night Claw was able to grab the mare, and her foal, before anything could happen.

Taking them to a safer distance, he sat the two of them down, and then looked to see if the mutants had followed him…. And they did, ooooof course. “What do we do now?” The mare asked.

“You’re gonna fight them, right, Mr. Guard?” The foal asked.

“Miss, do you know somewhere safe near here?” Night Claw asked, the mare nodded. “Good, find something to plug your ears, the foal’s too, and run.” Before they could ask why, he yelled out. “Do it!” The two tore their clothes, packing it into their ears, and ran. "Good… This isn’t much of an attack, but it’ll by those two more time.” Night Claw thought, before taking a deep breath, filling all three of his lungs.

When the mutants were close enough, he smirked and let loose the one thing that made Night Lords dangerous to mortals, an ear piercing wail! The sound slammed into the mutants, like a metal wall, forcing those flying to plummet to the ground. Their ears started to ooze green with blood, along with their eyes, as Night Claw held on to the wail.

The moment he was out of breath, Night Claw shot forwards and started to take out those that recovered. One by one, the mutant ponies were being taken down by the stallion while still trying to recover from what he had done to them. They didn’t count on a protector like him, and thought that Shining Armor was the best Canterlot had to offer. They were wrong, dead wrong.

By the time most were dealt with, Night Claw was out of breath and cut up from minor injuries. However, there were more mutants he had to fight, and they had recovered. “Great… Bone Saw is going to nag me again.” He thought, smirking before taking a battle stance. “You ugly bastards want a fight!? I’ll give you one to remember!” He shouted, the mutants flying straight for him.

Then, just before he clashed with the mob, a flash of light exploded from Canterlot Castle. Within seconds, a barrier reappeared and started to expel the mutants from Canterlot! It was even repairing all the damage they had caused, along with freeing trapped guards. Cheers could be heard within the streets.

Night Claw gave a smirk, moving towards the darkness of a nearby alley way. “Why do I have the feeling, Twilight had something to do with that?” He thought, disappearing into the shadows, with a smile.

“So… Auntie Tia and Luna sent you here, in case something were to happen?” Cadence said, weakly, while watching the Mane Six leave with Shining Armor.

Night Claw slowly walked out of the shadows, also watching their departure. “That is correct, Princess… I demanded they let me go, after the two forced me to sit out of the Discord Incident.” He said, walking over to Cadence, and handing her a cup of tea, from under his wing. “Figured you would like a cup.”

Cadence smiled, before graciously taking the cup. “You are ever so dutiful, Night. Auntie Tia has told me everything you’ve done for Twilight, without her ever knowing… I don’t care what darkness dwells within your heart, she’s lucky to have you around.” The weakened Princess said, taking a sip of her tea.

“Not even going to ask, I’ve given up on trying to figure such things out.” He said, walking away. “I will go and patrol the boarders… Don’t worry, I will remain out of sight.” Night Claw added, before disappearing.

Three Crystal Ponies stood before a shadow that lingered beyond the barrier. “So, my loyal servants, you understand what I am asking of you?” The shadow asked, the three staring at him with glowing green eyes.

“Yes, King Sombra.” The first said.

“Dispose of the purple unicorn.” The second said.

“Ensure the Crystal Heart is never found.” The last said.

The shadow laughed. “Good, now go, and do not fail me!” Sombra said, the three ponies rushing off. “Those fools have absolutely no idea how I planned for Celestia to intervene again.” The tyrant king thought, a dark laugh following while he watched his magic double infiltrate the kingdom through his horn. “I am still not strong enough to face them, so sending a double of myself will have to do.”

The three Crystal Ponies rushed towards the city, smiles on their faces because Sombra had assigned them such an important task! But they were halted, when a large figure suddenly landed in front of them. “And where might you three be going?” A large batpony asked, stepping out of the dust, from his landing.

“Um… W-We’re just going t-to the festival! Yeah, the festival.” The first said, the other two smiling before all nodded.

Night Claw just gave them a deadpanned look, raising an eyebrow at their response. “Funny… Because I saw you three talking with that shadow outside of the barrier… Saying you’ll dispose of a particular purple, lavender by the way, unicorn? Along with making sure the crystal heart is never found?” He asked, the three Crystal Ponies giving him a shocked look.

“H-How did y-you know all that?” The third asked, his eyes wide.

“Next time your Master wants to give secret orders, he might want to make sure you lot are alone… And a certain keen eared pony isn’t flying above you.” Night Claw answered, just as the shield suddenly failed. “I better dispose of you three quickly.” He suddenly shot forward, slamming into the first, before using his wing to send the second flying away, with a yelp.

The third Crystal Pony prepared to strike. “You’ll pay for that, Wretch of Celestia!” He yelled.

But his hoof was suddenly halted by the batpony’s larger one, and was now face to face with Night Claw…. Sweat falling down said pony’s neck. “For the record, I’m not a servant of Celestia.” Night Claw said, preparing to strike the pony. “I’m Twilight Sparkle’s Terror Guard.” With that, it was lights out for the Crystal Pony.

When Spike was about to give Cadence the Crystal Heart, Night Claw simply sat on top of the three ponies, smirking. “Heeeey…. The kid is the hero for once, good for him.” He said, when the Crystal Heart was returned, releasing a powerful spell… Night Claw suddenly realizing something. “Whoa, wait a second! Doesn’t that thing release what’s in the heart!?” He yelled, before the blast hit him, forcing Night Claw to shift form his batpony form, to his Night Lord form! “Aaaaah! Crap, that stings!” Were his only words, before the seal reappeared and forced him back to the batpony form.

On top of the Crystal Palace, Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Good job, Spike-ah!” She screamed, when a sudden, and sharp, pain struck her mind. Images of some bipedal creature appearing, so fast she couldn’t really process them properly. Twilight couldn’t tell who it was, but it was like she should know him.

There was one image, like she was in his lap during a thunderstorm. She could feel him petting her mane, suddenly speaking. “Don’t worry, Twilight, I’m here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Twilight felt like she knew the voice too, but couldn’t place it either. Then, just like they came, the images were gone.

“W-What was that?” Twilight asked, to no one in particular, before looking towards the sky. “More importantly… Who was that?”

Hidden within the room, Night Claw watched silently as everypony prepared for everything to start. He had a smile on his face, he honestly couldn’t believe this was actually happening. “Twilight is now an alicorn, and is about to be crowned a Princess of Equestria…” He thought, chuckling to himself. “Looks like my little Princess is finally getting what she’s always wanted.”

When the doors swung open, the song starting to play, as Twilight walked in. Night Claw was taken back by the sight, her wings open wide and a smile on the mare’s face. She just radiated with beauty, pride, and accomplishment… The mysterious stallion, who often times didn’t show much of emotion, suddenly shed a tear of pure pride.

“Celestia was right, you are destined for great things, Twilight…” He thought, watching what was going on, along with what was said. “I just hope, one day, I can return to your side.”

That night, during the Coronation Party, everypony was having a blast and congratulating the young mare on her accomplishment. There were even paparazzi ready to take embarrassing photos… When one was about to take said photo of Twilight, their camera suddenly disappeared… Later found, completely sliced apart.

As the party started to die down, Night Claw took his time to hide within the shadows of a hallway, which lead to the ballroom. While it was hard to hide within that spot, it gave him enough concealment for when Twilight looked in his direction. “…. I really hate my orders right now…” He thought, wanting to suddenly appear in front of Twilight and congratulate her.

When the mare approached Celestia, his ears perked up to listen. “How are you enjoying the party, Twilight?” She asked, giving a warm smile.

“It feels… Wonderful.” Twilight responded, the elder Princess couldn’t tell but Night Claw heard the lie within her voice. “Though, I wished Night could be here… I think he would have enjoyed this, even though he would have that constant ‘on edge’ look about his face.” She admitted.

“Heh… She knows me so well.” Night Claw thought, listening further.

Celestia giggled at the thought. “I wouldn’t doubt that, for a second.” She said, before her eyes moved to look in Night Claw’s direction. “But I bet… If he was here, right now, he would tell you how proud he is of you. Along with, something is telling me that he is looking at you and smiling.”

The smile disappeared from Night Claw’s face. “Sometimes… I hate her.” He thought, giving Celestia a deadpanned look.

“That worthless pony actually thinks she can run from me!? I will show her!” The centaur growled, his hooves stomping on the ground, in chase of the eight fleeing friends. His march was suddenly stopped, when something powerful smashed against his head. “Who dares!?” He bellowed, after recovering from the blow.

“I dared! And wow, you look uglier than a warp beast of Fabius.” A voice yelled, making Tirek look around, spotting an alicorn sized batpony. “When Celestia said you were powerful, and dangerous, I was expecting something along the lines of a Greater Daemon of Khorne.”

Tirek laughed at his comment, assuming this “Daemon” was powerful. “And what now? Do I measure to something higher than this creature?” He asked, preparing to fight the pony.

“Actually…. I find you wanting. To me, you’re nothing more than a common cannon fodder Daemon. Sad really.” He replied, smirking when the centaur fired a blast of magic at him, and dodged it effortlessly. “Wow… Your aim is like that of a scared guardsmen…. No way you are the powerful being Celestia was afraid of.”

Night Claw continued to smirk, Tirek growing even more frustrated that he could not hit the batpony. Unknown to the overpowered centaur, Night Claw was leading him to a certain ruined Castle of Two Sisters. “Why won’t you stay still, wretch!? Why won’t you fight!?” Tirek roared, before the batpony flew up to his face.

“Isn’t it obvious, fool? I’m stalling you!” Night Claw pointed out, before blasting off, and away from the scene.

“Stalling for what!?” Tirek yelled, not liking the fact that some pony made a fool out of him. The centaur’s attention was brought back to the castle, when a bright light appeared… To his surprise, Tirek saw the super powered Mane Six, looking down at him. “Oh…. That…” He thought.