“Alright, Mac: we’re all here. What are the rules?” Twilight demanded, setting her hoof forth in impatient frustration.

Morning had come slowly for those aboard the Albatross, as very few had slept for long that night: their minds were still heavy with worry, and their hearts felt burdened that a life rested in their hooves. They had gathered on the forward deck once dawn reared its head. The Shadow smiled, and stepped back towards the railing.

“There are only a few rules…” He gestured off into the distance, towards the abandoned palace. “First off: we’re to be the only ones near the palace when the games commence.”

“No problem there,” Twilight shrugged, “nopony ever comes into the Everfree during its waking seasons, and it's supposed to be awake this weekend.”

Satisfied, the Shadow lowered his hoof, and gestured over to the cabins with his head. “The crew will remain to fix the Albatross, but Warp can tag along if he so wishes.”

The Captain nodded his head. “I’ll go,”

“Lastly, the purpose of the game is to either beat me to the palace, or catch me on the way there.” The Shadow chuckled, turning suddenly to leap off the deck.

“Begin!” He called as he fell into the open sky. The Alicorns and the Pegasi immediately took to the air, aiding the other races onto the ground. Together, they all raced after the fleeing shadow.

The Everfree was a thick mass of all kinds of wood, roots, vines, and anything that formed to snare life in their tricky grasps. Dodging them while jetting through the forest was never an easy feat, especially with those distracting drums in the background…

'Wait, drums?' Twilight paused.

Thromb bom bomba-dom, Thromb bom bomba-dom, Thromb bom bomba-dom...

Indeed, much to everypony's confusion, the Everfree echoed with the sound of drumbeats: carrying out a slightly Neighribbian tune. Rarity turned to see several glowing eyes staring at them through the underbrush, as the upbeat rhythm coursed throughout the entire forest. The Shadow suddenly leapt onto a large stone jutting out from the ground before the group with a "Ho!", and began to chant as he slowly backed down:

"Celestia, Luna, Gods of the sun and moon-a,

Following a shadow to an unsuspecting doom-a

Ready to fall harder than mad titan Tuma!

Are you ready to dance to this terrifying tune-a?"

The group hesitated, but pushed on once they remembered the purpose of the game. Celestia wrinkled her nose at the Shadow's description of her, as it made her feel sick. And poor Fluttershy was so startled by the outburst that she had to be carried on Luna's back as they continued forth.

"Care to come into my lair?

Do you think that I will play fair?

Time will tell, if you all get there,

So keep on running, or get out of my hair!"

Thromb bom bomba-dom, Thromb bom bomba-dom, Thromb bom bomba-dom...

“Hoot, ha… Brute-a! Hoot, ha… Brute-a!”

The forest around them quivered as the chanting of several more voices joined in. Twilight fought to stay focused as even more eyes peered at them through the darkness of the forest. Suddenly, the Shadow poked his head out of the shrubbery as he ran alongside them: directly next to Rarity, which caused a startled shriek from the mare.

"Even after I saw the truth

About how you have all used my youth

You, of all, dare to call me uncouth:

After the Sayer told me my sooth?"

He disappeared into the thickets once again before anypony had a chance to snag him: his maniacal laughter booming through the bushes around them, giving them chills.

"Run pony, run pony: far, far away!

You’ll never catch me in the wood today!

Another endless chase, or a new ceaseless slay?

Charging mindlessly into endless fray!"

That last verse sent shivers down everypony’s spines.

'Screw catching him,' Twilight mused ,'we just have to make it to the palace!'

They all picked up the pace, as the Stranger dropped back to keep his eye out on their rears.

"Evil, evil embraced my soul,

Took me from the life I knew to be dull!

My destiny is a sword and a skull,

Ending in a massive Equestrian Cull!"

"You wronged our Master, prepare to flee!

He’s going to make mighty foals of thee,

Pained screams, sharp things, terror and trial!

He’ll make you foals into his bile!"

The thunderous laughter was heard yet again, letting Twilight notice that it was sounding more and more pained with each cracked cackle. Zecora decided she had enough of the cursed beat, and looked into the wood with determination, joining the beat flawlessly.

Shadow, shod in fear,

He thinks he’s the God of tears

Got rhymes slightly odd

Won’t give the High King a nod!

If he thinks he can slow us down,

He’s a bit of a clown.

Let this game truly commence

Let this challenge get intense!

The others stared at the Zebra as her eyes fixed on the forest ahead of her, and she held an air of dignity and integrity. She smiled as the beat thrummed on, now to a tune of her own. Soon, she was lashing out lyrics like rain from a hurricane.

Thromb bom-bom, thromb bom-bom, bomba-dom!

Thromb bom-bom, thromb bom-bom, bomba-dom!

Thromb bom-bom, thromb bom-bom, bomba-dom!

Ever been in a situation, of constant investigation?

Your dark infatuation shall meet our confiscation!

Listen to our proud ponies roar! See the light of our spirits soar!

Your villainy is a tedious bore, now go back, and trouble us no more~!

Celestia held her head high as Zecora held the last note, and the entire group could feel their hearts alight with courage. Fluttershy stood up by her own accord, and took to the air as they all raced towards the castle: feeling themselves gather strength with each laborious step.

They could see the Shadow racing alongside them: his eyes leaking wisps of purple steam. He looked a lot more desperate after his failed attempt of scaring them off, but he still held the presence of a calculating evil. He turned to face them, and sung out a verse to the new tune:

I’ve seen where evil lies, can you see it in our eyes?

Strength comes not from truth, but lies. Even you can be victimized!

Eternal wonder hath seen my fate, it was never up to debate:

Truth can truly be a trait, of those who merely wish to hate!

His voice started to crack, and Twilight saw red tears form in the corner of his eye. She opened her mouth to sing, but Rainbow beat her to it:

Who among us hated you? What “Lies” do you think you’re seeing through?

Are you a victim of falsified truths, laying blame without substantial proof?

I can’t believe how much you’ve changed, how your outlook has rearranged

Are you running ‘long the Enemy’s Range~?

By now, they were booking it through the jungle of a wood, traveling fast enough for their sweat to pour off of them like a river. The beat slowed to a stop as they ran, and the Shadow looked on the verge of an breakdown, but preserved his calculating nature.

Suddenly, his wings flew open, and darkness started to whip from his form like he was shedding water. Soon enough, he was enveloped in the Abyss: and traveling through the forest like a tsunami.

Celestia raised her horn into the air, before aiming directly at the flowing torrent of Dark, and lighting it. She shouted angrily as a beam shot from her crest, impaling a tree in front of the Shadow, and screeching him to a halt. He cast his furious gaze towards her, but he was too late to dodge another shot as it smashed into his face with a loud crack: he hit the forest floor with a thud that made the ponies wince, and remembered no more of that day.

Fluttershy flew gingerly up to him, and laid a hoof on his chest to make sure he was breathing. Once she was satisfied, she gave a nod to the others, who sighed in relief. Applejack looked to the setting sun, and then to the castle in the distance. She looked back to the Shadow’s unconscious form, and gestured to the Stranger:

“You carry him on the way, kid.” She deadpanned.

Mac rolled his eyes: “Of course I will…” Next Chapter: Chapter Sixteen: Old Tricks at the Old Palace. Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 28 Minutes