*Twilight Sparkle's Castle: Ponyville, Equestria; March 21, 2017*

The guard nearly tripped herself in her gallop towards Twilight's library, where said princess was usually found reading through her collection of novellas and encyclopedias she had retrieved from the other universes.

"P-Princess..!" The guard called out anxiously, as if Equestria itself were falling apart as she spoke.

Twilight looked up from her book with a start.

"Yes, Skirmish?" She asked

"Y-You have a visitor... It's someone you know..." The guard, Skirmish, replied.

Twilight was confused and concerned, Skirmish was her personal Honor Guard, a close friend of her's after the war had ended, and all-around one of the bravest ponies she knew, why would she be this anxious over a visitor..?

Unless...

"I'll be right with you!" Twilight replied as she put the book away, if not slowly and meticulously.

"Princess!!" Skirmish yelled urgently.

Twilight threw her book on the coffee table in a rush and followed Skirmish down the winding amethyst hallways. The two of them practically sprinted past other guards and emissaries before finally arriving to one of the many conference rooms.

"He says he wants to talk...He's right inside.." Skirmish bowed before stepping to Twilight's side.

Twilight took a deep breath before opening the door with her magic.

"Twilight... It's been a while.." A young man sat in one of the chairs towards the door, leaving a seat in front of him for the Princess and her guardian.

Twilight blinked in surprise at the human. His voice, while all too familiar, had deepened significantly since their last meeting a little less than two years ago. His hair, as well, had matured into a slightly darker blonde, but the piercing ice-blue eyes, along with the tell-tale scar that swept below his right eye, told her all she needed to know about who he was.

"A-Alex..?" Twilight blinked again, pulling a chair towards her and sitting down. Skirmish stood frozen in the doorway, still in shock over his arrival.

"It's been too long, hasn't it?" Skirmish piped up, slowly closing the door behind her and taking her place at Twilight's side.

"Too long.. Listen, I'm really sorry about leaving you guys without saying goodbye, it's just... I was on a schedule and everything.. You know how it is.." Alex shrugged.

Every movement of Alex's had been accompanied by a quiet mechanical whirring, and Twilight knew well why.

"Still haven't upgraded your limbs, I see..." Twilight stammered, trying to find something else to talk about.

"Yeah... I guess I've never really had to. They've worked well enough as it is. Either way, I should probably get them swapped for something newer before this next mission anyway." Alex replied.

"Mission..?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, shit.. Canis told me to keep that a secret. Look, Twilight, I just wanted to tell you something before I leave again.." Alex remembered.

"And that is..?" Twilight wondered.

"Look, there's no easy way to say this, but I've been doing work for Canis and a bunch of other people over the past couple months, and from what I've seen and heard out there, something's about to happen in Remnant, something bad." Alex sighed.

Twilight winced, several of her friends from the war lived in Remnant, including Alex's possible mare...girlfriend... For something like that to happen again was beyond unthinkable, unwanted, rather.

"H-How bad..?" Skirmish asked anxiously.

"Completely horrible, godawful 'Blood Red Night' level shit." Alex replied bleakly. Twilight could practically feel the pain in his voice.. She knew for a fact that even Alex, a mercenary, war criminal, and even outright killer, didn't want to deal with the possibility of a second Blood Red Night.

"Again with this? I was hoping we were done with that forever!" Skirmish groaned.

"I don't know what exactly is going to happen, but I need you to tell everyone to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious at the Festival.." Alex explained.

"'Festival'..? As in the Vytal Festival that's not supposed to happen for 5 bucking months?! Just how long is this mission?!" Twilight yelled.

Alex raised both hands.

"Keep it down, Twi!" He demanded.

Skirmish put a hoof on Twilight's back, lowering her to the seat once more.

"Like I was saying, keep your eyes open, and please, please be careful.. I have to see someone else one, but remember what we talked about, okay..?" Alex pleaded.

Twilight nodded in reply as Alex stood up and walked towards the door.

"And, one more thing..." Alex added.

Twilight turned to see her friend standing in front of the door, looking back at the two ponies.

"You might want to start practicing battle spells. I know, it'll be a long time, but still. Be careful. Now, I have to go. It was nice to see you again, Twilight.. You too, Skirmish." Alex smiled slightly before walking out the door.

----

*Vale, Remnant; March 22, 2017; 12:13 AM*

The blonde haired huntress-in-training casually walked out of the now-destroyed interior of the club, stepping out into the cool night air as she walked towards the bright-yellow motorcycle she had parked outside in the vacant lots of Vale.

She heard something crash into the ground behind her, accompanied by a low mechanical buzz as a figure staggered up from the landing. The huntress smirked, unfazed at the sudden noise.

"You can't spend one night without beating the living shit out of some poor criminal sap, can you?" A familiar voice echoed.

"Couldn't live without me for too long, could you?" She replied.

Alex stepped into the dim street light with a smile on his face.

"It's good to see you again, 'Lex. Finally got Canis off your back?" She hugged Alex quickly, leaving the young man short for breath.

"It's nice to see you too, Yang.. Listen, I need to you to come with me.." Alex said quickly.

"Uh, Alex... Alpha isn't supposed to be born for another 4 years.." Yang smirked.

"Not like that! God, you're as bad as Delirious!" Alex blushed brightly.

"Smooth, now what do you need me for?" Yang wondered.

"Something big is coming, and I need you prepared!" Alex elaborated.

"Wait.. You don't mean she's back, do you..?" Yang wondered with an edge of seriousness in her voice.

"Exactly. And I think I know a way for you to be ready for whatever that psychopath has planned." Alex replied.

Yang sighed.

"Alright. How long will I be gone? I'm late enough as it is." Yang wondered.

"It won't be too long. You should be back at Beacon soon enough.." Alex answered.

Yang smiled as she got on the motorcycle.

"Hop on." Yang smiled.

"If you think I'm stupid enough to fall for that twice, you've got another thing coming." Alex scowled.

"It's not like you have any other choice! I took the sidecar off Bumblebee a year ago!" Yang shot back.

"Fine, goddammit. But if you get any funny ideas, I'll hold off Alpha for another year." Alex growled as he got on the motorcycle.

"Where to?" She asked.

"Wherever you want as long as it's quiet, it won't take too long." Alex replied.

"I know just the place!" Yang announced as the two rode off into the night.

Author's Notes:

Couple things before I get this show on the road:

A: I know what I said about working on a one-shot before this next major project, but seeing as how I've got no other good ideas up even with MLP Season 6, this is the best I could work with.
Despite juggling other story ideas and actually living life, I think I've managed to work up something decent enough for the internet with Crimson Shade. Just as convoluted, violent, and probably as funny as the first story, if not slightly more so. I've worked out some of the details and I'm as ready as I was when I first started out. (Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing)

B: Relating to a User Comment in Blood Red Shadows about how Kat was going to be the main character for this story, well, I've managed to work something out that can fit her into the grand scheme of things. She is in the story, and from what I've figured, she's definitely going to have an integral role in later arcs. And yes, she is a major character in the Vytal Festival Arc. I just wanted to get that out of the way.

Here's to another story!

-The Destoyer