Another peaceful night was passing in the small courtyard, one like any other. As always I stood in silence, my mind an empty field, as was my companions. Aurora and I spent most nights in silence, not really thinking merely listening to the quiet wind of the world. But the night for once did not stay as such.

I heard something I had not heard in the longest time. The quiet swish of cloth and the muted clang of weapons could only signal one thing, an old friend had returned. She stood there in silence for several moments until she spoke. “My friends, it has been a long time. I’m sure you know what happened between my sister and I, as well as its eventual outcome. I’m sorry I left you alone for so long, but the time has come for you to return. In my exile I have spent every moment preparing a spell, one to finally remove you from your prison. I don’t even know if you can hear this but I do this for you, to give you back the life that was taken from you.”

With these words I feel as Aurora and I are surrounded by magic, the arcane thoughts of Luna’s magic filled the one sense we had left. Like with Celestia the words were strange but somehow I could understand them a little. They spoke of release and freedom, of broken stone and living bodies. A small cracking noise could be heard, one that slowly began to spread. Luna’s magic stopped but the cracking continued to spread, slowly increasing in volume each time. Suddenly a commotion could be heard nearby and several voices called out to each other.

“My friends, you will be free soon. I managed to trap my sister in dreams but I must see who she has prepared to send against me. I shall return the moment they are dealt with.” She said before quietly moving away.

Crap! The Mane 6 are here Ashur, we need to get to Luna before they can use the elements on her. Aurora thought to me.

I know. We can only hope that we can break free and get there.

Every moment the cracking spread further and as it did actual feeling started spreading into my limbs.

CRACK

My left leg could be felt.

CRACK

Right arm.

CRACK CRACK

My chest and right leg.

CRACK…. BOOM

Suddenly feeling rushed back into the rest of my body and the world could be seen. A dark night spread before me as eyes that were open uselessly started working again. My arm was still outstretched with pistol equipped, so with muscles somehow still used to the motion I holstered it quickly. I looked over to my left and saw the final pieces of stone break off Aurora and she repeated my actions, blinking against the world she could once again see in perfect clarity. We looked at each other with giant smiles and I thought to her.

We should go after Luna

I waited for a few moments still looking at her before releasing that she didn’t hear me. I firmly attached palm to face before looking back to her and opening my mouth.

“I guess we can’t hear each others thoughts anymore.” I said slowly, with the first words I had spoken in over 1500 years.

“Yeah… it’s so weird to hear our voices again.” Aurora said slowly.

“Wait, we don’t have time for this. We need to get to Luna” I interrupted quickly, grabbing her arm and running off towards the inside of the castle.

The first thing I noticed was the condition the once beautiful castle was in. Falling stones and tattered banners were everywhere. The opulent castle we had once spent so much time in now was a wreck. But it was better off than it should have been after so many years. I could help but think there was some magic that had kept the place looking so good.

As we ran into a large chamber a bright light appeared in front of us as a group of ponies floated in front of Luna. A very recognisable purple mare was speaking loudly. “...when those elements are ignited by the spark that resides in the heart of us all it creates the sixth element. The element of magic.” The bright lights intensified around each of the ponies facing our friend, the pieces of the elements coalescing into jeweled necklaces. With them a beam of rainbow power shot out, aiming for Luna.

A moment before the beam hit her however Luna disappeared in a flash of magic, appearing behind the group of mares. Her black hooded clothes flapped in a draft created by her teleportation as she looked back up to the group.

“I do not wish to fight you, stand down.” She said.

Twilight spoke up as the group turned around to face Luna again. “Nightmare Moon, we will not let you leave here to spread tyranny amongst this country again.”

“You think that’s what I did? You are fools to believe the lies my sister has told you.”

The congregated mares all spoke up in answer to that. “Sister?”

Aurora and I looked at the everyone in the chamber and not wanting it to escalate any further we ran forward, the only thought on our minds to get between the mane 6 and Luna. In an instant our bodies suddenly turned into shadow and swarmed forward, returning to our bodies the moment we were were we wanted to be. Everyone in the room froze, including Aurora and I as we looked at each other.

“Desmond! Lucy! The spell worked!” Luna cried, jumping forward and wrapping her hooves around us.

“Who the hay is that?” The voice of Rainbow Dash called out, but no one answered.

Luna continued to hug us as the group of 6 stood there in shock and confusion. Until the silence was broken by a voice that no one was expecting.

“D-Did she say Desmond an’ Lucy?” Applejack asked.

“Umm I think so.” Answered the small voice of Fluttershy.

Immediately the apple farmer burst forward towards the group, ignoring the warning cries of her friends. In response Luna, Aurora and I jumped back with weapons at the ready.

“Wait. Are you really Desmond and Lucy?” Applejack asked.

“Umm yes.” Aurora said. “Though we don’t go by those names anymore.”

“Y’all saved the lives of mah family many generations ago. Thank you.” Applejack said, the beginning of tears on the edge of her eyes.

“Th-That’s ok.” I said, clearly uncomfortable with the praise of someone we had just been standing against.

“My friends.” Luna whispered to us. “We need to go. The sleeping spell I cast on my sister will only last so long. We have to be out of here before she wakes.”

Without a word we all turned for the door. Running at top speed, again Aurora and I turned into shadows and Luna did the same. At speeds impossible to us before we drifted out of the Castle and through a forest that reminded us of how it looked all those years ago when Aurora and I watched the shows opening. We stopped at the first clearing we found, our bodies reappearing with a thought. Luna was the first to ask the question that was on all of our minds.

“How are you guys doing that? I didn’t think you had any magic.” She asked.

“Honestly I have no idea Lulu.” I answered honestly. I really had no idea how we were suddenly able to use magic and it was confusing the hell out of me. Even if it was useful.

“Either way it is so good to see you.” Aurora said while jumping forward and hugging Luna again.

“It is wonderful to see you too my friends. It has been far too long. By the way what was that you were saying inside about having new names?” The alicorn asked.

Ohh. Well with all the names we have inside our heads we decided that picking new ones would help us cope.” Aurora said, pointing first at herself and then at me while continuing. “I’m now Aurora and this is Ashur. They are names from where we come from that mean new beginnings.”

“Well chosen names, they suit you well. I must say this magic you are suddenly able to manifest intrigues me, it is very similar to my own magic movement. Would you mind if I scanned you?” Luna asked us.

“Go ahead Luna. I think we both would feel better about this if we knew what this ability came from.” I replied.

Luna’s horn lit up with a dark blue aura before a wide beam passed over our bodies, like a biometric scanner you see in movies. As it passed over my head I could hear her magic whispering. Scan, analyse, result. Finally the wave of magic passed over us and Luna stood silently.

“W-Well what is it Lulu?” Aurora stammered, clearly worried about the results and Luna’s silence.

“I’m not sure how to say this but you two have a large amount of magical power stored within your bodies, most of it appears to have been drawn from the natural magic field of Equus but the rest seems to match my magical signature. It may be that the spell I used to break you out of your prisons created a magical conduit in your bodies, allowing you to use some of the same magic that I do. The rest I’m assuming comes from spending so many years subject to the magic of this world.”

I stood there thinking about her words before answering. “That… actually makes a lot of sense and honestly is really cool. But we can’t tarry here for too long, those ponies are no doubt trying to find us again.”

“You’re right Ashur, we should be off. It’s just… we don’t really have anywhere to go.” Aurora said nervously.

“Why not go to your old brother sanctum? Celestia was never able to return there to tear it down after stoning you.” Luna interjected.

We all agreed that it would the best place to go, especially if Celestia was unwilling to enter. As one we all became shadows and drifted through the winds to the north east. None of us spoke as Aurora and I were focussed on controlling our new magical ability. Trees and dark fields passed us by as we travelled until all at once the sky changed. The sun rose within seconds and we were all as one blinded, our shadow forms disappearing the moment the light hit us.

Huh, I guess you need shadows to travel in shadows. Good to know.

With luck we were only a short distance from our old sanctum but as we neared the stone building that covered it several projectiles flew out, aimed for our heads. With speed we all as one ducked below the incoming blades.

“Stop firing!” Luna shouted. “We are allies!”

A voice called out from the building. “Nothing is true…”

We all answered together. “...everything is permitted.”

Without a sound the door opened and a white unicorn mare with two tone blue hair walked out, her body and head covered with a white hooded coat. She stood before us and bowed. “Welcome, our doors are always open to those who follow the creed.” The mare then raised her body back up with a big smile on her face. “Ok now that the official crap is over. I’m Warrior Vinyl Scratch, but you can call me DJ Pon-3. Who are you? And more importantly what are you two?”

Luna spoke first. “These are Grandmaster’s Ashur and Aurora, but you might know them better as our brotherhoods founders Erica and Shaun. I am Master Nightmare Moon.”

“Woah, umm you three might want to follow me. I don’t really know much about our history but the master of our chapter does. It just never seemed all that important, y’know?” The white mare said while indicating to follow her inside. While we walked she talked to us incessantly, barely even stopping to take a breath. “So you are all like super high ranks, I’ve never met anyone but Tavi who was around master rank. I bet you’ve seen some pretty hardcore shit if you’ve been around for this long. You ever fought a Hydra? Or a manticore? I heard of one assassin who was so powerful they subdued an entire pack full of Timberwolves with a blindfold on. Are you guys that strong? Coz that would just be so damn cool. Anyway, what music do you listen to? I said I was a DJ before didn’t I? You should come to Canterlot with me sometime, I DJ at this really awesome club and everypony loves it there.”

For Aurora and I the words of the mare we followed barely registered as we passed through the winding dark stone hallways of our old sanctum. We were too caught up in memories of a mare that looked almost exactly the same as the one we followed. Memories of the time we spent with Keen Sight rattled around our heads until we came to a sudden stop. Vinyl knocked hard on a large wooden door before shouting. “Oi! Tavi! We’ve got some friends here you might know”

“Uugghh Vinyl.” A quiet groan was heard through the door. The heavy sound of hoofsteps could be heard before the door swung open to reveal a dark gray mare with a black mane.

“Tavi! I found some assassins by the front entrance and they passed the word test. They say they are like super high ranked. I mean I’ve never even heard of anypony being called a grandmaster before.” Vinyl said excitedly.

“That’s because we haven’t had a grandmaster in over 1500 years Vinyl and the only ones we gave that to were dead.” The mare answered with a sigh.

“Yeah not quite.” I said.

I looked at the familiar mare that Aurora and I knew only as a background pony named Octavia as she looked back at us. Her eyes suddenly cleared and moved back a step in shock, her mouth opened and closed without any sound coming out. She looked between us and then continued over to Luna, taking another step back.

“What? How? Erica and Shaun? Luna?” She finally managed to say.

“Yes Miss Octavia, we have returned.” I said to the flustered mare with a smile on my face. “But you should really refer to us by our new names Ashur and Aurora.”

“It is I, Master Octavia. I am glad to see our brotherhood has been kept alive these long years.” Luna added.

The gray earth pony continued to stare at us in shock until Vinyl stepped forward and knocked her over the back of the head with a hoof. Like that her demeanor changed and her eyes regained the clarity from before. Immediately she bowed. “I welcome you back Grandmasters and Master.”

“That’s enough of that Tavi.” Vinyl said. “They don’t really seem to be the title type. So chill out.”

“Sorry about that. I’ve always been the type to stick to the old ways.” Octavia apologised before continuing. “But there is something you all should know. This is the last remaining assassin chapter in Equestria. Princess Celestia and her Templar Order have managed to all but destroy us over the years. There are chapters still in other countries but we have no way to communicate and it’s only a matter of time until they are found as well.”

“That is certainly troublesome.” Luna started. “How far has my sister’s Order infiltrated?”

“Ohh she doesn’t run the Order.” Vinyl said.

“What?” The three of us said in unison.

“Vinyl is right. Celestia has never lead the Order. Nopony has ever seen the one who runs it but everypony knows his name. His name is Cross.”

Author's Notes:

Here we go. Finally the story is getting into familiar territory, well kinda.
If I didn't make it clear enough Nightmare Moon was a persona not a transformation in this story.

Anyway after the next chapter I'll be ready to start doing crossovers with other Displaced if anyone is interested.

Also please let me know what you think of Ashur and Aurora having shadow magic.