Zikel breathes heavily in his sleep, sweat forming on his body as he slightly thrashes in his sleep. he was suffering from a nightmare. A rather horrible and very vivid one. In his dream, it is dark and stormy, lightning everywhere and hard rainfall. he is standing in the middle of a war zone. weapon in hand. Ponies dressed in gold and blue armor facing off against ponies is pure black armor. Zikel attacks the ones in black armor that come for him, hitting them with death blows from his blade and swinging his tail at the others to send them flying away from him. The sound of war cries and metal hitting against metal rung through the air. magic spells of all kinds of elements flying overhead. suddenly the dream shifted into a large room, a throne room of sorts, covered in nothing but black crystal. Zikel looks around the room to find both Luna and Celestia chained up against a wall of dark crystal. They lift their heads slowly and look at him with pleading eyes. Zikel begins to run as fast as his legs would carry him, but no matter how fast he ran, its like he couldn't get to them. A dark laughter echos through the dream as he tries to get to them.

"Your princesses will fall by my magic. And I will kill them right in front of your very eyes...you will have no one left. despair will take you."

said the shadowy figure sitting on the crystal throne before him. A dark grin upon it's face.

"You will have to kill me first. Those princesses are mine! And I will not let you take them from me!"

Zikel screamed out, the dark aura starting to surround his body. Suddenly the dream shifted to Zikel looking over head. Seeing...a monster of some sorts leaning over the shadowy figure that now had fear in it's eyes, and the two sisters...not moving and bleeding. Zikel's eyes widen as he knew exactly what was going on. Are they...and is that him..? Zikel suddenly opens his eyes and shoots up, letting out a slight scream as he nearly flies forward. Sweat dripping from him and his breathing quick and heavy. Both Celestia and Luna sitting up with looks of worry on their faces.

"Zikel, what is wrong love? What happened?"

Celestia asked as her and Luna gently placed an arm around him, trying to calm him down.

'There...there was war...and ponies dying...you two. And a shadowy figure...lots of dark crystal...'

Both of their eyes shot open, leaning in.

"Zikel...are you sure about the dark crystal? What did this figure look like?"

"I couldn't tell...he was mostly smoke. But he had these odd eyes...the sclera was green but the iris was red."

The sisters look at one another again, then nodded. They looked back at Zikel, nuzzling into him gently.

"Listen Zikel...the one you saw in your nightmare was a unicorn king named Sombra. He enslaved all of the Crystal Empire thousands of years ago. The fact that you had a dream about him...means that something terrible is on the horizon. I know you have a home back in Ponyville. But until things resume normally...we ask you Zikel, we plead to you. Stay with us at the castle. If we lose you during to upcoming conflict...I don't even want to think about it."

"I agree with Tia Zikel. We beg you to stay close to us. Times are about to get very rough here. If your dream is a vision of what is to come. Please stay with us."

"But what I saw in the dream at the end...I am scared ladies. He had you tied in chains...I couldn't get to you..and you were...you were.."

Zikel began to choke up a bit, placing a hand over his eyes. trying his best to keep his eyes from watering up. the fact that he had dreamed it...and seen it in the dream. It filled him with great sadness. he felt both of them wrap their forearms around him lovingly and nuzzled close to him. Doing their best to console him.

"Sweetheart calm down...sssshh. we are right here. Always will be.'

"That's right..we made a promise to stay together after all ZIkel...you, me and Tia. No matter what happens, we will not be torn apart."

Zikel was still quiet, the images flashing through his head, They pull him back down gently and cuddle in close beside him, leaning in and kissing him gently.

"Try to go back to sleep love. We still have hours away until the sun needs to be risen."

Zikel nodded to Celestial as she urged him to try and get back to bed. He held them both closely in his arms as he closes his eyes. He hopes to the heavens above that his dream was simply that, a dream. He drifts off into sleep after laying there for what felt like an eternity, finally succumbing to the grip of slumber once more. The two sisters nestled up closely against him, each one wrapping their forms around him protectively.

The morning eventually came along. Zikel slowly opens his eyes, finding out he was the only one left in the bed. He gets up and stretches his body, letting out a growl mixed with a yawn as he does. The dream still on his mind even though he was able to sleep. Those images flashing in his mind again. He shudders at them, quickly pushing them to the far dark corners of his mind.

"Maybe some good breakfast will calm my nerves...nothing like a good meal to settle a man after a rough night sleep."

He said as he walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. He makes his way downstairs and passed the guards, greeting them with a nod and finally entering the dinning hall, where both of his lovers were waiting for him with loving smiles.

"Come sweetheart...please feast till your heart's content. We had this meal ready just for you."

Luna nods in agreement.

"We wanted to help you feel better after last night. And we do know how you enjoy food. Please, eat up love."

Zikel gave them a small smile, gathering the breakfast foods on his plate. Sausage, bacon, pancakes hashbrowns...so many good foods all laid out just for him. As he began digging into the food, his nerves did indeed start to calm down a bit. He continued to tear through the food like he hadn't eaten in days, Celestia and Luna watching him with wide eyes, but they giggled all the same and went to eating their own meals. After breakfast was over, Zikel stood up and began heading to towards the training grounds.

"Thank you, both of you. I feel much better already. But I am going to go and get a morning work out in. you will know where to find me."

"Of course Zikel, we will be there should you send for us."

As Zikel disappeared around the corner, Celestia looked to her younger sister.

"I have Day Court to attend to my dear sister. Please do keep an eye on our beloved. He didn't say much during breakfast. And I am wondering if it is because of what he dreamt about last night. Something is telling me he is going to the training grounds to..well, I'd rather not say."

"Of course Tia, I will make sure he doesn't do anything irrational."

As Luna walks out of the dinning room, sneaking off after Zikel, Celestia looked out to one of the balconies and frowned slightly.

"If he truly is indeed back, we are going to be having quite the ordeal. And the last thing I wanted was for Zikel to have to deal with anymore than he already has in his life. But it seems that his poor soul can't seem to ever get a break..."

Zikel walks into the training grounds, nodding to the guards that he passes by, Luna watching him from afar and hiding from his view. She notices that he walks out of the gate that lead into another part of the castle. It lead into the back of the storage of all the weapons and such. Zikel went into the back of the room, opening a door before he shifts his gaze from side to side, entering the room and locking it behind him. Luna comes into the weapon and armor storage just in time to see him disappear into the dark room, and hearing the sound of the door locking into place.

"What is he up to in there...?"

She asked herself before quickly moving into the room more, pressing her ear up to the door to listen for what he might be doing or saying.

Zikel cuts out all the torches that were in the room after clearing all the crates that were hiding a strange dark arcane circle that he sat in the middle of. he placed his hands together light his was praying, sitting with his legs crossed. The markings on his body beginning to lightly glow as he began to speak in the language of the shadows.

"Veldrin, veldrin, nym'uer uns'aa. Veldrin, veldrin doer fotus. Usstan joros biu ashl'ah xuil l'draeval p'los dron d'nindol olath lloun. Belbau uns'aa zhaunil pholor lu'oh ulu g'jahall l'ogglin nindel uriu noe'sh wund ussta deis." < Shadows, shadows, hear my call. Shadows, shadows, come forth. I ask an audience with the past lives of this dark art. Give me wisdom on how to defeat the enemy that has shown within my dreams.">

As Zikel conccentrated hard, the runes on his body began to flash slowly at first, his breathing in sync with them. Luna could feel a very very dark energy radiating out of the room he was in. And the words his spoke frightened even the princess of the night. She begins to try and force her way into the room, but the lock was securely in place. But this time, Zikel was now in a full trance, his eyes wide and glowing brightly as well as the runes on his body, the circle having little up as well with black and blue fire filling it in.

"Zikel please open up! Whatever you are doing can't be good! Please don't do this!"

Luna begged as she continued to pound on the door with one of her hooves. But it was too late. Zikel had already gone into the shadow realm. the circle acting as both a portal for his soul, and a shield for his body. As Zikel opens his eyes, he finds himself within a spectral dark chamber with chairs surrounding him in a circle, each one with a hooded robed figure stareing at him with glowing eyes, dark chanting in the back ground

"Well well, look at who we have here. It is the son of the late Azrael Magnus. Come to seek advice from the Council Of Shadow have you, boy?"

Zikel stands up from his position and nods, taking a bow to them..

"Yes master. I have come to learn more in the ways of shadows as well."

"And we know why young Zikel."

An elderly sounding female voice comes from one of the figures.

"We know all about the dream that you have had dear boy. The dream you had was a vision we had granted you of your possible future. One that is...and isn't set in stone. Should you chose the power we offer to teach you...you will be able to fight off the threat that will steal your loved ones away from you. But it may come at a terrible price should you not be able to control it. As you know, shadowmancy is like walking on the edge of a dagger. Such as the one your father wielded, and had left in your possession before he died. Knowing this risk. Are you still willing to potentially give up your sanity and soul for the lessons we are about to give you?"

Zikel nodded firmly.

"I will do anything to make sure my new family never becomes a slave to pain and suffering. not like I have."

"It is true masters. The boy is quite the noble shadowmancer. Not like the others who have only taken up our powers for personal gain. It has really rubbed off on me..."

"Aah, shadowmancer Zeraph. So you are the guiding soul who was bound to this young one. Good to see you again."

The elder woman spoke again.

"Very well then Zikel. We shall begin your training now. Should the shadows favor you and your soul and deem you worthy of more power. They will give it to you. If not. You will die on the spot, and your body will be taken over be a bloody thirsty demon.Do you still wish to do this?"

".....Yes."

"Proceed."

Luna was still banging on the door and calling out to Zikel, continuing to plead and beg for him to open the door. She could feel the dark energy growing more and more the longer she stayed. She was reluctant to leave the room, for her love was in potential danger, even though she didn't know what it was from. She finally started galloping out of the room and into the training grounds, passed all the guards and taking flight, zooming through the castle corridors and bursting into the throne room. Where Celestia was in the middle of Day Court. Luna's paniced face and tears spelled out what was going on to her older sister.

"Tia...I tried to watch him...but he locked himself in the weapons storage in one of the back rooms. he started chanting these strange words. And very dark and evil energy filled the rooms. I couldn't get to him! Please Tia, we have to get in there and stop him from what he is doing, I think he has really dug himself too deep this time!"

Celestia's eyes widen as her sister tells her of what had become of their love. Standing up and looking to her guards.

"Day Court has been dismissed! Guards, come with me, Prince Zikel is in danger! No more nobles are to come in from here!"

As they run out of the throne room with guards in tow, they make their way to where Zikel is located, the door that had been previously untouched was now set ablaze with black fire, not burning, back acting as a barrier between the outside. This inside of the room Zikel was in was blazing with black and blue fire.

"Tia..this energy...this magic...it scares me so much..."

Luna said as she began to shake a bit. Backing away from the door as her sister approached it.

"I know Lulu...but he needs us now. He feels that by doing this..he will gain more power so we won't be taken from him. But we need to get in there and drag him out of what is going on."

She said as she fired a beam of pure light magic at the door, the beam slowly chipping away at the dark flames, but slowly regenerating. Luna knew that her help was needed, and pitched in, as well as the unicorn guards that accompanied them.

Back in the shadow realm, Zikel was standing in the middle of the same kind of circle his body was in the middle of back in the physical realm, but this one was surrounded by five other circles,smaller ones similar to the larger. the robbed figures took their spots on the circles, putting their hands out in front of them. They begin the chant.

"velkyn ussen d'l'veldrin, zud'dar nindol waelin uss d'ukt equidain lu'belbau ukta l'yorn uk lac'na ulu g'jahall ukt ogglin. Jous ukta khurzon zhal'la dos ji orn ol." <unseen ones of the shadows, test this young one of his abilities and give him the power he seeks to defeat his enemy. Show him worthy should you so will it.>

As the black energy flys toward Zikel, he closes his eyes and thinks of his two loved ones who he could not live without. And suddenly, the black energy hits him like a thousands swords impaling his body, he lets out a silent scream of pain as the others continued chanting in the language of shadows. Zikel's body was in just as much pain as his soul was, continuing to thrash about in pain as black markings were being carved into his flesh in the physical realm. His darker side watched the ritual go on from the side lines. He had grown fond of Zikel, and it hurt him a bit to see the young man who he had guided and watched over ever since he was bound to him, go through so much pain just to protect those he cared about. Zikel continued to let out silent screams of pain, the looks of it plainly on his face. He was going to be in a world of hurt when...if he was still alive in the physical realm..

Celestia and Luna continued to try and break away the dark magic that was keeping them separated from their beloved mate. Finally after nearly an hour had passed, they shattered the door and looked upon the room and Zikel in horror. They saw the markings being carved into his skin by an unseen force, blood trailing down from them and turning the darkest black as they seal up. The two sisters instantly tried to make their way to save Zikel, but the black fire burned them slightly as they tried to approach. tears began to form in both of their eyes as they watched helplessly as whatever was doing this to him was continuing to hurt him. But they didn't see him react to any of it. His eyes still glowing a bright blue. The flames thrashing about the circle, rising and falling in all spots but the middle, indeed acting as a shield so the shadowmancer is not to be disturbed.

"Zikel...why are you doing this...? We promised to protect you..."

Celestia began to sob slightly as she watched him bleed in front of her, Luna's own tears beginning to stream down her face as she leaned against her sister, burying her head into her sister's neck.

Zikel was thrashing about, but his mind was strong. Keeping his thoughts on those he cared for and was doing this for. So long as he had them, he felt invincible, no matter what kind of pain he had to face. The shadows will not claim his body nor his soul. He will claim their powers.

" I cannot give in...I will not! I have two mares I cannot leave behind god damnit! You will not take me. Give me your power! to protect hose I care about. I will become a monster should I have to! But you will not take me away from them, and you will not take them away from me!"

Zikel screamed out in his mind as the dark energy continued to ravage his mind, body and soul. As the final part of the ritual was coming to a close, Zikel was lifted into the air as the shadows surrounded both his physical and spiritual self, diving directly into his chest and claiming their spot in his body. Zikel drops to the ground, motionless for a moment as the robbed figures lower their hands. He was motionless for a good while.

"What a shame...the poor boy had so much potential, but it seems that they decided not to deem him worthy after all."

Just as the masters were about the turn away, Zikel opens his eyes and balls his right hand into a fist, slamming it into the ground and pushing himself up. A look of determination in his eyes.

"I will not be taken so easily, master. I have beings I need to protect and fight for. They would be extremely sad if I up and died on them because of something stupid I did."

A deep raspy voice chuckled from one of the figures.

"Yep, just like his father. No wonder he didn't join us down here. It was because of the way he used his abilities, that the Maker saw fit to grant him a place in the heavens. You have come very far, young Zikel. And I admire that you maintain the razor edge of falling to the dark abyss, and keeping to the light. It is not an easy path. But you walk it like it is nothing. But know this, it will now be harder than ever now that you have taken in the pure essence of the shadows. But, you are the son of Azrael Magnus. If he could do it, I know you can..after all, you are my grandson. Make me proud Zikel. Don't fall into the same mistake like this foolish old man did. As long as you keep those two at your side, and fight to protect them. Then the shadows will not overtake your kind heart. Be safe, my boy."

Said the figure as he removed his hood to reveal a long white haired man that looked to be an elderly version of his human self, covered in black markings all over his face. before Zikel could speak out, he was then torn from the shadow realm. he was thrusted back into his body which now laid flat on the ground. The fire died down as he could hear the voices of the two sisters calling form him and hooves rushing towards him.

"Zikel..Zikel please wake up, Please! You can't die from this, we need you!!"

Celestia and Luna sobbed into his chest as they tried to bring their beloved dragon back to them. Zikel weakly brought a hand to both of their cheeks, softly caressing them and wiping their tears away.

"Sorry ladies...but I...had to do this...for you."

He said as he dropped his hands, the pain he was now feeling causing him to black out, but he was still alive none the less.

"Guards, take him to the medical wing, NOW!"

Both Celestia and Luna shouted, still crying profusely. They knew he would live, but to see him in such a state, it tore at their hearts. Next Chapter: Act 21: The Shadowmancer That Follows His Own Path Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes