Zikel slowly opens his eyes to reveals a pitch black dimension, he sits up from his position and looks around. Seeing absolutely nothing, he gets to his feet and takes a step forwards. He does this a few more times, all ist quiet. He walks forward more, until a shadey whispery voice calls out to him.

"Ah so you are the one named Zikel who we deemed worthy...it is a pleasure to finally speak with you."

The voice came from all directions, it had multiple voices mixed into one, both female and male.

"That's right. I am your master now. But, what is it that you want with me?"

"We are simply letting you know, we are watching your every move. And once you die, you will be joining the ranks of the shadowmancers within the shadow realm to pass on to another. You will not escape us like your father did. So do not go thinking about trying to do so."

"If I wanted to escape you, I wouldn't have done this now would've I?"

The voice chuckled lightly.

"Even so, The maker decided to steal him from us because of how he used his abilities. But your hands are more soaked with blood than your father was. The maker will not take pity on your soul for what you have done."

"Should he or should he not. My intentions are clear. You will now serve me to help me protect those I love. And I will not follow the path of darkness nor light. My own path. So do not think I will be swayed by your whispers. Should my path benefit you in some way, I don't care. I am establishing my rules here and now."

"Very well master. We will follow you in whatever endeavor you seek. And should the Maker see you redeemable. We will make it harder for him to steal your soul from us. We doubt that will happen though."

"You also have to worry about the bonds I share with my eternal lovers. You could be waiting all of time for me to pass on and claim me."

"What...do you mean?"

Zikel couldn't help but grin to himself.

"Now that I am eternally bound to the two sisters whom I had fallen in love with, I now share their immortality. Looks like you didn't do your research on me enough before you entered my body."

A slight growl was heard.

"You may be immortal now, but you aren't invincible..."

"Well of course, that would make things too easy on my part wouldn't it? I would get rather bored if nothing couldn't hurt me. Now then, how about you just be quiet. My loved ones are probably waiting for me to wake up from my enduring trial."

He said as he began to walk on, eventually coming to a bright light and opening his eyes..again, this time seeing a white ceiling. He smiled lightly, knowing exactly where he was. The Canterlot medical wing. As he came to, he felt the warmth of hooves holding each of his hands at his sides. Zikel could only smile slightly, but knowing he was going to get quite the talking to. He gently squeezes their hooves gently in his grip. The princesses lifting their heads from their slumber to see that their dragon had finally awakened. Zikel looked between them both, tears starting to well up in their eyes.

"You...you idiot! How could you have been so reckless?!"

They both shouted at him. But then suddenly leapt onto him and wrapped their forelegs around his form, nuzzling into his chest as tears fell down their cheek. Zikel couldn't help but chuckle on the inside.

"Come on ladies....it needed to be done. I am not going to take any chances with this enemy when it comes to your safety...I care too much for you to let that monster have his way with you."

Luna looked up to him with a serious and sad look on her face.

"Whatever that was Zikel...it kept both me and Tia from even getting to you! It scared me to even get near it!"

Celestia nodded to Zikel, wrapping her arms around him a bit tighter.

"Yes Zikel...it took us nearly an hour to get the door down so we could at least see what was going on. The horror we saw that was happening to you...you were being carved into by an unseen force..the fact that we saw you shed that much blood for...Faust knows what. We were so worried!"

"Tia..Lulu...I am alright. it takes more than that to take me out, silly mares."

The glared up at him for a moment, but then went back into nuzzling and snuggling in closely.

"Just...please don't ever do that again Zikel. If we had lost you..especially since we had just celebrated our mateship...we wouldn't be very happy with you. That's all I am going to say."

"But what you really wanted to say is that I would suffer the wrath of a thousand suns and moons?"

He teased, trying to lighten the mood, That time he got a chuckle from them

"Its more like a million."

"Well, you have to be able to catch a shadow my sweet mares. I have slipped passed you many times before, and I can do it again."

Celestia chuckles lightly, leaning up and kissing him lovingly, Luna doing the same.

"But love. What would ever make you want to slip pass us? Especially all that we offer to you is love and affection?"

"Well who knows. gotta stay on my toes with both of you."

They all laughed. The mares only nuzzled into him more and pressed themselves closer to him.

"When the enemy tries to come and take you from me, I will be ready now...no one is taking happiness away from me again."

They stayed like that for awhile, enjoying to warmth and love that they shared with one another. Zikel looks down at both of them, a smile on his face.

"Zikel...we are rather curious about what was carving those strange markings into your flesh...we couldn't see it at all."

Zikel nodded.

"I wasn't in my body at the time so to speak. I was in the shadow realm. Meeting with my masters."

Both Celestia and Luna blinked at the word 'masters', they leaned in more with curious gazes.

"You have masters? Like others like you who you serve?"

"Asked Luna.Zikel shakes his head.

"I suppose I should have used the term 'Mentors'. And I found out my grandfather was actually one of them. I never got to meet him when he was alive...but...for a brief moment I got to see his face. Despite what he said he had done in his books, he had such a kind face. I was always told that he was a ruthless man who showed no mercy when it came to battle. But his last words were so...caring."

Both Luna and Celestia listened to him as he spoke about his family and his past. Happy to be learning more about their mate, all the while, the shadows in his body gagging at the growing love and affection. Not like they could do anything about it though. Later that evening, Zikel was checked out of the medical wing...most because Celestia and Luna wanted him back in their bed, and his wounds finally recovered. Though the markings that were left on his body were an everlasting remind, that he was to be cautious with his increased shadowmancy abilities.But what else did he gain from the ritual that was performed on his body and soul? He would find out in the training grounds. But, after what had happened, he doubts that Celestia or Luna will let him go there without at least one of them at his side. Though he can't blame them for that. He didn't tell them the whole truth.

"So then mister. I believe you owe me and Lulu some bath time with you. It's the least you can do to make it up to us."

"That's right, we are gonna brush your hair and make you feel all pretty."

Zikel's eyes widened, he backs away slowly and shifts his eyes for anyway out of this situation. He would make upfor what he did, but not like that! They turns around and closed in on him, noticing his behavior, pouncing him before he could make his escape. Lifting him up with their magic combined with wicked smiles.

"Come along, love"

They both said in a melodic tone. Zikel flails and tries to latch his claws into anything that came across his vision, walls, poles, pillars, anything . He clings his claws into a pillar as they pass by it, the mares noticing he wasn't budging and puffs their cheeks out at him with determined stares.

"C'mere you!"

Celestia said as she grabbed hold of his pant legs with her teeth and started pulling, Luna doing the same. The staff watching with both confused and amused looks on their faces. Even the near by guards chuckled a little. This continued until they finally pried him from the pillar. Zikel floating with his arms crossed over his chest, making a slight pouty face. Next thing he knows, he is tossed into the large bath tub once they are in the royal bath. already had been stripped of his clothing. He comes up from the water and spits out some that had gotten in his mouth.

"Hey...I did get injured you know, maybe you two should take it easy on me?"

They both jumped in after him and pounced him, sending all three of them underwater then coming back up. They clung to hsi form happily and nuzzled him.

"You don't seem to be complaining now do you?" Luna asked with a sultry stare, Celestia offering one as well. Once they gave him those stares, Zikelcouldn't be mad at them. They are the most beautiful mares in his eyes.Knowing they would do anything to make him happy, just as he would for them. He didn't care about how his family lineage was dark and murderous back then. Zikel is living his life, his way. And that is to protect those he loves with the power of the shadows. He didn't care if it was part of their agenda or not.