Spook Tree looked at all the ponies around him as the Cutie Mark Crusaders showed him around. His eye practically glimmered from the look of the town and was simply astounded.

“I am shocked that I didn’t see this place from a different perspective. This is truly a place to behold!” Spook Tree said in awe. The three fillies smiled at each other, knowing that Spook Tree wouldn’t even try to double-cross them. He seemed too intrigued by the place.

“We’re happy that you like it! Have you ever tried Pinkie Pie’s sweets?” Sweetie Belle asked him, making him look back at them and shake his head.

“No, I don’t believe I have.” He stated, suddenly getting pulled towards Sugarcube Corner by Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.

----

Gadget opened the door to his house and revealed his machine to Pinkie Pie, making her look around and say “Ooooh! This is where you live?”

He bashfully nodded because it was the first time somepony besides Twilight that was actually surprised how he lived.

Almost immediately, Pinkie Pie looked at all of his things, touching and inspecting them with great curiosity. Of course, Gadget would have normally told her not to touch anything, but since she was almost blown away by his work, he excused it.

“O-Okay well, here’s my flying machine. What do you think?” he asked, putting his hoof on the front of it while Pinkie Pie continued to explore, almost completely ignoring him.

“Oh. Yeah, it looks almost like mine except it’s all grey and metal.” She said with little attention towards his work.

Gadget sighed to himself, having a feeling she will just keep on looking at his things and be too occupied with it. So, he just decided to sit on the ground and wait until she was done.

“And I thought I would get an insane amount of compliments from the happiest pony in town.” He muttered.

----

Tartarus sat in his throne, digging his claws into it in anger. He looked around to see if Shadow Rain was nearby.

“Come here at once, my servant!” Tartarus yelled, waiting for his minion to appear and bow towards him, but nothing happened.

“I summon you, Shadow Rain! Approach your master!” he yelled once more, having no result. This made Tartarus upset and he stood up on his feet, walking towards the outside of his kingdom of shadow.

He raised his hand up in the air and closed his eyes, attempting to sense Shadow Rain. From what his eyes could see from his minion’s, he was inside of a bakery of some sort with the three fillies he had imprisoned before.

“What… is this…? Is he… with those things?!” Tartarus said to himself, watching him as he picked up a cupcake and ate it slowly with Apple Bloom and her friends.

“You would turn you back on your master… For them?!” he thought, stopping his observation and growling slowly. He balled his hands up into fists, his anger and disappointment building up inside of him. His castle slowly began to crumble and return to his body, making him become stronger and his body bigger.

“Well my servant… You will know what happens when you bite the hand that feeds you…” Tartarus said, vanishing to confront him.

----

When Spook Tree finished the cupcake, he smiled wide and said “Amazing! I had never known that such delicacies existed!”

Suddenly, a rumble of thunder was heard outside Sugarcube Corner, causing the four of them to trot outside to see what was going on.

Their eyes widened to see the ponies retreat to their houses to be safe from an approaching figure as tall as an adult dragon. Spook Tree felt fear inside of him, knowing who it was that and that it was coming towards him.

“Apple Bloom, get inside. I have to take care of this.” He said, making the three fillies look at him with disbelief.

“What in the hay are you babbling about?! You can’t fight that thing!” Apple Bloom protested, but he pushed the three inside Sugarcube Corner, closing it and turning to look at his master.

Tartarus looked down at his servant’s new body, making him growl loudly, echoing across Ponyville and reaching Canterlot.

“Did you really think you could connect with these inferior beings and betray your master?!” Tartarus yelled, pointing at him so that his finger was almost touching him.

“I-I don’t care what you think, master! These ‘beings’ as you would classify them as are my friends and I won’t let someone like you tell me otherwise!” he yelled back, looking up at him with defiance.

Unfortunately, it was a mistake to talk back at his master because Tartarus picked up Spook Tree quickly and began to slowly squeeze him with his hand.

“Then I will have to administer my punishment onto you!” Tartarus said, making his grip tighter on Spook Tree, almost putting him on the verge of choking.

Suddenly, Tartarus saw something out of the corner of his eye, making him turn his head to see Eternal Rain fly towards him.

Eternal Rain fired a beam of his magic at Tartarus, which hit him in his eye, causing Tartarus to drop Spook Tree. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo immediately galloped outside and helped get him inside, away from the fight that was about to begin.

“You will not harm anypony here, Tartarus!” Eternal Rain said, landing onto the ground and charge his horn up for another attack. Tartarus looked down at him and changed his size to be his height, just to even the match against him.

“So… The hero arrives at the right time to save the innocent. I admire your courage, but despise your intentions to stop me!” Tartarus said, his hands beginning to glow a faint fiery orange.

“I know Shadow Rain more than you. Just because you created him doesn’t mean that he will not have a mind of his own.” Eternal Rain said, staring at the beast before him.

Tartarus’ red eyes widened, but he then laughed at his statement, thinking that it was foolish to assume that his creation would think on his own.

“Do you really think that will change my mind? I’m sorry, but I will destroy my creation and then, get rid of you and your friends!” Tartarus said, firing a beam of his magic at Eternal Rain, resulting in Eternal Rain to fly backwards out of Ponyville.

“You underestimated me, creature.” He said with a dark laugh and turning his attention to Sugarcube Corner, charging his magic again.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked out of the window and gulped, not knowing what to do.

Thankfully, they caught sight of Twilight and her friends, except for Pinkie Pie.

“Look! We’re saved! Get him Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said with a big smile on her face.

----

Tartarus turned around slowly, seeing the ponies he had encountered before and a couple more.

“I had a feeling you would come back. You never know when to give up, do you?” Twilight said.

“This world is mine and I am going to rule!” he yelled, firing his magic at the ponies, but they avoided the attack.

“Alright, that’s it! You’re going down!” Rainbow Dash said, flying towards him and giving him a buck to his face, which did make him stumble back away from Sugarcube Corner, but it didn’t hurt him.

“Hah! You think your barbaric attacks can damage the master of darkness?” Tartarus taunted, regaining his composure.

“No, but this will!” a voice from behind Tartarus yelled, a beam making contact with his back and putting him down on his knees. Tartarus slowly turned his head to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, using their magic to weaken him.

“You two… I never expected the two of you to work together. Together, your powers are nearly a match for my own!” he said, breaking out of the hold their magic had him in and turning towards them. Tartarus fired two beams of magic from his hands at the sisters, but they used their magic to create a barrier to block his magic. Unfortunately, Tartarus continued to fire.

“We need to use the Elements of Harmony on him! Where’s Pinkie Pie?” Twilight said, looking around to see if she could spot her anywhere.

“I think I saw Pinkie Pie go to Gadget Rust’s house. I’ll go tell her about this right away!” Rainbow Dash said, bolting up into the sky and heading to the direction where Pinkie Pie and Gadget went.

----

Gadget got onto his contraption and said “Now, watch this thing fly. You’re going to be the first witness to see if my machine actually works!”

He began to pedal slowly, seeing that it wasn’t starting. So he began to pedal faster, the flying machine slowly beginning to turn its propellers and lift off the ground. At first, he didn’t believe it, but his eyes showed surprise and happiness when it actually worked.

“I-It actually works! By Celestia, my invention works!” Gadget said with a smile on his face. So far, it hadn’t fallen apart or exploded like his previous ideas.

Pinkie Pie watched him fly up slowly and was smiling wide. Although, the moment of joy was interrupted by Rainbow Dash’s sudden entrance into his house.

“Pinkie Pie! We need you in Ponyville right now!” Rainbow Dash said, grabbing her hoof and pulling her outside. Gadget was confused by what was going on, so he landed the machine on the floor of his house and got off, galloping to follow the two ponies.

----

Tartarus stopped firing and went he got close; he grabbed both Luna and Celestia with his hands. He then closed his eyes and a dark liquid emerged from his hands and began to spread onto them, starting at their neck and worked their way across their entire body.

“You two will be my new servants! Once my power completely covers you both, you will be forced to serve under me! Nobody will stop me then!” Tartarus said, laughing loudly as Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Gadget Rust met up with Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack.

Suddenly, Tartarus was knocked away from Celestia and Luna, losing his grip on them and his magic disappearing on them. Tartarus slid on the ground on his back, but stopped himself and looked up to see Eternal Rain had returned to help in the fight.

“Alright Tartarus, it’s over now. The six ponies are here, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are here as well, with me assisting them. Run away while you still can and maybe we will forgive your actions.” Eternal Rain said, standing next to the sisters.

“I’m sorry Eternal Rain, but we cannot just let him go. He has to be imprisoned.” Celestia stated, making Eternal Rain look at her with surprise.

“But Celestia, shouldn’t everyone, no matter what they have done, be given a second chance?” he asked, to which she shook her head slowly.

“I cannot allow that. Not this time.” She responded, ready to use her magic.

Tartarus slowly stood up and looked at them. He raised both of his arms in the air and slowly, a giant red ball of dark energy began to form.

Quickly, Twilight and her friends trotted in front of Celestia, Luna, and Eternal Rain, using the Elements of Harmony, firing a beam directly at Tartarus. When it collided into him, his knees buckled for a moment, but he stood straight up and laughed.

“It will take more than that to defeat me!” he said, continuing to charge the ball of energy.

Eternal Rain, Luna, and Celestia used their magic as well, firing at Tartarus, which thankfully, made his energy vanish from his hands and making him grunt loudly in pain and fall to his knees. Although, it didn’t make him completely give up.

Slowly, he stood back up and began to approach them.

“I… Will not lose to you fools!” he muttered in anger, picking up speed to a faster walk.

----

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom continued to watch the fight from the window of Sugarcube Corner, worried if they would actually succeed.

“Come on! You can win! Don’t give up!” Scootaloo yelled.

“Show him whose boss Rarity!” Sweetie Belle cheered.

“Beat him to a pulp, Applejack!” Apple Bloom encouraged.

Spook Tree opened his eyes and slowly got on his hooves, his form changing back to Shadow Rain. The three fillies heard him groaning as he fully changed and they gasped.

“S-Spook Tree! You’re back to being… that?” Apple Bloom said in shock. Shadow Rain looked at the three, showing embarrassment, but he averted his eyes to see the conflict taking place outside of the store.

From that moment, Shadow Rain knew what he had to do. It was a risk that he was willing to take.

He opened the door and looked back at the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“W-Why in the hay are you going out there?! It’s too dangerous!” Apple Bloom asked.

“Apple Bloom, I brought him into this place. I have to help.” Shadow Rain said, clopping outside and standing next to Eternal Rain.

----

As he fired his magic, he looked to see Shadow Rain charge up his dark magic. They made eye contact and nodded. Shadow Rain fired at Tartarus, which was what they needed to finally defeat the being darkness and evil.

Tartarus fell to his knees, yelling in pain and losing his power. He attempted to get back up, but they were too strong. He collapsed onto the ground and they stopped using their magic.

Princess Celestia approached him slowly and he looked up.

“P-Please… Spare me… I-I have learned my lesson…” Tartarus said, his body slowly shaking from his loss of power.

“I highly doubt that. You tried to hurt the ponies here. Do you really think I will let you go, just so you will come back and try this again?” Celestia stated, her horn glowing once more.

“You’re going to a place where you can never escape and never use your magic to attempt anything evil. Farewell, Tartarus.” She said, using her magic to summon shackles, causing them to wrap around Tartarus’ wrists and pulling him into a portal, disappearing from Ponyville for good.

The ponies that were sheltered in their homes, trotted out slowly and looked to see Tartarus had vanished, causing them to cheer and approach the victors.

They all smiled at the ponies, thanking them for saving Ponyville from danger.

----

As that happened, Shadow Rain felt something odd on his hooves, similar to a feeling of numbness.

He looked down to see his hooves fading away slowly, making him quickly jolt up into the air and fly off to Sweet Apple Acres without thinking.

----

The three young fillies saw Shadow Rain leave when they stepped outside, wondering what happened.

“Why did he just leave? Shouldn’t he be celebrating?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“We should see what’s up.” Scootaloo suggested which they nodded in agreement, galloping to Sweet Apple Acres.

----

When they had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, the first idea they decided on was to check the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse. They galloped towards the clubhouse, seeing Shadow Rain lying on the ground in front of the stairs, quickly approaching him and he slowly faded. So far, he was almost see-through.

“Spook Tree!” The fillies said in unison with a tone of worry in their voices.

“Are you okay? What’s happening to you?” Sweetie Belle asked, which Shadow Rain sighed and looked at the three of them.

“I’m… I’m sorry… I don’t think I can stay here for long…” Shadow Rain managed to say, the fillies not really understanding what he meant.

“W-What in the hay do you mean you can’t stay here?” Apple Bloom asked, getting close to him with a sad expression slowly creeping on her face.

Shadow Rain looked away from her big eyes and said “I-I was created by Tartarus to cause trouble and harm other ponies, but now… Since he lost his power and was taken away, I have… I have to leave…”

They gasped and Apple Bloom grabbed him in a hug, her front hooves around his neck and resting her head on his chest, not wanting him to go away.

“Don’t go! W-We wanted you to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders when he finished visiting Sugarcube Corner!” she tried to reason, but there was nothing Apple Bloom could do.

He used his transparent front hooves, pushing her away slightly from himself and smiling.

“Apple Bloom, I know it’s hard to accept, but it’s the way it’s meant to be. I don’t want to leave as much as you do, but I have no choice.” Shadow Rain said, tears coming out of their eyes slowly.

Shadow Rain stood up and looked at the sky with tears starting to come out of his own eyes, which amazed him. He looked back at Apple Bloom.

“Look… I’m crying too… I thank you for that. If you all didn’t show me friendship, I never would have felt this emotion before…” he said with a warming smile.

Shadow Rain looked at Apple Bloom and nuzzled her softly, slowly being lifted up into the sky and fading away.

“I will be in your hearts as a great friend, Cutie Mark Crusaders. Goodbye…” Shadow Rain said before completely disappearing from Equestria.

And so, the being of darkness and evil Tartarus, was defeated and sent to a land being guarded by Cerberus, rightfully fitting his actions.

Ponyville and Equestria were saved from danger, holding a grand celebration that lasted several days.

But what of Gadget Rust and his time after the event of Tartarus?

That is a story for another time…