Inside the Everfree Forest, there was silence. Animals crept out of their hiding places when Eternal Rain terrorized the area he stayed in. sunlight crept through the branches of the trees, almost as a symbol that darkness would no longer be around.

At least, that’s what the wild animals thought. Little did everypony know; another monster was in play, which was responsible for Eternal Rain’s actions.

-----

The shadow’s stretched into the ruins of the castle where The Elements Of Harmony were contained. Out of the darkest corner, emerged Eternal Rain’s dark side, bowing slightly towards the shrine.

“My liege… I am sad to report that the plan did not go as well as we had anticipated. Eternal Rain is no longer our puppet for your dreams.” The shadow muttered in failure.

As the shadow of Eternal Rain looked up, dark clouds swirled above the ruins and his master appeared before him.

The being was tall and completely shrouded in darkness, stood on two legs, almost resembling a monkey, but its back was straighter.

Its glowing red eyes squinted at his shadow and spoke in a deep, menacing tone.

“It is of no concern. Eternal Rain was only minor setback, even though disaster could have been averted.” His master said, crossing his arms in disappointment.

“It is with great shame that I am at fault, master.” He responded, to which his master approached him and patted his head softly.

“I have a different assignment for you now, Shadow Rain. I have been watching three young fillies, determined to earn their ‘Cutie Marks’. I want you to bring them here. I have a proposition for them.” The master said, turning around slowly and walking back to where he appeared.

Shadow Rain gave a look of uncertainty and said “But… My liege, they are just younglings! Surely there are other victims we can choose.”

Suddenly, the master turned around once more, looking more menacing. Shadow Rain bowed slowly in fear and backed away in the corner.

“I-It shall be done my liege.” Shadow Rain said, disappearing slowly into the shadows.

-----

Gadget Rust looked outside of the window in his workshop, wondering why he wasn’t working as hard as he was a few days before. He trotted away from the window and to his invention he was experimenting with when he met Twilight Sparkle.

“It’s so peculiar… Why don’t I feel the motivation anymore? I would be working on it right now like I used to. When I met Twilight Sparkle and her friends, I can’t stop thinking about it. There’s so much in Ponyville that I want to do. I have to get back out there! I want to see everything!” Gadget said, marching towards his door and opening it with his front hooves, posing proudly and closing eyes, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Suddenly, that moment ended when Gadget opened his eyes, seeing Twilight Sparkle, having an expression of sadness.

“W-What’s wrong Twilight?” Gadget asked, tilting his head in concern.

She shook her head slowly and said “Um… It’s about Eternal Rain.”

Gadget’s eyes widened, expecting the worst-case scenario.

“H-H-He’s not…” Gadget whispered in worry, but Twilight shook her head still, making Gadget feel relieved.

“He’s still sleeping, but… I’m worried about him. What if he stays asleep? Sort of like… an eternal slumber.” Twilight said, looking at Ponyville.

Gadget wondered about the possibility as well, but he stood next to her and patted her back with his hoof.

“I’m sure that won’t happen. He’s Eternal Rain. The most caring and um… scariest alicorn there is. Well, now he is anyway.” Gadget tried to comfort her, but he wasn’t really the comforting type.

Twilight nodded softly and smiled a little.

“Want to go back to Ponyville?” Twilight asked, looking at Gadget, to which he smiled wide and nodded in agreement.

“I want to see if I can make cupcakes like Pinkie Pie.” He said with slight excitement in his voice. Twilight laughed a little and trotted to Ponyville, with Gadget following along.

-----

Shadow Rain crept in the shadows of Everfree Forest, reaching the outskirts of the area. He saw the three fillies near the forest, looking determined to enter. Possibly to prove they were mature enough to earn their cutie marks. Shadow Rain hesitated before slowly creeping away from entrance to get ready.

As he moved to his spot, he could hear the fillies discussing about how they earn their cutie marks in the Everfree Forest. He looked around a tree to watch them and he began to disguise his voice.

“Hello? Is anypony there?” Shadow Rain asked in a high pitched voice, attempting to sound less threatening.

The three fillies looked at each other in confusion and the yellow filly said “Who is that?”

Shadow Rain smiled a little, surprised the master’s plan was working.

“Y-Yes, I am in need of some help! I-I seem to have lost my belongings in the ruins of the royal pony sisters! I would get them myself, b-but I am too afraid!” he said, feeling a bit less confident in the plan since he spoke in a royal manner.

The three fillies perked up at the idea that maybe if they help, they might earn their cutie marks.

“You can count on us! We’ll get your things for you! Can you show us the way?” the orange filly with a purple mane asked with a grin.

Shadow Rain groaned, knowing he’ll have to put on a convincing disguise now. He breathed in and concentrated, changing his alicorn shape, to a small foal with a black body, white mane, and red eyes. Slowly, he came out from his “hiding spot" and smiled in nervousness.

“I-I guess I will show you the way. I have lived in the Everfree Forest ever since I was born. I’ll make sure nothing scary tries to get us.” Shadow Rain said, approaching them slowly.

“Now I have to show these fools to their traps?” he thought in annoyance.

“What’s your name?” The white filly asked in curiosity.

He was caught off guard by the question.

“O-Oh umm… My name is uh… Spook Tree. My name is Spook Tree.” Shadow Rain said, doing a fake smile.

The three fillies tilted their heads in the weirdness of his name.

“Your parents must have been odd ponies.” The yellow filly said, which made Shadow Rain get the feeling of frustration deep down.

“Y-Yeah well, my parents were very creative. S-So, shall we go?” he said trotting down the path to the ruins, gesturing the three of them to follow. They hesitated, but followed him nonetheless.

-----

Gadget and Twilight slowly moved into Sugarcube Corner chatting, until they noticed Rarity and Applejack galloping towards them in panic.

“Twilight, Sweetie Belle is missing!” Rarity yelled, grabbing Twilight with her front hooves. Applejack grabbed Twilight as well, shaking her.

“Applebloom is missing too! Do you know where in tarnation they went?!” Applejack asked frantically.

Twilight shook them off and looked at the two.

“Calm down. I’m sure they didn’t go far. Where did you last see them?” Twilight said, trying to make them take a deep breath and explain the situation.

“Well, I last saw Applebloom and Sweetie Belle playing with Scootaloo at Sweet Apple Acres. I-I was bucking some apples and then the next thing I knew, they were gone!” Applejack told her, which Twilight began to ponder where they would likely go.

Gadget began to think as well, trying his best to possibly help.

“D-Do you think they went into the Everfree Forest? That’s the last place I would go, but I-I’m just guessing.” Gadget assumed.

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other with the same expression of realization.

“I remember yesterday that they said they would go there again!” Rarity said.

Twilight smiled at them and said “It’ll be okay. I’m sure they didn’t go far. Come on!”

Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight galloped towards the Everfree Forest. Gadget stood still, looking at them leave, not wanting to get himself into trouble with whatever was in there. It’s the one place that scared him the most because of its ominous presence.

-----

Shadow Rain guided the three fillies towards the ancient castle and he stopped in his tracks just outside of the ruins.

“What’s wrong Spook Tree?” Applebloom asked. Shadow Rain looked at the three and strangely, as he was guiding them to their trap, he had a feeling of regret. He must have obtained the feelings when he was hit with the Elements of Harmony.

“You three… You should leave.” He said, backing into the castle slowly.

“Why? I thought you were going to help us get our cutie marks.” Sweetie Belle said, giving a perplexed expression.

Shadow Rain continued to back away and as he touched a shadow, his form began to change into his original form. As he transformed, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom began to show fear on their faces.

When Shadow Rain finished, he looked at the three and said “Run! Get out of here!”

Suddenly, a hand reached around Shadow Rain’s mane and he was pulled into the interior of the ruins by his master. The fillies began to turn around and prepared to gallop away, but the master’s hand stretched out and grabbed them by their tails, carrying them into the castle.

“You’re not retreating just yet! I need you three for leverage!” the master said, putting the three down in front of him, with Shadow Rain in the corner.

“What’s the big idea?! Who do you think you are?” Scootaloo asked, trying to gain courage against the master.

He chuckled and changed his hand back to normal, crossing his arms.

“I have many names, but you younglings can call me… Tartarus.” He said, introducing himself with another dark laugh.

Next Chapter: Chapter 9: A Quick Victory Estimated time remaining: 41 Minutes