489 years later – Canterlot Castle; 9:00am

Time has changed as well as Equestria, the once small kingdom has slowly grown and evolved; while many things have changed for the better or worse, all who live in its borders live better lives, free to choose what decisions they make. The surrounding lands and kingdoms have grown strong relationships with the kingdom, sadly due to past events through the centuries, the Equestrian race has become… paranoid about the outside world.

Canterlot too has changed as many of its original infrastructure centuries ago, has slowly… adapted – the blacksmiths while only few exist are replaced to make jewelry and other trinkets with only some making weapons as a form of hobby or customs, much of the city being replaced with various stores for the masses and towers, mostly for the nobility – but with it comes changes that have helped. Crimes has lowered to simple thievery and the occasional wagon crash from somepony not watching where they’re looking, other than that Equestria has been in peace ever since then… though… some things are kept in the dark.

Heroes of the past, mighty warriors have moved on, the lands quiet and in a state of inactivity, making its inhabitants happy and an ignorant sense around them, of course the Royal Guard are still the guard, but they too have… accepted this peace.

Celestia has stayed the ruler of Equestria, guiding the nation with a smiling, benevolent glow to her, but she too has changed… and gained a student of her own. For the last few years since she joined Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns when she was six, her latest student; Twilight Sparkle, has been practically living in the castle with her mentor, all the while with her new baby brother, Spike – since his birth on the day she took the entrance test – making him three now.

It was the fifteen of the first month of winter, Spike’s birthday just five days ago, a thin layer of snow started to pile up outside the streets and roofs of Canterlot; the citizens, mostly posh ponies who adapted the personality or the nobility wore fresh winter clothes consisting of scarfs, hats, and snow boots… young Twilight on the other hoof was indoors, busy reading a book on advanced magic theory on her desk.

While Twilight had been a little of a bookworm, she has some social skills during her stay at Canterlot Castle… sort of – if you count having talks with the princess, Spike, or sometimes his brother, Shining Armor who visits and is a guard in training after finishing high-school. He was also starting his training to be an official guard the second he turned eighteen… that and it also helped his girl-friend was the niece of Princess Celestia, and Twilight’s foal-sitter.

Twilight smiled at the memory, she remembered Cadance coming to foal-sit her and talked with Twilight about if she and her brother were match, and they were – her math was never wrong. Nowadays she was mostly alone – Shining was busy training as a guard, Celestia was busy on her own work and teaching Cadance about diplomacy, and Spike… well Spike was a baby so he couldn’t help – and that made things boring for her. Of course she could go read a book, go to the library and study… but lately, she has gotten… bored.

Twilight sighed and slouched, her tiny head plopping on the wooden desk with an audible thump. There’s nothing to do, its snowing outside and I don’t feel in the mood to take a stroll out, everypony is busy doing something, and the princess hasn’t given some new assignment for awhile; I know the annual Hearth’s Warming Play was coming soon… but why couldn’t I been given some final work or something… With another sigh, Twilight got off the stool she was on and decided to wander the castle.

She trotted by several ponies, either guards or maids, but neither took notice to her as they knew who she was and was allowed to wander wherever she liked. Celestia thought what she could do today, making a mental list in her mind to think of various activities she could do herself.

Maybe I can cook… no, I nearly burned down the royal cookery with the last time I touched a spatula… How was I suppose to know that’s not how you make apple pie. Or I can check out the library, but I already ready every book I could possibly read, even the ones in the Starswirl Section – Celestia said I could read them as long I asked her what book or scroll I wanted to check out and that I would return them – and while rereading them does sound tempting, it gets pretty lax after the fifteenth or so time. Just what to do, what to do what to doooo…

It was when she realized that Twilight’s thoughts caused her to wander in some different part of the castle she barely visits. Due to being Celestia’s pupil, Twilight is actually limited where she can go and can’t go – she can’t go to the Royal Treasury for obvious reasons, the old Royal Armory due to it be full of weapons, a tower adjacent to the princess’s… she won’t explain why and whenever Twilight ask, she would begin to cry – but the place she found herself… was somewhere she remembered when she first became Celestia’s pupil and was invited to stay for her duration as her pupil.

Three years ago – Canterlot Castle, Near the Western Wing

Six-year old Twilight was given ride on her royal highness, the guards repeatedly saying she shouldn’t be acting like this, only for her to give them a motherly smile and said that Twilight may be her pupil but it didn’t mean she needed to act like a teacher all the time. Deciding to make Twilight comfortable with her – that and wanting to not repeat past mistakes – kept Twilight close, and made sure she spoke in a soothing and calm voice like mother would to a child.

“Now Twilight, if you wish to eat something you can ask one of the maids to bring you some food or ask directions to find the eatery; and remember that if you want to read a book, specifically ones from the Starswirl Section, you come and tell me what book you like to borrow and I’ll have the librarian to give you permission to read that book,” said Celestia, smiling.

Young Twilight smiled with a childish grin, and nuzzled Celestia around her neck; this caused the guards to pause and Celestia to pause too, especially what Twilight said next. “Really! Thank you mommy!” shouted Twilight, realizing what she said.

The group were all shocked and Twilight began to retake what she said quickly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to call you that, I always do that when another mare than my own mommy takes care of me. Please I didn’t mean to call you that princess,” said Twilight, with a sad look.

Celestia shook from her shock and quickly calmed the filly as she wrapped in her gigantic wings and nuzzled her even more – this made Twilight giggle in delight. “Oh do not worry about that, you may call me mommy or anything else you like… Actually, it is best we do so alone so we do not give others the wrong idea,” said Celestia. “And you two guards, while I don’t believe to gossip about their own princess, please don’t allow this small exchange to be heard.”

This caused the two guards to nod instantly; after that they continued the tour when Twilight saw something… interesting. For centuries the Royal Guard have protected Equestria, its citizens, and the princess… but there have been another side to the guard a few centuries… and they were dubbed the Lunar Guard. Many assumed this was to homage to the moon which made sense, but nopony or anybody knows how this side of the guard was founded – Celestia knows of course, but she won’t tell or rather won’t speak to any paparazzi about the guard’s origins.

Legend speaks that the guard was founded by an individual known to have the title of, Royal Assassin. Due to Twilight’s large vocabulary, she knew what an assassin was… what she didn’t believe was that Equestria had one or rather the last time there was a royal assassin was with the Zebrican Tribes before Equestria even existed. Twilight couldn’t imagine why Celestia would have a royal assassin or an assassin in the first place… but things back then were different and the royal assassin or anypony given positions similar to status were really close to the princess… sadly in no accountable point of history was there a moment Celestia ever had anypony close to her in nearly a millennia.

Many speculate that whoever this pony was, it was a lover that Celestia fell for, but due to immortality he passed away… or she – ponies were very romantic back then and still are nowadays. Others believe a creature of immense power threatened the nation and Celestia was forced to subjugate it and have it serve under her, but during sometime was executed when it killed somepony. On either case, everypony believes that whoever the royal assassin was… is long dead.

The Lunar Guard still are around and consist of a sub-race of ponies called thestrals or bat-ponies by the lay-pony’s tongue, which were found by the royal assassin, and served under him – or her – loyally… and now serve Celestia in the night. Anypony can join, but non-thestrals have difficulty due to not being used to night hours, but ponies who’re natural night-owls have found a calling with the Lunar Guard.

Twilight stared at a pair of thestrals or ponies in Luna Guard armor, guarding a pair of double doors – the doors were aged and looked different than the rest of the castle as if they haven’t changed in centuries – unmoving and unblinking. The pair of guards didn’t even bow to Celestia but she ignored them or didn’t notice, even the two guards with them didn’t reprimand their fellow guards and trotted past them until Twilight asked out of curiosity what they were guarding.

“Princess… Why are those Lunar Guard ponies standing by those doors? Is there something important ther-” Twilight saw the look in Celestia’s eyes, and it wasn’t fear or any dark emotion… but an almost conflicted look. Soon the look vanish and Celestia gazed at her young pupil before giving a warm smile, but spoke with a serious tone.

“Now Twilight, while I am giving you as many luxurious as of somepony young like you… there is… one specific rule you must follow no matter what. The castle is separated in different areas – the Eastern Wing, the Main Courtyard, the Royal Gardens, the Central Wing, the Upper Wing, and Royal Barracks – but there is one area that nopony is allowed to enter with the only ones being myself, sometimes certain members of the Royal Guard, and thestrals of the Lunar Guard… so please, promise me...” said Celestia with a look that made Twilight very curious.

Never enter the Western Wing.

Present Time – Canterlot Castle, Doors to the Western Wing; 9:25am

Twilight remembered that member, and realize where she was… and realized that the always guarded doors were devoid of any thestral guards. Curious for years since she was told to never look, Twilight’s inner foal and inner thirst of hidden knowledge made her inch closer and closer to the aged and musky scent of the wooden doors… when she heard some commotion down a hall to her left. Looking down the hall she saw a pair of thestral guards and realized the previous pair must have switched places with another pair.

Quickly, Twilight panicked and without thinking, entered the Western Wing and close the two doors behind her with her magic. After entering she placed her ear to the door and heard the voices of the two guards – one a mare another a stallion.

“-I can’t wait for this year’s Hearth’s Warming Play; who you think is going to play this year’s roles?” asked the feminine voice, sweet.

“Don’t know, but after we’re done here I’m going with some of the guys to see it. You coming?” asked a masculine voice, a little gruff.

“Nah, I’m visiting my folks at Hollow Shades. Haven’t seen them in months, wanna see them for the holidays.”

“Well you better go before the weatherponies cover the skies with the winter clouds; I’m hearing they’re bringing a big one this winter.”

The two voices stopped speaking and possibly went to guarding the entrance, not realizing the intruder within. Twilight took a calming breath knowing she wasn’t caught… only to panic and hyperventilate from realizing what she’s done. OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH! I BROKE ONE OF CELESTIA’S RULES! I’M IN SO MUCH TROUB-

Twilight stopped herself mid-thought… and took a better look at her surroundings… This part of the castle looked untouched for centuries; the walls and floor were coated in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs, and looked like it were made of a much older marble than the current marble of the castle and city. Other than that, there were also furnishings that looked like it came from the sixth century – vases, banners, and even wall scones with no torches, making the hall nearly pitch black.

The end of the hall had a window but it was replaced with black-tinted windows so dark so nopony could look through. Twilight neared the window at the end of the hall and tapped it, realizing it was very thick… thicker than normal windows. Why would anypony need windows these thick… unless they don’t want anypony crashing inside – either on purpose or not.

Looking some more, she saw another hall that had more black-tinted windows and another pair of double doors. From what Twilight could remember, the Western Wing was smaller and used to hold the old eatery and another room that was sadly blurred in the castle’s blueprints that Twilight managed to find in the Royal Archives. Trotting down the hallway with some tattered curtains that covered some windows or barely could due to the state they were in; Twilight looked to the wall adjacent to the windows, and saw several picture frames that were as big as Celestia.

Each frame had a detailed drawing of different ponies, and even other species as well – there was a drawing or two of a minotuar, a griffin, a female diamond dog, a very decorated zebra, a very bulky dragon, various different Equestrians, and a very young thestral possibly close to her age. Each painting was surprisingly in good detail and didn’t seem to show any signs of aging, possibly due to some spells to keep to their original look.

Reading the nameplates on each of them, she starts with a unicorn mare with blue coat and a green mane wearing some Royal Guard armor. Colonel Emerald, Drill Sergeant Warcry, General Deluxe Jacket, Quartermaster Organize Mess, Sweet Roll, Captain Blaze Sentinel, Steel Forge, Knock Out, Prince Kai, Suzy, Chieftain Ob’Daob, Torch, and… Blood Lily.

After looking through all these paintings, it didn’t state what century they were made, but from her guess it looked to be around sixth century. Continuing even further, Twilight entered through the next double doors, and came to find another hall with several doors on each side with signs to show which was which room, with what looks like some circular stairs at the end of the hallway.

Why did they not allow anypony here, this place doesn’t look like its holding anything important?

Continuing down the hall, she read the various signs and what they said; starting with the first door on her left, it read storage, then on her right was kitchen. The next few doors were from left then right were this – living room, workshop, cleaning room, fabrication room, bedroom, and balcony – with the final door’s sign catching Twilight’s attention.

“Archives,” said Twilight, her eyes twinkling. There’s another library here! Oh there’s got to be stuff other than what they keep in the Royal Archives!

Instantly, Twilight barged inside as she pushed the door with all her might and when she entered… saw nothing. The room had a circular window behind, some sort of strange device with a smooth black surface, but no books, scrolls, nada.

“Wha!? Where’s the books, the scrolls, th-the knowledge? ...Did… did they move it to the archives… is this whole place just some empty wing, and those guards are just there so nopony gets lost!” Twilight was angry, no enraged, having to not find anything but dust dust, and look more dust. With an angry stomp she stepped forward when suddenly the room suddenly lit up; at first she thought it was the sun but the light came from the device and it glowed a soft blue glow.

This spooked Twilight even more when the ground slowly rose up to form some sort of chair made of some sort of black material with armchairs. Suddenly the device in front of her came to life, and made a tune and showed a rectangular box when a voice spoke.

Please insert password to access Archive System.

Twilight looked around where the voice came from and realized it came from this strange device. “Password?” Popping out was a holographic board that showed different alphabets; seeing what she had to do, Twilight looked around for some sort of post-it note or something but found nothing, cursing for the one to make this password to not being the forgettable type. Deciding to eye-ball this password, Twilight put down some simple words.

“Cheesecake,” said Twilight, typing it down.

A loud beep and the voice spoke. Incorrect, please try again.

“Okay… uhmmm… Banana.”

Incorrect.

“Roses?”

Incorrect.

“Princess Celestia.”

Incorrect.

“Canterlot.”

Incorrect.

This continued for awhile until Twilight cried in anger and began slamming her face and hooves against the holographic board that was surprisingly solid, eliciting every few seconds the word incorrect to be heard by the voice. Giving up, Twilight decided to check a different room until she wandered into the living room; the room unlike the hall and the suppose Archive was neither aged or bland, but was decorated and neatly clean.

The living room was cozy room, and had one wall a semi-circular bookcase with books on it but mostly books Twilight seen in the Royal Archives, some being some pretty ancient titles. The other wall was an inbuilt fireplace with the wall facing the door a large decorated window – Twilight could feel magic coming from it meaning it must look like a wall on the other side then – with an armchair in one side of the room and a large couch big enough for the princess to lay on beside the armchair. A table was in the middle for placing drinks or other things, with a chandelier on the top that was currently off and instead of candles was powered by electricity.

Looking around the living room, the floor carpeted except for near the fireplace which had stone in a semi-circle for safety reasons, Twilight saw a photograph beside the fireplace as well several others… but this one intrigued her as the others had some of the ponies from the paintings at the first hall as well a few others of some locations. The photograph that caught Twilight’s attention had some of the beings from the paintings, a few other ponies and thestrals, and even the princess herself – everyone was huddled together in a group photo, trying their best to fit as many as they could with the dragon only having his head showing in the far right, while some of the pegasi and thestrals were in the background doing different poses – her highness actually doing a genuine smile and seemed to enjoy those who were in the photo with her.

Everyone in the picture looked happy, even the griffin and dragon both did their own version of a genuine smile with one pony simply doing a thin-lined smile, with the ends of his muzzle curving upward, standing beside a beautiful mare, possibly his wife. Twilight examined the photo… but saw something in the far upper left corner behind Celestia; in the shadows of a tree in the picture which she realized was the Royal Gardens, stood a figure in dark armor with the most intimidating weapon on it’s back, but what really made this figure truly noticeable was the glaring look it gave as if it were showing a constant hatred toward everything.

A plaque was below the photograph, naming everyone who was there and which spot on the photograph they were at.

‘Princess Celestia, Colonel Emerald, Smooth Earth, Carnation Rose & her foal, Rose Garden, Sky Watch, Drill Sergeant Warcry, General Deluxe Jacket, Elegant Dress, Quartermaster Organize Mess, Sweet Roll, Steel Forge, Knock Out, Captain Blaze Sentinel, Prince Kai, Suzy, Chieftain Ob’Daob, Torch, Blood Lily, the first members of the Lunar Guard; photographer, Flash Shot… and Royal Assassin Zen.’

Twilight realized who was the royal assassin, putting it through list of elimination… it pointed that the intimidating figure in tall armor was the royal assassin. “That’s the royal assassin… but… who is he?” said Twilight.

Suddenly Twilight heard something, it was a faint noise but she could hear it but couldn’t find out what it was. Following the sound, she looked up and saw it lead up the spiral staircase; climbing the steps carefully, she reached the top to find another hallway split into three paths, with the one on the left having the sign that said, Aura Crystal Room. The hall in the right led to a room called, the Map Room, with the center room leading to the Observatory. She heard the noise again and it came from the middle path, which Twilight went but in as slow and carefully she could, before reaching the door and opening it too peer inside.

The observatory was bland but showed a clean shine, and had a large telescope to gaze the stairs as well as various devices surrounding the room. The room was pitch dark and the dome was closed making Twilight use a simple light spell for her to see… she would soon regret that; the second she gave herself some light to see, the first thing she saw was a pair of armored legs. Slowly she gazed upward thinking it was just some armored suit… but gazed back at a glassy surface of helmet, until the helm showed two single orbs staring back at with a constant glare.

It was then she recognized what or who she was staring at, and the implications started to rise about the impossibilities about this whole situations – thoughts about certain things she remembered to flood her mind.

The royal assassin was unknown, as nobody has seen or written any information about who or what he looked like; everything simply… never existed. The Western Wing is sealed off and guarded by the Lunar Guard, the same guard founded by the royal assassin. Celestia won’t talk or allow anypony access, not even Twilight herself. Rumors state Celestia had a monster that she had to subdue. That photograph had the royal assassin standing alone in the background. The Western Wing isn’t abandoned a fitted for someone to live alone, in solitude and secrecy.

...The royal assassin never died all those centuries ago… He was here all along.

What occurred next was Twilight screaming, running away in fear, and the armored figure staring where the frightful filly ran off, before following behind in a slow gait. Twilight tumbled down the staircase surprisingly only scuffing her front right forehoof, before she ran for the double doors at the end of the hall when they opened and entering inside was Celestia… who she bumped into.

The princess felt the strange thunk and looked down, when her face showed her shock at seeing her pupil student here of the one place she wasn’t suppose to be at. Not caring she was caught Twilight started climbing up her highness’s leg and mumbling in terror of the being she saw upstairs.

“P-P-P-Princess! He’s alive, he’s here, he’s going to hurt me!”

“Twilight Twilight, calm down, what are you doing here; who’s going to hurt you?” asked Celestia, doing her best to calm her pupil.

“The… The… The… THE ROYAL ASSASSIN! HE’S GOING TO COME FOR ME!” At that very moment, a sudden whoosh was heard and Twilight turned around to see the armored figure standing in front of the pair, only making screech in terror with her light young voice. This only made her cry in terror and push herself deeper into Celestia’s barrel as she whimpered and stained the alicorn’s alabaster fur.

Instead of hearing Celestia defend her student in defense… she heard Celestia speak in tone that she would use with her, almost as if whoever she spoke to was a long old friend… or family. “Zen, I am so sorry, I should of told you about her; I knew I shouldn’t have told you sooner that I gotten another student… not after with Sunset. You have to understand, I know ever since then I been just how I was with what happened with Luna, but please I… I promise she won’t be like what happened before, so please… I… I just want something more… You know how lonely it is, especially that you hide in secrecy, and I know for good reason. Our ponies of this age aren’t ready for something from the past… something from our dark past… but please at least let her to know you… to know the Zen I know – the real Zen.”

Silence lasted for a few moments when another voice spoke in an intimidating tone, but didn’t have any anger, rage, or any emotion in it… it was empty… but not empty or cold but… simply empty, but held no negative feeling toward Celestia as if the pony or being couldn’t properly express themselves.

“If that is what you wish… though would you mind calming her; I haven’t seen a child since Blood Lily and Rose Garden were around.”

Twilight felt Celestia, possibly nodding and getting Twilight to look up. “Twilight… Twilight… Please, could you look up,” said Celestia, soothingly.

At first Twilight didn’t respond but gazed up at Celestia’s warm visage. “Now… there’s someone I like you to meet, he’s… a very… very old companion of mine. I’d like you to meet my elder brother; Zen.”

Twilight turned to face the intimidating being called Zen… but his look seem to, be quelled down now. His orbs were slightly bigger but small enough to no be dilated. He knelt down which made her flinch, and himself flinch too, making Twilight tilt at his sudden reaction to her reaction of him. For a while nobody moved, but Twilight reached a hoof forward which Zen slowly extended an armored hand, its shape changing from a claw to a rounded gauntlet with smooth tips.

“My name’s… Twilight Sparkle… it’s nice meeting you Mr Zen… Wait; you’re the princess’s brother, the princess has a brother?”

Zen didn’t spoke but did shake her hoof, which made Twilight shiver at the cold touch from the metal. “Indeed… And I believe your ‘teacher’ has some talking to do,” said Zen, an annoyed edge to his voice.

Celestia chuckled weakly, sweat dripped from her forehead; later in the day Celestia explained who Zen was, why he was here and how. Still more questions rose from Twilight’s young mind, but would better ask by Zen himself than her, all Twilight needed to know is that the Lunar Guard’s thestrals are loyal to Zen, and Zen alone and only listen to Celestia due to their familial connection, with them and certain members of the Royal Guard knowing Zen’s existence – even Cadance knew as she was after all, Zen’s niece too.

Soon the days would move on and while Twilight was now given permission to visit, it would be another few days before she would as Twilight rethought what she wanted to ask Zen on her next visit.

Two days after meeting Zen for the first time…

The next few days moved by with Twilight going back to her usual things, but then she had the courage to visit Zen again. Carrying her saddlebags full of empty parchment, ink, quills, and her favorite doll; Smarty Pants, she was ready to go. Heading down the path from her room, she reached the two double-doors to the Western Wing, the pair of Lunar Guards standing still and tall until they spotted Twilight.

The young filly didn’t say anything but did a polite cough and got the mare on the left’s attention. She looked down and smiled at young Twilight with a warm smile. “Oh, hello young miss, are you here to see Lord Zen? He has been waiting for your visit and has even spruced up the place – would like one of us to lead you to him?”

“N-no thank you… I can find my way to him,” said Twilight with a blush.

The mare thestral smiled and opened the door for her; Twilight entered inside and the doors closed, and once through she realized how different two days had gone by. The hallway was spick and clean of dust and cobwebs, the carpet was refurnished and the walls fixed and repainted, with the only thing not changing was the windows being tinted black for secrecy reasons. Taking the corner and reaching the other double doors, Twilight opened them and entered the next hallway to also be clean.

Entering the hall suddenly made Twilight uneasy, as if an unseen being was watching her with careful detail and curiosity. Near the spiral stairs, Twilight swore she saw a shadowy figure before if vanished. Unsure what to do next, the voice of Zen could be heard from the room where the noise came from.

“Twilight, I’m glad you could visit me; I’m in my workshop, though be careful I have some things littering the ground, so do be careful,” said Zen, his voice echoing due to the distance.

Following his voice and the source of the noise, Twilight nudged a slightly bulkier door than the others made of metal and once open gazed at something amazing. When Twilight first came here she assumed all the first floor rooms were the same size with the Archive room and Living room being different… but the size of the Workshop was thrice the size of the living room and twice as taller than it too.

To best describe the Workshop it looked like somepony shoved every known piece of tech in existence for Equestria, and added tech that hasn’t been invented or even thought of yet… only, four times more. There were coolers to keep certain things refrigerated, laser drills to cut precise items, and a generator that was bigger than the normal generators that power small towns. Though the most interesting and impressive device was some sort of circular device that glowed various colors and had cylinders stuffed into as if it were some sort of big battery of some kind. The floor was littered with pieces of metal and other stuff, and there were different tools hanged on one side of the wall while the other had different blueprints, books about engineering and scientific theory, while the ceiling was made of glass and made of some sort of glass that could change from a switch in the back of room, blocking the sun or letting enough sunlight through to effect the room’s lighting.

Zen wore no protective gear – most likely because of his strange armor – with one welder in one hand while the other held a piece of metal. He was currently working on some sort of device that that looked like a ring with different slots to put something in. The center of the ring was empty, and had four metal spikes pointed to the center.

Her eyes sparkled and twinkled with amazement, as she gazed up at Zen with eyes of pure unadulterated curiosity. “How… did you make all of this stuff?” asked Twilight.

Zen crouched down until his helmet was only a few centimeters above Twilight, thinking of a something then answering. “My armor comes with various blueprints to build different things, and while I can make anything I want. I mostly make things that I suggest Celestia adds society only with some slight changes so it looks more pony-made than being made by me, though I can’t rightly say what I built and what was simply inspired by something I made,” said Zen.

The question would be unanswered as Zen led Twilight to leave the room and locked behind himself, looking back at her with a look as if he was about to say something important. “Now, there are some rules you must follow when here; you must never leave this floor without my permission, and can’t enter the listed rooms of this floor – the Workshop, Fabrication room, Storage, or the balcony – the washroom is in the cleaning room, the door on the left. The kitchen has food for you to eat but tell me if you want anything made, and the archive you can use but I’ll give you level 2 access-”

“I CAN USE THAT STRANGE DEVICE TO CHECK THE BOOKS!” shouted Twilight, excited.

“Yes,” said Zen, continuing off as if he wasn’t interrupted. “But I’ll show you how to use it, and if you still have trouble Jiule will help you.”

“Jiule? Who’s Jiule?”

“Hello young miss Twilight.”

“GAAAAH!” Twilight whirled around to face whatever spoke and met face to face with a floating orb with one single glowing orb, making the construct look like a hovering eyeball. The construct had a feminine voice to it but more electronic than it was suppose to be.

“I sorry for frightening you young miss, I’m sorry for doing so; as for introductions, my designated name is, JIULE – Jiule – andI am a Void Artificial Intelligence, a VAI. I am Zen’s assistant and oldest companion since he first arrived to Equestria, four-hundred-and-eighty-nine years, three-hundred and-fifty-one days, nine hours, seventeen minutes, and thirty-one point five seconds ago… Now it has been thirty-two seconds. It is a pleasure meeting you young miss,” said Jiule, her introduction hiding her ecstatic nature.

Twilight was confused and stupefied that not even she was that accurate about something like that. “...Artificial… Intelligence?”

“Think of it as a self-made conscience or creating life in a way,” said Zen, explaining what Jiule was.

“You mean like golems or humonculi!? But-but-but… That’s illegal!”

“Yes – well the humonculi part is – but Jiule is a different story and artificial intelligences are slightly different than making real life as most often their the copy of someone’s personality. For Jiule, she was made to be original and is her own being, that and the creation of humonculi requires a soul while Jiule’s doesn’t meaning no need for sacrificing another life.”

Twilight sighed in relief but was wary of Jiule, but found her… intriguing. After introductions, Zen led Twilight into the bedroom –the bed in the room didn’t seem used and looked to be there for aesthetic design with opposite of it there being a pod of some kind with pipes and wires connected to it, that was embedded in the wall. A table for writing was below a window which the curtains were slightly closed on, while a bin for waste and a bookcase to the side the held some books but mostly empty. Another device similar to the one in the Archive but smaller was on the desk and was currently on.

“You can sleep on the bed while you stay here, and an account has been made for you for that terminal there. It has no password yet but you can add one later; if you need anything, find me upstairs at the Observatory or simply ask Jiule for anything. I’ll be back down in an hour or two – enjoy your morning,” said Zen, exiting the room.

Alone now, Twilight forgot to ask Zen any questions about himself… however… there was someone else who she could speak to. “Um… Miss Jiule, can I ask you some questions about Zen?” asked Twilight.

“What sort of questions do you want to know?”

“Well… what is Zen, he and Celestia are siblings but history doesn’t mention Celestia even having a brother or anything about Zen? Just what exactly is he to Celestia and Equestria?”

Jiule stayed silent for awhile, but the silence ended but not in the way she expected. “I’m sorry to say I can’t rightfully answer that… These things are personal between him and Celestia… Zen has lived through many things, and seen many old friends passed away and moved on… I’m just not the right individual to ask these kind of questions; maybe when you’re older, you may ask him or the princess. I’m sorry if I was unable to answer any of your questions,”

“Oh…” Twilight had a dejected look to her, but it was soon replaced when Jiule spoke again.

“Though… I can however give detailed retelling of events that Zen was both present and seen between the beginning of the sixth to the end of the ninth. There are things you may not have known that Zen played an important to. He’s also a collector of ancient history so he’s gathered knowledge from ancient tombs, gathered relics from decaying kingdoms and lands, and even found some rare spell scrolls you’d be interested in,” said Jiule, with a mischievous tone in her voice.

This peaked Twilight’s attention; she was then assisted – and led – on how to use the terminal, the next couple of minutes to follow is of her looking through the Archive System and gathering as many information she could, writing it down or memorizing all.

Elsewhere at the same time – Twilight’s Room; 10:00am

After finishing some morning exercises by her superior, that and it was nearing the holidays so he was luckily able to leave early. Shining Armor had just begun training for the Royal Guard at the start of eighteen, just after he graduated high school; not only that but he also gained the love of his life as his girlfriend – Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, aka Cadance. It also helped she was Twilight’s foalsitter, so he had a chance to see her before they began to have relationship.

Though, instead of visiting her, he visited his little sister; it was his responsibility as a big brother to see how his little sis was doing… that and Cadance was busy being taught be her aunt, about politics and diplomacy. It couldn’t be helped as now with her studies done, she had to focus on her royal privilege as an alicorn and so forth… making their time together shorter than naught.

Shining sighed in a dejected manner, unable to see his marefriend, but able to see have some contact with one another. So far they went from hugs to nuzzles to light kisses on the cheek… never the lips – Shining was still terrified when he and Cadance was caught almost making lip-to-lip by Princess Celestia.

Speaking of the princess, she was bothered by their relationship or showed any sign of disapproval, but she’d always tease the two, making them fluster.

I don’t know who’s worse, my parents or the princess… At least I’m on good terms with her as she is my sister’s mentor. Shining stood before Twilight’s room, the room she uses when she isn’t home at the castle. With two swift be decisive knocks with his hoof, he awaited and raised his voice to be heard.

“Twily! Its me, Shining; I came by to visit and see how your...” Shining opened the door but when he entered, he found the room to be empty with no sign of his younger sister. “...doing… Where did she go?”

Back at Western Wing – Zen’s Bedroom; 10:10am

Twilight has managed to read majority of all the information she could gain access to, while the remainder was stuff she read already or things that surprisingly didn’t make sense to her. I need to ask the princess what is the Battle of Canterlot is back in the year 500AN, I never knew Canterlot gotten involved into a battle before.

She slouched against her seating with a bored look once more, while gaining new information was great and all, she wanted to still ask Zen some questions. Raising back up, she looked around to find Jiule… but found her not in the room. “Hey, where did Jiule go?”

Stepping out of the room, Twilight looked down the hall and then searched each of the rooms she could go to, before finding no sign of the floating orb. Deciding to head to the stairs and go upstairs, she was stopped when she heard something… she heard… voices.

The voices were coming from the lower parts of the wing… but what was strange was the voices sounded like they were coming from every directions, but were most audible below. Twilight slowly inched down the steps but remembered what Zen said before he went to the Observatory.

‘ ...you must never leave this floor without my permission...’

He said I can’t leave this floor without his permission, so maybe I should go and ask him first.

“Hello...”

That made her stop in place, the voice sounding like a whisper but as if somepony spoke behind her. Whirling around she only saw the empty hall, only for the voices from earlier to vanish. Twilight was a mixed of freaked out and curious, then the voice came back.

“Hello… Is someone there...”

Somepony is down there! Twilight listened to the voice and it sounded… in pain or… somepony in need of help. Deciding to not go to Zen – that and the voice was luring her in more and more – Twilight went step by step down the spiral staircase.

Reaching the bottom took awhile but once she reached bottom, what she saw next made her eyes widen. A large expansive room that looked similar to the size of the castle’s courtyard, only it was an empty vast space and was shrouded in darkness. There were lights that dimly lit a path to what looked like some sort of stand; Twilight trotted down the lit path until she reached the stand. The stand was actually some sort of pillar with a switch of some kind on the top, with curious intrigue, Twilight used her magic and pulled the switch.

Suddenly something started to move behind her, and looking to see some of the floor behind her rose up, revealing a strange device underneath. The device glowed and ominous black light, but what made it look entrancing was the voices that came from it… a myriad of various sounds that echoed across the large room, while incomprehensible, made a symphony of noise.

The voices continued to echo even further and further… when single voice spoke that silenced the rest.

“Who are you… You don’t belong… You aren’t familiar...”

Then the voice came back but sounded close, and corrupted as if whoever spoke had no working voice-box to use.

“You shouldn’t be here… These shadows sleep… These shadows awaken… These shadows… see you...”

Then suddenly the room shook and the device sunk back into the ground… and that’s when she saw it, standing and blocking the path to the staircase. It was made of shadows, with eyes that were purely white, and had a head that seemed to droop with spines covering the back. It floated in the air with no wings, and had a tail that hung behind it with zero legs to support it. Two arms with three pronged claws were by its sides, loosely hung.

The creature gazed at Twilight with a pupil-less stare, as if it looked down at her very soul. It continued to stare longer and longer… and then it rushed her with sudden speed that Twilight tripped and fell on her haunches; the shadow creature flew above the ground and reached her and when it neared her… Twilight screamed in terror.

And only darkness remained.

Shining wandered the castle unsure where her sister was when she heard a scream, sounding like her sister, so following where it came from, she saw it was coming from the doors that led to the Western Wing. The two Lunar Guards guarding it pretended as if they heard nothing, but when they saw Shining Armor rushing toward them, they both began ready to stop him.

“HALT! IN THE NAME OF HER HIGHNESS YOU HAVE NO PERMISSION TO-” Before the male guard could finish, Shining brought up a magical barrier and used it as battering ram.

“GET OUT MY WAY! MY SISTER IS IN THERE!” shouted Shining. “I’M COMING TWILIGHT!” With gusto, Shining barreled through the two and ran past several doors until he came upon some spiral staircase, but before he could go upstairs or downstairs, he heard a loud and familiar pop behind him. Quickly spinning around he saw Twilight shivering with sweat drenching her fur.

“TWILIGHT!” shouted Shining, diving for a hug. “You’re safe! I thought something happened to you and… wait a minute; why are you here? This place is forbidden, nopony – not even members of the Royal Guard can come here – can come here… Ohhhh Twilight… please don’t tell me you did something again… you turned somepony into another cactus didn’t you?”

“Wha- NO! I… I… well I...” Twilight began to stammer and pause every few seconds when a strange noise from behind Shining was heard. Twilight gazed upward as she was looking the opposite direction of his elder brother and saw the last being she wanted to see; gulping, she knew then and now she was in deep trouble.

“Uh Twily? What’s wrong?”

“I’d like to know that as well – what is, indeed wrong young Twilight?”

Shining heard the voice of a deep and dark voice, so intimidating that not even his drill sergeant could compare to this voice and the intimidation levels behind it. Turning around slowly – you could hear the creak from his neck from the motion – Shining gazed upward toward an armored bipedal figure with the most scariest glare in all existence. The being in question had both arms folded in a disappointed way, but look more than disappointed, he looked ready to snap both Twilight and Shining into twigs.

Out of instinct and brotherly love, Shining quickly put himself between Twilight and the mysterious being that looked both a threat and danger to her and those nearby. Following his training, Shining quickly summoned his sword with ease and used the given conduct when encountering these sort of situations.

“HALT! WHO’RE YOU, AND HOW DID YOU GET INSIDE THE CASTLE!? IF YOU DO NOT SURRENDER AND DROP ALL YOUR WEAPONS, I WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE ACTION!” shouted Shining, the only thing keeping his will strong was to protect his sister.

Zen said nothing and kept his arms crossed when another pop from behind Shining and Twilight was heard, only when Twilight looked she saw Celestia and Cadance, worry both plastered on their faces. “We came here as soon as Corporal Fang Tip came into my room; she told us that Shining heard Twilight and came barging into the Western Wing!” said Celestia.

“Is Twilight okay, where is she!?” said Cadance, looking everywhere.

“Cadance!” After hearing Twilight calling her name, the two hugged and did a little dance about ladybugs and the like and began to giggle happily. “Oh I’m happy you’re here… but you have to stop Shining, he’ll get hurt!”

“Hurt? By wh- Oh no,” said Cadance, sweat dripping her forehead.

Celestia also saw the situation and while her worry was shown, was also pitying Private Shining Armor right now. Zen gazed hatefully at Shining Armor, but when he heard that Twilight was her sister… a certain memory popped up. Shining spoke out, not bothering to recognize Celestia and Cadance were behind him – Cadance trying to get his attention, bu failing.

“YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY LITTLE SISTER OR ELSE FIEND!”

“Shining, Shining, get out of there,” said Cadance, whispering while speaking loudly so he could only hear her.

“So young Twilight is your flesh and blood… While I don't hold any similar relationships, I can ask for you to do the same,” said Zen, a vicious tone in his voice.

“What are you talking about?!” asked Shining, equally angrily.

“Shining, get that cute – yet dumb – plot here. Now!” said Cadance, her whispering growing to a quiet shout.

“I’m referring to you dating my niece; if you stop seeing her then I’ll have young Twilight not come visit me either.”

“Your niece? I don’t even know your niece, or even know anypony like you!”

“I see… then I suppose the mare behind you isn’t her then?”

Shining gave a confused look, turned around and saw Cadance – and Celestia – reface Zen with a still angry look. “That’s Cadance my marefriend, and she’s suppose to be Celestia’s niece, not yours!”

“Shining… there’s something you need to know,” said Cadance, a conspiratorial tone. “Celestia isn’t my only relative I have besides Blueblood… Shining, I’d like you to meet the father-figure I had since Celestia fist found me – meet my uncle, Zen.” Cadance held an awkward smile toward her stallionfriend.

Shining started to have put two-and-two together – and luckily it didn’t take five minutes – and when it finally came together… well Shining reaction was interesting. It started with confusion, realization, horror… and then the look you only have if you find yourself wandering the showers and see your superior nude – this happened to Shining once… good thing was his superior was a she… bad part was that she beat the ever loving crude out of him. Silence was the one thing that stayed for the longest between those present… then Shining spoke, and his answer was flawless and the most intelligent thing he could say to this situation.

“...What?”

After some explaining and trying to stop Zen from giving Shining a death glare – which was hard considering he did that constantly – Zen begrudgingly with an emotionless glance, invited everypony to his living room for some tea. Shining sat on the ground near the fireplace, while Celestia laid down on the couch with Cadance sitting close to Shining with Twilight sitting on her lap. Zen sat on his armchair, and kept his gaze on Shining like a predator would for its prey.

“So… You’re Cady’s uncle, huh,” said Shining.

“I will shatter your bones, and rip your soul to molecules,” said Zen, nonchalantly.

“Aaaaaand I’ll shut up.”

“Uncle Zen, please; Shining isn’t a bad pony, even Celestia is alright with my relationship with him. Can we please not have you tearing apart my stallionfriend, please,” said Cadance.

“...As long he makes you happy, that’s all I ask… but if I find foul play – which I will find out – I will chop his extremities into mincemeat.”

Shining blanched at that, and began to sweat bullets; Twilight looked worried at his brother and looked at Zen. “Please don’t hurt my brother, Mr Zen,” said Twilight.

“Thanks Twily,” said Shining, appreciating her help.

“At least not until Shining decides to cheat on Cadance.”

“Your not helping Twily,” said Shining, with an annoyed look.

Celestia took that time to smile, and giggle happily; it has been too long since she been together with loved ones and could finally slow down with no unnecessary work and the like. Before much could continue, a Lunar Guard with a black eye on his face entered the room.

“Lord Zen, Princess Celestia, and Princess Cadance… I think it is best we repair the Western Wing doors, and for your highness’ to return to the Throne Room, a meeting with one of the nobility is scheduled for you two soon,” said the guard.

“Thank you Corporal Sneak Grab… Also; next time, don’t steal Corporal Fang Tip’s mango, you know how she is when somepony does so,” said Zen.

“Yes my lord… I’ll… ‘try’, not to enact her wrath again – at least she has stopped pummeling me.”

“Oh no, she’s definitely going to drag you to Tartarus. I’ll give you an early dismissal today, bring another pair of guards to guard the Western Wing entrance for you two,” said Zen, sipping some tea. The tea in question turned to particles and went through the two vents on his helmet – his way of drinking.

The guard gave a horrified look and instead of bowing in respect, booked it for the life of him. “He’ll survive, but I believe we might not see him for tomorrow.” Zen simply sipped his tea some more – Shining gaped at how calm he spoke to his subordinates, Cadance gotten used to it for the last few decades, Celestia gotten used to it for the last centuries… Twilight… had something else in her mind, and Zen knew what it was.

“Also, another thing that needs to be brought up; Twilight-”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry I went downstairs and left the floor without your permission… I… I’m sorry… but what was that I saw downst-”

“Please do not remember, do not speaketh, do not mention what thou sought. The darkness keeps many things, but what you saw weren’t shadow, but something ancient and mustn’t never leave thine sight, and thine area… I am not obligated to speak nor obligated to explain… Do not remember… and let peace be with you and your faint soul.”

After done speaking in the strange dialect, Zen stood up and was ready to exit the room, but stopped by the glow of Celestia’s magic. Zen stood there motionless, but had his hand around the knob of the door, ready to leave but stood to listen. “I won’t ask you to stay… but please don’t leave it like this...”

Zen kept his position where he was, but then saw the look on Twilight’s face – her face was stained with dried tears from crying – and while it was like this from what she saw… or how Zen responded… he could not tell… but he knew what must be done.

“I forgive you; it… has been long since I’ve been near young ones… I must remember that you are all curious and have the urge to explore and try new things… I’ll promise to show you what I know… With me at all times...”

Twilight stopped her sad look, and suddenly dashed off Cadance’s lap, and wrapped her tiny legs around one of Zen’s legs. This… shook Zen, an emotion or strange look was in his two orbs for eyes; their original shrunk changed to a softer, bigger look, the eyes having more detail and a look to them – relief.

“Thank you thank you thank you! I promise never to leave this floor, or break any of your rules; I’ll even be your pupil too!”

“Pupil… No… I’d rather have you be my niece, how you like that?”

“Niece? REALLY! YEAH; this means I’m related to Cadance! Thank you Uncle Zenny!” Twilight hugged Zen and giggled happily, when Zen lifted her up and gave her a belly rub. The filly giggled happily as she tried her best fight back from the sudden tickle attack. Celestia looked happily, with Cadance and Shining giving each other looks – one worried, the other reassuring their partner.

Celestia looked at her slowly growing family… and took her gaze at the old photograph of the friends five centuries ago… and the lonesome Zen who stood alone in the background. His cold eyes gazing at something… gazing at Celestia; those eyes never made Celestia shiver in fear… no… they made her frown in sadness.

While the those memories of being alone were gone… now… she saw that same look in Zen… and it was her turn to show the same gift to him that he gave to her, all those years ago. Its time I show you the kindness and love you gave to me; I won’t let you fight those same demons you kept all those years. You taught me that not every problem can be solved alone… and I hope the relationship you have now will remind you of what you truly mean to me.

Author's Notes:

And that is the origins of how Twilight - & Shining Armor - met Zen; Cadance of course met Zen, but I sadly won't write a chapter of how that encountered, I probably might make one, but not anytime soon. Now this chapter was, in my opinion a bit blocky, and some ideas had to be cut as I didn't want to add anything I deemed unnecessary or simply making the story lengthier. Since this isn't the original outlook of the story, I made a deleted scenes chapter, after this one; I'll bring it up some time soon.

The next chapter will have Twilight grow up to be a young mare... and become the destined pony she'll be... and the return of a long awaited sister.

Thoughts:
Twilight
Shining Armor
Celestia