I sighed in frustration, pulling Rainbow Dash out of the pond for the fourteenth time today.

“I’ve trained thousands of soldiers,” I grumbled, clutching my head. “And yet, you have got to be the single most difficult recruit I’ve ever had!”

Rainbow Dash spat the residual water from her throat and glared down at her fist.

"I'll get it," she snarled, clenching her fist. "I'm gonna figure it out, and then..."

I shook my head and turned away before she could finish.

“I’m going to need more coffee.”

Before I could even reach the caffeinated goodness, I heard Rainbow Dash scream again. Rolling my eyes, I turned back to find her once again ignited into a pony torch. Wrapping a shadow around her waist, I threw her back into the water, pulling her out before she could sink again.

"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT!?!" Rainbow bellowed, flaring her wings.

“WILL YOU STOP TRYING TO FORCE IT?!” I bellowed right back, matching her gaze. The younger mare shrunk down, cowed by the force of my voice. “You’re using your powers like you’re trying to beat a river into submission. You have to surrender to the current. Let the power flow; you may be its bearer, but that does not make you its master.”

"So… I control it… by giving up control?” Rainbow Dash asked. She clutched her head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

"Nothing ever does when it comes to Devil Fruits," I said, my gaze softening before I handed her a towel. "Now try again."

Up above the balcony, I watched Eric train my sister’s Element of Loyalty. Every time she lost control, Eric plunged her into the water, where they would spend at least another three minutes arguing about how that wasn’t necessary.

I couldn’t help but smile, resting my chin in the palm of my hand. Despite the frustration, Rainbow Dash never asked to rest or give up. She kept right on trying to figure out the flames that were now a part of her. I had always admired that determination. That drive.

And, of course, the Shade helping her…

My eyes grow wide as I feel my cheeks heat up. Shaking my head, I smooth my hands over my face; trying to clear the blush on my face. Thankfully, my attention was diverted to an insistent knocking on my door. Walking up to the door I found my beloved sister. Her serene expression back on her face, after Eric Von Shadow had kept it away for so long.

"Celestia?" I asked, surprised. "I-I thought you were in day court?"

"I decided to take an early lunch,” Celestia replied, walking into the room. "I hope you don't mind that I spend it with my sister?" she added, disarming me with her grin.

I returned the grin. “Not at all, Tia.”

I moved back to the balcony with my sister behind me

"You know I really do miss us spending time together,” I said as I leaned on the balcony again. “We tend to have very few moments like this."

Yet, as I gazed back down at Eric and Rainbow Dash, I noticed someone else had joined them.

It was... Celestia?!

I turned… only for pain to explode in my stomach. A knife had been buried in my gut, it’s gray blade slowly turning red. The imposter before me smiled insanely before touching her face with her left hand.

Instantly, my ‘sister’ vanished, and in her place, was a Thestral with red eyes and a crimson mane. His smile turned into a malicious sneer.

"This is for my brother," The Thestral growled, twisting the knife.

I could have screamed, but he tried to put his hand over his mouth. So, I went for action instead. Crashing my fist into his face, I kicked him away and leaped over the balcony. Spreading my wings, I started to put some distance between us.

But the Thestral was not so easily escaped, and as I heard the song of metal flying through the air, agony shot through my wing.

The feathered appendage lost its hold on the wind, and I plummeted to the ground.

As I pulled Rainbow Dash out for the sixtieth time today, she spat water right into my face.

"THAT'S IT!!" she said, jarring out of my grip and wiping her face. "I never thought I'd say this but… I QUIT!"

"The mighty Rainbow Dash,” I mocked. “A quitter?” I huffed. “Looks like you aren't Wonder Bolt material, after all."

Rainbow Dash fumed at me, her blue face turning a deep red, before a voice cut her off.

“Enough!” Celestia declared, walking over to us. “While I agree that the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit must be understood, Rainbow Dash has had enough for today, Shade.”

“I know what I'm doing," I assured the Sun Princess. "Unlike her, I had the frozen north to practice how to control my powers. I learned that you can't force your powers to obey you. Not like unicorn magic. You must treat the power as you would a friend; with respect."

Celestia grimaced. But before she could speak… I noticed something falling. Celestia noticed it too, once it hit the dirt behind her. Without waiting for the dust to settle, I raced to whoever had fallen.

My heart almost stopped; it was Princess Luna! She had a knife embedded in her left wing. Blood was pouring from her stomach. Skidding to her side, I put both hands on her stomach, hoping to stop the bleeding… and got a sickening crunch in response.

Her Spine!!

"LUNA!!" Celestia screamed, almost throwing me aside as she took to her sister’s side. "What have you done?" Celestia shrieked at me, tears of rage forming in her eyes.

"I didn't do anything!" I snarled, my eyes whirling back to where she had fallen. Briefly, I caught sight of a red-haired pony racing away from the balcony. For a second, his hair shifted to something long and purple. Then he was gone.

I growled, my powers forming a pair of wings on my back as I turned to Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow Dash,” I ordered. “Stay with Luna and Celestia. Burn anyone who gets close to a crisp.” I glared up at the castle. “We’ve got a changeling in the castle."

"A... changeling?" Rainbow Dash stammered, but I didn't have time to explain.

Bursting into the air at top speed, I reached the floor of Luna’s room in seconds. Blood painted the side of the balcony and the ground around it.

For a brief moment, my mind failed me. I didn’t see Luna’s blood.

I saw Amber’s blood.

I swatted the side of my head. Forcing myself to focus.

“God damnit,” I muttered, before hopping over the railing. I barely got to land before a burst of fire came my way. But I managed to dodge it with a simple lean of my head. I glared at Rainbow, who’s fists clenched in fear.

"At least you listened to me" I muttered, walking over to Luna. "But you need to work on your aim."

"Y-Your eyes…” Rainbow Dash tried to point out.

"I know" I replied without turning to her, focusing on the battered and broken Princess before me. "How is she, Celestia?"

Celestia looked up at me. Tears were trailing down her face, but any fires of rage or hatred were gone. The sadness and fear for her sister’s life had left her eyes cracked like a broken mirror. Only able to look at me with hope that I’d have an answer. A way to save her sister’s life.

"She's losing so much blood,” Celestia whispered. “And we can't stop the bleed because of her spine!”

“You don’t need to trust me,” I said, kneeling and placing a hand on her shoulder. “But please… let me help.”

Celestia gripped my hand. Luna’s blood stained both our hands.

“Please,” she all but begged. “I can’t lose her again.”

Giving a nod, I took my place next to Luna. Next to Celestia.

"I won't lie,” I began, a shadow tendril forming around my chest. “This is going to hurt her… but it will also stop the bleeding, and keep her spine from getting any worse.”

Celestia nodded grimly. “Then do it,” she ordered, holding her sister down.

I sent the tendril into Luna's wound. Instantly, she screamed, but with Celestia on her and her spine broken, she could do very little as I covered her spine in a shadow brace.

Picking up the moon princess bridal I drop myself, my precious cargo, and Celestia and Rainbow into the shadows. Resurfacing in the medical wing, Celestia and I gently place her into the nearest bed. Attendants stared at us in confusion. In the way. Unable to do anything to help.

“Everyone out,” I boomed. “NOW!!!!”

No one dared question us. Within seconds, the medical wing was empty.

"Celestia, Rainbow,” I said, removing my coat. “I'm going to need your help!" I threw my coat to another bed. "Celestia, when I tell you, cast a healing spell. Can you do that?”

Celestia nodded mutely.

“Rainbow,” I ordered. “You keep anyone from entering.”

"What are you going do?" Rainbow asked, even as she ran to guard the entrance.

"Her entire spine is severely damaged,” I said. “If I don't fix it, she'll be paralyzed for the rest of her immortal life.” Shadows enveloped both of my arms. "I'm going to reconnect her spine bit by bit so Celestia can cast a healing spell."

“Can’t we get more help?” Celestia asked. “One of the Palace doctors.” I moved her hands, placing both of them over Luna’s stomach.

“With a changeling in the castle?” I asked. “We can’t trust anyone yet. Not until they’re caught.”

With Celestia unable to refute me, I dug my hands into Luna’s stomach and went to work. Reattaching the first bit of her spine elicited a wail of agony from Luna. She bucked, nearly causing me to damage her further. Celestia’ didn’t help, almost reaching to tug my hands away.

"You're hurting her!" Celestia yelled, pulling my hands away, before I tugged them back.

“Do you want your sister to walk and fly again?!” I boomed back. “Hold her down so I can fix her!”

Celestia looked down at her sister, tears joining the doubt in her eyes.

"Princess Celestia" I said, my voice soft, but stern. "Your sister will live! And I will personally take great pleasure in killing the creature that tried to take her from us. Believe me…” My voice briefly cracked as I said it, but I forced it out anyway. “I know what It's like to lose a loved one.”

Celestia gazed into my eyes, before she reluctantly held her sister down.

And so the torture continued. Hour by painful hour went by, but I continued to fix her. Her screams eventually petered into resigned moans, pain and agony becoming pretty much a neighbor Luna was resigned to holding with her. Yet, even then, her moans and pleas for it to stop rang in my ears, and would likely echo in my mind for years after. Judging by the stains her tears were leaving, I would expect this moment would haunt Celestia for eons. If there was any saving grace, it was that the shadow inside Luna was stopping the bleeding in her stomach. And as painful as the screams were, they proved that Luna was still alive. Still fighting.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of torture, I slid the last bit of her spine back into place. I leaned back, looking up at the Princess as she gave me a worried, if exhausted, look.

"Now, Celestia," I said, removing the shadow tendril from Luna. The action elicited a new round of screams from her, higher-pitched and likely doing Hell on her vocal chords.

But as the shadows faded, they were replaced with the light from Celestia’s hands. Glowing with a golden aura, they spread across Luna’s stomach. Her scream finally died down, and as her body was bathed in Celestia’s golden glow, her face relaxed, and she listed to the side, lulled into sleep by the soothing relief of fading pain. Celestia checked her pulse, her own face relaxing as she draped herself over her sister.

"That’s the worst of it,” I said, putting my coat back on. “She’ll live!"

For a moment, Celestia didn’t speak. From the way she was leaned over, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had passed out alongside her sister. But as I turned to Rainbow Dash, Celestia’s voice reached me – so small and feeble I almost couldn’t believe it was her.

"I'm sorry.”

I turned back. Though she tried to look up at me, her eyes couldn’t tear themselves away from her sister.

"I'm sorry for assuming that you were anything… like the Dark King.” Celestia said softly.

I turned away. “I’m not Umbra,” I said. “But I’ll still kill those who are a threat.”

Celestia nodded. “Is that how you got the Devil Fruit from Lightning Dust?”

I sighed. "The only way for a Devil Fruit to resurface in the world is to have the previous user die.” I looked down. "Lightning Dust is dead and as long as I find Devil Fruits and store them into my shadow, no-one will be harmed by their power."

Celestia looked up at me. “Shade… I mean, Eric,” she said quietly. “Even if you are right, that doesn’t mean I can condone killing.” She looked back at her sister. “Not more of this.”

I followed her gaze, my eyes closing in pity. “Celestia,” I said. “Unless you have any Sea Prism stones to counteract the Devil Fruit users… we don’t have a choice.”

She looked up. "Sea Prism Stone?"

"It's the only material that prevents Devil Fruit users from using their powers" I said. “Unless you have some in a secret vault or something… I’ve got no other ideas what to do.”

I walked back to Rainbow, who despite baggy eyes, gave a quick salute.

“Only myself and Pinkie are allowed in,” I declared. “Got that, Rainbow?”

"Why Pinkie?” she asked.

"Because while Changelings may impersonate someone's appearance,” I said, “They can't use their Devil Fruit powers.”

Rainbow Dash nodded in understanding, and I left to find something to slate the grumbling in my stomach. Halfway down the hall, I stopped, looking down at my hands.

All this power, I thought forlornly. And yet… I can’t keep anyone I love from being hurt or killed.

My fists clenched. Fire burned in my gut. I slammed my fist into a stone pillar. But… instead of cracking it… my knuckles bled. Stepping back for a moment, I narrowed my eyes and placed my hand on the pillar. Instantly, a sense of cold shot through my hand. A feeling of… weakness.

I pulled my hand back. Never before had a feeling of weakening made me happy before. I made a mental note on this exact pillar before looking around for others like it.

If those pillars are what I think they are, I thought, starting to smile. Maybe there is another option after all.

A cloaked figure waited by the station, watching as the red-haired thestral approached.

"So, little brother" the cloaked figure greeted, his voice oozing venom "Is Luna dead?”

"Yup,” the thestral replied with pride. “Stabbed her in the stomach and dropped her over her own balcony. Celestia tried to help her.” He grinned. “She failed."

“And you’re sure she died?”

The thestral’s grin faded. “Well… I couldn’t find out for sure.”

The cloaked figure stiffened. "Why?'

"Because there was a being looking at me,” he said. “Made of shadow looking right at me. I had to…”

"You were spotted?" the cloaked figure demanded, his hood shifting.

"Only for a second" his minion tried to say.

But the cloaked figure was beyond enraged. His fist crashed into the minion’s face.

"You idiot!” the cloaked figure had to resist bellowing. “I gave you that Fruit for one reason: so you could assassinate Luna without being Spotted! And we needed her out of the picture before we could take out that sun bitch!” He turned away with a snarl. “Now it'll be harder to kill either of them!"

The thestral didn’t respond at first, holding his reddened cheek.

“Then…” the thestral asked. “What are we going to do now… brother?”

The cloaked figure paused at the use of ‘brother.’ He glared at his sibling, before sighing.

“You will find and kill the head chef,” he said. “You will impersonate him…” His eyes narrowed. “You will not get spotted again… and you are going to slip this into their dinner.”

The cloaked figure took out an empty flask and held his finger over the opening. A dark purple substance came from his finger, dripping into the bottle with an ominous ooze like oil. When the flask was halfway full, he corked it and handed it to his brother.

"A single drop will be enough," the figure said with a smile. "So, use the whole bottle."

The thestral’s eyes widened. “The whole thing!” he demanded. “But…”

"Do it, Ashen!" his older brother bellowed.

With a frightened yelp, Ashen fled to find the head chef of Canterlot Castle. As he left, the cloaked figure glared up at the moon, his vile smile returning.

"Finally,” he whispered, doffing his hood. “After 15 years…”

His hood fell back, revealing a thestral with purple hair tipped in red. His fur black as the shadows that aided Eric Von Shadow.

“Toxic Dust will finally have his revenge,” the thestral declared, glaring up at the moon. “The Sun and Moon will pay for imprisoning me in Tartarus.”

The first Chapter of the Venom Arc

Now Toxic Dust is an Oc of Darkking2 and the Devil Fruit he chose was the Venom-Venom fruit