~~~~~Ponyville, One hour until Sunset.~~~~~

Three large sets of saddlebags sat, leaning against one another on the floor of Berry and Zecora's Potions and Potables shop. Each stuffed to the seams with supplies, trinkets, and equipment. Several tents were bundled up nearby, as were a small pile of sleeping bags. Scootaloo sat near the packs with Pina Colada, Berry's daughter - and Dinky Hooves. The three of them were quietly talking, trying to keep up morale in spite of the difficult situation with soft jokes and little giggles. If either of the two fillies thought Scootaloo's cloak - which she had refused to remove - was odd, neither one said a word about it.

Upstairs, Zecora sat brooding at the kitchen table where she'd found herself delighted to share meals with her newfound family. When fate had conspired to force her from her home in the Everfree, she had not anticipated that anypony in town would be so happy to take her in. Yet Berry Punch had not so much as blinked an eye, welcoming Zecora's talents at potion making and brewing into her business. Though it had been a truly long time since Zecora had seen her family, she had found a new one here - and for the first time in many years, had felt truly content.

It therefore was sensible that this turn of events had turned her mood truly sour, and her anger set to the boil. That any creature or force would endanger those she now called mahala - Family - angered her deep in the pit of her soul. A moment later, the door to the kitchen swung open to the hooves of Berry Punch and Ditzy Hooves, both of whom sat down quietly at the table. Zecora exhaled softly. "We have little time, my friends - Till shadowed power peruses our end."

Berry rolled her eyes and smacked the table firmly. Her voice had that slight slur to it that suggested Berry had gotten an early start with the wine, but it was plenty coherent. "Zeccy, I put up with that manure normally cuz I know it's your thing. Right now though, I think ya oughta can it - I'm in no mood to be sifting through your words to try and figure out what you're sayin." Zecora stared at Berry in shock for a few moments before sighing gustily and nodding in sullen acquiescence. Berry smirked at her, in a way that other ponies might have read as sexy. "Don' get your tail in a twist, darlin. I'll make ya my broccoli marsala once we're someplace safe."

Zecora blinked and had to hastily lap up the little bit of drool she emitted at the thought of that oh-so-delectable dish. It was more than enough to take her mind off her traditional speech patterns, and Berry was probably right too. "I... This will be difficult for me." Zecora worried a bit, tapping her hooves together and the frustration obvious in her voice. When she spoke next, her lilting tones had been replaced by a crisp formal speech - like somepony who had been to finishing school. "But we do have too little time to bother with formalities. So." She looked up, pressing those hooves firmly together to keep them from tapping. "Who was willing to listen to our good sense?"

The door swung open a moment later - and a tan-coated stallion with a rumpled brown mane walked in with a serious look on his face. "At least one stallion was." He said brusquely, in a bright Trottingham accent. Ditzy leapt up from the table and threw her hooves around him, and he gently patted her back. "Wasn't about to let you run off alone, Ditty. Lyra and Bon Bon will be here shortly, too. Minuette is packing up the lab, and will be joining us in about an hour with the cart." He quietly informed the room, as Ditzy slowly let him go with a big happy smile on her face.

Berry and Zecora blinked at him, and he smiled. "Terribly sorry. I don't believe we've been properly introduced." He crossed the room smartly, pulling a little stool over to sit next to Ditzy. ""Time Turner. P.H.d. in history, physics, chronophysics, chronography, chronology, temporal mechanics both practical and theoretical, and a lifelong fascination with all things timey-wimey. A pleasure to make your acquaintances." his smile was bright, energetic and cheerful after that rather impressive little speech.

Zecora shook her head a little at all of that. What an odd gentlecolt. She thought amusedly, and then tried to retake control of the conversation. "Very well, that is a good start. Berry, did Miss Cheerilee take heed? And what of the Mayor?" They had all despaired of convincing the Mayor of the severity of the situation - but Zecora had faint hopes.

Berry shook her head. "Cheery won’t leave the kids. She says since she can't just scoop 'em up and haul 'em outta town, she'll make sure there's a plan for 'em to get out when the shit hits the fan." Berry reached under the table to pull out a green glass bottle, and Zecora gave her a stern look as she poured some of it into a glass - but only filled half the glass, and Zecora nodded in approval. Berry picked it up and took a pull before continuing to speak. "Mayor's a bitch anyway. We were never gonna get her to lissen."

Ditzy shook her head slowly. "Not so much luck with me. Cloudkicker thinks I'm a troublemaker and wouldn't even hear me out, neither would the rest of the weather team." She drooped a little, and Time Turner put his hoof comfortingly around her shoulder. "But!" She brightened up considerably. "Missus Cake said she was gonna bring her foals and come with us. She knows I wouldn't raise an alarm unless it was super-duper important. Mister Cake's gonna keep an eye out here, and hoof it when things get tough so we can know what happened."

Zecora paused, then sighed. "Perhaps I cannot expect more." She grabbed at Berry's glass, and downed the alcohol herself. Berry stared at her in amazement. "A few is better than none, and to know the foals will be watched over is a good thing." She gestured with the glass at Berry, who filled it just a little bit with a very concerned look on her face. "I had hoped that more would listen to us." She said in a mutter, slowly drinking down the wine.

Time turner snorted in derision. "Of course they won’t listen. Doubt the character of Twilight Sparkle or Applejack? They're bloody town heroes and who's speaking against them anyway? The freak - all apologies Zecora, I happen to think you're a lovely lady, but some idiots in this town can’t see past their own noses. The drunkard, the klutz and the trouble making filly?" He shook his head. "We're fortunate we've gotten anypony at all."

Berry nodded sadly, and then eyeballed Ditzy and Time Turner. "Would y'two mind goin' downstairs an' organizing everypony as they come in?" Ditzy nodded enthusiastically, dragging the brown-haired stallion out the door before he could object. Once alone, Berry turned to Zecora and scooted her chair over, pouring the shared glass between them pretty full of the liquor. "Arright, spill it Zeccy. I ain't ever seen you go for the booze before." She set the bottle firmly down on the table, and gave the zebra her most piercing look.

Zecora half glared at Berry, but couldn't bring herself to give it more than that. "The Shadowblight will turn all those whom it touches into its servants, Berry." She grumbled, taking a more measured sip of the sweet wine. "It will change them within, into something you cannot even recognize. This affliction is incredibly difficult to cure. There are very few methods, and none of them are certain."

Zecora laid her head down on the table, her eyes closed. "When I think of you, of everypony I have come to know and call friend being in such danger... I feel ill inside." She muttered, a gentle hoof wrapping around her shoulder and tugging her to sit up straight. Zecora looked up at Berry, speaking softly. "I do not wish to lose any of you. But I wish to lose you the least of all."

Berry had a small smile on her face and she sipped from the wine glass. “Dun worry then, Zeccy. We'll figure somethin' out." She set it down and pulled Zecora in for a gentle sort of hug. "Y'aint gonna lose me either. I'm a big tough girl." She made a show of flexing her muscles a bit, which startled a chuckle out of Zecora. "So you just focus on figgerin' out what we can do t' fight back." Then Berry grinned, tilting Zecora's head up, and turning it gently with her hooves so Berry could look into her eyes. "Yanno, yer awful cute when you talk all normally like that. Y'sound kinda like a li'l schoolfilly talkin in front of th' class. Y'should do that more often."

Zecora looked up into Berry's expressive, soft eyes. "Berry, I..." She started - until a knock came at the door again, startling them both out of the moment. Zecora actually blushed... and so did Berry. The silence of the moment dragged on, until another knock at the door startled them both again. "Oh, just come in already!" Zecora snapped at the door, and it began to swing open.

~~~~Several Minutes Earlier...~~~~

The sun painted the western sky in glorious shades of purple, pink and blue - the same colors of the two ponies who landed with a tired little thump just inside the boundaries of Ponyville. Shining rolled off Cadence's back to make his own thump against the ground and try to catch his breath, while his wife just sort of laid down next to him to do the same.

After about a minute of breathing, Shining caught Cadence's eye and smiled slowly. "By the Moon, you're amazing Cadey." He said softly, a twinkle in his eye. "You kick eight different kinds of flank." He continued, with a grin on his face and his eyebrows waggling. "Seriously. That was awesome."

Cadence felt her cheeks go red and smiled sexily back at him, her eyes half lidded. "You're not so bad yourself, Shiny." her voice purred tiredly, and she leaned over to nuzzle her cheek against his. "Where'd you learn to hang on like that?" She asked with a slow, sly smile. "If I'd known you could do that, I'd have taken you for a ride years ago.." There was definitely a naughty twinkle in her eye, and it sent a little rush of anticipation through Shining Armor's... loins.

He coughed softly. "We'd... better get going before we get..." He paused and laughed at Cadence's lustful look. "Distracted. C'mon, Cadey - we'll have time for that laaaater." He drawled out, and pulled himself up to his hooves. Cadence gave him a pouty look, then sighed and did the same. He smirked and nudged her in the hips with his hoof.. "Remember - work now, fun later. Your words not mine." He stuck his tongue out at her - and was rewarded for his cheek with a kiss that sent a lightning bolt of pleasure down his spine.

Cadence pulled back from that kiss with a whisper. "Once we've talked to Zecora - you and I are going to find the nearest private spot, and you are going to fuck my brains out. Got me, Shiny?" She whispered in a heated, deep voice that made little shiny stir between his legs. Shining Armor swallowed and smiled slowly back at her, nodding once. Cadence winked. "Good boy. Let's go."

The walk to the shop was a short one. All around Shining and Cadence, Ponyville went about its nightly business unconcerned about unknown impending doom or visiting princesses. It was odd how one could become used to such things, but just about anything could become routine if it happened often enough. Cadence and Shining looked over the well-lit windows of the Potions and Potables shop, though a crude wooden sign indicated that the place was closed. The pair looked at one another and Shining nodded, walking up to knock firmly on the front door.

There was a moment of pause, and some of the curtains in the front shop windows shifted before the door unlatched and swung open. Light outlined a young orange pegasus wearing a deep red cape, her face transformed into fierce joy. "Princess Cadence! Prince Armor! You're okay!" Scootaloo proclaimed - her eyes bright. "Come in, hurry!" She gestured frantically with her hoof, moving to one side to reveal a small crowd of ponies sitting about the shop's interior, all of whom looked up in surprise and delight. Prince and Princess alike strode into the shop to a chorus of greetings and cheers. Scootaloo herself hugged Shining's foreleg tightly. "Thank Celestia it didn't get you two, too!"

Cadence looked at Shining, explicit worry written in her eyes. A young one, and a pony from a faraway land... "Scootaloo, what do you mean by 'it'?" Cadence asked gently, as Scoots disengaged from Shiny's leg to regard the pink Alicorn soberly. Shining moved further into the room and began a hushed discussion with Ditzy and Time Turner.

Scoots swallowed and looked down. "I was sleepin' over at Applebloom's place, and Twilight showed up outta nowhere with Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. They were talkin' about serious stuff in the kitchen when..." She swallowed visibly. "When they broke out the good Apple Liquor to toast somepony's death. So I told Applebloom to sneak downstairs to get some, and she filched some of it from Twilight and brought it back."

Cadence's eyes narrowed a little - but only became softer with concern. She knelt down to the floor and opened her hooves, the little orange filly throwing herself into them with her cape billowing behind her. "I didn't mean nopony to get hurt! I didn't think it would be a big deal, I swear! We all drank some of it, and I started to feel all weird and dizzy and then I fell asleep! A... And when I woke up..." She gulped softly. "Applebloom and Sweetie were um... doin' adult stuff up on the bed! And their eyes had gone all dark and shadowy and flamey and they sounded really creepy!"

At these words, Scoots widened her eyes and waved her hooves around dramatically. "So I ran fer my life! I didn't know what else to do and I was scared outta my mind and... and... and... and I couldn't do anything t'save em..." She slumped into Cadence's hooves, bitter tears streaming down her cheeks. "I left ‘em behind and now they're possessed or somethin' and I'm all alone." Her words slowly descended into a whisper, her face buried in Cadence's chest and light sobs coming from her throat.

Cadence's heart was leaden in her chest. She had warned Celestia, and now it seemed her warnings were coming to pass. "Scootaloo..." She said softly, gently kissing the young filly's forehead. "You did the right thing little one. Do not despair. We will find a way to save your friends." Cadence did not know if a way existed - but even if it didn't, then she'd just have to make one up.

Scoot's nodded against her chest, rubbing at her nose with a hoof. "I know we are. I made a promise." There was something about those words that strummed a chord inside of Cadence. She looked up to see the stubborn determination on the filly's face. "I dun' care what this stupid thing is. It's got Sweetie and Applebloom, and I'm not gonna stop till I get ‘em back."

"That's the spirit, Scoots." proclaimed Shining Armor, striding over to the pair of them. "Now come on. Me and Cadey need to go upstairs to talk to Zecora." He leaned down and smiled. "But I've got something here you might like." His horn lit up - and an item hovered out from his saddlebag - a small steel disc, unadorned and about a foot across. On a grown pony it'd look pretty small, but it was an impressive size for a filly like Scootaloo. "Here. You'll need this if you're going to fight monsters." he said, and Scoots took hold of the disc in both hooves, her eyes going wide at it.

She bit her lip and leaned it up against her forehoof - slipping it through the straps. For Shining, it had been a little buckler he kept around for practicing. For Scootaloo, it was more than large enough to be a full sized shield. She looked up at him with a brilliant smile - her tear-stained eyes suddenly bright. "Thank you, Prince Armor." Scootaloo whispered softly, clutching onto it like a holy symbol. "For believing in me." She wiped the tears away, and tucking the thing close to her she raced across the shop to the gathering of fillies.

Cadence looked at him oddly. "Why did you do that?" She asked quietly, following his lead as he ascended the staircase. "She's hardly a grown fighter." she tsked softly, trying to suppress her pity for the poor foal.

Shining shook his head softly. "Maybe not, but I've seen ponies like that Cadey - she needed a symbol. Something to hold on to and give her hope and strength. I've got a feeling she's going to need that for what's coming next." He said softly, eyeing the wooden door at the top of the stairs. He raised his hoof and rapped on the door.

There was a sudden halt to the conversation within the room beyond, but no response. Shining sighed and knocked again - when an irritated voice cried out... "Oh, just come in already!" Shining blinked and then pushed the door open...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence walked through the door, though they wore none of the jewels or sigils of office - they wore only a pair of saddle bags each, and a look of exhaustion. Zecora stared at them for a moment in frank disbelief, and then a joyous smile bloomed on her face. "All hope is not yet lost, it seems! Too much you were for Shadowblight's schemes!" Her voice rang with a fierce joy, and she gestured her hoof triumphantly at the window.

Berry Punch rolled her eyes, and gently bonked Zecora's noggin. "The rhyming, Zeccy. Can. It." she enunciated very clearly, before eyeballing the two visitors. "Well heck, royalty visiting means I better break out the good brandy." She said quietly. "Make yourselves at home, you two. I'm guessing yer not here to be placing a liquor order fer your visitin' party." Her words drawled, as she hopped up and moved over to an ornate oak cabinet - which she started to fiddle with.

Cadence blinked, and Shining Armor just looked amused at them. Cadence shook her head. "No. We're not." She looked over to Zecora and slowly moved to sit down at the simple kitchen table. "Shadowblight? Is that your name for this Shadow that has sickened Twilight?" Cadence asked, a gentle frown on her face. Soon, Shining was sitting at the table with her and watching Berry Punch a little warily.

Zecora slowly came down from her emotional high, and sighed. "The thing you speak of has many names, and has shown many faces down through the ages. My kind called it Shadowblight - for it lived in the dark places, and tainted all that it touched with its influence." She looked up into the faces of the two royals sitting across from her. "A great sadness it is that Twilight Sparkle was taken by it. Her talents might have been of great use in scouring it from the world again."

Shining cut in, eyes narrowed. "Again? You mean this thing has been beaten before and it still came back?" His tone was incredulous - and also a little pissed off. Zecora only needed to nod once to make Shining Armor speak again, "Damnit!" He snarled, glaring away from the table and sinking back to his seat.

Cadence looked at Shining, then back at Zecora. "Well, do you know how it was beaten last time? I'm presuming records were kept of some kind." She sounded a little more hopeful, feeling her heart lighten again. "Someone had to write down how it was done." She insisted, and Zecora nodded slowly.

Then Zecora smiled thinly. "The last time Shadowblight accursed my kind, a great war was waged against it. For the dark power could not withstand the direct rays of the mighty sun, and so each of those it tained were slain in the light of the full sun - and the shadow ripped from their body by our shaman." Cadence stared at her, feeling a potent sickness sink into her stomach. "I presume," continued Zecora humorlessly "that you would prefer to avoid such a course of actions, Yes? In which case, we have far fewer choices."

Cadence sank back to her chair and put her head in her hooves. "No..." she whispered softly, and felt the tears began to gather. "Twilight." was all she could still say, feeling the blackness of anger and hopelessness open beneath her hooves...

Only to have a sharp voice snatch her back again. "I did say hope was not lost, did I not?" Sharply scolded Zecora, glaring at Cadence like an angry mother. "I must presume that Luna and Celestia are also untouched. So long as you three stand unbowed, there is hope for the world. So stop whining, and start thinking like a princess!" Zecora snapped again, and adjusted her seat at the table. "We have need to make our leave from this city at the utmost haste. Perhaps you could bend that mind of yours to consider how we might do that?"

Cadence nodded once then took in a deep breath, as Berry finally made it over bearing a bottle of exceptionally high quality apple brandy and a number of glasses. It seems I will have to leave for Canterlot after all. thought Cadence with infinite sadness. I do not know how they could know these things, but I'm going to need to do more research anyway. She placed her hooves on the table. "Tell us everything you know about this Shadowblight, Zecora." She said quietly. "We'll do everything we can for you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour passed before the four figures would descend into the shop. Zecora was first, her things already packed and slung across her back. She wore a deep green cloak and hood, and leaned upon a gnarled old staff. The main room of the shop was a little crowded - Ms. Cake stood next to Ditzy Hooves, the pair of them having worked out a sling to carry Pound Cake and Carrot Cake in. Dinky stood nearby, having shouldered her bags along with the other fillies Pina and Scootaloo, who now wore the steel shield strapped to her back over the cloak.

Lyra and Bon Bon stood next to the doorway, looking up as the crowd began to move outside. A large wooden cart sat in the dim glow of the sun's final glow over ponyville, within which was packed all manner of supplies and other strange items. Ms.Cake and her foals were bundled up into the cart immediately, and joined a few moments later by the three little fillies. Zecora turned to cadence and nodded once. "I thank you for this, Princess." She said softly, gesturing to the thick vellum scroll now tucked into her pouch. "A writ of passage through the White Tail Wood, and an introduction to the White Hart will aid us immeasurably."

Cadence smiled thinly. "It is the most we can do for you, Zecora. I'm afraid there will be little other aid I can grant you until Celestia returns." She looked up at the dying embers of the sun on the horizon. "Travel swiftly, and do not make camp until you have reached the edge of the woods. Prince Armor and I will send word to you as soon as we can with news." She flared out her wings, flapping them a few times then sighed. "Shining Armor and I have business elsewhere in town for now, though."

Zecora nodded somberly, and the small group of Ponyville residents began to move down the road out of town. Shining Armor and Cadence watched them leave to the east until the last glow of sunset faded into the deep velvet blue of night, the slowly waxing moon rising over the eastern horizon. Nothing was said until sight of the group of ponies was lost, and it felt as though a weight had settled upon the shoulders of the husband and the wife standing there in the darkness.

Shining broke the silence first, gently touching her hoof. "We'll go stay at the library. It's not likely anypony will bother us there." He moved in closer, gently kissing her neck. "We need the private time." He said gently, his nips sending a shiver down Cadence's spine.

She turned to smile faintly at him. In spite of all that had happened today, he could never fail to bring a smile to her face. "Yes, we will. Perhaps we'll find a clue or two there as well..." Her eyes turned to the northern horizon, where the distant twinkle of Canterlot Castle beckoned her with the inexorable pull of destiny. "We're going to need every advantage we can get. " She said softly into the night wind, and then turned to walk in silence with Shining Armor, hoping to find some calm... before the storm.

Author's Notes:

Phew. Finally