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The stars above dulled, their once brilliant glow obscured by the thick, roiling storm clouds. Those few stars daring to twinkle through found themselves swiftly swallowed by the chaotic storm, leaving the inhabitants of the land below in a shadowy abyss.

Amidst this profound darkness, the only source of illumination emerged from the full moon, casting an eerie silver glow upon the devastated landscape. The villages, once vibrant and alive, now lay charred and desolate, their once vibrant colours transformed into sombre hues of amber, mirroring the destruction that had befallen the land.

In the lofty grip of stormy clouds, an ominous hush settled, punctuated by the distant rumble of thunder and the relentless drumming of rain. The rhythmical sounds of the rain was broken only by the frantic beating of wings tearing through the night. From the heart of one particularly menacing storm cloud, emerging from the southern expanse, a shadowy figure appeared.

“(Heavy breathing)…Damn it all…(Cough)(Cough)(Cough)… not yet”

Panting heavily and muttering curses beneath his breath, the figure pushed himself to the limits, every muscle in his body straining to maintain his flight. Occasionally his wings would give up on its host, causing him to plummet briefly before, with sheer determination, he would pull himself back into his trajectory, his fading strength just enough to defy the inevitable descent for some time.

“(Cough) (Cough) …Not Yet …(Cough)(Cough)(Cough)”

His glowing blue eyes remained fixed and unyielding, locked onto the looming silhouette of the mountains ahead of him. With each beat of his weary featherless wings, the distance between him and the formidable peaks diminished, and though his body screamed with exhaustion demanding rest, the figure pressed on, driven by a purpose above himself and his pain. Looking back only to ensure that his saddlebag is strapped well.

Approaching the winding mountain road that cut through the heart of the formidable peaks, the figure left fields of devastation and imminent death behind him. With every flap of his wings, the weight of his burden bore him down. His saddlebag seemingly increased its weight since the start of his flight from Everfree castle.

Gliding low enough for his hooves to brush the peaks of the dark trees, he finally reached his destination marked by a few faint blue lanterns below he prepared for a hard landing. As he descended, his flight became increasingly unsteady, his movements resembling a desperate fall on the edge of control. With a graceless thud, he fell on his side upon the rocky mountain road, the impact sending shudders through his exhausted form. Panting heavily, his breaths came in ragged gasps, each inhalation a struggle against the sharp pain that seared through his chest.

After lying sprawled amidst the cold stones for what seemed an eternity, he mustered the remnants of his strength for an attempt at standing.
His limbs, however, betrayed him; as he pushed against the ground, his hooves slid on the slick, rain-soaked rocks beneath him, sending him tumbling forward and ending with his muzzle buried in the cold, wet earth mixed with stones. As he inhaled sharply to fill his lungs with much-needed air, a metallic scent filled his senses, a smell unsettlingly familiar and profoundly unwelcome.

Blood… recoiling at the realization. Fresh blood, not his own, permeated the ground beneath him, mingling with the rain to form a dark puddle.

Panic fluttered in his chest

… Looking ahead with eyes filled with worry, his entire body froze in place, a chill racing through his veins as he beheld the scene that lay before him…

“Nay! This can’t be!” he shouted in pain, his voice cracking with the strain of his remaining strength, the words echoing around him.

Ahead of him, a haunting sight unfolded: a convoy of a dozen or more wagons, their once-protective covers torn and shredded, revealing the enveloping darkness within. The remnants of the travellers’ personal belongings lay strewn across the road like forgotten memories, their presence seen only by his keen nocturnal sight, a stark contrast against the large shadows from the dark oak trees around him. With his eyes wide and wild, still recovering from his prolonged flight, he scanned the wreckage for any signs of life. The metallic taste and fear hung heavy in the air, seeping into his nostrils as he breathed in the chill night air.

Ensuring that his saddlebag is tightly strapped to his back he made a hesitant step forward, his hooves crunching softly on the rocky road. Every muscle in his body tensed, his senses on high alert, as he moved closer to the abandoned wagons.

blood…

…it was everywhere.

In shock upon recognizing the sheer volume of blood stains surrounding him, he halted. A trail of blood was seen leading towards one of the dark and shredded wagons in front of him.

Listening to his surroundings, he moved with careful, deliberate steps toward the wagon. Each drop on the ground seemed to cause him to feel more weight on his exhausted body. Drawing closer, the silence of the night was shattered by soft, disturbing sounds - whispers that danced on the wind, cries that sliced through the steady drumming of rain. As he neared the wagon even closer, voices from within the shadows became louder in sound… whispers, cries, and distant but distinguish screams that seemed to seep from the very darkness itself surrounding him.

His fur stood on end as he hesitantly approached the loudest source of the sounds coming from the covered wagon, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and pain. The voices, laden with agony and fear, pulled at the strings of his heart, urging him to run from the horrors hidden within the wagon’s depths. With a trembling hoof, he reached out, ready to confront the unknown terror lurking behind the wagon’s fabric veil.

He moved the fabric covering the entrance, his breath catching in his throat. In the moment that the cloth parted, the voices of pain abruptly fell silent. What had once been formless shadows now materialized into harrowing reality - bodies, sprawled in grotesque and unnatural positions, filling the interior of the wagon. Foals, mares, and stallions, their lifeless eyes stared into the abyss, frozen in expressions of terror and agony. As he peered into their lifeless eyes, his breath quickened, each inhalation sharp and shallow.

“…”

The cruel hoof of fate had spared no one neither the old nor the young. The wagon, once a sanctuary, had become a tomb, a haunting testament to the merciless brutality that had befallen these innocent souls. His heart constricted with a mixture of grief and rage, his mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy before him. The darkness of the night seemed to close in, suffocating him with the weight of the atrocities before him. The cries and screams returned from the shadows, causing sharp pain in his head.
Tears welled up, unbidden, and started rolling down his Smokey blue fur. As his breathing became even more ragged, he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the shock of the devastation that surrounded him. His gaze, initially fixed on the empty stares of the fallen, shifted downward to his own hooves.

“Comrade in shadows or adversary in darkness?” a deep voice asked quietly from behind.

As the stormy clouds appeared to pass further south, a mountain clearing emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the flickering light of small campfires. Several navy-blue tents stood proudly, their fabric aglow in the moonlight and the fire’s embrace surrounded by darkness.

“What now … Janus?” asked the mare with voice of fear.

Similarly, to the stallion she addressed her question to, she was adorned in silver and blue Armor, encasing her torso and legs in protective metal plates, engraved into her Armor, a moon crest gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

Janus turned his gaze toward her, briefly taking his eyes off the castle in the far distance, consumed by black and green flames. In the depths of her green eyes, he saw the reflection of his own turmoil, a shared burden that weighed heavily upon both their hearts. His attention yet again shifted once more, searching the faces of the five figures standing behind her – his fellow brothers and sisters in arms, each marked by the same feeling of despair.

… We have all failed her…We have failed them all…

With a heavy breath, he responded “Decima… we must stay strong… for Equestria , for our ponies , for her –“

Hoof steps echoed ominously from the darkness, growing louder as an unseen force approached. Decima tore her gaze from Janus and fixed her eyes on the looming shadows of the distant tree line, along with the rest of the group. “Positions,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the night’s murmurings. In synchrony, all six, encased in Armor knights took flight, their featherless wings cutting through the chilled air with practiced ease.

Meanwhile, several civilians who had sought refuge not far from them had retreated into the safety of tree branches and hid in tents, their eyes wide with fear as they waited in hushed anticipation. High above the ground, the group of six perched like silent sentinels, observing the unfolding events with bated breath, ready to bear witness to whatever grim fate loomed before them.

The hoof steps grew closer, their rhythm steady and ominous, until they faded away behind a dying tree swallowed by darkness. Janus, his senses sharp and instincts honed, landed gracefully on the ground, positioning himself just five meters away from the obscure silhouette of the tree in question. His long fangs glistened in the moonlight as he hissed in the tree’s direction, a warning laced with primal threat.

“Comrade in shadows or adversary in darkness?!” he boomed, his voice cutting through the night like a sharp blade.

Janus stood tall and imposing, larger than most stallions by a head, his stature enhanced by his mistress’s gift for service he had done in her name in the past. Yet, what emerged from the shadows eclipsed even his formidable size and presence. A monstrous figure, shrouded in darkness, loomed larger and more menacing than Janus himself.

“Comrade in shadows I am to you and all that are loyal to the true pure moon,” the monstrous figure’s voice rumbled like distant thunder, echoing through the forest. From the depths of the darkness, its eyes glowed with an eerie silver and purple light.

The dark figure stood clad in an all-onyx black Armor, more massive and intimidating than the ones adorned by the six figures that opposed him; its surface was imprinted with cryptic runes that seemed to pulse with magic. A prominent full moon crest graced the centre of his chest plate, shimmering in an ethereal combination of silver and a deep, ominous purple. Unlike the knight before him, this emblem seemed to radiate an aura of dark power. His wings, akin to those of the stallion standing opposite him, were featherless - leathery membrane, but they were larger and more muscular, His larger fangs, were stained a deep crimson, as was his massive sword attached to his back.
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Februus
“Februus” Janus hissed, the name dripping with distaste and pure hatred.

“You dare arrive on these sacred grounds after your betrayal of the one that we swore our very souls to?” Janus’s voice thundered. His eyes blazed with fury. With a swift, practised motion of his wing, he released a thin, long blade that had been discreetly strapped to his wing. The blade gleamed wickedly in the moonlight as it arced through the air, its edge honed to a razor’s precision. His eyes narrowed and aiming at the neck of the newly arrived Februus.

“(Cough) (Cough) Lower your blade Janus… there is enough blood around us to fill your thirst (cough) (cough)” said a figure from behind the onyx knight. Stepping into the moonlight from the shadows of the dying tree, this new presence took his place next to Februus, his demeanour calm but resolute. With a voice lower and weaker, he added, “He is with us…”

The atmosphere hung heavy with tension as the words settled into the night air. Janus, his blade still poised, hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering between the two figures before him.

“Junon? Is that… you?” a quiet voice, soft yet filled with worry, floated from behind Janus. The mare’s words hung in the air just like her.

Junon turned slowly, his eyes fixating on one of his sisters in arms. Recognition flickered in his eyes, a mix of disbelief and happiness. The shadows seemed to retreat slightly, as if granting them a moment of respite from the looming darkness.

“Octavia… I thought… I would never see you,” Junon uttered, his voice catching in his throat. Tears welled in both of their eyes. In an uncontainable surge of emotion, the mare flew past Janus and Februus, her wings carrying her swiftly to Junon’s side. With a heartfelt cry, she enveloped him in a warm, nuzzling embrace, their tears mingling in a shared release of joy and relief.

As Octavia closely inspected Junon, her hoof stained with blood, she abruptly stopped their embrace. Her eyes widened with mild shock. “This blood… is it yours? How deep are the cuts?!” After a brief, tense moment of realization, her voice rose in urgency. “Where is your Armor? Where is the crest?!”

Tears still glistening in his eyes, Junon placed a reassuring wing on Octavia’s shoulder. His voice, though worn, carried a restored strength as he replied, “I might be hurt but the cuts are not deep dear Octavia. And my Lunar Crest… and my armour, I had to shed them, I will explain everything later… I promise. There are grave matters at hoof now, and I had to move with haste, I will resolve the issue with them later when we return back to the castle”

“What was so important that you didn’t follow Princess Luna’s direct orders and why did you have to leave the armour and the crest behind?” Octavia inquired.

“I…” Junon began, but his words were abruptly cut off by a deeper and louder voice that emanated from the side of the two embraced ponies. “He captured part of that demons relics , giving that worthless excuse of a princess, Celestia, a chance to free our mistress from that imposter with the Elements of Harmony.”

“…”

“or kill her…” added chillingly Decima, standing to the side of Janus with growing despair in her eyes casting his sight on the ground.

“Princess Celestia would never do that!” Octavia cried out; her voice filled with shock yet again. But before she could say anything else, Janus stepped forward, taking the lead in the conversation. He pointed accusingly, with his blade still in the air,
“Why is he here?” The tension in the clearing grew, palpable and suffocating, as accusations and unanswered questions hung in the air like storm clouds on the horizon.

Februus narrowed his eyes at Janus, a silent challenge gleaming in his gaze. Janus continued, his voice dripping with suspicion and accusation, “Did you come to reclaim what is needed for your master to kill our Mistress’s Sister and unleash the darkness upon the waking world?”.

Februus angrily responded, “My loyalty lies with Princess Luna of Equestria! I came here because just like all of you, she visited me in my dreams and informed me about her downfall to the demon of darkness! The demon her sister failed to acknowledge! My actions earlier tonight were not of my own doing; Neither were my troops… I was controlled by that … abomination!”. After a short pause, his gaze shifted to the trees where several civilians were hiding, their eyes wide with fear as they listened closely. With a softer tone, he added “Is she here? is she still with us or if she joined my beloved wife?”.

The group became silent

Decima’s gaze shifted to Junon, “Where is it?” she asked, her words cutting through the tense silence “And why do you think we can trust him, even if he is telling the truth? He might be baiting us in false scenes of security! That thing might take control of him again and butcher all of us…” Pointing at Februus she asked.

Junon let out a light sigh, placing his saddlebag on the ground before him. He responded with exhaustion, “He had a chance to attack me on the mountain pass, and I would have been defenceless, I’m still now (cough) (cough). Not only was I without the crest or any weapon for that matter, I was utterly exhausted. If he wanted us dead, wouldn’t he have attacked me outright on the pass? Why lead me here? Why not bring our corrupted brothers and sisters to end us?” He looked at both Janus and Decima, his gaze holding a flicker between the two. “On other darker matter…,” he continued, his voice strained with sorrow, “what happened to the rest? I found bodies… some not even older than five… what could drive any creature to commit such atrocities?” He looked at Octavia, his eyes reflecting the horror of his earlier discovery, the memories ripping at his very soul. The weight of their shared grief and the darkness that surrounded them before, returned in greater force.

Octavia couldn’t bring herself to respond, her voice choked with sorrow, as a new wave of tears began to form in her eyes. “We were ambushed by the corrupt ones,” her words heavy with grief. “They didn’t waste their time in diplomatic conversations with us…they…(sigh) We defeated them, but at a cost higher than we can accept”.

“My daughter, is she here? Is she alive? Where is Star Gaze?!” Februus boomed, his voice echoing over the forest as he closed the distance with Janus and Decima. His eyes, wild with fear and hate.

“She is alive, traumatized over the things she had to see, but she is safe and in good physical health,” Octavia responded from Februus’s back.

“You will see her only if we deem you to be safe for her and the rest of us… you are covered in that things dark magic,” Janus said firmly.

“Do you hear voices or see visions? Do you see dark shadows moving around us?” Decima continued, her sharp eyes scrutinizing Februus. “Before Maius was overtaken, he said he heard things and saw shadows coming back to life from the fallen. Respond with truth, since we can help you and it would be in safety interest of your own daughter”.

Februus’s voice trembled, “I had seen and felt all that you described, but after I came back to myself, the Mistress visited me and… cleansed me? I’m not entirely sure what has happened to me… but… I’m back, and it’s really me! I still feel the darkness, but it no longer affects my mind. I don’t blame you for fearing me; I would do the same. But trust me when I say, I would never hurt my daughter… she is the only thing that I have left…”

Looking at each other, Janus and Decima exchanged a meaningful glance before making a subtle nod of agreement. Decima closed the distance between her and Februus, her eyes unwavering as she spoke, “You may see her, but you will be escorted and supervised by Marchos and Augustus.” On cue, both Marchos and Augustus landed by her side. They gave a weak nod and a weaker smile at Februus. Februus returned the gesturer.

Before the three could leave, Octavia pressed a question at Februus, her eyes filled with a desperate hope. “Did you see the rest? Are they… lost, or is there a chance like with you, Februus?”

Februus couldn’t muster the strength to look her in the eyes. He took a deep breath, his voice heavy with sorrow. “I did see Avrel, Julius, and… Novenia,” he whispered. “I believe our mistress had enough strength for one of us only. She herself is in no position to escape the chains that were brought by that demon.” He took another breath, this time turning to face Octavia and meeting her gaze with a sorrowful intensity. “Unless the elements will release Mistress from her imprisonment within the next cycle… even then, I don’t think it’s possible… I’m sorry”.

Octavia looked down at the ground where the saddlebag lay, her gaze heavy with determination. “We must go and help Princess Celestia to save her Highness,” she declared, “We must assemble-“

Februus’s voice cut through Octavia’s determination “No , we were commanded by the Mistress to get away as far as possible from the castle and assemble to fight that thing IF Celestia and the Elements of Harmony fail. Only then!” .

“But-“ Octavia tried to intervene only for Janus to continue from where Februus started, “Going there is a risk. We don’t know if she can cause another wave of mind manipulation. What if we get corrupted? What will we even do once we arrive, even if she does not corrupt us?!”

“We can help Princess Celestia! We can –“ , “we cant do a single damm bucking thing Octavia” Janus interrupted with speech filled with hate, “we neither have the strength or the numbers, the Solar Guard almost got wiped out in the first blast, that thing forced the strongest of us to run like foals , only reason we are alive is because all of us were warned by her highness” ,

“The rest who were in the dream realm are now in her service” Junon said softly, placing his wing over Octavia and planting a kiss on her cheek. “Its hard… I know, but we must trust both of our rulers to overcome this…”.

“You are right… I’m sorry…I pray to the Moon and the Sun that this is all a dream and that I will be in the awakening world… this can’t be happening, all of this should be…” Octavia let a single tear slide across her cheek, glistening in the moonlight “… just a nightmare”.

At Octavia’s anguished words, Junon dropped to his knees, his face contorted in pain. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath. “It hurts… can’t hold the pain,” he managed to say, his voice strained.

Octavia fell to his side, her eyes wide with fear. She placed her hooves on his bloody chest, trying to find the reason for his pain, the cuts were indeed not deep, but bloody and surrounded by a dark substance. “Quick, help him! Bring a physician!” she cried out desperately.

Decima approached the pair swiftly without hesitation, she took Junon by her side. “Quick, help me take him to the tents!”. As both of them flew off with Junon in their hooves, Februus fixed his gaze with a threatening stare given by Janus.

Both Marchos and Augustus decided to take a step back, wisely giving Janus room to confront Februus alone. Janus closed the distance between them, his blade drawn and fangs bared, approaching Februus until they were close enough to feel each other’s breath in the tense, charged air.

The atmosphere crackled with animosity.

“Your sword, armour and crest on the ground, now,” Janus said with a quiet but hateful voice. Februus hissed with two large fangs and sharp teeth on display, barely managing to say “I can’t” with his teeth clenched.

“What do you mean you can’t? If you want to see your daughter, drop this blasphemous armour now!, or do you need some help with that?!”.

Februus glanced to his sides and saw Marchos and Augustus, both armed and ready to attack. Marchos looked at Februus with a mix of concern and desperation, the mace trembling in his teeth. “Just take it off… for the love of the moon”.

“I tried… this wicked magic prevents me from taking the armour off,” Februus said with frustration, “I cant explain how, but it feels as if it grew into my very bones, I tried to take it off once I broke free from the possession of that thing… it doesn’t want to set me free”.

Janus glanced at the other two of his brothers-in-arms and signalled for them to attempt to take off the armour. Marchos and Augustus exchanged a quick uneasy glance and with a large sigh approached Februus. They tried to take the plates and the straps that held them together, but neither would yield to their attempts. Every time their hooves contacted with the onyx plates, imprinted runes began to illuminate faintly with an ominous dark purple glare. Every time they pulled the plates of their bodies felt to grow weaker. At one point Marchos felt as if the, already dim light from the moon, was getting fainter and darkness began to surround them. No matter how hard they tried, the armour clung to Februus, refusing to give in.

“…enough…” Decima’s voice cut through the struggles of the two stallions. She approached from the side of the camp; her eyes resolute. “Take his sword, unless that thing is also embedded in his very flesh, and take him to his daughter… we will leave within the next quarter of a cycle”.

“How is Junon?” Februus questioned the re appeared knight,
“He seems to have bled a bit… and without his crest and armour, he might have underestimated his stamina and healing to fly such a distance in his condition… “ Decima said , moving her gaze at the saddlebag that lay where it was first dropped, “I will wrap it and place it in my wagon, we will sort out later what we will do with it”. As she lifted it with her teeth her neck muscles gave a spasm, pain running through her entire body, looking in fear and hate she muttered under her breath into the abyss “if that’s only a fraction of that monstrosity … I can’t conjure up how her highnesses physical form holds such … wicked power”.

Februus, flanked by Marchos and Augustus, approached a cliff located behind the tents. From this elevated vantage point, the night sky spread out before them, revealing the moon and stars that had been liberated from the stormy clouds. In the distance, the silhouette of the castle of the twin sisters stood, marked by sporadic bursts of fire and explosions emanating from the ongoing battle they had been commanded to avoid.

Seated just ahead of the trio were two ponies. One, covered in a blue and silvery tunic, was a small pony, a young one with a fur coat as white as the moon. Beside her sat a larger, much older and fragile mare, also adorned in a tunic, albeit of lesser quality, with patches placed all over. Her membrane wings covering the younger one in a tight embrace. Their eyes were fixed on the distant castle and the chaos of battle that surrounded it.

As the trio approached even closer, Februus made a quiet cough to announce his presence to the two ponies before him. The older one turned her head around, tears running down her fur. Fixing her gaze on Februus, she leaned over to the young one next to her and whispered something in her ear.

Februus, with his keen hearing from birth that was further enhanced by his mistresses gift, caught the faintest of whispers carried by the wind. “ I’ll beest backeth, mine own young mistress,” the old mare whispered. With these words, she lifted herself up and wiped the tears off her coat. Steadying herself, she began approaching the trio before stopping before Februus.

“Mine lord…” she began, her voice shaky and filled with fear. Her eyes wandered over his Onyx Armor, and confusion clouded her expression. “Is - is’t very much thee?” she stammered, her legs wobbling under the weight of old age as she bowed in a gesture of respect, still keeping her gazed fixed to him.

“Forsooth, ‘tis,” he replied, a faint nervous smile forming around his muzzle, “How is mine own daught’r, is the young lady well?”.

With a sigh the old mare turned to look at young filly still gazing in the distance, as if in a dream like state, “The lady is … (sight) not unwell mine own l’rd, but i doth feeleth the needeth to sayeth this nonce hath left a scar on h’r mind” she said with sadness surrounding her words, “I prayeth, just liketh the rest yond this tragedy shall all but endeth with nay m’re teen f’r neith’r the mistress and h’r sist’r ’r us…”

Once more, Februus advanced forward, his escort stopping silently by the old mare, understanding the difficulty for Februus. They gave him space, for now. The small filly, clothed in a blue and silvery tunic, didn’t show any acknowledgement of her father’s presence, or his changed appearance. Her distant gaze remained fixed on the far-off horizon, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

As he sat down next to her with a soft, fatherly voice, he spoke, “How are you feeling Stargaze? Are you alright?” Without moving her gaze from the scene ahead, she said in the faintest voice, “I’m well, father. Mine own nanny and the brave lunar nights tooketh most wondrous careth of us. Though t breaks mine own heart what hath happened to our oth’r companions…”. Februus slowly hovered his wing over his daughter to provide comfort, trembling… thinking… if he should touch her…

The mistress said that the dark powers are locked within me, within this Armor, if I touch her … will she feel pain, or comfort? Will it corrupt her pure little soul , will it turn her int-

His chain of though was broken as his daughter spoke up once more, “thee shouldst not beest afraid mine own fath’r, h’r moonlight p’rhaps didn’t manageth to cleanse thy soul of the darkness of the demons of shadows. But yond doesn’t matt’r , as the lady hast subdu’d darkness within thee”.

Februus face, previously covered by a mask presenting only strength and coldness, was replaced with confusion and feeling of fear. With a trembling voice and wide eyes looking over his daughter he whispered, “H-how do yo..u know all that? How did yo-”.

For the first time his offspring looked directly into his eyes, turning her head to face Februus, revealing faint purple and a milky eye. Her muzzle holding a light smile , with a note of amusement “The stars ,they speaketh to us, fath’r… those gents speaketh to all of us, but not all harks to their voices”.

Februus nodded in an attempt to show acknowledgement, his gaze lingering on his daughter for a moment longer. There was both reassurance and uncertainty in his eyes as he gently squeezed her. “Fear not, my little stargazer,” he whispered, hoping his words would bring solace to the fragile heart of his beloved child. “Peace will soon find its way back to us.”

I beg every deity that ever lived or will live that this is true and not a lie to comfort … he though withing the confine of his mind.

A voice from behind whispered, “Mine own l’rd , mine own apologies f’r the intrusion, but lady Decima wouldst liketh to speaketh with thee, i believeth t is urgent and i shall faileth to holdeth h’r longeth’r “

Februus turned his head slowly, acknowledging the voice. He gave his daughter a reassuring squeeze with his wing before rising. “Thank thee,” he said softly to the old mare, acknowledging the urgency. With one last glance at his kin he rose up.

Februus stood before the remaining knights, his eyes meeting the steely gaze of Decima. There was a tension in the air, an unspoken understanding of the gravity of their situation. The absence of Octavia and Junon did not escape his notice, but he chose to focus on the task at hoove.

“We will keep a vigilant eye on you,” Decima declared, her tone as cold as the winter winds. “But make no mistake, give us a reason, and we will not hesitate to bind you in chains” Janus added from the shadow.

Decima’s voice cut through the tense silence, her words resonating with determination and purpose. “We must decide our next course of action now,” she declared, her eyes meeting each knight’s gaze in turn. “Our ponies are in motion, making their way north to the ancient caves that our ancestors once called home. Until then, our duty is clear. We must scout the surrounding area, seeking out our fellow troops—corrupted or not. We owe them our allegiance, whether it means granting them mercy and peace or guiding them to safety.”

Cold … It felt really Cold…

A biting chill settled in the air, seeping into their bones like an icy breath of winter. “Did it get colder all of a sudden, or is it just me?” Decima said trembling slightly, her voice barely audible above what seemed to be creeping darkness.

“The beginning of a new st’ry hast did start and we wilt prepareth f’r what is ahead” a soft voice said from the side of the cliff Stargazes sight now fixed on the bright moon.

Octavia’s worried voice cut through the biting cold, echoing the concern that gnawed at their hearts. “What is going on? Why did it get so cold?” she questioned in worry as she landed before the group

Februus, his eyes narrowed against the chill, looked into the distance from the cliff. “something isn’t right, as if darkness itself is consuming the world,” he said with his breath becoming deeper and prolonged. “ The shadows themselves are watching, waiting…”

“Be on guard,” Februus warned, his voice low and steady despite the rising tension. “We must-“

In the distance, a colossal sphere of light burst into existence, outshining even the sun itself. Every member of the group became silent and found their gazes irresistibly drawn to the spectacle. The sphere, though situated far to the south above the castle of the twin sisters, possessed an undeniable magnitude.

Then, in a heartbeat, the luminous sphere transformed into a beam, a vivid amalgamation of red, orange, green, blue, pink, and purple hues. The beam shot forth with unstoppable force, slicing through the vast expanse of the night sky. Its trajectory was unmistakable—it was headed straight for the moon.

The tranquility of the night shattered as the winds surged with an unimaginable force, sweeping over the land like a tidal wave.

Trees quivered, their leaves rustling in protest. The very ground beneath their hooves trembled. The group stood firm, their eyes wide staring directly at the moon.

The group stood in stunned silence as the large, dark imprint covered the moon, distorting its once serene glow. The outline etched against the lunar canvas was unmistakable—it bore the shape and essence of their mistress… Princess Luna herself. Her regal form, now tainted by shadow, loomed ominously over the moon, casting an eerie silhouette.

A collective gasp escaped their lips, a mixture of disbelief and horror filling the air. The very embodiment of the night, their beloved Princess Luna, appeared to be consumed by an otherworldly darkness. Her once-gentle countenance was now twisted into a grimace of anguish, her eyes hollow voids that seemed to peer into the depths of their souls.

We have failed her

“We have failed her,” Janus whispered in anguish, his voice cracking under the weight of their collective guilt. With a heavy heart, he sank to his knees, unable to tear his gaze away from the burning sight before them. “We have failed her!” he cried out, his voice echoing the despair that gripped them all.

Augustus’s voice quivered with desperation, his eyes darting between his companions as if searching for a glimmer of hope. “This can’t be true, can it? There must be an explanation, a reason… She’s alive, right?”.

Stargaze turned to face the group, her eyes glowing with a brilliant white light, illuminating the darkness that surrounded them. “In a thousand years from this day f’rth, the stars themselves shall aid in h’r escapeth and shall finally bringeth the dark night et’rnal” Stargaze said to the astonishment of the entire group, everypony was looking at her. “The years ahead shall beest hard, many shalt falleth , but as longeth as one soul remains to aid h’r in the square ‘gainst the goodyear of the void, th’re shalt beest desire”.

“ⱧØ₱Ɇ ₴Ⱨ₳ⱠⱠ ฿Ɇ ĐɆVØɄⱤɆĐ ฿Ɏ ₮ⱧɆ VØłĐ, ₳ⱠⱠ ɎØɄⱤ ₴ØɄⱠ₴ ₳₦Đ ₮ⱧɆ Ⱡł₲Ⱨ₮ ɎØɄ ₵ⱧɆⱤł₴Ⱨ ₩łⱠⱠ ฿Ɇ ₵Ø₦₴Ʉ₥ɆĐ ฿Ɏ ⱧɆⱤ, Ø₦₵Ɇ ₴ⱧɆ ⱤɆ₮ɄⱤ₦₴ ₮ⱧɆⱤɆ ₩łⱠⱠ ฿Ɇ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲ ɎØɄ ₵₳₦ ĐØ ₮Ø ₴₮Ø₱ Ʉ₴!!!”

A sinister, demonic voice hissed through the air, sending shivers down the spines of the gathered ponies.

A sight of horror it was… The demonic voice emanated from a four-legged creature, calling him a pony would be a grave mistake. His fur was darker than the deepest shadows he emerged from, absorbing the light around him. His wings, more akin to skeletal structures, were shrouded in darkness, with wisps of smoke evaporating into the surrounding gloom. His teeth were numerous, each sharper than a Hydra’s fang, creating an aura of malevolence that sent chills down all the onlookers.

His eyes were pitch black, devoid of any discernible pupils, yet within their depths glowed a sinister purple light, like an ethereal flame flickering in the abyss. Tears welled up in Octavia’s eyes fear and pain was an expression shared by all “…Junon … no”.

“Th’re shall at each moment beest hope , th’re at each moment shall lunar lighteth to guideth us… thy mast’r shall faileth, we shall suff’r, our mistress shall suff’r greater, but we shall winneth” Stargaze proclaimed with her eyes illuminating like the moon the surrounding darkness emitted from within the corrupt soul before her “we shall standeth, as longeth us th’re shall beest one yond shall holp in the years aft’r!”.

“₮ⱧɆ ₳ⱠⱠɄⱤɆ Ø₣ ⱧØ₱Ɇ ฿Ⱡł₦Đ₴ ɎØɄ” the demon sneered, and with speed matched by lighting launching himself forward in a swift motion aimed directly at Stargaze, his sharp fangs bared menacingly.

As an enveloping darkness shrouded the group, two voices pierced through the void. One was a father’s voice, trembling with fear and anger, and the other was a sister’s voice in the distance, laden with anguish and pain.

“NOOOOO!!!”

“LUNNNAAA!!!”

Fear breeds anger, anger begets pain, and pain ushers us into the boundless abyss of suffering…