Fluttershy, Twilight and Spike were enjoying the silence when they heard barking heading towards them. They turned to see Winona barking like crazy.

Fluttershy quickly ran up to the poor pooch to calm her down. She pets Winona on the head to calm her down.

"It's okay, Winona! Calm down, girl." Fluttershy shushed her gently.

Fluttershy calmed her down as Twilight and Spike came up to them. Winona whined and whimpered and Fluttershy gasped as she realized what she was trying to say as she looked to the direction of Everfree Forest.

"Big Mac!" She gasped softly as Twilight and Spike were in shock by what they heard.

Fluttershy quickly went inside the cottage and grabbed her cloak as she came out.

"Spike, Twilight, I need you to stay here. Keep an eye on Winona and the critters for me, please." Fluttershy pleaded.

Spike and Twilight wanted to come along but nodded as they hugged their friend as she started to gallop to the forest as Spike, Twilight and Winona watched worriedly.

She ran far from Ponyville and into Everfree Forest. She ran past thousands of trees, avoiding fallen branches as she followed the hoofprints that belonged to Big Mac. The path was dark so she had to use her horn to light up her paths. Soon enough, the looming and dark castle came to view.

She came to a stop as Fluttershy opened the gate and noticed something and gasped softly as she spotted Big Mac's hat in the ground. She levitated it in front of her.

"Big Mac's hat." Fluttershy said as she looked at the castle nervously.

A bridge was in front of her that led straight to the castle doors with a big and deep rocky pit. She went to the door and opened it slightly. She entered as she shook the rain off their cloaks. She looked around as she started looking for Big Mac.

"Big Mac?!" Fluttershy called but didn't get a response.

She continues to call out to Big Mac before hearing a door squeaking open. Fluttershy had to hold in a small squeak of fear. She looks behind her to see a door open. She went to it and looked inside to see a staircase. She looked at the door nervously before cautiously walking up the stairs.

She reached the top of the stairs to see a bunch of doors.

"What is this place?" Fluttershy nervously asked as she levitated a torch.

"Big Mac? Are you here?" Fluttershy called out and got a response this time.

"Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy went to the cell door to see Big Mac locked inside.

"Big Mac! I was so worried!" Fluttershy said in relief and worried as Big Mac smiled in relief as he was able to put out his hoof through the bars.

Fluttershy held it and was shocked and concerned by how cold it was.

"You're freezing and your hoof is cold as ice." Fluttershy noted in worry.

"Who put you in here?" She asked him.

"Fluttershy, you must get out of here. It's not safe here!" He told them.

"No, I'm not leaving you behind, Big Mac!" Fluttershy stubbornly refused.

"You must, Fluttershy! Please!" Big Mac pleaded.

"No, I won't!" Fluttershy said.

"What are you doing here?!" A voice growled and Fluttershy felt a clawed hand picking him up.

Yelping in fear, Fluttershy waved the torch in front of her and the owner of the hand moved out of the way as the torch flew out of her magic and landed on the floor and was snuffed out as her surroundings went black.

Fluttershy was looking around in fear for the owner of the voice.

"Who's there? Who are you?" Fluttershy fearfully asked.

"The master and king of this castle." The voice told her with a growl as she saw a shadowy figure in the darkness.

"I'm here for my friend." Fluttershy answered but she was nervous as heck.

"I need to take him home! Can't you see that he's sick?" Fluttershy said with reasoned

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!" The voice growls as both Fluttershy noted his voice being a tad deeper indicating that it's a stallion

"He could die!" Fluttershy said.

"He's my prisoner!" The voice growled.

"Please! I'll do anything! Just let him go!" Fluttershy pleaded.

Then a crazy idea popped in her head. She knew it was a bad idea but it's the only way to get Big Mac out and safe.

"Take me instead." She said as Mac and the figure looked at her in astonishment.

"What?!" Big cried in surprise and shock.

"What?" The stallion asked as his voice was soft and a bit hushed from surprise and confusion.

"Please, let him go and I'll take his place." Fluttershy said, this time firm and she sounded serious.

"Fluttershy, no!" Big Mac tried to get her to change her mind.

"You... would do that?" The voice asked again.

"Yes. But if I do, would you let him go?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"Yes, but... you must promise to stay here forever." He tells her.

Fluttershy noticed that the stallion had been avoiding stepping into the light. If she's going to stay in the dark castle for the rest of her life, she needs to see who he is.

"Can you... come into the light?" Fluttershy asked. She knows it's risky but she needs to know what he looks like.

The figure seemed to hesitate before stepping into the light to reveal himself. The first thing she noticed was hooves dark as shadow. Then a pair of dark gray paws with claws on each finger. His mane is like a lion's and is pitch black. His horn was a steel black color with the tip ending in red. A pair of shadow black wings on the back and finally his face. His eyes were a blood red but what he really looked like almost made Fluttershy gasp in fear and shock.

Fluttershy was shocked as her eyes were wide as dinner plates at the mere sight of the stallion as she covered her mouth with her hoof. What did she just agree to?!

Fluttershy steeled her nerves and walked into the light with her eyes closed and ears pinned down

"You have my word." Fluttershy said with her ears down.

"Done." The stallion or Beast went over to the cell and unlocked it to let Big Mac out.

The stallion came out and went over quickly to Fluttershy as he looked at her.

"Fluttershy, don't do this! I've lived my life and I can't let you sacrifice your freedom for me!" He told them.

The Beast grabbed Big Mac and levitated him beside him before they teleported out of the room and outside the castle.

"No!" Fluttershy cried as tears started to fall from her eyes.

The Beast reached the carriage with Big Mac in his grasp and opened the door before tossing him in.

"Don't come back." He growled at him before shutting the door.

"Bring him to the village!" He ordered the carriage.

He then teleported back inside and below the stairs of the dungeons before going up the stairs only to see Fluttershy curled up in a corner.

"You didn't e-even let me say goodbye..." Fluttershy whimpered as she tried to wipe her tears.

Sombra rubbed the back of his head as he was feeling a bit awkward about the situation.

"King Sombra?" He heard Pinkie Pie whisper.

"What?" He hissed quietly so the mare won't hear.

"Well, if the mare is going to stay with us for quite a long time, I'd suggest giving her a more comfortable room." Pinkie Pie suggested and hopefully it would help.

Sombra looked over at the unicorn mare and his gaze softened at the sight of the tears in the mare's teal green eyes.

"You didn't let me say goodbye..." Fluttershy whispered as tears kept falling.

"I'll... show you to your room." He says as the mare looks up in confusion.

"M-My room? But I thought-" Fluttershy said as Sombra gestured to the cell.

"Do you want to stay in the cell for the rest of your life?" He asked her.

Fluttershy looked at the Beast in confusion but he did have a point. A room is much more comfortable than a cell.

"N-No." Fluttershy stuttered quietly.

"Then follow me." He simply said and started to walk down the stairs.

Fluttershy followed him out of the dungeons and through the halls. Fluttershy lagged behind Sombra as she looked around the hallway they were in. The whole interior looks so frightening in the darkness. Fluttershy had to stifle a whimper when the shadows were starting to close in and quickly trotted up to catch up with him.

Sombra's ears twitched as he looked behind him to see Fluttershy with tears coming down her eyes. His lingered at her tears as they were nearing the room as Pinkie Pie suggested something in a whisper.

"Say something to her, silly-filly." Pinkie whispered as Sombra rolled his eyes at her.

"I... hope you will like it here." He started and he glanced at Pinkie Pie who gestured for him to continue.

"This is your home now so you can roam anywhere around the castle except for the West Wing." He told her.

Fluttershy's ears perked up a little curiosity.

"What's in the West Wing?" She asked curiously.

"It's forbidden." Sombra growled sternly and that shut her up from asking further.

They continued in silence but Pinkie Pie was known for breaking it

"Ask her for her name." Pinkie Pie whispered and Sombra had to sigh.

He can't believe that he's taking love advice from a talking pink candle.

"I never caught your name. What is it?" He asked as they were nearing the room.

He knew he caught the apple red stallion calling her something but he wants to make sure she tells him.

"It's... Fluttershy." Fluttershy said shyly as she had the urge to play with her mane.

'Fluttershy... That's such a pretty name...' Sombra thought before catching himself and shook his head.

'Wait, what am I thinking?!' He growled silently to himself.

"Tell her yours!" Pinkie Pie whispered excitedly and Sombra had to stop himself from teleporting her to the kitchen.

"You may call me... Sombra." He said as he didn't look her in the eyes when she looked at him curiously.

"That's... a nice name." Fluttershy said softly.

"Yes, yes it is." He said as he stopped by the door and opened it for her.

"This is where you'll be staying. If you need anything, my servants will attend to you." Sombra said as Fluttershy walked in cautiously.

"T-Thank you." Fluttershy muttered as she walked in.

"Invite them to dinner, Your Highness!" Pinkie Pie suggested quickly and Sombra was starting to get irritated with her.

"You will... join me for dinner." He started but his anger and frustrations were seeping through his tone.

"And that's not a request!" He shouted before slamming the door shut behind Fluttershy before she could say anything.

Finally alone, Fluttershy burst into tears and ran towards the bed and sobbed softly.