BOO!

I woke up in the corner of the room that I fell asleep in. It was a bit more shadowy than I remember, but it didn't strike me as odd. I looked around the room, looking for anyone that was in the room with me. I noticed my manticore buddy and a zebra (zebra? Am I seeing that right?) doing what I assume to be cooking some kind of stew. Must be for the manticore, though I do get the weird herb smell... maybe potions? Whatever, I am focusing on something that doesn't concern me in the slightest.

I got up and floated around the hut to get a better look at my surroundings. There were a few tribal masks on one of the walls while their were stairs on the opposite side of it. I didn't want to look up there, as that would be an invasion of privacy. (When the heck did I start actually caring about privacy? Whatever, it's a good thing or something, so I'm not gonna complain.)

I looked to the wall opposite of the door to notice many cabinets filled with either vegetables or potion ingredients. Guess I was right when it came to potions, the second time, but still. Just then, I heard a whisper to look back to the corner I was originally in.  I looked around, and around again, but I couldn't spot anything. That's when I noticed that I was still in the shadows. I looked around me, seeing shadows on all side, but still allowing me to see just fine.

I didn't feel very safe. I don't know full well how to describe it. I just feel very, very unsafe. Just in case, I wanted to change into something a bit more powerful than a boo. I scrolled through my memory. Of every minion and creature I have seen. I kept scrolling through the freakishly large database like thing that was the list of creatures before stopping on a certain creature. The gray shy guy.

I transformed into the creature. I felt my entire body cripple away more than usual. The shadows around me receded into my body as if I was absorbing them. This all went oblivious to the two potion brewers in the center of the room, who seemed content on ignoring me, not even giving the slightest glance at me. The transformation left me like a normal shy guy. Mask, clothes and everything. Under those clothes, under the mask, all I could feel was shadows. Myself, the shadows. I was confused at first, but then I realized something.

I am the shadows.

I was able to walk around fine, no difference from when I was a shady koopa. I tested it by walking over to the corner of the room to check out why I was needed there. I noticed the spot I was originally in was completely shrouded in a shadowy mist. Ignored by the other beings in the house, like normal. I walked into the mist, still confused.

I walked for a good five minutes, the first two confusing me, but the last three scaring me a little. I finally reached a door... of some kind. Now, I say of some kind, even though this looks like a normal door, because it has this weird feeling to it. Like if I go through it something  bone shivering might happen. I look around the door, trying to get an idea of either how big the room is or if it leads outside.

My search seemed to have been in vain, as all I found out was the shadows lasted forever. I didn't get to see anything but the door. The only peculiar thing was above the door, a circle with an X through it.

I walked through the door, not knowing what to expect. I was hesitant at first, but I jumped up and grabbed the human like doorknob. I turned it with both my stubby hands and pushed it open, still dangling from the doorknob. I jumped down, and pushed the door closed behind me. I looked around to see only one thing. A desk and a chair in front of it. There was a note on the desk to.

I went over to the desk slowly, afraid as something would pop out at me. Halfway there I just said 'screw it' in my head and walked towards the desk, losing all my fears of the dark or the shadows instantly. I am a freaking ghost, I gotta suck it up.

I sat down in the rather comfy leather chair and looked at the paper. It was a strange piece of paper, and just looking at it, it seemed to scream 'READ ME'. That, or there was a piece of paper above it with an arrow pointing at the other paper saying those exact words. I didn't mind, and looked at the paper.

Hello there, creature. I believe I have found a new employee, if you are reading this paper. I am a being known as the Operator, and that circle with an X through it is my symbol. If you are here, that means you heard the whispers and decided to follow them. Good for you, this means that whoever you are, you are worthy to help a demigod at his job.

The paper ended there. I flipped it over a few times before quitting on it. I was about to get up before I looked at the paper one more time, just to be sure, you know?

By the way, you might want to look up.

I was surprised at the new note, so I looked up across the desk.

There, sitting down, was one of the worst nightmares of the human world. Slenderman, If I am correct. He simply stared at me with his blank white face. He tilted his head as if in question, and I did the same. One of the tendrils from his pitch black suit squirmed out of his back and pointed at the paper.

So, will you be my new and first employee?

I looked up at him, and he tilted his head again. I thought about it. Working for an apparent demigod. He certainly looked the part of a demigod, so I nodded before tilting my head. He seemed to get my call as he pointed his tendril back at the page. He looked happier as soon as I nodded, though. His tie bounced up a bit as he looked to have brightened up by my nod. I looked down at the page.

I am very happy, elated even, that you accepted my offer. I am glad you could even answer yes to a question such as this. This job, here, requires you to be able to transform into a pony though, to blend in with society. As a pony, your body will be like that normal, but I expect this creature you are masquerading as to be the one doing the job.

The Job itself, though, is the big turn off. I need you to help me do the job of the world of the dead in this realm. You will see certain auras around ponies, griffins, dragons, and every other sentient on the planet. They will either have a red aura, a black aura, or no aura at all.

What you need to do is.. er.. how do I explain this.

You need to make sure that the ponies with red auras die that day the way they are supposed to die. You will know when that is to come, so make sure it specifically happens. If you get a tingly feeling from the shadows it means that it is time. If you see a pony with a black aura, you need to torment them with a natural shadow invisibility. You need to weaken their psyche so you can drag them into the shadows, killing them.

For their punishment, however, their souls will be sucked here, to the void, for a century for cheating death at their death point. Knowing all of this, do you still accept this job?

I looked up at him, and as always he was tilting his head. He seemed to have a little bead of sweat on his forehead, as if predicting that I would say no. I considered the options, and he pointed down again.

Of course, you would get payed in the currency of this ream as well as having a protected and substantially increased inside of whatever house you decided to take. Though you won't get control of the shadows like that one guy.

I looked up at him again and nodded. Thinking it over while reading the benefits letter led me to believe I was doing work for the gods basically, which I kinda am. That and I would be taken care of financially wise. That was a bonus. He looked giddy for a second and pointed down at the paper once more.

Good then, good then. You may leave now, the door is over there. There are a few ponies that need to be dealt with though, so this will also be your first test.

I looked up and he was gone. I walked back to the door and opened it, only to walk out of the forest as a pony. I was immensely confused by this, but I didn't question it. I walked out of the shadow, just like I had walked into them. I guess it was my new pony form. I noticed that I could change between two forms. A unicorn and a pegasus. That would be helpful, but I guess it is needed for the job. You know, for pegasus ponies.

I looked at my body itself. I was a bit taller than your average pony, but not as tall as princess Luna. I was thin, to. Even though I felt strong, I was thin. I had either a normal sharp ended horn or bat wings, and a normal medium flowing tail and partially shaggy mane. They were both pitch black. My cutie mark was a red circle with a red X inside it, just like the symbol from the door.

Happy with how I looked, I went into town. I decided that if I had to be there for my job, I would have to live there. I would also need a name...

I thought about it for a good long minute, thinking of other names that didn't fit right, until I got the perfect name. Ghostly shadows. Ghostly for being originally a ghost, it will give people a good way to recognize me, and shadows, since I am basically working for a demigod of shadows. That, and, my job. Yeah. No explanations that I will give necessary.

I walked into town when I noticed one thing. There were no black auras, so that meant I didn't have my job to be done. I could also notice one more thing. Everypony was looking at me with a bit of fear in their eyes. I was in my pegasus form...