The Rising Shadow

Chapter 7

Let your presence be known

I began to wonder where this path was leading me as I walked along, it could it be a path of fate or I could just be going in a circle. But that was beside the point I started to examine the staff I pulled from the temple it was a rather odd looking, it was of metallic origin maybe bronze or something else, as I continued to look at it the staff collapsed on itself and became the size of a ruler, I then stopped and looked closely I tried to reenact what I did to do this suddenly I figured it out the staff collapsed when induced to pressure, “wow that’s handy” I said to myself as I continued to walk along the path I then attached the staff to my belt while walking I suddenly began to walk up to a clearing, the path lead to a park from what I could tell, but still I looked around to see if anything was watching or looking for me still.

Well I was half right there sitting under a tree were the three foals that I encountered this morning it looked like they gave up looking and were having what looked like a picnic and or tea party, possibly one or the other. Each of them looked like they were enjoying themselves. I guess I couldn’t blame them it was a rather warm day (like summer). I guess I accepted the fact I was in another universe, 1 because all I could see was ponies 2 there was no signs of human presence from what I could see, and 3 if I was in America then why was it 70 in January it was like 12 below last I was there but now it felt like 70.

I was suddenly awakened out of thought by 3 male voices however they were heading towards the three foals instead of me, but I had a gut feeling something was wrong so I stayed and observed what was happening. one of them spoke “hey” I didn’t know which one because they had their backs turned but I did know one thing they were reptilian, they had scales, tails and wings “DRAGONS…” I murmured to myself. So I tried to look around the park for a better vantage point. There were some bushes near where the dragons were headed I went and snuck by to try to hear the conversation better. I could also make out the dragons a little more there was a fat gray one a tall red skinny one and another one with hair over his eyes. Again one of them spoke “well, well, well, lookie what we have here three girly ponies having a tea party, awww, phft”. one of them replied “what should we do to them?” one of them said with an evil tone. The first one replied “tell you what boys, I’m hungry how about we take their lunch and throw them in the lake” I wasn’t about to let them do that so I entered the conversation with a bit of flair. I then shouted “hey pick on someone your own size” all eyes were now on me “you heard me leave them alone now, or else” the red dragon spoke up “yea, just how are you going to do that” the red one smirked as he finished. I then replied “I’ll tell you, you’re going to go peacefully and leave these ponies alone and let them finish their lunch” the red one replied “you and what army” I finished the chat with this “I don’t need an army, now I’m not going warn you again if you don’t leave peacefully you’re going to regret it” the red one said “yea right, get him boys”.

the fat gray one came at me first it was an easy knock down I grabbed my staff hit him across the belly and kicked him to the ground. “Whose next” I said the dragon next to the red one looked a bit scared I figured he wouldn’t join the fight. The red one charged at me in a rage I spun my staff and hit him across the face to finally knocking him to the ground. I pointed my staff against the red dragons throat “I’m not going to tell you again leave now while you still have your dignity” the red dragon nodded “let’s get out of here”.

All of them ran for the hills I turned around and put my staff back on my belt I went up to the ponies, knelled down and asked “are all of you ok” I could tell they were all scared “please don’t hurt us” the yellow foal said. I shook my head back and forth and replied in a calm and convincing voice “please there is no need to be afraid of me I am not here to harm you but to help you” the yellow one stopped shaking and looked at me with her right eye brow raised  and said “ are ya, sure” with a bit of a southern accent. I extended my hand and said “I give you my word”  she extended her hoof and we shook on it. then I stood up and asked “now then could you girls do me a favor, I would like to make my presence known to the townsfolk and let them know not to be afraid of me” then the other foal spoke the unicorn one “can we tell the princess” the unicorn asked with an excited tone. I then replied “that would be great, oh, can you tell me where the town square is” then the orange Pegasus replied “yea, ponyville is just over there the town hall you can’t miss it, it’s the only building in the center of ponyville”.

Ponyville I thought, well that’s a no brainer. I looked up “judging by the sun tell the whole town to come in a hour” they all shook their heads but then the yellow one gasped “oh I forgot to introduce us I’m apple bloom” the white unicorn says” hi I’m sweetie bell” the orange Pegasus says “I’m scootalou” and were the “ CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS” I replied “I heard” then apple bloom asked me “whats your name” I reply “my name is shadow well at least that’s my stage name I go by, my real name is James, James Miller but call me what you like” I then say “ alright you three get going I’ll meet you at town hall” we all raced to ponyville together.

Half hour later I'm standing on top of the ponyville town hall and wait till the whole town shows up as ponies started showing up I could recognize six ponies the same six ponies that chased me the night I crash landed as I was looking a shadow went over me I look up to see what looks like a chariot flying by with a white errr um horse I believe or something, this white horse was different from all the rest she, well at least I thought it was,  she had wings and a horn on her head she landed her chariot in front of the town hall behind the ponies as i looked closer it appeared her mane was flowing like a flag dose in the wind.

there were tons of chatter among the town folk I then shout “please all of you quiet down” all of the townsfolk went silent I cleared my thought and continued “ I wish to speak to the leader in charge of this land” then a voice came out that was as smooth as silk “that would be me I am princess Celestia  co monarch of this land” I replied “good than you’re the one I want to talk to” I gradually made my way down by jumping off the roof and gliding down to the ground I bowed before the princess before kneeling down “ my name is shadow and I called you all here for a few reasons 1 being, not to be afraid  2  I am here to serve you and 3 I am the chosen guardian of this universe by one of your elders I took the staff I had on my belt and presented it to the princess with both hands.

Suddenly every pony in the crowd gasped except for a little noise in the back (what is it, what is it, can I see) it was like I was holding the Holy Grail. Princess then asked “where did you find this” I reply “I found it when I smashed my face against a temple in that forest over there(I pointed it out) I entered the structure when I came upon a riddle, when I solved this riddle I fell down a hole and found this staff a ghost showed up and talked to me and I exited the temple and so here I am” the princess replied” well it seems you’ve had quite an adventure” she smiled I replied back” I have had my share, but that is not important my request for you is I would like to have an area of operations or in short a house to live in since I don’t think I can go back home where I came from”

the princess smiled and nodded her head” I would gladly like to accept that offer would you mind staying in the castle until we find a residence for you to stay” I stood there and thought for a sec and then spoke” eh why not I would like to know my way around here, oh and also is there a chance I could work on my plane while I stay in the castle” the princess nodded “certainly” I nodded and said thank you. The princess replied “your welcome, now follow me please” I did so as she said. She entered her chariot and gestured me to come aboard. Again I did as she asked, as I got on I noticed there were what looked like roman soldiers only in pony form they also had wings which I guess is how it was able to fly in the first place.

The princess then spoke to one of them to head back to the castle and then we took off almost immediately. After a while I began to see the castle up ahead I looked at celestia and back at the castle and then spoke “I have to say this is the first time I’ve ever flown like this” celestia raised an eyebrow and asked in an inquisitive voice “you mean you can fly?” I answered back “well I fly artificially in 2 ways actually” “really, would you care to explain” princess celestia asked I replied “sure well one way I fly is by plane it uses propulsion to give it speed and lift the second way I fly well not fly really more like glide I have two propulsion rockets to my back to give me lift and get high enough to glide a long distance” celestia looking satisfied with the answer replies” very interesting you will have to show me some time” I smiled “ it would be my pleasure” we got close to the castle and started to land right as we finished our conversation.