EC Tales Book Three: The Point of No Returnby mynameisTheodore83ChaptersChapter One: Silver in AppleloosaChapter Two: Tommy GreyChapter Three: Tesla ByteChapter Four: Blood SoakedChapter Five: IrreversibleChapter One: Silver in AppleloosaSilver Shield was relieved when he saw a town peeking over the horizon. He had been walking for the entire day, after the morning's encounter with his old friend Shadow Blade. He was still upset that his friend had changed so much, but it gave Silver a purpose. He was going to stop Shadow and get his best friend back, no matter what. The sun was setting as Silver tiredly trudged into the small town of Appleloosa. Despite the late hour, many ponies were still out working, or just enjoying the evening. Silver saw the sign for the in and walked in. The innkeeper welcomed him with a hello and a warm smile. "Where'ya from?" he asked. "Baltimare," the tired Pegasus replied. "Ah, then you had a lengthy journey on hoof. Lemme get you a room," he smiled and turned toward the keys. Silver thanked him and walked to where he would be staying. Upon seeing the bed he immediately threw down his saddle bag and collapsed on it. He could wait til tomorrow to start his new life... ˜˜˜ Silver awoke the next morning after a long nights sleep, feeling well rested. He slowly unpacked his saddle bag and got ready for his day. But as he was organizing his temporary room, he realized that he didn't know where to go. Even if some pony listened to his story, would any pony help him? His ideas were as far-fetched as Shadow's, even if they were rooted in better places. He began to lose hope as he walked outside. But there he saw an opportunity. Two ponies were arguing with each other near an overturned wagon. The produce that was in the wagon was scattered all around, clearly not fit for eating anymore. The angry ponies seemed to be the driver of the cart and the person he ran into. Silver caught some of their conversation. "It's not my fault if I didn't see you coming!" "How can you not see a giant produce wagon headed straight your way? I tried to stop in time, but you wouldn't even move!" "Oh, excuse me if pedestrians have the right of way! You need to be looking out for me!" "Well, this is a special delivery and I don't want to be late!" Silver had heard enough to try to resolve the conflict. He stepped up to the ponies and stated, "Pardon me, sirs, but I believe I can help with your situation here." The driver of the wagon spat. "Heck, if you can get him to see a shred of reason, by all means." "You're the one that needs to be reasonable!" the pedestrian yelled in reply. "Hold on, let's just calm down for a second," Silver said. Other ponies had begun to watch him. "Now, you were carrying this wagon of produce and ran into this gentleman here?" "That's right," the driver stated. "In all fairness, your responsibility as a driver is to make sure that you don't run into anyone. I know that you were rushing to get your delivery in on time, but you still need to be careful." Silver turned to the other pony. "And you really need to watch your step. You're lucky that you weren't trampled flat. You may have the right of way, but you have to watch out for him as much as he needs to for you." The ponies looked at each other and shared a nod. "I'm sorry," the driver stated, "No delivery is more important that keeping people safe." "I'm sorry too," the other replied. "I really need to be more aware of my surroundings. Now, let's pick up these vegetables, and I'll buy you some more, if you need them. The delivery pony smiled. "Thank you, that would be nice." Silver smiled and began to blush when the onlookers started to clap for him. He could hear certain conversations from the crowd. "Wow, that Pegasus sure knows how to lead!" "He just came in and calmed them right down!" "I would definitely trust that guy!" He felt proud of himself. Then he had a realization. It could be a stretch, but this is where he could spread the word about Shadow Blade. He had the crowd's attention and was in their favor; at least if he sounded crazy the two actions would cancel out. He decided to give it a shot. "Attention Appleloosa!" he shouted over the crowd. "I come from Baltimare, warning of an evil over the horizon. There is a pony by the name of Shadow Blade that plans to bring Equestria to ruin. I believe that I can stop him, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help, Appleloosa; help me defend Equestria from this eminent evil." The crowd was silent for a second, and Silver was unsure if he had gone too far. But one pony stepped out from the crowd and said, "This pony needs our help. If this evil is as dangerous as you say it is, than I will stand with you and defend." A couple of other ponies from the crowd stepped up and joined him, and his confidence in his idea swelled. He realized he would need a place to meet with all of these supporters. He asked the nearest pony if there was any place to hold a meeting. "Well, there's an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town that'd be able to hold some ponies," he responded. Silver nodded and spoke to the crowd again. "Attention every pony! If you are interested in helping me, meet me at the warehouse in one hour!" The crowd cheered and Silver blushed again. ˜˜˜ Silver sat and his room and tried to calm down. He had gained these ponies attention; he didn't want to ruin the small chance that he had just gained. He thought about what he would say, and ended up with a pretty good outline. But he didn't want to overthink and prepare too much; his nerves would get the better of him. So he decided to go for a walk through the town. News traveled fast in Appleloosa, and Silver got a nod, smile, or acknowledgement from nearly every pony he passed. It felt amazing to be this popular for just doing a good deed. He knew that the people that lived here were well-meaning and good-hearted. After grabbing a snack at the local diner, he asked a passerby for directions to the warehouse and got there a couple of minutes early. To his shock, it was already packed with ponies. Some he recognized from his good deed earlier, but many others were newer faces. He was relieved to see that there was a platform that he could stand on to address the crowd. As soon as he made his way through the crowd and stepped on the platform, the large meeting room began to grow quiet. He started to grow nervous, but he remembered what he wanted to talk about. He took a deep breath and began to speak. "Thank you all for coming here. My name is Silver Shield, and many of you witnessed my first call for help. I will now explain in more detail. "The pony known as Shadow Blade was once my friend, many years ago. But after his father was killed in prison, he disappeared for a long time. Just the other day we reunited and talked, but he had changed. He talked of revenge for what happened, and he intended to get it by any means possible. He talked about overthrowing Princess Celestia and changing Equestria as we know it. I could see that his intentions were to destroy any pony who did not join him. I intend to stop him before he can bring Equestria to ruins. But I cannot do it alone. This is where you come in. I realize that this is a big task that is being asked of you, and I understand if you do not wish to help me. But for anyone who is up for the challenge, I appreciate your dedication to some pony that you barely know. I am honored that you put your trust in me." A round of applause arose from the crowd, and Silver blushed once again. A couple of hooves were raised in the air for questions. Silver called on the first one he saw. "Where was this pony that you met?" an Earth Pony asked. "I saw him outside the mountains of Baltimare, our hometown," the light blue Pegasus responded. "That's a mighty far ways away," the pony said. "How will we get close enough to do anything?" There were murmurs of agreement in the crowd. Silver hadn't thought of this problem. "So what do you suggest?" he asked. Somepony else raised his hoof. "Well, there's a good flat patch of land a bit east of here. It's a long shot, but maybe we could get some help and set up a town there. Appleloosa didn't take long to build; I'm sure we could do this town even faster!" Cheers rose out from the crowd, and Silver couldn't help but be excited too. Everything that he had hoped was happening, and he couldn't have had any more luck here. His dreams were becoming reality before his very eyes. ˜˜˜ Months passed, and development of the town was well underway. Many of the buildings had already gone up, and the railroad tracks were just starting to get laid down. Silver worked just as hard as every pony did, whether it be with the heavy-lifting or the paperwork side of creating a new town. He also began to scout for a place even closer to Shadow's hideout so he could spy on him. After an afternoon of walking, he found Rambling Rock Ridge, and with a telescope, he had a clear line of sight to Shadow's operations in the mountains. He started bringing extra supplies there and showing other ponies as well. After some discussion, the name of the town came to be Dodge City. Others still wanted to call it Dodge Junction, and eventually it came to be known as both. Nearly all of the citizens wanted Silver to be the mayor, but he respectfully declined, claiming that running an organization and a city was too much for one pony. But Silver offered the positions to the pony that brought up the idea of a town, and every pony agreed that he would make a fine mayor. Word had gotten around Southern Equestria about this new town, and ponies started to come in from Las Pegasus, Baltimare, and even Ponyville. To each newcomer, Silver explained the idea of the Defenders and offered for them to join. Some declined and just came for the city, but others were intrigued and accepted. They had meetings often to discuss policies and certain aspects of the organization. It was decided that every member of the Defenders was to wear a pair of silver bracelets on their right hind legs, to let others know that they are Defenders. Silver couldn't have been more proud of what he had accomplished in this short amount of time. But he also remembered why these ponies had faith in him and what they were there to do. He looked over toward the mountains with determination and vowed to protect Equestria from Shadow, no matter the cost. Chapter Two: Tommy GreyA blue Unicorn awoke to a beautiful morning in Ponyville. The weather was usually nice there, but he even enjoyed when the Pegasi scheduled the weekly rains. He could hear his younger brother in the basement, practicing his bass guitar as he often did. The blue Unicorn slowly snuck down stairs to listen. As his brother finished his solo, Tommy Grey applauded for him. "I swear, you're getting better every day, Theo," he complemented the energetic green Unicorn. "Thanks, and good morning, Tommy," Theo responded. "I swear, I'm going to make it big someday. I don't know with who, but it's going to happen." "Keep playing like that and I'm sure of it," Tommy smiled. He had always supported his younger brother and his natural gift for playing music. Unfortunately, although he loved music, Tommy could never get the hang of playing it. He instead stuck to music appreciation. He considered himself a connoisseur of sorts, enjoying and critiquing all types of music. "Well, I'd love to hear you play all day, but I have to get to work. Catch you later, bro." "Catch you later." The Grey brothers bumped hooves and Tommy left for work. He worked at the Ponyville music shop, and he loved every minute of it. He dreamed of owning the shop one day, but he was working the low-level position of a stock boy, and there were plenty of others that would get the store before he would. But he still enjoyed seeing ponies fall in love with music like he did, and is glad to help them find what music is best for them. He always kept a good attitude and was friendly and helpful. This particular day went pretty normally, until Tommy overheard a conversation between a coworker and a customer. Trying not to be rude and interrupting, he listened in. "Yeah, it's South of here and East of Appleloosa. 'Dodge City', I think they're calling it." "I don't know how these new cities pop up so fast, it's still crazy to me." "From what I hear, though, they don't have a lot of things there yet. The little town needs a lot of help if it wants to survive. There's a good amount of people there already, but they're going to need some more." "Well, I hope that they're able to carry on. I'll definitely tell people about it." After hearing the conversation, Tommy went up and talked to the coworker that was talking. "Wait, what were you just saying about a new city?" The coworker smiled. "A bunch of ponies from Appleloosa decided to make a new city after this Pegasus showed up and created some sort of 'protection against evil' group. A bit of a stretch, if you ask me, but the city stands to prove me wrong. Why would you be interested?" Tommy thought. "Well, I've always wanted to own this store… but if there is a city that needs a new music store, there is another possibility for my dream. I could open up a record store in Dodge!" The coworker laughed. "That sure is a big dream, but it will take more than that to open and run your own business. Are you willing to put in the work? You have to hire employees, get supplies, do your own financing, and promote it outside of the town as well." Tommy looked away, a bit ashamed. "I, uh- sure," he said nervously. He didn't realize how much work owning a store would end up being. The coworker smiled. "It's nice to see that you have big ambitions though. If you are willing to work hard, anything is possible." He turned and went back to working ˜˜˜ Tommy thought about that conversation for the rest of the day. When he got home, he told his brother of the idea. "Dude, that would be sweet!" his brother answered. "You'd be so good at running a record store, you should totally do it!" "Yeah, but there's a lot of work to do in it too," Tommy countered. "I can't just walk to the town and instantly be a success. It takes a ton of hard work." "Yeah, but you're the hardest worker that I know!" Theo told him. "I'm sure you'll be able to do it. You just have to do your homework and go for it. Don't doubt yourself." Tommy smiled. "You're right. Thanks Theo. It's always nice to have someone who supports you." Theo returned the smile. "Anytime, bro." ˜˜˜ Tommy set out the next day even more determined. He talked to every employee of the record store, asking them for advice or even help. He talked to the manager about what it took to run and operate a store. "Well, you're going to have to start with an inventory. Something to sell. Get your name out there, and people will come to you. Then you just have to keep them coming back." "It would be hard to get an unknown name out there," Tommy told him. "What if I were to open a new branch of this store in Dodge? It would get your name out more, and I would have less to worry about. I could even give some of my records to start up the store. What do you say?" The manager puzzled. "Hmm, not a bad plan. But I don't feel quite comfortable with letting you run a branch of my store yet. If you can prove to me that you're responsible, I'll consider it more, but until then I have to say no." Tommy saddened for a brief moment, but perked up. "I understand sir. But I promise that I'll become someone that you can trust." ˜˜˜ Tommy continued to work hard for weeks, which turned into months. He was never late to work and always did his job well. When he wasn't working he was studying, learning business techniques and how to survive in the marketing world. He talked to his boss again some time later. "Well I'll be, Tommy," he said kindly. "You really have proven yourself. You showed me that you're ready and willing to take on this job. I had a new shipment of records coming in, but I'll hold them off until you open another branch of the store in Dodge. Congratulations, son." Tommy could hardly hold his excitement. He was on cloud nine for the rest of the afternoon, and he told everything to Theo when he got home. "That's awesome, bro!" Theo told him. "But... does that mean you're moving away?" Tommy stopped. In all of his business, he had forgotten about home. "Yeah, I guess." Both brothers grew sad. But Tommy turned it around and said, "But I'm sure you can take care of yourself. I trust you enough on your own, you're not that much younger than me anyways. I won't be far, and you can always contact me if you need anything. But this is a golden opportunity for me. I hope you understand." Theo smiled. "Of course I understand. This is huge for you. I would do the same thing if I were in your position. Just... don't forget to write, ok?" Tommy laughed. "Absolutely." They shared a hug. ˜˜˜ As Tommy stepped off the train into Dodge, he was amazed. It was incredible how much the town had grown already. It was beginning to look like Appleloosa. He followed the instructions given to him and found Silver Shield. The Pegasus smiled. "You must be Mr. Grey. Welcome to Dodge," he said with a hoofshake. Tommy blushed. "Please, call me Tommy. I'm really happy for this opportunity you've given me here." "Oh of course!" Silver responded. "I'm always happy to expand the town, and a music store is a great idea! Why don't we go and check out where it's located?" Silver took him toward main street, where most of the buildings and businesses were located. And right in the center of it all was a beautiful store with "Dodge City Records and Music Shop". Tommy stood in awe. His very own record store was standing right in front of him. "Wow... I don't know what to say! I can't thank you enough Silver! This is a dream come true!" Silver was happy to see the Pegasus so overjoyed. "I'm glad to hear that. But there's one thing I'd like to discuss with you inside the store, if you don't mind." They walked in the front door. Silver took Tommy to a back room. "This can be a storage room for you. But this location is special, and there is a favor that I have to ask you while you're here." Tommy was still in shock. "Sure, anything!" Silver began to tell Tommy about the Defenders. "It's a defense group that is headquartered in Rambling Rock Ridge, not too far from here. But in order to be adequately prepared, we need things like weapons. Now, I can't just have weapons delivered straight to me, cause that'd seem suspicious to anypony who didn't know. And if I send them to the base, then I risk revealing our location. I discovered that there was a sort of tunnel from Rambling Rock Ridge to the town here. I've fixed it up a bit, and the entrance is right under this building. I'm asking if you could take in the weapons shipment for me and bring it through this trapdoor into the tunnel. I know it's a lot to ask, but this is important for the safety of Equestria. We could even hide it in with a shipment of records. What do you say?" Tommy thought. "That is a lot to ask..." But what did he have to lose?, he thought. "Will there be someone to take it to the Ridge?" "I can make it that way, if that's easier." "Yeah, that would be nice. If you promise that it stays hidden, I would be able to do it." Silver's face grew bright. "Thank you so much. I'll find some way to repay you, I promise." Tommy smiled. "I'd do anything for a friend, even a new one like you." The two new friends laughed and shook hooves once more. Chapter Three: Tesla Byte"Yes, Tesla?" "Sir, the square root of 266 to five decimal places is 16.30951 with correct rounding." "That is correct." The teacher wrote Tesla's answer on the black board. The other ponies were amazed that he could spit out answers so quickly like that. They would all be jealous of him, were it not for the fact that his mother was a Zebra. By the time that class was over, his intelligence was once again forgotten and the other school ponies made fun of his appearance. "Hey look, its the half-breed!" "Ha, why don't you gallop on home, you freak?" "Yeah, we don't want to be seen with a mistake! Go on home to mommy!" "She's the only one that'll accept you anyways!" A fit of laugher always followed Tesla home. ˜˜˜ The young Zorse had a olive coat with pale blue stripes, a gift from his mother. His eyes were teal and his mane blue as well. He always made sure to look his best; he wanted to be prepared for anything. He earned his cutie mark earlier than most of his classmates. The usb drive that appeared on his flank represented his near-eidetic memory and his high IQ. He was very serious for being such a young age. Things were fine when he was younger, when nobody realized that he was that different. But now he gets teased by the same colts that he once played with. Tesla took this to heart, learning that ponies are more concerned with what is on the outside, and to not trust everyone. He developed an outer shell to ignore his classmate's remarks, but they still bother him from time to time. That day had agitated him more than usual. He walked in to his house and sat down at the table, tears forming in his eyes. His mother saw his frustration and came over to comfort him. "Tesla, honey, what's wrong?" she asked in a soothing voice. "It's the kids from school again," Tesla explained. "I answered every single question perfectly today, and nobody even cared. They kept calling me a mistake and a freak. I'm tired of being treated differently because of my appearance!" The tears began to flow more readily. Tesla's mother embraced him tightly. "Oh, honey, I know it's hard... I went through the same thing when I was your age... But you have to know that you're not what they say you are. You know that you are brilliant and amazing, and your father and I love you very much. You can't let them get to you. If you do, then you'll never reach your full potential." She kissed him on the forehead. "But mom... I've done that already," Tesla said. "I've done it for a couple of years now. How much longer will I have to go through it? When will it end?" She sighed. "I don't know honey.... That's not something that you can just predict. But if you stay strong than it won't seem very long at all." Tesla didn't look at her. "You always say that, but it's still here." He sighed. "I just know I can overcome it, but I don't know how." His mother frowned. "I'm sorry dear, I'm afraid I can't help you." She kissed him on the head again. "Maybe some homework will take your mind off of things." Tesla sighed once more. "Maybe." He went to his room and began his homework. ˜˜˜ Unfortunately for Tesla, this cycle only became worse as he grew older. He eventually stopped talking to his parens about it because they couldn't help him anymore. He started distancing himself from everyone: family, kids at school, and anyone else he came in contact with. He answered less and less questions, and at one point stopped answering all together. He graduated at the top of his class, but accepted no award for it. Tesla looked forward to the work world. He thought he would finally be able to work with out facing any discrimination. He applied for many jobs looking for an analytical mind. The Zorse anxiously waited for a response, and jumped at the first company that responded. It was a small accounting firm that was looking for a record keeper. Tesla knew his eidetic memory would be perfect for the job. But the interview was not what he expected. The interviewer looked nervous for the whole time, but still seemed impressed by his credentials. Tesla had a hard time telling what he was thinking, so he left the interview with a nervous feeling in his stomach. But, a couple of weeks later he got a call saying that the job was his. He was ecstatic. A paying job that he wanted, and he got it on his first try! He showed up for his first day nearly an hour early, ready to learn everything he needed to know. He was shown the ropes and put to work right away. Everyone was shocked at what the young pony could do, but they still kept their distance. Tesla just thought they were getting used to him being "the new guy". But weeks passed and there was no change in their behaviors. He started hearing that the business was slowly losing money and that they would have to lay off some of their employees. This startled Tesla a bit, but he still worked hard and did what he could to help. He was unprepared, however, when his boss came in with a pink slip the next day. "Wha-?" was all that he could get out. "I'm sorry Tesla," the boss told him, "but we can't afford to pay all of you right now. You do great work, but we have to let you go. It's nothing personal. Good luck, though. I hope you find a good job somewhere else." He left the Zorse alone and confused. He knew it was because of his zebra blood that he had been let go. It hurt him for a little, but he got back up and tried again. But with every new place he found a job, it ended the same way: a pink slip and it "not being personal". If Tesla wasn't cold before, he certainly was now. He was about ready to give up until a letter appeared in his mailbox. It was addressed to him personally, and looked very official. It only had a couple of short sentences: "We've been watching you. If you're ready to be treated without discrimination, come to the western side of the mountains at 7 pm. Tell no one. Leave nothing behind." All that day Tesla thought. It could be a trap. But what could they possibly do to him? He had already hit and surpassed what he thought was the lowest low. So at 6 o'clock, Tesla Byte packed his most important possessions and set out for the mountains. ˜˜˜ Tesla looked up at the large rock formation before him. He searched for somepony that might be responsible, but he was alone. He didn't have to wait long, however, as a section of the mountain slid away a couple minutes later. Tesla once again looked around, and seeing no pony else, walked in to the darkness. He heard the door slam shut behind him, and he was left in the dark. But an image appeared in front of him, on what appeared to be a tv screen. There was a blue Earth Pony with a green mane and red eyes staring at him. He was grinning. "So you decided to come, huh?" the tv pony said. "Wise decision, Tesla. But then again, you always make wise decisions." Another sinister grin. Tesla kept his cool. "Who are you, and how do you know me?" "My name is Shadow Blade. I am the leader of a group known as the Equestrian Conspiracy. I keep spies in Manehatten, and they've pointed you out specifically to me. You have skills that can be of use to us." Tesla chuckled. "That's what everyone's been telling me, until they find out that my mother is a Zebra. Then they try to get away from me as soon as possible." "Oh, believe me, I know," Shadow stated with sympathy. "All of your achievements disregarded because of your race. Well I have good news for you, Tesla. This group was made for those who had unfair lives. It was made so that we might band together and see a brighter, more equal future. It was made for ponies like you." Tesla couldn't believe what he was hearing. A special group for those treated unfairly. And he had been invited personally by this Shadow fellow. It didn't take him long to make the obvious decision. "When do I start?" Chapter Four: Blood SoakedShadow was pleased with the group's growth. The Conspiracy had recruited from Baltimare as well as Fillydelphia, and even as far as Ponyville. Tunnels had been dug into the mountain, which ended up being a decent base. They continued to expand their influence as they got larger and had to make more room. Shadow began to split up the recruits into a fighting force and a strategy force, but he focused on both physical and mental training for everyone. He knew every pony's story and was trusted by his followers. Shadow was finally beginning to see hope for the future of Equestria. Plans were beginning to be made to recruit from even further cities, and talks of changing Equestria were happening as well. Shadow sat at the top of it all, with Sky Strike and Thunder Sword right beside him and helping him the whole way. But in a morning meeting, he was given some rather disturbing news. There was an outbreak at the Baltimare Jail. They had caught many of the prisoners, but one still remained. Shadow thought the picture had looked familiar as he read the rest of the story. "The only escapee left to be caught is a dangerous Pegasus known as Storm Killer. Prison records state that he killed a fellow inmate several years back, and despite being given maximum security, led his prison gang to break out. His whereabouts remain unknown, but we speculate him moving fast and far away from Baltimare. Please, if you see this dangerous individual, call the police immediately." Shadow slowly set the newspaper down. "This.... this was the man who killed my father.... so many years ago..." He couldn't shift his gaze from the floor. All of this... his entire life had changed by that moment. And the one responsible is now free. This was injustice at its finest. But he slowly realized that he had a small army to fight injustice. He could correct this, he could make it right, and all he had to do was say the words. Shadow Blade slowly looked up. "We need to find that pony. Use everything we have: scouts, cameras, inside information. We cannot allow this unfairness to continue any longer. Before, I was alone. I could not do what needed to be done. But now, us together, have the power to change the world. And that change starts today. I need him found immediately. Get to it." He stayed locked in his room for the rest of the day. ˜˜˜ The next week was an odd one at the Conspiracy's Headquarters. Regular training was suspended and replaced with studying of records, files, security camera footage, and anything else they could get their hands on. Sky Strike and Thunder Sword started following Shadow everywhere, permitting no one to see him. The second and third in command were often positioned outside the door to the training room, where Shadow was simultaneously reflecting on his past and looking toward his future. He did all of this while performing the most advance training programs that there were at the base. Not only did he try to improve his swordsmanship, but also his use of magic and tactics. He didn't know when he would face Storm Killer, but he knew that he was going to, and he would be prepared when he did. It took five days, a couple of security cameras, and seven spies positioned from Baltimare to Los Pegasus, but the Equestrian Conspiracy confirmed that Storm Killer had fled to the west coast of Equestria. After hearing this information, Shadow Blade got a small group of his finest troops and set out. He made sure to bring his favorite blade. The band of conspirators set out for Los Pegasus. Shadow made sure to go north of Dodge City, as he had heard that Silver had built it himself. The trip was spent mostly in silence, with everyone thinking a different thought. Shadow was focused only on the rage and despair that this single pony had brought him over the years. Sky Strike was concerned for his friend. He had never seen Shadow like this before; even when they first met, he was able to keep his cool. He wanted to say something, but was afraid of his anger. Thunder Strike was just thinking about this quest that he had been given to traverse Equestria in search of a dangerous pony, and then to find and catch that pony. He was largely oblivious to what was really happening. After passing through Ponyville, there was a large, empty stretch before they reached their destination. Sky felt this would be a good time to talk with Shadow. "So, uh, you feeling ok, Shadow?" he started. The normally commanding general felt small and weak. "Define 'ok'," Shadow answered back, never shifting his gaze. "I don't know, you haven't been yourself lately," Sky responded. Shadow sighed. "Imagine you were given the chance to do justice to those who had done you wrong. What was his name, Swift Sprint? What if you knew that he had suffered no consequence, but you have been given the chance to make him pay for his crimes. Wouldn't you take it?" "I-I.." Sky stammered, "I would, but this has really gotten to you. I just want to know if after this, you'll be the same pony that calmed me down all those years ago." Shadow stopped, turned, and gave a half smile. "I'm sorry that I have been cause of discomfort for you, Sky. Of course I will be the same after. This is just something that needs to get done now." He continued walking. Sky was still skeptical, but it would have to be enough for him right now. ˜˜˜ After days of walking, they finally reached the outskirts of Los Pegasus. They knew that he wasn't in the city, so they set up a camp just outside of it, hoping to catch Storm Killer moving in or out of the city. It got dark before they saw him. They worked out a schedule to alternate the watch and alert the others if they saw him. Shadow was half-asleep when it was his turn for watch. But not too long into his shift, he was jolted to fully alert by a rustling in the bushes. Not wanting to awake the others, he slowly crept toward where he thought the noise came from. He tried to be as quiet as possible, but he tripped on a root and before you know it, Storm Killer had leapt out of the bushes and right on top of Shadow, with a knife to his throat. "You didn't see anything tonight, got it?" the Pegasus threatened. Shadow decided to play along. "Yeah, ok..." he stammered. "I don't want any trouble..." "Damn right you don't," Storm growled at the son of one of his victims. "Now I'm going to get off of you, but when I do, you stand here and close your eyes and wait for me to leave, got it? If I so much as see you flinch then I'll cut you right on the spot, hear?" Shadow nodded his head in false agreement. "Ok then...." Storm slowly and carefully got off of Shadow, who simply lay for a second. Shadow knew that he had to get to his sword and surprise Storm, but it would be a tricky tactic. He began to run the possibilities in his head and slowly got up. "Hey!" Storm whispered forcefully across the distance he had made. "No moving!" He continued his slow retreat. After a few more agonizing seconds, Shadow had his plan. In one swift move, he leapt up and back to the beds, where he quickly grabbed his sword. Storm was coming in fast, and Shadow brought his blade up just in time to defend the blow. Despite his name, Shadow had never battled in the dark before. But he was a quick learner, trusting his ears more than his eyes. The two were blindly fighting when Storm missed a large swing. Shadow sensed it and immediately countered, knocking Storm's knife away and pinning him to the ground. "Hey man, I don't mean any trouble, I'm just trying to survive!" Storm was no longer attempting to keep a low profile. "Do you want what I have? Take it, it's yours! Just let me go!" The moon gave just enough light that Shadow stared into the face of the man who had ruined his life. His words came slowly and deliberately. "Many years ago you met a pony in prison.... A grey stallion with brown hair who didn't belong there.... Do you remember him?" Horror crept into the Killer's eyes. "I- I-" he stammered, looking for the words that would be his salvation. "What about him?" Shadow grimaced and ground his teeth. "You killed that stallion.... He was not innocent, but he did not deserve to die..... You killed him... He was my father..." Storm tried to present his best poker face, but Shadow called his bluff immediately. "You have made my life a living hell since that day. I have experienced the worst pain because of you. But all of that is not nearly as bad as what I'm going to do to you...." Storm's breathing rate quickened. "Wait, kid, I'm sorry! I didn't know this would happen!" Shadow's expression darkened in the moonlight. "And now comes the remorse.... But no mercy belongs to the wicked!" Shadow's sword struck with raging blows, hitting everywhere he could. The Pegasus's screams woke up the rest of the group. Shadow sliced anywhere that was non vital: arms, legs, across the chest. Storm began to cough blood. Shadow could no longer contain himself; the stored anger of decades was finally being released through his blade. As the others shook off their slumber, the realized what was happening and tried to stop Shadow, but he brushed them aside as if they were flies. The blade continued to strike down, across the neck, into the face, anywhere that the red wounds hadn't touched yet. Shadow would stop at nothing short of mutilation. Blood spattered into his already red eyes, anger-fueled and sleep deprived. Eventually, Shadow lost strength and his friends were able to pull him off of the body. Someone recovered Shadow's blood soaked blade. Chapter Five: IrreversibleShadow sat alone for a long time. It had been a few days since that fateful trip westward, and the journey back had largely been spent in silence. Thunder was the only one who seemed oblivious to what had happened. "Well that was fun, wasn't it guys?" he inquired as he bounded along. "Maybe we can make something out of it. The fifth week after every equinox or solar system! A quadri-annual road trip! Where should we go for the next one? I'm thinking Canterlot!" Shadow didn't have the heart to tell him to settle down. He didn't have much of anything at the moment, aside from disbelief. All of his problems were supposed to be over now, but nothing had changed. The world was still unequal, and the pain he had felt had not disappeared; if anything, it was inflated. He pondered as he walked, but it took him a long time to realize that two wrongs don't make a right. He had spent all of this time plotting and planning an uprising, but he feared the fire had died. Sky Strike looked over in worry. "So what now?" he asked his friend. Shadow sighed. "There's no turning back. This is the path that I and so many others have chosen... Now I must see this goal until the end. I cannot let those down who have put their trust in me. I will make no more errors. Equality must be given to the people. I am but one soul of many. My needs have become insignificant. As more and more people follow, I must do my best to deliver what I promised." "While I may have achieved my goal, my thirst for equality in Equestria has not been quenched!" The hundreds of ponies watching Shadow speak were cheering their approval. "I will stop at nothing to lead you to what you so desperately seek, to what you deserve! Alone, we are worthless, but banded together, there is not a force in Equestria that will be able to stop us!" Shadow looked over the cheering ponies who put his trust in him. He knew that this change was irreversible, but he had no fear or regrets. "Believe in me, believe in yourself, believe in the Conspiracy!" he bellowed. The enormous crowd replied in a loud unison, "Equality and justice for all of us!". Shadow's face held a devious smile.
Chapter One: Silver in AppleloosaSilver Shield was relieved when he saw a town peeking over the horizon. He had been walking for the entire day, after the morning's encounter with his old friend Shadow Blade. He was still upset that his friend had changed so much, but it gave Silver a purpose. He was going to stop Shadow and get his best friend back, no matter what. The sun was setting as Silver tiredly trudged into the small town of Appleloosa. Despite the late hour, many ponies were still out working, or just enjoying the evening. Silver saw the sign for the in and walked in. The innkeeper welcomed him with a hello and a warm smile. "Where'ya from?" he asked. "Baltimare," the tired Pegasus replied. "Ah, then you had a lengthy journey on hoof. Lemme get you a room," he smiled and turned toward the keys. Silver thanked him and walked to where he would be staying. Upon seeing the bed he immediately threw down his saddle bag and collapsed on it. He could wait til tomorrow to start his new life... ˜˜˜ Silver awoke the next morning after a long nights sleep, feeling well rested. He slowly unpacked his saddle bag and got ready for his day. But as he was organizing his temporary room, he realized that he didn't know where to go. Even if some pony listened to his story, would any pony help him? His ideas were as far-fetched as Shadow's, even if they were rooted in better places. He began to lose hope as he walked outside. But there he saw an opportunity. Two ponies were arguing with each other near an overturned wagon. The produce that was in the wagon was scattered all around, clearly not fit for eating anymore. The angry ponies seemed to be the driver of the cart and the person he ran into. Silver caught some of their conversation. "It's not my fault if I didn't see you coming!" "How can you not see a giant produce wagon headed straight your way? I tried to stop in time, but you wouldn't even move!" "Oh, excuse me if pedestrians have the right of way! You need to be looking out for me!" "Well, this is a special delivery and I don't want to be late!" Silver had heard enough to try to resolve the conflict. He stepped up to the ponies and stated, "Pardon me, sirs, but I believe I can help with your situation here." The driver of the wagon spat. "Heck, if you can get him to see a shred of reason, by all means." "You're the one that needs to be reasonable!" the pedestrian yelled in reply. "Hold on, let's just calm down for a second," Silver said. Other ponies had begun to watch him. "Now, you were carrying this wagon of produce and ran into this gentleman here?" "That's right," the driver stated. "In all fairness, your responsibility as a driver is to make sure that you don't run into anyone. I know that you were rushing to get your delivery in on time, but you still need to be careful." Silver turned to the other pony. "And you really need to watch your step. You're lucky that you weren't trampled flat. You may have the right of way, but you have to watch out for him as much as he needs to for you." The ponies looked at each other and shared a nod. "I'm sorry," the driver stated, "No delivery is more important that keeping people safe." "I'm sorry too," the other replied. "I really need to be more aware of my surroundings. Now, let's pick up these vegetables, and I'll buy you some more, if you need them. The delivery pony smiled. "Thank you, that would be nice." Silver smiled and began to blush when the onlookers started to clap for him. He could hear certain conversations from the crowd. "Wow, that Pegasus sure knows how to lead!" "He just came in and calmed them right down!" "I would definitely trust that guy!" He felt proud of himself. Then he had a realization. It could be a stretch, but this is where he could spread the word about Shadow Blade. He had the crowd's attention and was in their favor; at least if he sounded crazy the two actions would cancel out. He decided to give it a shot. "Attention Appleloosa!" he shouted over the crowd. "I come from Baltimare, warning of an evil over the horizon. There is a pony by the name of Shadow Blade that plans to bring Equestria to ruin. I believe that I can stop him, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help, Appleloosa; help me defend Equestria from this eminent evil." The crowd was silent for a second, and Silver was unsure if he had gone too far. But one pony stepped out from the crowd and said, "This pony needs our help. If this evil is as dangerous as you say it is, than I will stand with you and defend." A couple of other ponies from the crowd stepped up and joined him, and his confidence in his idea swelled. He realized he would need a place to meet with all of these supporters. He asked the nearest pony if there was any place to hold a meeting. "Well, there's an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town that'd be able to hold some ponies," he responded. Silver nodded and spoke to the crowd again. "Attention every pony! If you are interested in helping me, meet me at the warehouse in one hour!" The crowd cheered and Silver blushed again. ˜˜˜ Silver sat and his room and tried to calm down. He had gained these ponies attention; he didn't want to ruin the small chance that he had just gained. He thought about what he would say, and ended up with a pretty good outline. But he didn't want to overthink and prepare too much; his nerves would get the better of him. So he decided to go for a walk through the town. News traveled fast in Appleloosa, and Silver got a nod, smile, or acknowledgement from nearly every pony he passed. It felt amazing to be this popular for just doing a good deed. He knew that the people that lived here were well-meaning and good-hearted. After grabbing a snack at the local diner, he asked a passerby for directions to the warehouse and got there a couple of minutes early. To his shock, it was already packed with ponies. Some he recognized from his good deed earlier, but many others were newer faces. He was relieved to see that there was a platform that he could stand on to address the crowd. As soon as he made his way through the crowd and stepped on the platform, the large meeting room began to grow quiet. He started to grow nervous, but he remembered what he wanted to talk about. He took a deep breath and began to speak. "Thank you all for coming here. My name is Silver Shield, and many of you witnessed my first call for help. I will now explain in more detail. "The pony known as Shadow Blade was once my friend, many years ago. But after his father was killed in prison, he disappeared for a long time. Just the other day we reunited and talked, but he had changed. He talked of revenge for what happened, and he intended to get it by any means possible. He talked about overthrowing Princess Celestia and changing Equestria as we know it. I could see that his intentions were to destroy any pony who did not join him. I intend to stop him before he can bring Equestria to ruins. But I cannot do it alone. This is where you come in. I realize that this is a big task that is being asked of you, and I understand if you do not wish to help me. But for anyone who is up for the challenge, I appreciate your dedication to some pony that you barely know. I am honored that you put your trust in me." A round of applause arose from the crowd, and Silver blushed once again. A couple of hooves were raised in the air for questions. Silver called on the first one he saw. "Where was this pony that you met?" an Earth Pony asked. "I saw him outside the mountains of Baltimare, our hometown," the light blue Pegasus responded. "That's a mighty far ways away," the pony said. "How will we get close enough to do anything?" There were murmurs of agreement in the crowd. Silver hadn't thought of this problem. "So what do you suggest?" he asked. Somepony else raised his hoof. "Well, there's a good flat patch of land a bit east of here. It's a long shot, but maybe we could get some help and set up a town there. Appleloosa didn't take long to build; I'm sure we could do this town even faster!" Cheers rose out from the crowd, and Silver couldn't help but be excited too. Everything that he had hoped was happening, and he couldn't have had any more luck here. His dreams were becoming reality before his very eyes. ˜˜˜ Months passed, and development of the town was well underway. Many of the buildings had already gone up, and the railroad tracks were just starting to get laid down. Silver worked just as hard as every pony did, whether it be with the heavy-lifting or the paperwork side of creating a new town. He also began to scout for a place even closer to Shadow's hideout so he could spy on him. After an afternoon of walking, he found Rambling Rock Ridge, and with a telescope, he had a clear line of sight to Shadow's operations in the mountains. He started bringing extra supplies there and showing other ponies as well. After some discussion, the name of the town came to be Dodge City. Others still wanted to call it Dodge Junction, and eventually it came to be known as both. Nearly all of the citizens wanted Silver to be the mayor, but he respectfully declined, claiming that running an organization and a city was too much for one pony. But Silver offered the positions to the pony that brought up the idea of a town, and every pony agreed that he would make a fine mayor. Word had gotten around Southern Equestria about this new town, and ponies started to come in from Las Pegasus, Baltimare, and even Ponyville. To each newcomer, Silver explained the idea of the Defenders and offered for them to join. Some declined and just came for the city, but others were intrigued and accepted. They had meetings often to discuss policies and certain aspects of the organization. It was decided that every member of the Defenders was to wear a pair of silver bracelets on their right hind legs, to let others know that they are Defenders. Silver couldn't have been more proud of what he had accomplished in this short amount of time. But he also remembered why these ponies had faith in him and what they were there to do. He looked over toward the mountains with determination and vowed to protect Equestria from Shadow, no matter the cost.
Chapter Two: Tommy GreyA blue Unicorn awoke to a beautiful morning in Ponyville. The weather was usually nice there, but he even enjoyed when the Pegasi scheduled the weekly rains. He could hear his younger brother in the basement, practicing his bass guitar as he often did. The blue Unicorn slowly snuck down stairs to listen. As his brother finished his solo, Tommy Grey applauded for him. "I swear, you're getting better every day, Theo," he complemented the energetic green Unicorn. "Thanks, and good morning, Tommy," Theo responded. "I swear, I'm going to make it big someday. I don't know with who, but it's going to happen." "Keep playing like that and I'm sure of it," Tommy smiled. He had always supported his younger brother and his natural gift for playing music. Unfortunately, although he loved music, Tommy could never get the hang of playing it. He instead stuck to music appreciation. He considered himself a connoisseur of sorts, enjoying and critiquing all types of music. "Well, I'd love to hear you play all day, but I have to get to work. Catch you later, bro." "Catch you later." The Grey brothers bumped hooves and Tommy left for work. He worked at the Ponyville music shop, and he loved every minute of it. He dreamed of owning the shop one day, but he was working the low-level position of a stock boy, and there were plenty of others that would get the store before he would. But he still enjoyed seeing ponies fall in love with music like he did, and is glad to help them find what music is best for them. He always kept a good attitude and was friendly and helpful. This particular day went pretty normally, until Tommy overheard a conversation between a coworker and a customer. Trying not to be rude and interrupting, he listened in. "Yeah, it's South of here and East of Appleloosa. 'Dodge City', I think they're calling it." "I don't know how these new cities pop up so fast, it's still crazy to me." "From what I hear, though, they don't have a lot of things there yet. The little town needs a lot of help if it wants to survive. There's a good amount of people there already, but they're going to need some more." "Well, I hope that they're able to carry on. I'll definitely tell people about it." After hearing the conversation, Tommy went up and talked to the coworker that was talking. "Wait, what were you just saying about a new city?" The coworker smiled. "A bunch of ponies from Appleloosa decided to make a new city after this Pegasus showed up and created some sort of 'protection against evil' group. A bit of a stretch, if you ask me, but the city stands to prove me wrong. Why would you be interested?" Tommy thought. "Well, I've always wanted to own this store… but if there is a city that needs a new music store, there is another possibility for my dream. I could open up a record store in Dodge!" The coworker laughed. "That sure is a big dream, but it will take more than that to open and run your own business. Are you willing to put in the work? You have to hire employees, get supplies, do your own financing, and promote it outside of the town as well." Tommy looked away, a bit ashamed. "I, uh- sure," he said nervously. He didn't realize how much work owning a store would end up being. The coworker smiled. "It's nice to see that you have big ambitions though. If you are willing to work hard, anything is possible." He turned and went back to working ˜˜˜ Tommy thought about that conversation for the rest of the day. When he got home, he told his brother of the idea. "Dude, that would be sweet!" his brother answered. "You'd be so good at running a record store, you should totally do it!" "Yeah, but there's a lot of work to do in it too," Tommy countered. "I can't just walk to the town and instantly be a success. It takes a ton of hard work." "Yeah, but you're the hardest worker that I know!" Theo told him. "I'm sure you'll be able to do it. You just have to do your homework and go for it. Don't doubt yourself." Tommy smiled. "You're right. Thanks Theo. It's always nice to have someone who supports you." Theo returned the smile. "Anytime, bro." ˜˜˜ Tommy set out the next day even more determined. He talked to every employee of the record store, asking them for advice or even help. He talked to the manager about what it took to run and operate a store. "Well, you're going to have to start with an inventory. Something to sell. Get your name out there, and people will come to you. Then you just have to keep them coming back." "It would be hard to get an unknown name out there," Tommy told him. "What if I were to open a new branch of this store in Dodge? It would get your name out more, and I would have less to worry about. I could even give some of my records to start up the store. What do you say?" The manager puzzled. "Hmm, not a bad plan. But I don't feel quite comfortable with letting you run a branch of my store yet. If you can prove to me that you're responsible, I'll consider it more, but until then I have to say no." Tommy saddened for a brief moment, but perked up. "I understand sir. But I promise that I'll become someone that you can trust." ˜˜˜ Tommy continued to work hard for weeks, which turned into months. He was never late to work and always did his job well. When he wasn't working he was studying, learning business techniques and how to survive in the marketing world. He talked to his boss again some time later. "Well I'll be, Tommy," he said kindly. "You really have proven yourself. You showed me that you're ready and willing to take on this job. I had a new shipment of records coming in, but I'll hold them off until you open another branch of the store in Dodge. Congratulations, son." Tommy could hardly hold his excitement. He was on cloud nine for the rest of the afternoon, and he told everything to Theo when he got home. "That's awesome, bro!" Theo told him. "But... does that mean you're moving away?" Tommy stopped. In all of his business, he had forgotten about home. "Yeah, I guess." Both brothers grew sad. But Tommy turned it around and said, "But I'm sure you can take care of yourself. I trust you enough on your own, you're not that much younger than me anyways. I won't be far, and you can always contact me if you need anything. But this is a golden opportunity for me. I hope you understand." Theo smiled. "Of course I understand. This is huge for you. I would do the same thing if I were in your position. Just... don't forget to write, ok?" Tommy laughed. "Absolutely." They shared a hug. ˜˜˜ As Tommy stepped off the train into Dodge, he was amazed. It was incredible how much the town had grown already. It was beginning to look like Appleloosa. He followed the instructions given to him and found Silver Shield. The Pegasus smiled. "You must be Mr. Grey. Welcome to Dodge," he said with a hoofshake. Tommy blushed. "Please, call me Tommy. I'm really happy for this opportunity you've given me here." "Oh of course!" Silver responded. "I'm always happy to expand the town, and a music store is a great idea! Why don't we go and check out where it's located?" Silver took him toward main street, where most of the buildings and businesses were located. And right in the center of it all was a beautiful store with "Dodge City Records and Music Shop". Tommy stood in awe. His very own record store was standing right in front of him. "Wow... I don't know what to say! I can't thank you enough Silver! This is a dream come true!" Silver was happy to see the Pegasus so overjoyed. "I'm glad to hear that. But there's one thing I'd like to discuss with you inside the store, if you don't mind." They walked in the front door. Silver took Tommy to a back room. "This can be a storage room for you. But this location is special, and there is a favor that I have to ask you while you're here." Tommy was still in shock. "Sure, anything!" Silver began to tell Tommy about the Defenders. "It's a defense group that is headquartered in Rambling Rock Ridge, not too far from here. But in order to be adequately prepared, we need things like weapons. Now, I can't just have weapons delivered straight to me, cause that'd seem suspicious to anypony who didn't know. And if I send them to the base, then I risk revealing our location. I discovered that there was a sort of tunnel from Rambling Rock Ridge to the town here. I've fixed it up a bit, and the entrance is right under this building. I'm asking if you could take in the weapons shipment for me and bring it through this trapdoor into the tunnel. I know it's a lot to ask, but this is important for the safety of Equestria. We could even hide it in with a shipment of records. What do you say?" Tommy thought. "That is a lot to ask..." But what did he have to lose?, he thought. "Will there be someone to take it to the Ridge?" "I can make it that way, if that's easier." "Yeah, that would be nice. If you promise that it stays hidden, I would be able to do it." Silver's face grew bright. "Thank you so much. I'll find some way to repay you, I promise." Tommy smiled. "I'd do anything for a friend, even a new one like you." The two new friends laughed and shook hooves once more.
Chapter Three: Tesla Byte"Yes, Tesla?" "Sir, the square root of 266 to five decimal places is 16.30951 with correct rounding." "That is correct." The teacher wrote Tesla's answer on the black board. The other ponies were amazed that he could spit out answers so quickly like that. They would all be jealous of him, were it not for the fact that his mother was a Zebra. By the time that class was over, his intelligence was once again forgotten and the other school ponies made fun of his appearance. "Hey look, its the half-breed!" "Ha, why don't you gallop on home, you freak?" "Yeah, we don't want to be seen with a mistake! Go on home to mommy!" "She's the only one that'll accept you anyways!" A fit of laugher always followed Tesla home. ˜˜˜ The young Zorse had a olive coat with pale blue stripes, a gift from his mother. His eyes were teal and his mane blue as well. He always made sure to look his best; he wanted to be prepared for anything. He earned his cutie mark earlier than most of his classmates. The usb drive that appeared on his flank represented his near-eidetic memory and his high IQ. He was very serious for being such a young age. Things were fine when he was younger, when nobody realized that he was that different. But now he gets teased by the same colts that he once played with. Tesla took this to heart, learning that ponies are more concerned with what is on the outside, and to not trust everyone. He developed an outer shell to ignore his classmate's remarks, but they still bother him from time to time. That day had agitated him more than usual. He walked in to his house and sat down at the table, tears forming in his eyes. His mother saw his frustration and came over to comfort him. "Tesla, honey, what's wrong?" she asked in a soothing voice. "It's the kids from school again," Tesla explained. "I answered every single question perfectly today, and nobody even cared. They kept calling me a mistake and a freak. I'm tired of being treated differently because of my appearance!" The tears began to flow more readily. Tesla's mother embraced him tightly. "Oh, honey, I know it's hard... I went through the same thing when I was your age... But you have to know that you're not what they say you are. You know that you are brilliant and amazing, and your father and I love you very much. You can't let them get to you. If you do, then you'll never reach your full potential." She kissed him on the forehead. "But mom... I've done that already," Tesla said. "I've done it for a couple of years now. How much longer will I have to go through it? When will it end?" She sighed. "I don't know honey.... That's not something that you can just predict. But if you stay strong than it won't seem very long at all." Tesla didn't look at her. "You always say that, but it's still here." He sighed. "I just know I can overcome it, but I don't know how." His mother frowned. "I'm sorry dear, I'm afraid I can't help you." She kissed him on the head again. "Maybe some homework will take your mind off of things." Tesla sighed once more. "Maybe." He went to his room and began his homework. ˜˜˜ Unfortunately for Tesla, this cycle only became worse as he grew older. He eventually stopped talking to his parens about it because they couldn't help him anymore. He started distancing himself from everyone: family, kids at school, and anyone else he came in contact with. He answered less and less questions, and at one point stopped answering all together. He graduated at the top of his class, but accepted no award for it. Tesla looked forward to the work world. He thought he would finally be able to work with out facing any discrimination. He applied for many jobs looking for an analytical mind. The Zorse anxiously waited for a response, and jumped at the first company that responded. It was a small accounting firm that was looking for a record keeper. Tesla knew his eidetic memory would be perfect for the job. But the interview was not what he expected. The interviewer looked nervous for the whole time, but still seemed impressed by his credentials. Tesla had a hard time telling what he was thinking, so he left the interview with a nervous feeling in his stomach. But, a couple of weeks later he got a call saying that the job was his. He was ecstatic. A paying job that he wanted, and he got it on his first try! He showed up for his first day nearly an hour early, ready to learn everything he needed to know. He was shown the ropes and put to work right away. Everyone was shocked at what the young pony could do, but they still kept their distance. Tesla just thought they were getting used to him being "the new guy". But weeks passed and there was no change in their behaviors. He started hearing that the business was slowly losing money and that they would have to lay off some of their employees. This startled Tesla a bit, but he still worked hard and did what he could to help. He was unprepared, however, when his boss came in with a pink slip the next day. "Wha-?" was all that he could get out. "I'm sorry Tesla," the boss told him, "but we can't afford to pay all of you right now. You do great work, but we have to let you go. It's nothing personal. Good luck, though. I hope you find a good job somewhere else." He left the Zorse alone and confused. He knew it was because of his zebra blood that he had been let go. It hurt him for a little, but he got back up and tried again. But with every new place he found a job, it ended the same way: a pink slip and it "not being personal". If Tesla wasn't cold before, he certainly was now. He was about ready to give up until a letter appeared in his mailbox. It was addressed to him personally, and looked very official. It only had a couple of short sentences: "We've been watching you. If you're ready to be treated without discrimination, come to the western side of the mountains at 7 pm. Tell no one. Leave nothing behind." All that day Tesla thought. It could be a trap. But what could they possibly do to him? He had already hit and surpassed what he thought was the lowest low. So at 6 o'clock, Tesla Byte packed his most important possessions and set out for the mountains. ˜˜˜ Tesla looked up at the large rock formation before him. He searched for somepony that might be responsible, but he was alone. He didn't have to wait long, however, as a section of the mountain slid away a couple minutes later. Tesla once again looked around, and seeing no pony else, walked in to the darkness. He heard the door slam shut behind him, and he was left in the dark. But an image appeared in front of him, on what appeared to be a tv screen. There was a blue Earth Pony with a green mane and red eyes staring at him. He was grinning. "So you decided to come, huh?" the tv pony said. "Wise decision, Tesla. But then again, you always make wise decisions." Another sinister grin. Tesla kept his cool. "Who are you, and how do you know me?" "My name is Shadow Blade. I am the leader of a group known as the Equestrian Conspiracy. I keep spies in Manehatten, and they've pointed you out specifically to me. You have skills that can be of use to us." Tesla chuckled. "That's what everyone's been telling me, until they find out that my mother is a Zebra. Then they try to get away from me as soon as possible." "Oh, believe me, I know," Shadow stated with sympathy. "All of your achievements disregarded because of your race. Well I have good news for you, Tesla. This group was made for those who had unfair lives. It was made so that we might band together and see a brighter, more equal future. It was made for ponies like you." Tesla couldn't believe what he was hearing. A special group for those treated unfairly. And he had been invited personally by this Shadow fellow. It didn't take him long to make the obvious decision. "When do I start?"
Chapter Four: Blood SoakedShadow was pleased with the group's growth. The Conspiracy had recruited from Baltimare as well as Fillydelphia, and even as far as Ponyville. Tunnels had been dug into the mountain, which ended up being a decent base. They continued to expand their influence as they got larger and had to make more room. Shadow began to split up the recruits into a fighting force and a strategy force, but he focused on both physical and mental training for everyone. He knew every pony's story and was trusted by his followers. Shadow was finally beginning to see hope for the future of Equestria. Plans were beginning to be made to recruit from even further cities, and talks of changing Equestria were happening as well. Shadow sat at the top of it all, with Sky Strike and Thunder Sword right beside him and helping him the whole way. But in a morning meeting, he was given some rather disturbing news. There was an outbreak at the Baltimare Jail. They had caught many of the prisoners, but one still remained. Shadow thought the picture had looked familiar as he read the rest of the story. "The only escapee left to be caught is a dangerous Pegasus known as Storm Killer. Prison records state that he killed a fellow inmate several years back, and despite being given maximum security, led his prison gang to break out. His whereabouts remain unknown, but we speculate him moving fast and far away from Baltimare. Please, if you see this dangerous individual, call the police immediately." Shadow slowly set the newspaper down. "This.... this was the man who killed my father.... so many years ago..." He couldn't shift his gaze from the floor. All of this... his entire life had changed by that moment. And the one responsible is now free. This was injustice at its finest. But he slowly realized that he had a small army to fight injustice. He could correct this, he could make it right, and all he had to do was say the words. Shadow Blade slowly looked up. "We need to find that pony. Use everything we have: scouts, cameras, inside information. We cannot allow this unfairness to continue any longer. Before, I was alone. I could not do what needed to be done. But now, us together, have the power to change the world. And that change starts today. I need him found immediately. Get to it." He stayed locked in his room for the rest of the day. ˜˜˜ The next week was an odd one at the Conspiracy's Headquarters. Regular training was suspended and replaced with studying of records, files, security camera footage, and anything else they could get their hands on. Sky Strike and Thunder Sword started following Shadow everywhere, permitting no one to see him. The second and third in command were often positioned outside the door to the training room, where Shadow was simultaneously reflecting on his past and looking toward his future. He did all of this while performing the most advance training programs that there were at the base. Not only did he try to improve his swordsmanship, but also his use of magic and tactics. He didn't know when he would face Storm Killer, but he knew that he was going to, and he would be prepared when he did. It took five days, a couple of security cameras, and seven spies positioned from Baltimare to Los Pegasus, but the Equestrian Conspiracy confirmed that Storm Killer had fled to the west coast of Equestria. After hearing this information, Shadow Blade got a small group of his finest troops and set out. He made sure to bring his favorite blade. The band of conspirators set out for Los Pegasus. Shadow made sure to go north of Dodge City, as he had heard that Silver had built it himself. The trip was spent mostly in silence, with everyone thinking a different thought. Shadow was focused only on the rage and despair that this single pony had brought him over the years. Sky Strike was concerned for his friend. He had never seen Shadow like this before; even when they first met, he was able to keep his cool. He wanted to say something, but was afraid of his anger. Thunder Strike was just thinking about this quest that he had been given to traverse Equestria in search of a dangerous pony, and then to find and catch that pony. He was largely oblivious to what was really happening. After passing through Ponyville, there was a large, empty stretch before they reached their destination. Sky felt this would be a good time to talk with Shadow. "So, uh, you feeling ok, Shadow?" he started. The normally commanding general felt small and weak. "Define 'ok'," Shadow answered back, never shifting his gaze. "I don't know, you haven't been yourself lately," Sky responded. Shadow sighed. "Imagine you were given the chance to do justice to those who had done you wrong. What was his name, Swift Sprint? What if you knew that he had suffered no consequence, but you have been given the chance to make him pay for his crimes. Wouldn't you take it?" "I-I.." Sky stammered, "I would, but this has really gotten to you. I just want to know if after this, you'll be the same pony that calmed me down all those years ago." Shadow stopped, turned, and gave a half smile. "I'm sorry that I have been cause of discomfort for you, Sky. Of course I will be the same after. This is just something that needs to get done now." He continued walking. Sky was still skeptical, but it would have to be enough for him right now. ˜˜˜ After days of walking, they finally reached the outskirts of Los Pegasus. They knew that he wasn't in the city, so they set up a camp just outside of it, hoping to catch Storm Killer moving in or out of the city. It got dark before they saw him. They worked out a schedule to alternate the watch and alert the others if they saw him. Shadow was half-asleep when it was his turn for watch. But not too long into his shift, he was jolted to fully alert by a rustling in the bushes. Not wanting to awake the others, he slowly crept toward where he thought the noise came from. He tried to be as quiet as possible, but he tripped on a root and before you know it, Storm Killer had leapt out of the bushes and right on top of Shadow, with a knife to his throat. "You didn't see anything tonight, got it?" the Pegasus threatened. Shadow decided to play along. "Yeah, ok..." he stammered. "I don't want any trouble..." "Damn right you don't," Storm growled at the son of one of his victims. "Now I'm going to get off of you, but when I do, you stand here and close your eyes and wait for me to leave, got it? If I so much as see you flinch then I'll cut you right on the spot, hear?" Shadow nodded his head in false agreement. "Ok then...." Storm slowly and carefully got off of Shadow, who simply lay for a second. Shadow knew that he had to get to his sword and surprise Storm, but it would be a tricky tactic. He began to run the possibilities in his head and slowly got up. "Hey!" Storm whispered forcefully across the distance he had made. "No moving!" He continued his slow retreat. After a few more agonizing seconds, Shadow had his plan. In one swift move, he leapt up and back to the beds, where he quickly grabbed his sword. Storm was coming in fast, and Shadow brought his blade up just in time to defend the blow. Despite his name, Shadow had never battled in the dark before. But he was a quick learner, trusting his ears more than his eyes. The two were blindly fighting when Storm missed a large swing. Shadow sensed it and immediately countered, knocking Storm's knife away and pinning him to the ground. "Hey man, I don't mean any trouble, I'm just trying to survive!" Storm was no longer attempting to keep a low profile. "Do you want what I have? Take it, it's yours! Just let me go!" The moon gave just enough light that Shadow stared into the face of the man who had ruined his life. His words came slowly and deliberately. "Many years ago you met a pony in prison.... A grey stallion with brown hair who didn't belong there.... Do you remember him?" Horror crept into the Killer's eyes. "I- I-" he stammered, looking for the words that would be his salvation. "What about him?" Shadow grimaced and ground his teeth. "You killed that stallion.... He was not innocent, but he did not deserve to die..... You killed him... He was my father..." Storm tried to present his best poker face, but Shadow called his bluff immediately. "You have made my life a living hell since that day. I have experienced the worst pain because of you. But all of that is not nearly as bad as what I'm going to do to you...." Storm's breathing rate quickened. "Wait, kid, I'm sorry! I didn't know this would happen!" Shadow's expression darkened in the moonlight. "And now comes the remorse.... But no mercy belongs to the wicked!" Shadow's sword struck with raging blows, hitting everywhere he could. The Pegasus's screams woke up the rest of the group. Shadow sliced anywhere that was non vital: arms, legs, across the chest. Storm began to cough blood. Shadow could no longer contain himself; the stored anger of decades was finally being released through his blade. As the others shook off their slumber, the realized what was happening and tried to stop Shadow, but he brushed them aside as if they were flies. The blade continued to strike down, across the neck, into the face, anywhere that the red wounds hadn't touched yet. Shadow would stop at nothing short of mutilation. Blood spattered into his already red eyes, anger-fueled and sleep deprived. Eventually, Shadow lost strength and his friends were able to pull him off of the body. Someone recovered Shadow's blood soaked blade.
Chapter Five: IrreversibleShadow sat alone for a long time. It had been a few days since that fateful trip westward, and the journey back had largely been spent in silence. Thunder was the only one who seemed oblivious to what had happened. "Well that was fun, wasn't it guys?" he inquired as he bounded along. "Maybe we can make something out of it. The fifth week after every equinox or solar system! A quadri-annual road trip! Where should we go for the next one? I'm thinking Canterlot!" Shadow didn't have the heart to tell him to settle down. He didn't have much of anything at the moment, aside from disbelief. All of his problems were supposed to be over now, but nothing had changed. The world was still unequal, and the pain he had felt had not disappeared; if anything, it was inflated. He pondered as he walked, but it took him a long time to realize that two wrongs don't make a right. He had spent all of this time plotting and planning an uprising, but he feared the fire had died. Sky Strike looked over in worry. "So what now?" he asked his friend. Shadow sighed. "There's no turning back. This is the path that I and so many others have chosen... Now I must see this goal until the end. I cannot let those down who have put their trust in me. I will make no more errors. Equality must be given to the people. I am but one soul of many. My needs have become insignificant. As more and more people follow, I must do my best to deliver what I promised." "While I may have achieved my goal, my thirst for equality in Equestria has not been quenched!" The hundreds of ponies watching Shadow speak were cheering their approval. "I will stop at nothing to lead you to what you so desperately seek, to what you deserve! Alone, we are worthless, but banded together, there is not a force in Equestria that will be able to stop us!" Shadow looked over the cheering ponies who put his trust in him. He knew that this change was irreversible, but he had no fear or regrets. "Believe in me, believe in yourself, believe in the Conspiracy!" he bellowed. The enormous crowd replied in a loud unison, "Equality and justice for all of us!". Shadow's face held a devious smile.
