An Ounce of Hate

Chapter 5

A dull ache behind my eyes was the first thing I was aware of, but it wasn’t what woke me up. My room was only just beginning to be fully illuminated as the sun rose. Colorful balloons reading ‘Get Well Soon’ floated by my bed or up amongst the rafters, many of which were draped with streamers. I couldn’t recall much from the other day, my memories were hazy as I drifted in a fevered haze, but I knew those hadn’t been there yesterday. I distinctly recalled an overbearing yellow Pegasus taking care of me, however.

It was the voice of that same Pegasus that that woke me, as she and another pony spoke downstairs. “Oh, um, you really shouldn’t,” I heard Fluttershy say. “Pinkie was already up there, and she said he was still asleep.” That explained the balloons and streamers, then.

Shaking my head, I propped myself up on my elbows, still lying on the bed backwards. I spared a frown at the party favors lying about my room- the unwanted handiwork of that crazed pink pony, and turned my attention to the stairs. The sound of hooves sounded from the wooden steps, and before long, the tip of a hat appeared. It was quickly followed by a straw colored mane on an orange pony’s head.

“Well, he’s up now,” Applejack said with a smirk. She trotted into the room, fixing me with a frown. “Ah told ya he wouldn’t sleep all day.” She stopped at the center of the room, looking around at the decorations Pinkie Pie had left. “What in tha hay…?”

“I told you she had been in here.” Fluttershy shuffled up the stairs, coming to stand next to her friend. “Good morning Dusken,” she said brightly. “Feeling better?”

“More or less.” I returned the Earth pony’s frown with one of my own. “What is she doing here?”

Applejack didn’t even give the timid Pegasus a chance to speak. “Ah’m here ‘cause Ah want no bad blood between us. We got off on the wrong hoof, an’ if yer gonna be teachin Twilight yer fancy magics, we’ll be seein each other.” She jabbed a hoof at me suddenly. “Ah reckon we should settle any issues right here an’ now.”

“There’s nothing to settle.” I pushed myself up and out of bed. When my legs wobbled, Fluttershy darted forward, but stopped short when I glared at her. “I have things to do. I need to clean myself, prepare a few scrolls, and figure out some sort of plan for the ‘fancy magics’ I’ll be teaching Twilight.” I snorted and flicked my tangled tail. “Whatever pony built this tower, saw fit to not put in a door to the bathroom. So, if you’d be so kind as to get out, I would be grateful.”

“Um, are you feeling up to that?” I had already begun to head for the bathroom when Fluttershy took a tentative step after me. “I mean, don’t Unicorns normally use magic for that? Are you able to- oh.”

I had noticed my cloak lying neatly folded on top of the chest and levitated it over to me. “Oh yes,” I said with a smirk. “I am quite able to work magic now. While I’m thankful for your help, I will no longer need it.” I inspected the bathroom doorway with a frown. “You may head home.” I paused, looking back at Fluttershy. “Why are you here so early anyway? Why are any of you here so early?”

The Pegasus nervously shuffled her hooves, smiling bashfully. “I, um, stayed downstairs on the couch.” At my blank stare, she winced. “I th-thought you might need help, so I didn’t want to leave you alone. Not after what R-Rainbow Dash told me.”

I sighed and simply shook my head. “Whatever. It’s not worth the effort of getting into.” It would seem I wouldn’t be lacking for want of company around here, even if I wanted to. I cocked an eyebrow at Applejack. “And you?”

“Ah have apples ta buck,” she said defensively. “So Ah got up before Ah needed ta work and thought Ah’d straighten things out between us.” She snorted, glowering at me. “Which yer bein’ awful stubborn about.”

“Because there’s nothing to talk about!” I looked away from the two ponies and frowned in thought.

An idea came to mind as I inspected the bathroom doorway. As it turned out, there had been a door once, but the hinges in the wall were almost completely rusted away. I levitated my cloak to the doorway, covering about a third of it, and cast a minor enchantment on it. The cloak now clung to the wall by its top half, leaving the lower part hanging free. If I couldn’t have a door, I could use a curtain. I made a mental note to pick up a curtain and a rod some time, since it would be too much effort to enchant my cloak, then disenchant it to wear it.

“Therefore,” I turned my attention back to Applejack. “This is all a waste of time. Just go home, buck some apples, or whatever it is you Earth ponies do, and leave me alone.” I ducked under my makeshift curtain and started unwinding the bandages around my flank. Outside, Applejack sputtered. “You can pack up whatever you brought and leave now, Fluttershy. Thanks again for your help.”

“Oh, um… actually…” I paused and repressed a sigh. I couldn’t see the Pegasus, but I was sure she was shuffling quietly again.

“What?”

“Um, Rainbow Dash said that whatever you met by the forest had lights… right?”

I resumed unwinding the bandages wrapped around my torso and frowned. “Yes, why?”

“Well, I had seen lights in the woods by my house the other night, and, um…” I could hear her take a breath. “I’m worried whatever you were talking to might still be here.” I stuck my head under my cloak, looking at the Pegasus. “I was hoping you c-could take a look around,” she said meekly. “I mean, if that’s alright.”

I considered her for a moment. It was likely some random pony had been tramping through the forest with a light of some sort. But I couldn’t be sure. It was entirely possible a Shade besides Viker was in the area, in which case it needed to be destroyed immediately. And if it was careless or reckless enough to be seen by Fluttershy, it could be dangerous if it realized it had been seen. Particularly by a pony as meek as her; if the Shade decided it needed to cover its tracks, she would be helpless.

I wasn’t going to risk one of the Elements of Harmony with my own carelessness. “Of course,” I said with a nod. “Give me about an hour and we’ll get going.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy looked relieved and started down the stairs. “T-take your time then.”

“Ah’ll come too,” Applejack said suddenly. Fluttershy nodded happily and trotted downstairs.

Shaking my head, I sighed, before glancing at the orange Earth pony, still standing in my room. “Why will you be coming along? There’s no point in you coming with.”

“Because Fluttershy’s mah friend,” she said stubbornly. “And if somethin’s given her a spook, Ah wanna help. Especially if it’s whatever ya’ll had seen the other night. Whatever it was, scared ya too, or so Rainbow said.”

I snorted in disdain. “Even if it is the same thing from last night, there’s nothing an Earth pony could—“

“An Earth pony?!” Applejack growled. “Is that yer issue with me? That Ah’m an ‘Earth pony?’ What are ya, some kinda,” she paused, searching for the words. “Pony racist?”

“Hardly.” I gave her one last glare before ducking back into the bathroom. “I don’t see how an Earth pony could be of any use in matters of magic, which is what I need to worry about. You just need to worry about… apples, I guess.”

“Oh no,” she said angrily. She pushed the curtain aside and fixed me with a glare. “Ah think yer some hoity-toity Unicorn who looks down on us Earth ponies. Ah could tell ya didn’t exactly care for Pinkie neither. Is it ‘cause she’s an Earth pony too?”

The bandages once wrapped around my torso were now heaped in a pile on the floor while I turned my attention to the irritating mare. “She just talks so much.” I considered Applejack for a moment before levitating her out. She gave an angry yelp when I dropped her outside of the curtain. “But if you want me to be honest, I can’t figure out why any Earth ponies or Pegasi hold the Elements of Harmony. Their true potential must surely be capable of being unlocked by a Unicorn. Or really any creature who can channel magic.”

I had gotten the tub running when Applejack thrust her head back into the bathroom. “What the hay do the Elements o’ Harmony have ta do with any a’ that? Yer just here ta teach Twilight this ‘dark magic’ stuff, so what does…” she paused, frowning. I considered forcing her out again, perhaps putting a barrier in place to keep her out, when she spoke once more. “Ya said ya had been huntin’ for somethin’ in the Everfree Forest. Ah’m guessin’ it’s related to those lights Rainbow and Fluttershy saw?” She didn’t give me the chance to answer, but continued on with her speculations.  Speculations that were getting dangerously close to the truth. “Dark magic was somethin’ Nightmare Moon used, an’ the Elements o’ Harmony were needed to stop her.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “What are ya really here for?”

I gulped, uncomfortable with how this mare was looking at me now. Sunny had always insisted Earth ponies were violent, simple minded brutes, and this particular pony looked like she could do some damage. But she was an Element of Harmony. That had to count for something, as far as not being an aggressive thug went. But when a pony felt threatened, they could do stupid things.

“To teach,” I said simply. “I may very well end up needing the Elements of Harmony, but before that time, I need to teach… possibly all of you something.”

“An’ what would that be?” the mare asked, taking several steps toward me.

“Something Princess Celestia saw fit not to tell you about.” I enveloped her with magic once again and started to force her out. Her hoofs found some purchase on the stone floor, but it wasn’t enough. “It’s up to her to decide when or if to tell you. I’m keeping my mouth shut on the matter.”

I glanced back at the tub and hastily shut off the water. Any longer and it would have started to overflow. I let some water drain, my attention divided on measuring the water and dragging the Earth pony out of the bathroom, when she spoke again.

“Ah’m the Element o’ Truth, y’know,” she said indignantly, still fighting to stay in the room. “Ya best not be lying to me!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I muttered dryly. “Now, if you don’t mind,” I gave her a final push through the doorway. “I’d like to take a bath. Alone.” This time, I put a barrier of sorts in place. I enchanted the cloak to take on the same hardness of a rock, and bound its sides to the doorway as well. There was still a small gap at the floor, and a much larger gap at the top of the doorway, but it proved effective when Applejack gave a grunt of surprise from the other side. I saw her hooves slide as she pushed against the curtain, but to no avail. Satisfied I would remain alone, I removed the last of my bandages, the tub now suitably full of water- but not too full.

As I climbed into the tub, the mare gave a frustrated sigh. “Fine! But this ain’t over, oh no. Not by a long shot.” I frowned, shaking my head, but said nothing.

The rest of my bath went without incident. I cleaned my coat, tail, and, after placing my lens on the sink, washed my mane. I lingered somewhat, but reminded myself I needed to investigate around Fluttershy’s house. I worked my drying spell after climbing out, and set about reapplying my bandages, found in the medicine cabinet that was indeed behind the mirror. Soon, I was ready; bandages and salve applied, glass lens in place, hair dry, and tub now draining. I removed the magic on my cloak and left the room.

I draped the familiar piece of clothing across my back, tying it in the front, and surveyed my room. No sign of either pony, but I could hear their faint voices downstairs. I also noticed my bed’s blanket and covers were gone, but chalked that up to Fluttershy. I levitated the chest’s lid open and tossed two scrolls on the bed. Both scrolls were bound with a black silken thread, and the corners of the paper were dyed red. I’d need to give those to Twilight sometime.

They contained two simple spells that were seldom practiced: the piercing spell I used to fight, and a spell designed to break other spells. The latter was crude; it focused on shielding another Unicorn’s horn and containing their magic, as well as severing their connection to any spells they were in the process of using. The former was, quite simply, busy work for Twilight. I had no doubt she’d figure them both out fast enough, though the magic blocking spell may take a little longer, but I still hadn’t decided how exactly to go about teaching her dark magic, so I sought ways to keep her entertained while I figured out my plans. I could simply tell her the theory, but that would hold small meaning without experience. I’d need to decide which spells were suitable to learn that would cause as little harm as possible if she messed them up, but taught her more than how to simply channel in a slightly different manner.

I would worry about that later, I decided. I wanted to get Fluttershy home and reassure her there was nothing to be worried about. I wanted to reassure myself as well, that there truly was nothing to worry about. The library was empty, I hadn’t really expected them to be there anyway, so I didn’t bother stopping. When I reached the ground floor, I found both mares talking quietly to each other. They cut off when they saw me, Fluttershy giving me a smile, while Applejack simply looked away.

The Pegasus wore a pair of saddlebags, both filled with whatever she had brought with her. “Are we all ready to go then?” she asked.

Applejack nodded stiffly, and I shrugged. “I guess so. Let’s get going then.” As it happened, the front door was unlocked, so I pushed it open with magic. “After you,” I said with a bob of my head.

The two mares trotted out while I locked the door behind us, sealing it with another locking spell. Applejack snorted when I did. “Paranoid?” she asked.

I was contented to glare at her by way of response, and trotted past her. “Where to, Fluttershy?”

The Pegasus, who had been staring at the distant woods, perked up. “Oh, um, this way.” She trotted down the dirt path, leaving us no choice but to follow. But when we reached the first buildings of Ponyville, she turned aside, skirting around them.

We walked along in silence, but I was growing uncomfortable with the angry looks Applejack was giving me. “So,” I ventured. “Tell me more about these lights you saw.” I asked partly to break the silence, but mostly because I was curious. I was hopeful she might reveal something that gave me reason to cross off a Shade from the list of possibilities.

But my hopes took a blow when she answered. “Well, they w-were bright, but small. They were red, and there were two, but c-close together.” She looked around nervously, fear plain on her face. “They reminded me of eyes. L-Like how Rainbow described them.”

Dammit, I squashed the fear I felt building in my gut. Red eyes are common enough amongst the Shades, so maybe it’s a different one. I was relieved she hadn’t said blue; the only Shade I had ever known to possess blue eyes had been Viker, and it would have been suicide to stand against her alone. I had a feeling Fluttershy would be useless in any sort of fight, and Applejack wouldn’t be able to do anything against the magic a Shade could wield. I knew that for a fact; Viker had taught me, after all, and made sure to never give me any sort of edge on her. If my own magic couldn’t stop her, a magicless Earth pony would stand no chance.

I wet my lips and nodded. “Then it’s possible that this could be…” I cleared my throat, searching for the right words. “This could be very dangerous. It may be one of the ponies I was hunting after all.” I paused when Applejack made a small noise, as though I just confirmed something she thought. Annoyed, I continued. “There will be a fight if we find it.”

“A f-fight?” Fluttershy froze in place, quaking. “Oh, should we get some help then? I d-don’t want to leave the animals alone with s-something so scary wandering around.”

“Don’t bother,” I said with a shrug. “Unless there’s a Unicorn around who actually knows how to fight, anypony you get will just be in my way.”

“Now hold on there partner,” Applejack spoke up. “Yer makin it sound like yer after some sorta monster. And what’s more, yer still sick. Ah’m gonna have to agree with Fluttershy here and say we get help.”

“Monster?” I gave the Earth pony a frown. “Yes and no. It’s still a pony, but, uh…” I flicked my tail in annoyance. “I’m fine,” I lied, changing the subject. My head still felt light and my body tired, but my mind was sharp, and working magic caused me no pain. That was all I needed. “If I had been able to, and I knew about it, I would have been looking yesterday. What you saw the other night,” I prodded Fluttershy with a hoof, urging her to resume walking. She obliged and continued to lead us down the road, now headed away from Ponyville proper. A sparse few houses lined the road, which wound its way to the forest ahead. “That could be dangerous, and it shouldn’t be hanging around Ponyville. That pony needs to be removed.”

“Ah don’t believe what Ah’m hearing!” the farm pony cried. “What yer talkin about is plain ole murder! Yer plannin on killin this pony, aren’t ya?”

“K-kill?!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Oh no, no, no, there has to be some other way, right?”

The Pegasus threatened to stop again, but I gave her another nudge. “Put bluntly: no. It wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to any other pony it met, I assure you. It’s for the best.”

Applejack jumped in front of me, spinning to glare at me. I was forced to stop or run into her. “Ah don’t think ya have any right to do none o’ that!”

“To do what?” I swallowed when the mare leaned in closer, angrily eying me, but I didn’t balk. “Princess Celestia sent me here to do more than just teach Twilight magic. Hunting down this group of Unicorns is my other task- one you can impede if you want, but you’ll be defying a royal order in that case.” As uncertainty crept into her gaze, I knew I had won. “I’m the Court Wizard, so what I do, I do with the authority of the court behind me. If you’re so intent on bothering me, so be it. But it would be best if you two just waited here.” I turned to Fluttershy. “I just need to follow the road, right? Your cottage is down the way in the woods?” She nodded. “Good. Wait here then.”

Applejack leaned over to the Pegasus and whispered something. They exchanged a few words and separated; Fluttershy went back toward Ponyville, while Applejack trotted after me. “Ah’m comin too,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Ah’m hopin yer wrong about all this, and it was just some innocent pony who happened ta wander near her house.”

“I hope so too.” She looked confused by my answer, earning a grin from me. “I’m not a monster yet. I don’t go out of my way to end lives, but this is different.”

She frowned at me, her brows furrowed. “Ah don’t know whether ta buck ya in the jaw, or feel sorry for ya. Ah think ya need some serious help”

“I, what?” I couldn’t hide my surprise and my cheeks felt hot. These accursed mares kept acting so strangely. I picked up my pace; the dirt road was now cutting through the woods, leaving behind the other homes. “Just be quiet,” I snapped. “I don’t need anypony to pity me or help me.”

“That’s not what ya told Rainbow when she spent the night,” the farm pony snickered.

“Sh-shut up!” I blurted, face going red beneath my fur. She chuckled at my expense. “I said be quie-“ I came to a sudden stop, startling the pony following me.

“What tha hay are ya—“

“Be quiet,” I whispered. There was a tingling in my skull, similar to the sensation I felt when I met Viker. Applejack gave the surrounding trees an uneasy look. “We’re not alone.”

“What do ya mean— Dusken!“ The mare shouted seconds before impact.

A weight bowled me over, and something jagged scraped against my shoulder, drawing blood. The force of the hit took the breath from me, and carried me and my attacker off the road, tumbling through a bush and into a ditch. I frantically fended off a snapping maw filled with jagged fangs. They clicked together inches from my nose twice before we came to a stop. A large Shade held me pinned, his teeth bared, and eyes burning red. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was relieved at their color: they were almost orange in hue. What’s more, the Shade’s shoulders were heavily muscled, a trait his mentor didn’t share. His mane was still faintly tinted green, a sign he was new to Shade-hood.

The Shade growled at me for a moment before suddenly jerking up, his pointed hooves inches from my head. “Dusken?” he croaked uncertainly.

“Splint,” I snarled, and, with a burst of magic, threw him off. The dark Unicorn slammed into the ground a few feet away with all the force as would be expected from his bulk, he but was quickly back on his hooves.

“Splint is dead,” he rasped, his burning eyes narrowed in confusion. “I’m Thel now. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Canterlot.”

“I moved,” I spat. I was slower to regain my footing, but eventually stood. I could hear Applejack smash through the foliage behind me. Just beyond the ditch was a small clearing, which Splint stood in the center of.

I sized up the pony Splint had become. He had actually been from my village; a small green Unicorn with a bandage Cutie Mark. His skill had been treating injuries, but his flank was blank now, like all Shades’. He was enormous now. He had twice my width, and stood a head and a half taller than me, not to mention he was many times heavier. His horn was only beginning to grow crooked, and was still green at the tip, but that was obscured by some of my blood. I had received extensive training from Viker, while Malken had taken an immediate liking to Splint, and took him under his tutorage.

“That’s right,” he croaked in his ruined voice. “You still have unfinished business with us. We still have unfinished business with you. Malken wants you found- badly.” The stocky Shade grinned wickedly. “He wants you alive, but doesn’t mind if you aren’t whole.”

“What the—“ Applejack was now at my side, eyes filled with terror. “What in the name o’ Celestia is that?!”

Splint laughed; a deep booming sound that echoed throughout the woods. “So you have a marefriend now? Adorable.” He leered at the orange Earth pony and snickered. “Didn’t he tell you about his family?”

“She doesn’t matter,” I barked, trotting over to stand in front of Applejack. “Ignore her, she’s nothing. I’m the one you have to deal with now.” I shot a glare over my shoulder at the mare. “Go, now.”

“Ah ain’t leavin you alone with that thing!” she cried.

“Just go!” I urged, when Splint laughed again.

“Lovers’ quarrel?” he croaked, delighted. “No, no, please, stay. I haven’t had a bite to eat for days. But don’t worry; I’ll save you for last.” The mare paled beneath her orange coat, inciting another laugh from the Shade.

“Shut up!” I lashed out, a strand of white magic cracking like a whip as it headed for Splint’s head.

But the Shade moved, shifting his body and causing the magic to score a bloody cut across his right shoulder rather than remove his head. The wound wept sludge-like blood, so dark its red color was almost lost to black. I could remember Splint had never been proficient with barriers, but that didn’t matter anymore. His physique enabled him to endure injuries I couldn’t.

“That wasn’t very brotherly,” he growled, losing his jovial tone. “I won’t eat you, but I’m going to enjoy breaking you.” He stomped and leveled his horn at me, a black glow enveloping it. After a second, a streak of dark colored light that hurt to look at shot out.

“Move!” I dove to the side as the bar of energy passed through the air where I had stood. I was relieved Applejack had been able to react in time as well, as she crashed to the ground alongside me. As I rose, I felt a twinge in my left shoulder. A quick glance revealed that Splint’s horn had gouged me deeper than I thought, as blood was beginning to trickle down to my knee.

But that was easily stopped with a searing spell. The pain was intense, but I would no longer have to worry about that wound. It was sealed, and the heat would have cleansed any germs in it. Applejack was already on her hooves, propping her hat up out of her eyes, and had the look to do something stupid.

“Don’t,” I warned. “You need to get out of here. If you stay, you’ll get both of us killed.” I looked down at my cloak and brushed some dirt and leaves from it.

“Don’t worry about me.” She glared at the Shade, who patiently waited at a distance, chuckling to himself. “Ah see what ya mean though. This thing is dangerous.”

I was distracted, turning to reply, when I felt a tug at my front left leg. A black aura surrounded it, and pressure was building. Slint intended to break my leg; to cripple me and drag me off to the other Shades. And kill Applejack while he was at it. But I lashed out once more, in a different way. I broke the magic lines leading from his horn to my leg, freeing my leg.

The Shade snorted in annoyance, but I wasn’t done. I struck at his burning eyes, causing him to thrash his head back and forth. But it wasn’t physical damage I sought to cause; I sought to break the enchantment in his left eye. The flames sparked and he roared, as his eye was doubtlessly pure agony now. With luck, he was temporarily blinded as well.

“Runt!” he bellowed. “I forgot about your tricks!” He glared at me with one eye, his left squeezed shut. “Let me try that with your eye.”

Another bar of light, but headed for my eye lens. I jerked to the side, but was too slow. The bar hit the side of the lens, burning the right side of my head and destroying part of the silk strap. The lens, now shot through with cracks, fell to the dirt. I reeled back, a hoof over my eye.

“Dusken!” Applejack put a hoof on my shoulder. “Are ya alright?”

I shrugged her hoof off. “Just go already!” I cried angrily. “For Celestia’s sake, leave!”

“You’re fighting handicapped,” Splint sneered. “It’s about time you used that eye of yours; your one, to my two.” He had opened his left eye now, and I was distressed to see it looked fine now. “You should probably give up though, or I’ll have to really hurt you.”

I ground my teeth, my temper flaring. “You know, Splint,” I growled, uncovering my eye. Lines swirled and lights that had previously been hidden danced before my new vision. I could see each intricate detail of the spells my opponent was readying, as well as the nimbus of energy surrounding his horn. “I always hated you.”

“Thel,” the Shade rumbled. “It’s Thel now. Get it right.”

I glared at Applejack, causing her to wince and gasp. She couldn’t stop staring at my right eye now. “If you want to help, fine.” I lowered my voice, pitching it low enough so Splint hopefully couldn’t hear. “Slip into the woods, out of sight. I’ll disable him, and when I give the signal, you need to get out here and break his horn.”

“Break his horn?” the mare repeated dumbly. In her wide eyes, I could see my own reflected: two mismatched eyes. My right eye was a brilliant blue, constantly shifting and dancing like a fire. Like Viker’s eyes.

“Yes,” I hissed. “It’s the only way to end this quickly.” I looked up, scowling at Splint. “Now go!”

The orange Earth pony scrambled away, ducking into the underbrush. The Shade snorted in disdain. “You’re going to make me hunt her down?” He shook his head angrily. “You’re not making this any easier.”

“Good. I didn’t want to.” I lowered my horn and lashed out once more, but divided my attention. The beam, now fading to grey I noted, struck at his right foreleg, left flank, his throat, and his left eye again. I could see his magic now; dark lines that twisted in the air, and saw them shield his eye and throat, blocking my attack. But the other spears of light hit home. One pierced his right front leg’s shin, passing through the meat and bone cleanly. The other stabbed into the left side of his chest, but the magic within his body caused it to fizzle before it could go through to the other side.

If he was overly bothered by his new injuries, Splint gave no sign. The unnatural constitution he possessed as a Shade would have let him shrug off far more serious wounds, but these hardly seemed to register. The last thing I expected him to do was laugh. Blood trickled from his side, and I could plainly see through the hole in his damaged leg, but he paid them no heed.

“How many years has it been since you lived amongst us?” The Shade’s horn flared as he launched his own attack. I didn’t bother dodging it this time; the barrier I threw in front of it weathered the assault. “Two? Three?” Another bar of dark light also blocked. “Long enough to forget the most important rule,” he glared at a bush to his left. “Rely only on yourself.”

He fired twice; one beam made its way towards me, while another streaked toward the bush. I saw Applejack try to scramble out of the way, leaving her hiding spot, but she was moving too slowly; she wouldn’t make it. I acted without thinking.

My own barrier dropped, just as I shifted my body, taking Splint’s shot to my right shoulder. It was painful- excruciating, but I thought I would live, as it only appeared to burn. I was more concerned about my cloak, its edge having been singed badly, than I was over my own body. I erected a new barrier, protecting Applejack, and poured my strength into it. As I had suspected, the attack headed her way had more power behind it. But when it hit my barrier, a wall of light darkening to black, sparks flew. I strained to keep the shield up as it bent inward from the force of impact.

Splint kept his focus solely on the Earth pony, hammering away at my barrier. My head began to pound from the effort of keeping it up. I really did need to end this quickly. And the opportunity to do so had presented itself.

Once more, I divided my focus, launching a new attack on the Shade while maintaining the barrier protecting Applejack, who now cowered behind it. This time, I didn’t intend to physically damage Splint. I had something more difficult in mind. I struck his horn, startling him into ceasing his assault, but I didn’t stop there. I enveloped it with my own magic, now a solid black. More tendrils sped from my horn and warped around his body. I forced his head back, further and further until he reared back, and pushed him over. I held him there, pinned on his back, while I contained the magic he desperately sought to unleash. His horn was the key; so long as I kept that sealed, he could do nothing.

“Applejack!” The mare looked up, straightening her hat. “Now.”

Without any hesitation, she bolted forward, her face determined. I had dropped the barrier when I stopped Splint, so her way was clear. She hopped over the ruts and branches that littered the ground and halted at the fallen Shade. She reared back, her front hooves over his head.

“Wait,” the Shade cried, but too late. Applejack’s hooves slammed down, and his horn snapped. There was a flash as the energy within was suddenly released, and the mare staggered backwards, tripping over a divot in the ground. Over the whoosh of energy violently rushing from the Shade’s stump of a horn, was his shriek. He vented his pain and fury to the sky for a long time. His cry was so sharp I thought my eardrums would burst. Eventually, he found his ability to speak.

“I’ll kill you!” He thrashed wildly against his invisible bonds. He tried to crane his neck toward Applejack and snapped his fang-filled maw at her, but I held his head mostly still. She was up by that time, and shied away from him. “Dusken!” he roared. “You pathetic whelp! I’ll kill you too! Malken can rot; I want to kill you myself, you damn worm!” He continued to writhe on the ground, blood now pooling beneath him. His leg finally bled, perhaps having been held back by magic, as did his side and horn stump.

“Listen Splint—“ I began, but was cut off.

“It’s THEL you empty headed, sniveling runt! Say it with me: THEL!” His display was beginning to grow tiresome.

“I’ll call you whatever I want,” I snapped, and forced his mouth shut. He continued to thrash, but his words were reduced to angry moans and growls. “And this runt is responsible for every ounce of pain you’re feeling right now! If you were a real Shade, you’d be made of sterner stuff, and I would have been forced to kill you immediately.” He grew silent, burning red eyes boring into me. “For now, you are more valuable to me alive.”

“Dusken,” Applejack spoke in a hushed tone. She trotted to my side, inspecting my burnt shoulder. “What are ya doin? Just… just put an end ta all o’ this.” She shifted her attention to the burn across my right temple. Her gaze lingered uneasily at my eye, but she seemed to force herself to look away. “We can get those looked at, and getcha a new lens thingy, but let’s just go.”

She prodded me with her nose, but I refused to budge. “Not yet. When I’m finished, we’ll go,” I promised. I gave the fallen Shade a considering glance and, after a moment’s thought, stepped up onto his chest. He grunted, lips curling back into a snarl. I tightened the magical bindings around his throat, and only stopped once he began to gag. “Now Splint,” I snarled, and he remained docile. “I’m going to ask you a few questions. You will answer them as truthfully and to the best of your ability as possible. Am I clear?”

I slowly released my hold of his mouth. “Yes,” he gasped. His gaze was full of loathing.

“Good.” I gave him an empty smile, standing atop his chest. “You acted surprised when you saw me. Do the other Shades truly not know I am here?”

“No.”

Then it was as I hoped; Viker kept my presence here secret. I didn’t know how long that would last though. “A couple of weeks ago, some ponies were abducted by Shades. What happened to them?”

Now he sneered. “Dead.” With the pressure I was applying to his throat, speaking was difficult for him. “Couldn’t make them Shades. Killed them. Too weak, too soft.”

I sighed in annoyance. I hadn’t held much hope for their survival, but it raised a new concern. “Why are you trying to create new Shades?”

“We dwindle,” he croaked. “None turn to us. Villages empty. Banding together. Hiding. Fortifying.”

“Where?”

He wrinkled his nose, brow furrowing. “Suth’s Meadow. Thick walls, powerful casters. Executing any who,” he paused, his burning eyes glancing around the small clearing. “Dabble too much.”

Applejack kept her distance from the Shade, but she began fidgeting. “Dusken… this, this ain’t right. We gotta go.”

“We will,” I glanced at her. “As soon—“ I cut off when Splint rocked beneath me.

I had been distracted, for only a second, and he struck. His head lunged forward, further than his restraints should have allowed him to, and he sank his teeth into my chest. Those bindings were likely all that kept him from reaching my throat. He growled something into my coat and began to pull.

When his magic had burned the side of my head, that had hurt, but I had been able to ignore that. When he burned my shoulder, it had been a more intense pain, but I could shrug that off too. His bite topped those both. I screamed, and tightened the magic I had wound around his throat. I tried to pry his jaws open, but it was all I could do to keep him pinned still.

To her credit, Applejack acted quickly. She took three quick steps forward, and hopped. In mid air, she spun, facing away from us, and when she landed, she landed on her front hooves, her rear hooves poised in the air. It all took less than two seconds. And then she kicked.

Her hooves slammed into Splint’s head with explosive force. Immediately upon impact, his skull crumpled, finally killing him. But his head jerked to the side, and as his fangs left my chest, I felt something tear. His body spasmed once before growing limp and I toppled off of it. The landing jarred me, causing me to bite my tongue. As I lay on my side I tasted blood, just as I saw the red fluid spill onto the ground before me, now suddenly much closer than it had atop the Shade.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” Applejack whispered. “Ah… Ah killed him.” She stood there, staring at the dead Shade, when my groan snapped her out of it. “Dusken!” She leapt over the body and me both, and ducked down, her eyes level with mine. “Oh no, oh no oh no.” She prodded my shoulder, barely keeping a lid on her panic. “What do Ah do?”

I screwed my eyes shut in pain, applying pressure to the bite with magic. I had already begun to sear parts of it shut, but the damage was beyond my crude ministrations. If I tried, I might only make it worse as I burned muscle and sinew. “Fluttershy’s house,” I muttered. “Bandages, needle, thread, anything. Please.” She nodded and started to go, but I lifted a hoof, causing her to pause. “If I don’t make it—“

She shook her head, eyes beginning to glisten. “Don’t talk like that. Ah ain’t gonna let you—“

“Shut up.” I hissed in annoyance and collected my thoughts. My chest felt like it was on fire. “If I don’t make it, there’s a book at the tower. In the chest. It- it has a plain brown cover, with a lock. It’s my journal; I sealed it with magic, and the real lock is broken. Twilight should be able to get it open.” I paused, curling my forelegs to my chest. “No matter what happens, she needs to read it. It’s important. It should explain everything. I should have told her earlier. Should have told all of you.” I let my head drop to the dirt. “Burn the body. Keep the horn. Go,” I mumbled.

She turned and bolted, crashing through the undergrowth. I faintly heard her hooves pounding down the dirt path, but those faded eventually. My body tingled as I realized I was losing conciseness. I fought to stay awake; Applejack was a simple farm pony, and while I may not exactly be a physician, I would be able to tend to my wound far better than she could. But despite my best efforts, I was losing the fight to cling to the waking world.

Maybe I was fighting to stay alive as well. I didn’t know how bad the injury was after my work to staunch some of the blood flow. Maybe it had been enough, and would stop on its own. Maybe Applejack would be able to do something; maybe working on a farm, she had dealt with injuries, while probably not bites, and could do something after all. Or maybe, after working so hard, I was going to die.

Unbidden, tears came to my eyes. Or, eye, since my right eye had been damaged long ago, and the tear duct stopped working. That injury had cost me my old eye, requiring me to get this one. I didn’t want to die. I was afraid of what would be waiting for me. I still had so much work to do as well. I needed to stop whatever the Shades were up to, I needed to help Twilight and her friends through whatever trials waited for them. I needed to apologize to Twilight for being so rude, make amends with Applejack and thank her for her help, show Rarity how to dry cloth, assure Fluttershy it was safe now, and let Pinkie Pie know I appreciated the effort she went through on my behalf. I needed to thank Rainbow Dash for staying with me. I let my eyes drift shut.

If I lived, a part of me hoped to see her again. There was something endearing about the Pegasus; something that made me feel comfortable, safe, and happy when she was around. Even though those times had mostly filled with me being soaking wet and cold, I hadn’t been bitter about it. I had been taught to keep myself closed off from any pony I met, but… if it weren’t for Applejack, Splint would have ripped me apart. Rainbow Dash got me back to my house when I was shaking too badly to walk, and Fluttershy, as much as I had resented it at the time, had helped me get well. Maybe there was a flaw in my teachings.

Was there a flaw in me as well? Yes, I decided as I slowly went numb, my head buzzing faintly. And it was a very fatal flaw I needed to rid myself of very soon.

A small blue Unicorn foal lay curled up on a couch, a green cloak draped across him. The room he was in was large, its furnishings minimal and stark. Over the couch, a single portrait hung crooked; it depicted two Unicorns, one yellow, and one green. The yellow stallion’s wrinkled eyes gazed lovingly into the cracked eyes of the green mare. Aside from that one picture, the wooden walls were bare and dark. A single candle, resting on the table in front of the couch, illuminated the room.

Outside, the moon shone, its light filtering in through the shuttered windows. The village was quite, its citizens asleep, and the night belonged to crickets, and owls, and other creatures the foal couldn’t name. These soft noises made the foal squirm and shudder. He buried his nose beneath his front hooves, trying to tug the cloak closer, and whimpered, staring at walls lost in shadow. To his right, the kitchen sat completely shrouded in darkness, the long table looking like some creature squatting in the dark.

To his left, a smaller table, that to his imaginative mind looked especially impish and wicked. Beyond that, more shadows lay across the wooden floors, before the boards met wall. At approximately the center, a heavy wooden door stood, three different locks studding its surface in addition to the one in the handle. At the moment, the three were unlocked.

The foal was staring at the door when it gave a sudden click, causing him to jump. A yellow Unicorn- the same Unicorn from the picture above the couch, staggered into the house. A pungent scent clung to him; the foal was too young to recognize the smell of alcohol. The older Unicorn stared bleared eyed at the foal, his vision adjusting to the weak light.

“You’re up,” he grumbled. “Why?”

The foal trembled as he rose, tears forming in his eyes. “Monsters, daddy!” his small voice squeaked pitifully. “A d-dark pony is hiding under my bed again.”

Sunny glared at foal, snorting in irritation. “No, no there isn’t.” He took a few unsteady steps forward. “Just like last time, there won’t be anything under there.” The candle on the table became enveloped by a yellow glow, and floated at Sunny’s side, where it wobbled slightly.

The foal hopped off the couch, gripping the cloak with his teeth, and followed Sunny. The door to his room faced the kitchen, and was partly open. A single window at the far wall was tightly shuttered, the bed resting beneath it. The wall opposite the entrance was one shared with Sunny’s own room on the opposite side, and like all of the walls, was cluttered with the mindless drawings the foal had scribbled out. Some depicted colorful ponies, mostly Unicorns, frolicking in fields with a smiling sun overhead. Others were passable attempts at sketches: trees with shaky lines, ponies with disproportioned bodies, or various buildings found around the village.

Sunny’s horn flared brightly as he demonstrated that nothing was beneath the foal’s bed. He wasn’t content to simply force him to peek under; he levitated the entire bed, frame and all, into the air, almost to the ceiling.

“See? Nothing.” He set the bed down quickly, causing it to bang loudly against the wooden floor, and rounded on the foal. “Now get back to sleep.”

The foal meekly scurried over to the bed, struggling to pull his small form up into it. Once he stood on the mattress, he began tugging the cloak up as well. A corner still clenched in his teeth, he used his hooves to drag it onto the bed. Sunny watched all of this passively.

“Why do you do that?”

The foal paused in his labors to look up. “Do what?”

The yellow Unicorn flicked his tail irritably. “Drag that around with you everywhere. You can’t keep doing that forever.”

“It was mommy’s right?” The foal stared at his father with wide eyes. “I-I like it.”

Now Sunny scowled. “She died giving birth to you. How would you know?”

The foal spun, winding the cloak around him. He ducked down into it, ignoring the blanket that covered his bed. He wriggled deeper into its cover until only his face peeked out. “I’m sorry,” he whimpered.

Sunny sighed. He studied his son closely, eyes narrowed. “Go to sleep,” he said at length, and left, taking the light with him. He pulled the door shut behind him, leaving the room in total darkness.

The foal lay awake, resting his head on a part of the cloak. Light still filtered in through the crack beneath his door. And quietly, so faint he could barely hear it, he could hear Sunny sob. The yellow Unicorn sat at the kitchen table, hooves over his head, candle a few inches from the side of his head. Tears streamed down his face, forming small pools beneath his chin. The younger Unicorn wouldn’t know his reasons until much later, when his father was long dead, and the child the foal had once been was as well.

He mourned his wife, wishing he could have done something to save her. He had held her as she bled to death, promising her it would all be okay. But in the end, his magic could do nothing; she had been the village’s healer, and his skills were the complete opposite. Neither he nor any of the other Unicorns could stop the internal bleeding.

He wept for himself, hating the wretched pony he had become. He spurned his friends, turning to drinking to forget his grief. Only his brother-in-law, Flare, could stand being around him. If not for the foal’s uncle, Sunny may have drunk himself to death several times already. His own selfishness, to be willing to leave his son alone in the world, sickened him.

And most of all, he cried for the very same son that took his wife’s life away. The son who was born prematurely, small and weak, having already fallen ill several times in his short life. The doctors estimated he wouldn’t live to see adulthood. That scared Sunny more than he would admit. But the root of his fear was the firm belief he was an inept father. A terrible father, really. He often wondered if he would be doing his son a favor if he left him with his uncle.

“You worthless bastard,” Sunny muttered to himself, the foal barely picking out his words. He raised a hoof and pounded the side of his head. His thoughts were still clouded from booze, and the pain hardly registered, causing him to strike himself again. Slowly, he lifted his head, staring at the door to his son’s room.

With uncertain steps, he eased the door open. The foal, seeing the light, squeezed his eyes shut, pretending to sleep. Sunny walked to his son’s bedside, silent. He studied the sleeping Unicorn for a moment, and that moment stretched on to a minute, and then several.

Finally, he leaned down, planting a kiss on his son’s head. “Good night, Pipsqueak,” he whispered, smiling faintly at Flare’s nickname for his child. “I love you.”

He left the room for the second time that night, extinguishing the light as he did so. He found his way to his own bedroom and, like the foal, lay awake, staring into the darkness for a long time before finally finding sleep.

Pain. That was the first thing I was aware of. I don’t know why it surprised me; of course there would be pain. Every waking moment, something somewhere hurt. But it wasn’t the sensation that concerned me, it was the simple fact I was still alive.

Something soft, a green blanket, covered me as I laid on my back on what felt like a mattress. My chest was heavily wrapped with what I could only imagine were bandages. Most of my torso was wrapped now, and I felt their tightness around my sides and shoulders. It felt like more bandages were wrapped around my head, covering my right eye. Something blocked my left eye as well, but when I reached a tentative hoof up, it turned out to be my mane, pressed down from the wraps on my head.

I took note of my surroundings; I was out of the woods that was for certain, but was instead in what appeared to be a bedroom. To my left was an open window, a small nightstand next to the bed. A gentle, cool night breeze rolled in, bringing with it a promise of winter. I now noticed the bed had a headboard, and on it were carved hearts. I tried to look out the window, but from this angle, I could only catch a glimpse of foliage of some kind. I craned my neck to get a better look at the room I was in, when something caught my eye.

A familiar yellow Pegasus with a pink mane stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. “Oh!” she uttered, before spinning around and vanishing from my sight.

I was sure she’d be returning soon. I looked around the room, taking note of the various knickknacks and decorations, and decided I was in the very same Pegasus’s cottage. It wasn’t so much the décor, as my last remembered location. I distinctly recalled being near Fluttershy’s house when I had been attacked, but I hadn’t expected to wake up in it. Quite frankly, I hadn’t expected to wake up at all; at the very least, I was sure I would have been woken up once Applejack returned. It would appear I’ve been asleep for a while, since it had been morning when I blacked out.

Looking around the room once more, I tried to find a clock, when another pony trotted into the room. This time it was Twilight, but she seemed hesitant. “Dusken.” Apprehension filled her voice. “You’re… a-awake.”

I noticed her slip. I had a feeling ‘alive’ was what she had originally intended to say. “I am.” I tried to gauge her feelings, but her expression was blank. There appeared to be a streak of soot on her left cheek, and her mane was tangled. “Thank you for, ah…” I coughed, embarrassed. “I had bit off more than I could chew.” That was a terrible choice of words. “I was careless, and nearly paid the price. Where’s Applejack? What happened to the Shade?”

“We burned it, like you asked. In the woods; we didn’t touch it, but we held onto the horn. Applejack’s downstairs, but is about to leave.” The lavender Unicorn shot a glance over her shoulder at the door and frowned. “She told us what happened. She’s pretty shaken up.” She looked back at me, shaking her head slightly. “She said when she came back, she found you in a pool of blood, and your chest was ripped up.” I felt my cheeks heat up when she levitated the blanket down and inspected my torso. “Fluttershy’s better at this sort of thing, but she wouldn’t say anything. I’ve read plenty of medical books and you, uh, you should have bled to death before we even got to you.” She gingerly placed a hoof on my chest and looked lost in thought.

I winced at her touch and gave another quiet cough. I started to bat her hoof away, but changed my mind. She continued to frown at my bandages. “I had stopped some of the bleeding, I think.” I shrugged, or tried to, as the bandages around my shoulders made the motion stiff. “It wasn’t anything fancy, but it’s all I’m capable of really—“

“You mean the other burns?” She gave me a startled look, pressing her hoof down and causing me to squirm. “Is that what you normally do?! I mean, I remember in your story you said you did that, but…” she looked back at the bandages, but her eyes roamed beyond just my chest wound. “I noticed a lot of old scars under your coat, and so many were burns, but… I didn’t know those were self inflicted!”

Once more I attempted a shrug. “It’s better than bleeding, and I, uh, can’t do any better. I’ll admit not all of them are my handiwork, but, uh,” I wriggled, eying the smudge on her face. “What happened to you?” I asked, changing the subject.

“What?” She took her hoof off my chest and put it to her cheek. “Oh! Well, Applejack told me your wishes regarding that book of yours.” I nodded, remembering what I told the Earth pony. “Getting into your tower took a while- I had thought your locking spell was a tad unnecessary, but… now, I don’t blame you. I found your journal, but I hadn’t expected you to take, ah, such precautions to secure it. The first trap took me by surprise.”

“Right,” I mumbled. “Kinda forgot about those. Was anything lost?”

She shook her head. “No. A corner of a page caught fire, but I put it out before it could spread. I haven’t read much, but it’s all so hard to believe. I don’t think I would believe if it weren’t for what just happened, and the letter Princess Celestia sent me.”

“Letter?” I tried to sit up. “What letter?”

She put a hoof on my shoulder and pushed me back down. “Fluttershy says you need to lie down. She doesn’t want to risk you pulling out your stitches.”

“I have stitches?”

“Oh, Rarity did that,” she said nonchalantly. I looked down uneasily at my chest, causing her to chuckle. “She said it was just like mending fabric. But, well, that Shade’s teeth shredded muscle on the way out, probably when Applejack knocked him away, so it wasn’t exactly a simple fix. There’s a lot of thread keeping your injury shut, but Fluttershy said not to risk anything.”

I sighed in annoyance. That Pegasus was smothering me without even being in the same room. “You mentioned a letter…?” I reminded her.

“Oh right, the letter.” She removed her hoof from my shoulder and took a step back. “Celestia actually sent me three letters. The first two letters I got yesterday. The first told me she tried to send a letter to you, but something went wrong on your end and it couldn’t be sent. She thinks it was because you were sick, so the second letter was addressed to you. I wanted to deliver it to you, but Fluttershy sent me away, so I had to leave it in on your desk. I’m assuming you didn’t read it, since it was unopened, so I brought that with. The third letter,” she paused, making a face. “I had sent Celestia another letter after you were attacked, telling her about what happened. She responded almost immediately. She stressed that we shouldn’t use magic to heal anything. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me why?”

Tugging the blanket back over my chest, I shook my head. “It wouldn’t have gone well, let’s just say. I’d kind of like to put off talking about that for a while.”

She shrugged. “Fair enough. But Celestia also told me much more about your past. Namely, your abduction by the Shades, and what you told her about them. It was… eye opening and quite frankly, a little disturbing.” She angrily shook her head, but her anger wasn’t directed toward me. “Your journal was worse. Those ponies, the Shades, how could they be so cruel?”

I was surprised when she waited for an answer to what I took to be a rhetorical question. “How far have you gotten in my journal?”

“Uh, I think I’ve read fifty pages so far.” She frowned again and rolled her shoulders. “It’s slow going, since I need to disenchant each page or it threatens to burst into flames. In the last entry I read, you mentioned a ‘sight-far-seeing’ spell and an orb you were beginning to use to see into the distance. You also wrote Viker had, uh, commented on your coloration.”

I sighed, remembering the event after that entry. “Then let me ruin it for you: I fed too much energy into the orb, and it exploded. Two shards of glass hit my nose, and a third blinded my right eye. That led to my, uh… did Celestia cover that in her letter? My writing gets hard to read for a while after that.”

“Your Shade’s eye,” she said quietly. “Viker performed the ritual instead of you; your eye reflects her own power instead of yours, so it’s blue. It was in the letter, but I still want to read the journal entry on it. Celestia thinks you held some things back from her and Luna, and believes your writings will hold more than what you told them.”

“I did,” I said dryly. “The existence of my journal was one, for a while at least, until Luna asked about the magical book I had in my room, but there’s more. And a ‘Shade’s eye’ isn’t entirely accurate. It’s an enchantment utilizing dark magic most commonly used by Shades.” I sniffed, grinning wryly at the Unicorn. “If you want to learn more, you’ll have to read about it. Working your way around my spells will be a project for you. I’ll give you some pointers on breaking magic, but everything else is up to you.”

“Alright.” she nodded eagerly. “I’ll get your letter. Is there anything else you need?”

My stomach rumbled as I thought. “Uh, an apple would be nice,” I said, embarrassed. “I haven’t had anything to eat all day. And if you get the chance, I’d appreciate it if you’d get my second lens from home.” I rubbed at the bandages covering my eye. I assumed Fluttershy did that for the sake of preserving my secrecy, for which I was grateful. But, seeing as how three of the mares already knew about it, it was a safe bet their other friends did as well. “These wraps are throwing off my depth perception, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it uncovered.” I hesitated, thinking. “I don’t think anypony else would feel comfortable if I did either.”

Twilight shrugged uneasily. “Probably not,” she admitted. “Fluttershy and Applejack were both very, um, adamant about keeping your eye covered with something. And from what Applejack said, it’s not a pretty sight, so that would probably be for the best. But I’m curious as to how Fluttershy knew about it?”

“Oh, uh, at the party, she saw it.” I gave her a quick overview of what happened, leaving out my threatening of the Pegasus of course. I attempted to leave out anything regarding my haunches, but Twilight evidently already knew.

“You have no Cutie Mark,” she stated. I was at a loss for words, so I simply nodded. Of course they knew, Celestia had told her a great deal already, why not that too? “I don’t see why you don’t though. Was it the Shades as well?”

My stomach growled emptily as I frowned. “Yes. The removal process was messy, and… it doesn’t heal properly. It was part of a much larger spell the Shades were performing. Any attempts to undo it have a… let’s say unpleasant reaction for myself and the healer. That’s actually part of the reason healing magic won’t work well with me.” I was unwilling to talk about it, for all my bluster about wanting to be open with them. “You’ll find it’s all in the journal.”

“Fine,” she sighed in exasperation. “I’ll get you some food. Tomorrow I’ll get your lens, if that’s alright?”

“Tomorrow?” I glanced around the room. “Right, I’m staying here then,” I grumbled. “Since I got here, I’ve gotten sick and almost gotten killed. I’m sure I’ll manage to succeed if you lot leave me alone long enough.”

She giggled, picking up on my grim humor, and thankfully not taking what I said at face value. That had led to plenty of problems in the Canterlot hospital. “We just want to make sure you stay safe. Like I said, it’s a miracle you’re even alive, and in addition to that injury, you still have a lingering illness. Fluttershy probably would have told you to take it easy anyway, but now that you’re back in her care, you’ll have to.” She gave me a smile as she left the room. “Be right back!”

I had just begun to look under the blanket, intent on taking a look at what was done to my chest, when voices outside the door brought my head up. Fluttershy was back, and to my surprise, Rainbow Dash hovered behind her. “Oh, uh, hello ladies,” I smiled. “Sorry for being such a burden.”

“No, it’s fine,” Fluttershy said sweetly. “I’m just happy you’re okay.”

“I’ve been in your care for half of the time I’ve been here,” I grumbled. “I’m thankful that you’re willing to put up with me, but still.”

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up.” Rainbow Dash flitted to the side of the bed, nudging my left shoulder with a hoof. I winced when she hit the spot Splint’s horn stabbed, and she flinched as well. “Sorry.” I jumped when she suddenly pulled me into a quick hug, but she broke it just as fast. “Applejack told me how you protected her. I… I almost lost two friends today.”

“It’s nothing,” I said, eying the cyan Pegasus uncertainly. Did something else happen? Who else aside from Applejack had been in danger? Surely she didn’t mean me… did she? “She ended up saving me. I would be in much worse shape if she hadn’t acted.”

But Rainbow shook her head angrily. “It’s not nothing Dusken. She said you got hurt when you moved your shield thing to her. This is a pony’s life we’re talking about- your life too! You sound like you don’t even care. Like getting hurt or dying is no big deal to you!” She was talking loudly, almost shouting, and I found myself at a loss for words. Her fury died when I looked away. “You… don’t, do you?”

“O-oh my.” Fluttershy spoke up when I remained silent. “I wanted to check your chest, to see if the s-stitches are holding, or if infection set in.” She gently nudged the now quiet rainbow maned Pegasus aside and pulled the blanket down. I didn’t protest when she began untying the bandages around my upper torso.

“You don’t, do you?” Rainbow repeated.

I looked over Fluttershy and sighed. “I was only worried about Applejack. Honestly, I could care less what happened to me now.”

“Why?”

“Well,” I shifted as Fluttershy continued to paw at my wraps. “Maybe I’ve just been desensitized to it? I lived amongst the Shades for several years, and every day I was hurt and threatened for some reason or another. It loses its meaning after a time. And besides,” I shrugged, drawing a tsk from Fluttershy. “Er, sorry. Besides, I’m alive now, a little worse for wear, but still breathing. There’s no point in worrying over it now.”

“He’s right,” Fluttershy muttered softly, removing the last of the bandages. “L-let’s just be happy he’s okay.” She inspected my injury with a critical eye. There had been a ragged hole in my chest, I knew, but I didn’t expect it to resemble shredded meat. A patchwork of thread held everything together, but the wound was still red and raw. It didn’t appear to be mortifying, so I was in the clear yet.

“I guess,” Rainbow Dash said unhappily. She lifted off the floor and looked over Fluttershy, peeking at my chest as well. “I was talking about you too, y’know,” she said suddenly. “You’re a friend, and I hate to see my friends get hurt.”

“I am?” I looked up in surprise, Fluttershy now tenderly poking at my stitches. “I m-mean, well, why?”

“You’re an alright guy, I guess.” She shrugged. “I mean, you’ve shown you’re not a bad pony by saving Applejack, plus you helped me and her through a tough spot, so… why not?”

I couldn’t help but smile at her simple honesty. It was odd thinking that I had a friend now, but it gave me a warm feeling inside. “Um,” Fluttershy looked up, having begun to retie my bandages. “I think of you as a friend t-too, Dusken.” Her face turned red beneath her yellow fur. “I’m sure Twilight and Pinkie Pie do too.”

I hid my embarrassment with a chuckle, though I was sure I was blushing as well. “And Rarity and Applejack?”

“Aw, I’m sure Applejack’s alright with you now.” Rainbow shrugged. “I don’t know what Rarity’s deal is though. I think she’s just afraid of you really.”

“Afraid of me?” I looked down. A good portion of my body was wrapped in bandages now, and beneath Fluttershy’s hooves I could see my ribs. But then again, I knew the effect my scars and mannerisms had on ponies. I doubted my first impression- a soaked, hooded, scarred pony late to the party thrown for him, was a very good one. I probably appeared to be a pony she wanted nothing to do with, and I don’t think I could blame her.

I suddenly frowned. “What happened to my cloak?”

“Oh, it was damaged,” Fluttershy answered. “And, um, soaked in b-blood. Rarity said she would take care of it when she left with Pinkie Pie.”

“She took my cloak?” I quenched the anger I felt building. I’m sure she meant no harm, but she couldn’t possibly understand the sentimental value in it. I don’t know what I would do if she ruined it. Instead, I nervously glanced at the two mares. “Did she say what exactly she was going to do?”

“Dunno,” Rainbow said with a shrug. I started to chew my lower lip when she wove her hooves at me. “Hey, don’t worry! I’m sure it’ll be cool.”

My response was cut off when Fluttershy jerked my bandages, tightening and finally tying them. “It looks fine,” she announced at length. “But there isn’t much for the stitches to keep together, so you can’t do anything strenuous, or they’ll rip out.”

I sighed and laid my head back on the pillow. “Yes ma’am, doctor Fluttershy.” It’s not like I made a habit of doing anything strenuous. “And how long will you be holding me here?”

“As long as you need watching,” the yellow Pegasus said with a shrug. “It will take a while for that to heal, so—“ I groaned, rolling my eyes, and she frowned slightly. “Well, I g-guess once I’m sure that your injury isn’t, um, such a serious risk, you could go home. J-just promise you won’t do anything that might reopen it.”

“Of course.” She seemed satisfied with my answer, which hopefully meant I could go home soon. “Where’s Twilight? She said that, oh.” As I spoke, the lavender Unicorn trotted in, levitating an apple to me, which I immediately began getting to work on. “Thanksh,” I mumbled around the apple.

She smiled and nodded. “I’m going to head home. I’ve got some reading to do.” Another object floated over, and set down on the nightstand. It turned out to be a roll of paper. “That’s Celestia’s letter to you. I didn’t read it, so whatever’s in there, is between you and her.”

I swallowed my mouthful of apple and nodded, keeping the half eaten apple levitating over the covers. “Thank you. Oh, and when you stop by the tower, you should grab some things from the chest. There’s another book and some scrolls, and seeing as how I won’t be headed home anytime soon, you might as well take them. They’ll help you.” She nodded and I held a up a hoof. “Don’t go practicing anything you find in them though. Most of those contain spells you aren’t ready for, and I won’t have you trying anything unsupervised.”

“I won’t, don’t worry,” she assured. “Good night.” The Unicorn trotted back out of the room, and Fluttershy made to follow.

“I’m getting tired too,” the yellow Pegasus mumbled. “I’ll be downstairs. Is there anything else you need, Dusken?” I shook my head and she smiled. “Well, goodnight then.” She left the room.

I glanced at Rainbow Dash and raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you tired too?”

She glanced out the window and shrugged. “Nah. Not really. Are you?”

“I’ve been asleep most of the day.” I snorted. “The last thing on my mind is rest.” I resumed eating the apple, the emptiness in my stomach slowly fading.

“Well hey, I don’t have anything to do,” Rainbow grinned. “I could just hang out here for a while and we could, I dunno, talk. Fluttershy won’t mind.”

I gave her a considering look, happy that she would stick around. “I’d like that.” Rainbow’s grin widened.

Time slipped away, I had no real way of keeping track, but I’m sure we talked for a long time. Eventually I finished my apple and, finding no waste basket, simply launched the core out the window. She regaled me with her own accounts of events I had heard from Celestia or other sources. I finally learned what a Sonic Rainboom was, but the thought that a Pegasus could exhibit such power boggled my mind. She spoke glowingly of her friends and Ponyville, though she admitted Twilight was sometimes too wrapped up in her books, and Fluttershy was still sort of a pushover, despite some seminar she attended. I also finally found out which of the ponies were what Element of Harmony. Rainbow’s made sense, given both the present situation, and my previous encounters with her. Rarity surprised me, as she had seemed aloof last time I met her, but it also explained why she took my cloak with her.

It wasn’t a one sided discussion though; I told her fragments of my childhood, but mostly focused on the time I spent in Canterlot. I had lived there for almost two years, and had seen a variety of interesting things. She laughed when I told her of the times the royal sisters had forced me to attend some party or another, and seemed sympathetic in my endeavors to avoid the work being the Court Wizard entailed in favor of my own interests. But what seemed to interest her most were my limited interactions with the Wonderbolts, where I had dealt with them twice.

At a social gathering Celstia told me to go, they had had a small Wonderbolts’ show. Something went wrong, and Fleetfoot crashed, breaking a wing. I had been the only Unicorn with knowledge on mending bones, so I performed a quick, albeit painful fix, and set her wing to right. Every now and then, I received a card from her for various holidays, which I occasionally replied to.

The second had been through my own work; the Wonderbolts often enchanted their goggles to prevent them from breaking or getting dirty midflight. The group’s captain, Spitfire, and lost hers, and required similar enchantments on the new pair she got. Once again, I had simply been the only Unicorn available for such a task, and did as she asked. When I had mentioned to Rainbow that the goggles were more likely to survive an accident than their wearer now, she glared at me.

I had been in the middle of backpedaling, assuring her that the Wonderbolts’ captain wasn’t likely to crash, when she started staring intently out the window. “Dash?” I propped myself up, ignoring the warnings Twilight and Fluttershy had given me. “What’s wrong?”

She kept her eyes locked on something in the distance. “There’s a light.” She turned her head and stared at me. Her eyes were wide with fear. “It’s the same light from the night of the storm,” she mumbled, looking back outside.

A cold ball of dread formed in the pit of my stomach. Viker was back. I ground my teeth and rolled out of bed. The cyan Pegasus gave me a startled look and started to try and push me back, but I shrugged her hoof off. “Could you get me down there?”

“What?!” She hopped back, rapidly looking from me and the window. “You want to go out there?”

“I need you to get me out through the window.” I joined her at the window, and sure enough, a yellow light glowed at the edge of the woods. “I’m don’t want to wake up Fluttershy, and I don’t favor my chances of trying to climb up and down two stories.” I leaned out the window, weakly generating a white light of my own. The yellow light faded, replaced by two pinpricks of blue light. I glanced back at Rainbow Dash. “Please?”

She chewed her lip uneasily, but nodded. “Alright,” she said slowly. She wrapped her forelimbs around my torso and gently lifted me up and out the window. We were in the open air now, and she dropped her head. “It’s a Shade, isn’t it?”

I nodded, the back of my head brushing her chest. “Viker,” I muttered. “I think she just wants to talk again.” Rainbow dipped lower to the ground, and I could see my old mentor now.

Viker leaned her side against a tree, her eyes burning brightly. Her lips were tugged back in a grin, revealing her horrible teeth, and she idly pawed a black hoof at the dirt. She gave a dry chuckle when we landed. “Dusken,” she rasped. “I’m glad to see you well. I wasn’t expecting you to bring… company.”

I took a shaky step forward as Rainbow stood at my side. “What do you want now, Viker?” I ignored the empty pleasantries she offered. “I assume you know about Splint?”

She chuckled again and pushed off of the tree. Her horn glowed black and Rainbow Dash jumped back, whipping her head back and forth. “What happened?!” the Pegasus cried. “I-I can’t see!”

I glared at Viker. “What did you do?”

“I’m just ensuring our chat will be private,” the Shade said dismissively. “She’s blind and deaf for now. It’s temporary, I assure you.”

“At least let me tell her,” I growled. Viker shrugged and jerked her head toward the cyan Pegasus. “Rainbow?” I touched her shoulder with a hoof.

“Dusken!” She leaned toward me, eyes frantically darting around, unseeing. “What’s going on?”

“She doesn’t want you to see or hear anything.” I pulled the blind Pegasus close, draping a front leg across her neck. “Nothing will happen, don’t worry. I’ll- I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

“That’s enough of that,” Viker scoffed, and her horn glowed once more. Rainbow’s ears flattened against her head, but she remained calm, leaning against me as her eyes stared blankly at the ground. “I’m glad you survived your little encounter with Thel. You were on death’s door when I found you.”

“When you…” My thoughts began to churn as things began to add up now. “I didn’t seal my injury. You did…?”

The Shade snickered and nodded. “Like you kept Thel alive, I have a use for you. Healing a pony who’s infused with dark magic, with dark magic won’t cause any negative side effects.” She sighed in irritation, grimacing at the dirt. “Things are moving faster than I anticipated. You know of the existence of the Elements of Chaos at least, so that saves some explaining. We have two in our possession, but we can’t find a pony to bond with the second.”

“They bond?”

She frowned now. “Then you don’t know much. Yes, they bond. The Elements of Harmony manifest when they find the appropriate pony. The Elements of Chaos are always physically present, but exert no influence until they find a living counterpart. The Element of Anger, for example, was powerless until it found a pony so consumed with rage he was essentially anger in a living and breathing form.”

I shared her frown. “I thought Celstia said once Discord was defeated, they vanished.”

“Vanished is a poor word for it,” she explained. “They dropped out of view, and no longer contained any energy. As Discord’s prison weakened, it was like a drop of water in a still pond. The ripples disturbed the Elements, and when he finally broke free, they came fully awake. And there are some ponies who want to use those newly awakened forces to banish Celestia and Luna, and crown themselves as rulers instead.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” I eyed the Shade suspiciously, drawing another grin from her.

“Because that would upset a great many things. The Shades are not acting alone; we’ve been contacted by the Element of Dark Magic, and he’s pushing for the reunification of the Elements of Chaos.” She shook her head. “That cannot be allowed to happen. I cannot openly move against him, or I’ll simply be replaced. He’s already suspicious of me, and wouldn’t hesitate to find a new Element holder.”

“Wait,” I was trying to take in everything she was saying. “You’re an Element of Chaos?”

“Yes,” she snorted. “It’s the entire reason I became a Shade. Moving on,” she narrowed her eyes at me. “We’ve been unable to successfully bond an Element to anyone, so we’re passing it on to Anger, and letting him try and find a match. I’m worried he’ll succeed at finding an appropriate puppet to dance to his tune. At best, he’ll fail, and it will pass on to the Element of Lies, but I know she’ll be able to find a match.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re telling me this. What do I have to do with all this?”

“Dusken…” she pressed a hoof to her temple. “I cannot act, so you must. I need you to enable me to take arms against the Element of Dark Magic and his allies, and to do that, I need to be free of his lackeys.”

I had a feeling I knew what she was going to say, but I asked anyway. “And how will I do that?”

“Simple,” she said. “Kill the Shades. Or at least, the Shades who stand against me. I’ve lead this group for a long time, but Malken is questioning my motives, and there’s risk of a fissure. Thel, or Splint as you knew him, was his close second. With him gone, that will hopefully cause infighting to take his old spot, but it won’t last.” She trotted forward, unnervingly close now. She smelled of soot and ashes. “What I need you to do is train your little Elements of Harmony, and make your move. Malken must be killed, as well as most of the Shades he’s won to his side. I still have some loyal to my cause, but if I move, it’s not a sure bet we’ll win. And even then, having to kill his followers would result in too many losses of my own. Banishing them would be easiest, and that’s where you will come in.”

“So I’ll be banishing and killing Shades?” I angrily shook my head. “Why not just kill all of the Shades?”

“Because,” Viker rasped in exasperation. “Knowing you, whatever you cook up will result in your death. You saved Thel’s horn, I saw, so that’s good. You’ll need it. Here.” A scroll she had hidden somewhere levitated toward me. It seemed to be made of leather, and appeared to be bound with a strip of skin. I enveloped my own aura around it, unwilling to touch the loathsome thing. “That contains a very powerful spell that can’t be worked with dark magic: it will create a large portal to Tartarus. In the end, it doesn’t matter what Shades you trap, just so long as you get most of the ones sided against me. You could probably just nab Malken with it too, and not bother with killing him. Cerberus will take care of the rest.”

I stared at the floating scroll, unconsciously giving Rainbow Dash a squeeze. “And what about you?”

Viker grinned. “You can banish me if that’s what you really want, since I can’t stop you. You won’t be able to kill me though, I assure you. In the end, so long as my Element doesn’t fall into the hooves of one of the Element of Dark Magic’s spies, I don’t really care.” She snorted as she turned around. “I’ll leave that up to you. In the meantime, try not to get yourself killed.”

I silently watched her depart, her black coat making her slip away into the shadows. I gave the scroll another considering glance when Rainbow stirred. “What is that?” she asked, now looking at the roll of leather.

I was relieved Viker had been telling the truth; it would appear Rainbow Dash could see again. Hopefully she could hear too. “A spell,” I said uncertainly.

“A spell?” It would appear her hearing was back as well. “From that Shade?”

I nodded, releasing her. “I… I have a lot to think about. Could you get me back to my room? I think I could use some sleep.”

The Pegasus wrapped her forelegs around my chest, careful of my bandages. “Yeah. I think I’m gonna head home too...” She looked down at me as she lifted off. “Should I, uh, keep this secret?”

I rubbed my temples with my hooves, the scroll levitating alongside me as we flew. “It would just raise questions. If you could just not mention it, I’d appreciate it. I’ll tell you all what happened later; like I said, I have some thinking to do.”

She nodded, looking up at the night sky. It must have been midnight by now, and despite sleeping all day, I was getting tired. “I’m scared, Dusken,” she whispered. “What’s happening?”

I sighed, looking down at the ground passing beneath us. “I don’t really know, Dash. But I’m scared too.”