Shadow, Love and Pride

II

Lies and Expectations

A night such as this is the type described in horror stories. Where you can't even see your hand right in front of you. A dark figure, masked and covered in heavy leather dressings slowly climbed the mountain. Bellz limps towards the cave. Carrying with pain her right leg that refuses to follow commands. She grunts and gasps for air heavily. She stops. Takes three deeps breaths and CRACK. She forcefully placed her knee in it's socket. She refuses to cry, she refuses to scream. The mistress would hear. Bellz hates weakness. No more than a minute later she walks normally now, inwards to the cave.

Bellz encounters Raaza, large in size and even more due to her armor, within a few feet of entering. “What all that bitchin'?” She asked.

“Hunting accident.” Bellz answers. Keeping the pace and not stopping.

“You dunna has to go after bears every time your turn to hunt.” Raaza was strong. Her manner of speech leads many to believe a lack of intellect on her part, a mistake her enemies quickly regret making.

Bellz stops a few feet away, and turns to face her giant colleague. “I do it for mistress. Bears are her favorite. If I get hurt or worse getting what she desires... petty prize to pay.”

“Not a tyrant. You just dumb masochist.” Raaza giggled. Disregarding Bellz, she continued to watch the entrance.

“Get some speech therapy before you call anyone dumb.” Raaza ignored Bellz. She's heard every insult in existence that could possibly be made regarding her speech.

Bellz continued down a zigzag path inside. Closing in to her home, a fire could be heard. Inside was a huge room decorated as a sanctuary, a happy home. Her three sisters were busy doing their duties, Mistress occupied in her studies on a far corner. The fire wasn't enough to illuminate their faces. All noticed and looked in Bellz direction as she entered empty handed. No meat tonight. Again.

Bellz stood still, she knows what is to come. And gulped due to anxiety. She dared not speak. Mistress still seated with her legs crossed on the floor in the corner. Spoke in a tone that echoed in the entire cave. Even Raaza would hear her clearly.

“A devoted child. One who would give everything to fulfill the wishes of her peers... Is to be praised for trying. But one can only have so much patience for failure.”

Bellz fell to her knees and cried. Her sisters continued on her duties.

ZZZ

“So you just trusted him? What if he's the “”Shadow that Approches””?” Rainbow Dash told Twilight making fun of Kido's way of talking, as described by Twilight and Pinkie.

Twilight had just finished telling her friends all about her talk with Kido and his warning. The five friends all either worried or in disagreement with Twilight for being so trusting. But it's about to get worse.

“I know. I know.” Twilight felt dumb now recalling the experience and how Kido made her feel. Calm, at peace. She can trust him... right?

“We all should turn around and have a talkin' with that fancy speaking fella.” Applejack said. The friends nodded.

“Not to mention that GHASTLYYYYY attire.” Everyone looked at Rarity in disbelief. “What?”

“Don't you see? He's THE EEEEEVVVIIIIIILLLLLL!!!” Pinkie Pie started making gestures and faces, much like when she described Zecora, when they didn't know her.

Twilight was looking at the floor of the carriage now. Praying once more that Ponyville will be safe. A bump in the road interrupted her self punishment.

“Twilight is there something your not telling us?” Surprisingly, Fluttershy against her nature asked. Concern for her friend overcoming her shyness. The five friends looking with concern at Twilight.

Twilight considered whether or not to tell them about what she saw within Kido's cloak. She decided. Still looking at the floor. “As I was leaving the shop to mount the carriage... I saw some shiny pieces of metal inside his cloak...” Twilight was anxious now.

“Go on Sugarcube.” Applejack said softly after a quick silence.

“I think...” Twilight slowly lifted her gaze towards her friends. “I think they were knives... Lots of them.” Twilight started to sob. Feeling stupid.

The five ponies were now worried, looking at each other, hoping one would have a more positive theory. Their families are all in Ponyville. They all approached their devastated friend trying to confort her. Telling her they were imagining the worst.

But Twilight knew better. The princess knows something is about to happen, just like she did with Discord. She called for the wielder's of the Elements of Harmony in hopes of preventing what was about to come. But something in the pony's gut told her... The shadow has been cast.

Some time has passed since Twilight and her friends left for Canterlot. At Sugarcube Corner Kido was still seated at the same table. He marked the page on his book, closed it and began to stand. He was hunching in his chair, because as he stood on two feet he was much bigger. He carefully made sure to  keep his cloak tucked as to not call for unwanted attention. Mrs. Cake was just coming to check on him. “You all set hun?” she politely asked with a smile.

“Very much so. I will be taking my leave. Thank you for your service.”

“Oh...” Mrs. Cake just noticed the big tip left on the table by her mystery bi pedaled customer. “Thank you... Will you be staying at the inn perhaps?”

“Perhaps I may. Fortune, Ladyluck if she may grant her divine smile at night on a contemptible creature such as myself. Then I will truly know bliss. A stratagem developed which goes in the direction one desires.” He takes a deep breath of relief. “This may become my place of rest and a wanderer I will no longer be.”

Mrs. Cake gave a puzzled look. Remained silent.

“Pardon...” He cleared his throat. Choosing to change his usual speech pattern. “I'm sorry. What I meant was. If I am lucky. My plan goes well. As I hope it will. Then yes. Ponyville shall be mine to call my own.”

Mrs. Cake smiled. She found her new customer to be different but he seemed likeable enough. She wished him luck, and proceeded with her duties. Kido made for the exit. As he walked he talked to himself:

“No fear for what's to come.

No fear to leave home.

No fear to live free.

Evil now present yourself to me.”

The Mane 6 was now approaching the vault were the Elements of Harmony are kept. This is to be where they will meet with Princess Celestia. There she was, right on schedule. All the girls were nervous but none more than Twilight. As they grew closer the princess smiled. Standing right in front of her now. The girls bowed.

“Twilight Sparkle. My prized pupil” The princess greeted her pupil in the usual manner. Twilight and her friends stood. “Are you all right my dear?” There was no hiding Twilight's feelings.

“Kido Badtower.” Twilight immediately blurted out. Her friends looked at her. Twilight wanted to say more but she couldn't. Pinkie Pie put her hoof on Twilight's back for comfort. It worked to a certain point and Twilight continued. “I met Kido Badtower in Ponyville princess.” But Princess Celestia was silent and had a puzzled look.

Twilight proceeded to explain her experience and conversation with the cloaked and mysterious individual in the best detail she could manage. She finished explaining how he said to tell the princess his name as evidence of the shadow that is to come over Ponyville. And finally about the knives.

And silence took over. Twilight and her friends looked with anticipation at the princess. The princess looked down and after a minute she raised her head. Took a deep breath. And spoke softly as if confessing a crime. “You are indeed correct Twilight. I feel a shadow is approaching Ponyville. But the small town is to be only the means to an end, to cast shadow on Canterlot. But I am afraid is different in the worst of ways. Forgive me, today I merely wanted to share my concern. I don't think I should cause a panic based on my feelings towards the future.” The girls stayed silent and listened. The princess took a few steps towards the right looking at the decorated window displaying the battle between the girls and Nightmare Moon.  “Nightmare Moon, my sister, she wanted to cast eternal night on Equestria. Discord desired to cause mischief. But neither wished or caused physical harm to any pony. What is to come...” She gathered her words. “What I feel, what I dream, what I know in my heart to be true... Is pain and suffering to everypony and creature in Equestria.” The girls faces displayed fear now.

“But now you are certain of what is to come and how to stop it right?” Twilight worked a smile, so did her friends nodding in agreement. Hoping that Kido's name had shed some light on the matter.

The princess walked over to her original spot in front of the vault. Faced the girls. And with a heavy heart said. “Twilight that name is not familiar to me at all.”