Shadow Prophet

Shadow was sitting at the counter, his face slumped in his hoof, the other ringing the service bell repeatedly, when the front door opened. He instantly straightened and said, "Welcome to Shadow's shop of oddities, how may I help you?" But when he saw who it was he froze, then jumped under the counter.

"Come out, I'm not going to punch you," Rainbow Dash said. Shadow poked his head up slightly, and saw behind Rainbow Dash was Twilight, and some other mares. The crowd just kept on getting bigger. An orange mare stepped forward, she was wearing a stetson, even though she was inside.

"Twi' told all of us yer story. And we all do think it's a mighty heavy story. But... well..." She seemed to be trying to find the correct words, to soften the blow. Rainbow Dash looked to the floor.

"You'd understand if we didn't quite... well... we can't really believe the whole... psychic thing," The orange mare finished.

"Thank you, Applejack," Twilight said.

"Well, it didn't look like anypony else was thinkin' uh sayin' it," Applejack replied.

A white mare with dark purple hair said, "Oh, you do understand how we can't believe you, right, dearie?"

"Yes, I understand. That doesn't mean I like it, however."

Rainbow Dash looked up the wall, not wanting to even look in the direction of the conversation. But Shadow could see the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

Twilight stepped forward. "I need more proof before we can believe any of this."

Shadow sighed."Okay." He slowly trotted over to the door and turned the, "Open," sign to the, "Closed," side. Rainbow Dash looked at Shadow and asked, "Why didn't you use your magic?"

"I never do," he replied.

"You've said that before. What does it mean?" Twilight asked.

"After the... incident, I was too scared to use my magic for such a long time, that once I was over my fear, I couldn't anyways. Even if I wanted to. Too much excess."

"What?" Twilight asked.

"You know the gland specific to unicorns that produces small amounts of magical energy even when a unicorn is not using it?"

"Yes."

"I didn't use my magic for five years. Therefore, the small amount produced by that gland built up, to dangerous levels. If I tried to use my magic today, it could wipe out everything in about ten miles."

"...Oh."

"Come here, Twilight.You're clearly the one who needs the most convincing." Shadow stood behind the wooden counter and beckoned Twilight, who trotted up to the other side.

"Give me your hooves."

She stat her hooves on the table and Shadow rested his on top of them. He breathed in sharply, and Twilight felt a cold shiver come over her.

Shadow closed his eyes and seemed distant, like he was dreaming. He began to speak. "I see... a... bakery. Sugar Cube Corner. It's morning-time, tomorrow, and you're there to get a breakfast muffin. You want Kiwi, but they're all out, so you get lime. You start freaking out after breakfast an start chasing me down, calling me a stalker. You... wait. There's something really big up ahead. A... you're... sailing out to Eternity's Crossing? And, then... oh my-"

Twilight drew her hooves back and Shadow opened his eyes. "What? Eternity's Crossing is one of the most dangerous seas in all of Equestria, why would I sail out there?!" Twilight asked.

"I don't know, that's what I saw." He replied.

"And what's this about you being a stalker?"

"I don't know. That's what I saw."

Twilight scoffed. "You're crazy."

"Maybe," Shadow said matter-of-factly.

Twilight thought this over, then said, "Come on, girls. Let's go." All of the mares left, and Twilight gave Shadow a suspicious glance. He smiled in a sarcastic way and waved.

The next morning...

Twilight Sparkle woke up in her bed and yawned loudly, stretching her hooves. She looked at the ceiling for a minute, then slumped out of bed. After she was ready to kick off the day, she wondered, still a little groggy, where to go for breakfast. A muffin sounded nice. Mmmm... kiwi. This was a tangy morning.

She nudged Spike's bed and asked, "Hey, sleepyhead. What do you want form Sugar Cube Corner?"

Still dreaming, Spike muttered, "Rarity..." Twilight held back a snicker. She left for SCC, and once there, saw a big sign labeled, "OUT, SORRY," set across the picture of a kiwi muffin. Dang! Well, lime is the closest thing. I guess I'll get that, Twilight thought. She ordered one, and sat outside, eating her muffin. At one point, she looked down at her muffin, down the street Shadow's oddity shop was, and almost choked on a piece of lime.