The Attack has been so sudden, Shadow never had a chance to defend himself the assasin had been through and to the point. Aiming at immobilising hitting both a wing and leg instantlly, pinning Shadow to the floor with small but effective sticks. Shadow knew what was supposed to happen now, once he could no longer move he was to be executed in a way to suffice the demon these ponies now worshiped. But it never happened, either that or being left to bleed to death on the ground was seen as a sufficent enough sacrifice to this pony. Either way, he had ran off leaving Shadow to lie there motionless and in constant pain. His dark smile still wedged into Shadow's mind as he trotted off happy with his accomplishment, knowing that in only a couple of hours Shadow would die from bleeding out.
It had only been an hour, but to Shadow this was a eternity. His entire body no longer functioned and he begun to pant, his shortness of breath causing sharp pains throughout. His right wing and left hindleg were no longer apart of him, all ffeeling from the stabbed areas were being given anylonger. He was slowly losing it, and he knew that at this rate he wouldn't have long. Moving his head slightly to his right, trying to get a better look at his impaled wing. He could see it was all the way though, and had even spiked through into the ground below. Such force.. I guess that is the demons magic at work. No pony should be able to shoot such a basic spike that hard.. Looking towards his left hindleg it was the same story, hope was now lost.
Attempting to remove the stake was now out of the question, and attempting to shout for help was no good either. Shadow may have been at the edge of the forest, but he was still to far away from anypony to ask for assistance. Tears began to form at his eyes, the small droplets slowly dripping down his soft midnight color coat. Stopping at his dark midnight mane, he was slowly losing his mind. He could only shed tears, his voice was lost to him as fear began to choke at his being the realisation that. He was going to die. The tears were no longer slow but forceful, streaming down his coat and finally past his mane. They beat down upon the earth below, making a small plop as they dropped. His mind was now lost to him, he had no feelings left in his body and the being he once was became a shell.
A once proud and gentle Colt, Shadow had become to love the life which he had taken. A small Cult known as the Everfree Tribe had taken him in as a small foal when he turned up in the forest, he had taken on the simple role of carrier. The tribe's main goal was a simple and noble one, to preserve the Everfree Forest's natural balance and refuse it to take the path of true evil. The tribe was split down into a select few groups, Unicorns were taken into the arts of deep elemental magic. A very strict and hard magic, mistakes were far to costly to make their training was very hard. They created potions, spirits, medicine and ancient spells which would hold the forest together and maintain it's balance. All things they created which may be spread or given to the forest were then given to the Pegasi, somepony like Shadow. They would take it were it was needed and use it as instructed. Earth ponies were the back bone who gathered food and water for the rest of the tribe, all living in harmony with each other.
That was at least, until the demon erupted. A spell gone wrong for the first time since the creation of the tribe, and boy did it go wrong. As the dust had settled after the spell erupted what could be seen in the middle was no stranger to Shadow, he knew a true demon when he saw one. Without a moments hesitation he had fled that day, he knew what would happen if he stayed. The screams and destruction behind him were more then clear, even after several minutes of flying. Tracing down a old friend he had explained the news, and recived instruction to find what were known as 'The Elements of Harmony and it's Users'. He had no time to ask questions as the demon was fast approaching. With his friends regards upon the matter Shadow had been sent out into the night, in search of a town known as Ponyville.
He had flown for over a day to reach the far end of the forest, Shadow had never been this far out before and know nothing about the land. It's emense size shocked Shadow as he finally saw the end in sight, reaching down to the floor of the forest he had intended to trott the rest of the way in order to gain some strength in case it was still longer towards the town. He had almost made it when the black pony had attacked him, and now he was here. Close to death and certain failure, the entire of Equestria doomed.
The sound of wings forced Shadow awake from his thoughts, they were faint but closing in. The thought that this must be either a new assasin or a helping hand were weighing around in his mind. He was out of options, he needed help and if it was another assasin what was the worst that could happen? Death was a fine release for Shadow right now. He had no way to say anything, his voice was still removed and he could not move. Think Shadow, think. There must be some way of telling them I am here.. but how! his mind forcing through memories in order to gain something to call this approching being with. But it was not needed.
It was a Pegasus, a pale yellow one with a light pink tail and mane. She had on her back some small birds, one with a bandaged wing, she was also carrying some saddlebags small ones but they seemed to be filled. One of the birds on her back had seen Shadow and begun a flustered flapping and squaking, attempting to bring Fluttershy's attention towards the lying Pegasus down below here. As she looked down towards were this bird was flustering about, the horror attacked her at once. A sharp gasp escaped her mouth and without a moments hesitation she began to work on helping him.
"Quick, fly back to Ponyville and get as many ponies as possible to fly back with you" She instructs to one of her birds. Taking off at once, this bird takes the trip back towards Ponyville. She decends at once, landing with a soft thump right beside Shadow. "omygodnessomygoodnessomygoodness" She repeats after taking in the full extent of his wounds. "This is really bad" She removes her saddlebags at once, opening both sides to reveal medical bandages. She had been out helping some small animals when she had found him, thankful to have suck equipment with her.
"Fluttershy! Were are you!" A new voice had appeared, it haden't taken long for that bird to get someone. Zipping over the trees above Shadow and Fluttershy was a light blue pony with a rainbow mane and tail, spotting her friend in the blink of an eye she was landed beside her. "WOAH! What in the hay happened to this guy?" Shock racing through her system, she had expected to find Fluttershy stuck in a bush or something. Not some colt bleeding to death in front of her.
"Thank goodness Rainbow Dash, can you fly and get Applejack and Big Macintosh. I'll need them to help, they were not far away when I was flying over here. Then get Twilight to the hospital so we can treat him straight away." Hey voice so soft, but also so clear and instructive. With a salute of her right hoof Dash waste's no time, and before Shadow could follow was already on her way out of the forest.
It had taken five minutes for Applejack and Big Macintosh to reach the area were he lay, during that time Fluttershy had the wounds washed and wrapped. She had worked quick and with a delicate touch, making sure to reduce the pain as much as possible. As AJ and Big Mac approched the area the shock hit them fast, Big Macintosh looked close to being sick instantlly.
"What in tarnation happened here Fluttershy?" Applejack says, the shock more then apparent in her voice.
"I don't know, but I don't have time to figure that out. Quick I need you two to hold him down for me, I need to get these spikes out right away so we can get him to the hospital. Applejack can you hold his head, and can you hold his body" She says looking towards the pair, they move without hesitation. Holding him as firm as they could, but nothing could brace them for the sheer force that was now pinning against them. Without taking any time Fluttershy had grasped the spike in Shadow's right wing and yanked it out at once, muttering her apologies as she pulled.
The force that had awoken within Shadow was large, he was pushing with all his might to turn and attack at this new pain. He could see nothing but red and was using every ounce of strength in him to fight back, Big Macintosh was at first holding back but now had no choice but to apply every bit of weight and strength upon Shadow. His nostrils blasting out pure rage, and his hooves digging into the earth trying to push up. After a few minutes of this Shadow eventually wore out and colapsed once again, he was begining to pass out now darkness in his vision he had wasted to much strength and now time was even shorter. His head hit the earth with a thud and at last Shadow was lost to his body, he was unconcious and his breathing had grown faster and heavier.
"ohmygoodness we need to get him out of here now. Hold him again, I need to get this other spike." Once again wasting no time, she removed the last spike. This time to no resistance, as Shadow was out of it. With a flurry of dust, Dash landed not to far away and jumped over to were the others were. Before she could even speak Fluttershy was once again ordering her around. "Thank goodness, Dash do you think you can fly him to the hospital? He's out of time now, I don't know if he will make it" Dash didn't even answer, but instead in one fluid motion had Shadow upon her back. The fastest pony in all of Equestria now had a challange ahead of her, to get this pony to the hospital in 10 seconds flat.
Licking her lips Dash took that challange she had made and shot off into the sky at speed, gone in a blink of the eyes. Fluttershy and the others breathed a short sigh of relief knowing that, no matter how crazy Dash maybe, she would get him there in one piece and in no time at all. As the others were able to at last relax they knew that it wasn't over just yet, once he got the hospital it was all down to the medical team and Twilights extensive knowledge of magic to save his life. Fluttershy repacked her saddlebags, but before she could plalce them on her back Applejack had taken them instead.
"I think you've been through enough today, let's get back to town." She says smiling, the tiredness was all to aparent on Fluttershy. She had been taken by shock and was acting only on instinct, and it had slowly eaten away at her. Now that she was relaxed the weakness was more then showing. Following the others at a walking pace towards the town, she said a few muffled prayers towards Shadow.
As the hosptial doors burst open to reveal a tired Pegasus with a injured one on it's back Twilight knew at once what was happening, her horn glowing into action she used her magic to lift the injured Pegasus from Rainbow Dash and onto the waiting bed. The hospital staff wasted no time at all, rushing Shadow at once into the waiting operating room Twilight trotting behind. Dash picked herself up at once, not wanting to let it look like she was weak to anyone else in the vicinity. She proceeded into the waiting room just down the hallway, watching the team she had left the injured colt with rush away all the way to the bottom of the hallway and through the double doors at the end.
The doctors and nurses begun work at once, removing the now blood drenched bandages and letting their horns begin to glow and work. Using delicate medical magic they worked in pairs as they stiched and sowed Shadow's leg and wing back together, Twilight was using her extensive range of spells to try and reduce the bleeding as much as possible. But what she was really aiming at was to delve into his mind, and reveal the true extent of his recent happenings. And what she found shocked her, even though she could only go back upto the point of the attack as the pain was also attacking at her mind as well as Shadows. She had seen enough to raise a numerous amount of questions, putting them aside for now she focused her attention at last on just fixing Shadow up.
It had taken quite sometime to get Shadow into a stable condition, both Twilight and the medical team were exhausted. It had been far to long since they had such a operation on their hands, many of them making small mistakes they were so out of practise. At last leaveing the operating room and proceeding towards the close watch unit, the operating team left Shadow in the hands of the night crew as they revised his current condition taking notes at all times. After several minutes of full checks and procedures they concluded their notes as 'Stable but life threatening', making sure to place him under twenty four hour supervision. As the crew begins to settle into their shifts looking after all the other ponies, another set of ponies is about to discover a few things about Shadow thanks to Twilight's intuition.
"Ok Twi, what did you want to see us all here for at this time a night?" Applejack ask's, all six ponies were sitting in Twilights room in the library at this point. She had called them here after managing to get away from the hospital at last.
"Well I was hoping that those who had helped this pony, would like to know he is stable at this time" She says, searching for a book at the sametime.
"Well that's mighty fine, but you didn't just bring us all here for that. I know you too well Twi, you know something about him don't you." Applejack ask's.
"Yes I do, whilst I was studying his wounds I also used my magic to peer into his mind. To try and get some information onto this, strange pony. What I found is this, he comes from the depths of the Everfree Forest." Hearing the gasp of the other five ponies behind her didn't slow her search for a certain book. "And by deep, I mean. At least over a days full flight from here deep." Her search is complete, placing the found book upon the stand her horn comes to life, searching deep into the books contents.
"Ok, so what is he doing here?" Rarity pips up, her question supported by the others nod.
"Well. I don't know, but what I do know is this. He came here for some sort of help, and before he got here someone attacked him and left him to die. If Fluttershy hadn't come along when she did, then I don't think we would be seeing him at all." They were all worried now, nopony had ever attacked another like that around here. "It's the attack which has interested me, I read not to long ago of such a thing happening deep within the Everfree Forest. But I never expected it to happen so close... Ah here it is." She begins about reading into the book, dubbed ancient callings and prophecies.
"Ok, so we don't know who he is or.." Dash begins.
"His name is Shadow" Twilight pips up from her book.
"Ok so we KNOW who he is, but why would he come here for help? I mean if it's really over a days flight from the depths of the Everfree Forest, it must be a really big problum going on in there." Looking towards the others for support.
"O my.. Ermm, I think Dash is right. It's a REALLY BIG problem. It states here that a old prophecy called the Darkness of Demonic Light will bring around the death of both Sun and Moon. Creating not eternal night, but eternal Darkness of Pure Demonic Light. It is also said that the only thing to stop it, is the power of the Elements of Harmony. The source of this disaster will eminate from deep within a forest, controlled by a demon of power that no one dares attack." Twilight recites from her book.
"Ok, so what does that have to do with him?" Dash ask's.
"Becouse he comes from the exact same area that this prophecy is said to begin at. We need to wait until he awakens, and we need to find out exactlly what is going on here. Becouse if this comes true, we will never see any light ever again. And the only way to do that is to... remove both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I need councel both at once, this is really important now." Twilight was now becoming ever more worried about the prophecy she was now reading.
"Ok everypony, now that we know this I say we all get prepaired. Because if this is going to happen then as the element users we need to be ready." Rarity pip's up once again.
"Now now girls, I wouldn't get to worked up just yet, at the rate he is healing I wouldn't be looking at going anywere for at least a few days. Also I want to know what our Princess's think about all this first, it's a really old prophecy. So I don't know if it could come true or not, I just hope it can't.." Twilight says, placing the book in a memorable place for later reading. "It's late, and I think we should all get some rest for now. I'll see you all tomorrow, I just hope he can pull through all this after the attack he has had on him." As the girls say their goodbyes leaveing Twilight by herself, Fluttershy was reluctant to leave after the others were gone.
"Erm.. Twilight. Could I at least talk to you for a second?" Fluttershy asks.
"Sure Fluttershy, what's the matter?"
"Ermm.. well it's just..." A small pause as Fluttershy thinks about what she is asking. "Do you think he will make it at all?" The look of concern was more then visible.
"I don't know Flutter..."
"Please, just a yes or a no."
"...Yes, I hope."
"Thank you, it will make it... ermm.. easier to sleep for me to know he is ok." At last leaveing. As Twilight returned to her room after closing the door she begins to write a letter towards the two Princess's explaining the situation. After doing so, she uses her magic to send it away, usually spikes job but he was away on offical buissness at Canterlot so she had to do it the old fashioned way. Before at last taking the rest she was so desperate to have, a thought pipped into her mind about what she had said to Fluttershy. Could she really believe those words? Would he really make it ok? she shook the thoughts from her mind, she needed rest and thinking such things would not help.
* - * - *
It had been around two days since Shadow had been brought to Ponyville and left in the hospital as Fluttershy made her way there, she had been worried about him since she had left the forest after Dash had taken him away. Today she was going to cure her worries by at least visiting him, she knew nothing of his current condition, but she was determind to find out. Entering the hospital she headed over to a pony behind a reception desk.
"Good morning, what can I do for you?" The reception pony ask's.
"Ermm.. Is there a pony.. called Shadow here?"
"Hmm letme check for you." Looking through her various notes, she finds him. "Ah yes, wing 2. He is open to visitors as well, another pony has already been to see him and I think she is still there.
"Another pony? O ermm thank you." Fluttershy proceeds down the hall after the thanks, looking for wing 2. It wasen't to far, and opening the door she was quite shocked to see Rainbow Dash.
"Dash? What are you doing here?" She ask's, quite intriged.
"O hey Fluttershy, I was just checking up on Shadow here. I was a tincy bit worried about him, but I was ermm just poping in quickly." As Dash tries to pop up a few other excuses as to why she was here, the very pony Fluttershy had come to check up on inteupted them all.
"Well I must say you do make up some silly stories" Shadow pips up at last, after being awoken by this new disturbance. Opening his eyes to reveal bright blue eyes. "But I take it from your worries that you are the ponies that helped me through all of this, thank you for that. I felt sure I was not going to make it." Lowering his head a little as to show his appreciation.
"O hey, pfft. It's no biggy, just so happens I was flying around when Fluttershy needed some help with you." Dash's boastful style in full force.
"I see, well once again thank you. But I do feel as if you need to know something, you have that look about your stance and face as if you need to get something off your chest." This caused Dash to go into a flurry of mubbled words, she wanted to ask him about this prophecy and other stuff. But not really now.
"O it's erm.. nothing no I'm good. Ermm, anyway. I'm going to leave you two alone, I need to get back to my practising. Not going to get into the wonderbolts lazing around." And with that she was gone. Leaveing Shadow and Fluttershy alone.
"Thank you by the way, if you hadn't come along I was forever lost. It means a lot to me what you did, even if I did act out of rage it was still very much needed at the time." Shadow says towards a now blushing Fluttershy.
"O.. I.. erm.." Her voice became to quiet to make out. This only made Shadow smile.
"O you are something, I've never met a pony like you, you can be so calm and collect when a issue arises. But so shy at the sametime when things are quiet. I think your quite cute." Forcing Fluttershy to really blush now, she dosen't know anything to say. All she can do is hide behind her mane. Scuffing a hoof accross the floor.
It took her a while, but she finaly got the courage to reply to him. "Erm.. your.. welcome" she says from behind her mane, slowly backing out of the door. Leaveing Shadow to go back to rest, smiling as she left. She didn't know what had gone wrong with her, but the moment he said she was cute she just lost all ability to speak.
"Hey Fluttershy... Whatever is the matter with you? Your brighter then the sun!" Twilight had approched from behind her, along with Applejack. "You look kinda cute like that." Smiling towards the now really shy Fluttershy. She could only hide her head again. "O.k. Well were here to see Shadow, do you know if hes ok?"
"Ermm.. hes.. awake.. if thats what you mean." She responds finally getting her more normal coloration back.
"Oh really? That's amazing! I didn't expect him to have recovered even close to that fast. I'd better get in there and check up on him then, are you coming back in Fluttershy?" She nods slowly. "Ok then, lets go." As the three enter the room, Shadow once again awakens. Opening his eyes to again reveal the pure blue eyes.
"I see I have even more company, I knew there was a few of you who saved me but I didn't think to get to say thanks to them all in one day." His voice full of life.
"Yes, I only came to check up on you but man you really shocked me. I expected a few days for you to recover to a more stable condition, not a couple and you were up and talking!" Twilights supprise more then relevent.
"Not to mention I've never met a pony with your strength before, it took me and Big Macintosh all our might to keep you held down as we got those spikes out of you. So it's no supprise a pony like that can recover in this short amount of time." Applejack states whilst standing next to Twilight.
As Shadow looked over at Twilight, his gaze was aluring to her. "Did you get the information you needed by the way? Or would you like me to fill in the blanks you have at this time in your memory." Twilight was taken aback at once, she never knew that he had seen her enter his mind. "I see it that you don't know the answers to everything, but you have most. I have been sent here to find the 6 Elements of Harmony and it's users. If you could get all six, I will explain at once what must be done. This land is running out of time, fast."
This was the moment Twilight had been eager to reach, and she was going to hear it all. Nodding to both Fluttershy and Applejack the three rush to get the others as fast as possible. Allowing Shadow to gather his thoughts at once about the upcoming meeting. It had taken little over a few minutes to get them all together, but as they all entered the room Shadow knew that this was the point that he had been needing to reach. As he forced himself into a sitting position, allowing his bandaged wing to get a little movement he began to study the six ponies in front of him. I was expecting some strong and tough colts to have mastered such powers, but I have no choice but to accept what I see in front of me. Either fate had it to me that the other day my life would be saved by them, or that it was by shear coincidence that such things happened. And I tend to favour the first at this time. He thought to himself, again catching himself he took a deep breath.
"I have been sent here to find you all and stop the Dawn of Demonic Light." Twilight had not wanted to hear that, it was the last thing. Both Princess Celestia and Luna had said it to be false, but here in front of her was the very pony that the prophecy had sent to find them. "I will tell you all a story. A story that marks the begining and ending of a tribe of ponies who's mission it was to preserve the balance within the Everfree Forest. But what they were in fact for, was to power the demon now in control of that forest. So that his dream of pure darkness may come about.
