-Dangerous shadows-

Shadow

Strange to see people out and about, going on peacefully when just yesterday this entire area had been nothing but scorched wreckage. I could still remember the battle that had destroyed it all vividly. The screams of Celestia's supporters as my unit tore down their little village in front of their eyes. The life going out of her men as our magic tore through them. To most it was needless violence, but I understood. I understood the need to make her people fear the Lunar guard. To make them understand how little their precious solar goddess truly cared. This town wasn't so far from Canterlot that she couldn't have come down with the royal guard and stopped us cold. But she didn't.

Now? Now their descendants went about their day, completely oblivious to the fact that I was here among the shadows. Things hadn't changed much in a thousand years. Still the people lead simple lives, bakers handing out sweets, the local tailor obsessing over some gem or another. All revering their 'princess'. I spat upon uttering that in my mind. The witch didn't deserve a regal title in the least. I grumbled as I moved on from the alley I'd taken residence in. The sun had risen high enough that I would soon need to use magic to make a shadow to hide in and that would be much too draining to hold over hours.

I made my way eastward, toward what I could only imagine was the town hall given the size and decor. There I waited for the mayor to make their- her appearance. Her I noted when I saw the woman enter and take a seat, looking through a few papers on her desk. From the exasperated look on her face I could only assume her job was to be a busy one today. Could such a small town truly have all that much going on? From my vantage I couldn't hope to make out voices sadly, but noted where she was storing recent paperwork and made my way northward now, observing the people, getting a feel for the times in general through rumor for now. We'd need something more concrete later.

What I heard surprised me sincerely. Things had been unusually active lately. Not only had their been a changeling assault on the capital, but the god of chaos himself had awakened! Madness. More insane that he'd come to THIS place in person. Had even been seen recently no less near the forest to the east, visiting a Pony known as 'Fluttershy'. I made note of this, if we could make use of anyone's aid it would be his. Though something else struck an even bigger chord in my mind. It seemed Celestia had taken on a protege. A 'Twilight Sparkle'. Who, as fate would have it, lived in this very town.

Fate was a funny woman. And very, very angry with this Twilight apparently. She and her little group of friends had faced down dragons, changelings, Discord, Even Dark lord SOMBRA in just around a year. A daunting list of challenges met. But now she faced us. Master Midnight was no weakling. Backed by the rest of us even this group would fall. Especially if we could secure the aid of Discord. I made a point to assure I had the directions to this Fluttershy's home correct, then started my way eastward...

Glimmer

A splitting headache was there to greet me the moment I began to feel the world settle back into place. Opening an eye just slightly turned it into an outright migraine when sunlight blinded me for a moment. Much too bright for early morning, meaning I'd lost hours. But to what? I sighed, trying to remember it all but all I could remember was that rainbow haired Pegasus chasing me, telling me to-

Oh. Yes well, it seemed as though she had the right of it. It came back to me, I'd hit a wall of trees too thick to evade. Made the mistake of glancing back for even a microsecond while flying through the trees. A filly's error. I tried to rise, groaning as the room began to spin for a moment. Though as I fell I felt something support me. Someone, a bright yellow Pegasus having lent me her hoof just in time to avoid a face plant.

“Careful there, you wouldn't want to hurt yourself any more than you have would you?” She spoke softly, helping me to lay down slowly again. “Don't worry, the nurse said you should recover fully as long as you relax. So please, let me handle things.”

I blinked up at her wearily and managed a faint smile and a nod. “Yes, thank you very much. Though if I might ask, do you know what happened to the other Pegasus?”

“Rainbow Dash?” She answered, her head tilted just slightly in thought. “Well after she helped get you into my living room here she took off to get the nurse. She's probably handling the clouds or training to be a Wonderbolt now though. Umm..why?”

“I simply wished to know if she had injured herself as well.” I let out a relieved sigh and rested my head on the cushion of her couch. “I...really must apologize for all this effort on my behalf. If I had simply stopped as she had asked you wouldn't-”

“Oh no, I don't mind at all.” She cut me off, a warm smile on her face. “Especially since you seem like a nice pony. But I do have to agree with part of that. You should be more careful. It wouldn't do if you wound up hurting yourself even worse than this."

I nodded, resting my eyes a moment. “Yes. Thank you again miss~”

“Fluttershy. No need for the miss.” She responded sweetly.

“Night Glimmer.” I spoke, not thinking until moments later that there was a chance my name would be known. Fortunately she didn't seem the least bit shocked or anything of the sort. I felt weak suddenly as she turned away for the moment, my eyelids becoming heavy. I did want to talk to this kind pony more but I could feel sleep taking me again. Curse head injuries

I was awoken suddenly by the sound of furniture smashing, jerking upright and glancing around quickly until I found the source of the disturbance. The door had been smashed in and it seemed so had several shelves. Twisted Shadow was standing at the doorway and across the room I could see Fluttershy cowering in a corner, trapped by a pair of shadowy claws. I looked between them rapidly, my mind trying to catch up with the events.

My body however moved well before it did, standing between the two and glaring at Shadow. “What in the world do you think you are doing?!”

“Glimmer... I hadn't even noticed-” She lifted a brow, noting the bandaging on my head. “...I do hope this isn't a case of amnesia.”

“It isn't,” I growled, stepping forward. “This pony is an innocent Shadow. She may be why I'm alive right now. I will not allow you-”

“She's seen us Glimmer. And that aside you will never guess just who it is this one is affiliated with. Celestia it seems has taken on an apprentice. She's part of her little group of friends. Protectors of that solar witch's kingdom.”

I blinked a few times, stunned. Could life be so absurd? Saved by someone like that? I glanced back at Fluttershy for just a moment. Knowing this I knew Shadow was probably in the right as far as orders were concerned. but I also knew Fluttershy was a kindhearted soul, an innocent, and apparently selfless enough to do what WE were supposed to be doing. Protecting the innocent.

I turned on Shadow again, shaking my head. “Leave her Shadow. I won't let you do this. We're not monsters.”

“Let me,” She scoffed, her horn glowing dangerously as the claws surrounding Fluttershy quickly shifted, threatening me instead, “You have no choice in this matter Glimmer. Even at your best you couldn't hope to fight me. You can barely stand up properly.”

I stepped forward again. Then lunged, beating my wings to propel me straight into her. Clearly she didn't think I had the nerve, not responding nearly fast enough to stop the collision. She was hurled bodily out the door and into the small stream in front while I stopped just outside, crumpling and cradling my head after the tackle had managed to smack ours together. Everything was blurred and I felt blood trickling down my face.

"You DARE?!" She screamed in rage, climbing her way up and finally deciding to skip her telltale shadow magic for something more traditional. She used telekinesis to lift and hurl me straight back inside, smashing me against the wall hard enough to crack it and leaving me limp on the ground. It took me a moment to rise again, legs quaking as I staggered toward her, not willing to let her get near Fluttershy again.

Though Fluttershy quickly made this moot, moving up beside me and glaring angrily at Shadow. “Why are you doing this? Isn't she your friend?! It sure sounded like it.”

Shadow laughed, horn crackling with dark energy as she formed a lance and smirked. “Friend? HAH! I don't HAVE friends. She's just a co-worker without the nerve to do the hard work. Yet again I'll have to do it FOR her!” She growled, tossing it. I yelped and jumped for it, putting myself between Fluttershy and the lance. There was no way I could push her in this condition. I braced, eyes cramming shut, but then came...nothing?

I opened them again and found nothing but darkness around me. And Fluttershy, who I could barely make out behind me. A moment later the darkness began to fade, the dome of black magic dissolving away. I looked to the door and my eyes widened instantly at the sight of Midnight standing over Shadow, a hoof on her throat.

“Now, I must ask, why EXACTLY is it that you are attempting to murder one of our own Shadow? ...Or this other Pony. I suggest you choose your words carefully.”

I could actually hear the gulp from across the room as she tried t force her words. “S-she...is the ally..,of Celestia's...apprentice...” She managed between gasps, Midnight applying just enough pressure to render breathing a slight struggle. “G-Glimmer...is protecting...her.”

“And rightly so.” Midnight growled, looking toward us. His horn shone brightly and a second later I heard a thud behind me, Fluttershy having fainted. Though she was breathing normally. “Tell me Twisting Shadow, do you realize how much trouble it would have brought down on this little town if her protege's dear friend were to suddenly die or vanish? Hm?”

She opened her mouth and he pressed down harder, cutting her air off entirely to silence her before letting up again. “You would have doomed our mission from the start! THINK next time!”

She whimpered, nodding. “Y-yes sir. I-I'm sorry.”

He glared before stepping back and letting her rise, then turned on me. “On the other hand Glimmer, you allowed yourself to be captured...”

“Saved,” I returned quickly, “I was injured badly as I fled from her companion. A Pegasus by the name of 'Rainbow Dash'. Her speed was incredible. But Fluttershy here tended my wounds long enough for this Rainbow to fetch the town's doctor or nurse, and has been caring for me since.”

He glared for a few moments, then closed his eyes in thought before smirking. “So then would you say you might be able to befriend her?” He asked, a brow raised. When I nodded he did as well and approached Fluttershy. “Very well. It will take some slight memory alteration to avoid OUR discovery thanks to Shadow's foolishness. But I think we can make this work to our advantage. I will leave the assault, but change the assailant to something a bit more suiting of our own needs. You will have protected her, driving the thing off- ah, a Manticore. But yes, driving it off with great injury to yourself.”

I blinked, letting that all settle in. I couldn't help a small smile as I learned she wouldn't be harmed. Though there was also a slight pang of guilt. I knew where he was going with this. “You would like me to use this friendship to gather more information then... yes?”

He nodded, working his dark magic on the unconscious yellow pony to alter her memories of the event. “Indeed. Now, it is best we make ourselves scarce. Before someone investigates the noise.” He turned for the door, looking to Shadow angrily. “Take us to the cave. There is more work to be done, and I think Hammer could use the help.” She nodded, glaring back at me for just a moment before shadows enveloped the two and they were gone.

I took a few moments to help Fluttershy onto another of her cushioned chairs and sighed. I was alone in the house now. Or..so I thought.

“My my my, doesn't this look bad? So much destruction. My dear Fluttershy covered in bruises ? And what do I find but a strange pony I don't think I've ever seen in this town standing beside her covered in blood?”

I jerked, turning quickly to the source of the voice and froze the moment my eyes laid upon it. The misshapen, twisted form was not one a pony from my days could ever mistake. The mismatched dragon and horse feet, oddly colored tail, chicken and lion paw, and of course the goat-like face... A single name came to my horrified mind and it made my blood run cold imagining facing such a being. I gulped, trying to force my legs not to give out from the combination of blood loss and fear as I muttered the name to myself more than anyone.

“Discord.”

Author's Note

So yeah. Chapter two already. Clearly my block isn't as bad as it was not long ago. Though I have yet to start on chapter three, I'll need to really think on where that one's going to go. Shadow as it turns out is not a very nice pony. And well, the newest appearance might well spell doom for Glimmer already if the mood strikes them.