Shadow's Six Elements

What the hell kind of shipfic is this?

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Shadow Foot was the new pony town, and several mares noticed him. He was tall, roguishly handsome, and well built. His coat was quite exotic as well, being a brilliant shade of red, with black stripes. Some gossiped that he was a zebra half-breed, or one of Zecora’a lackeys (if she had any).Others thought he was just a drifter, who moved into ponyville, running away from some sort of unwanted trouble. His piercing green-blue eyes seemed to pick apart everypony’s souls. Even the almighty elements of harmony noticed him. Other stallions regarded him as a suspicious troublemaker, even though he had yet to make any trouble.

Shadow often wondered why everypony would stare at him. He wasn’t apt to make himself known, and preferred to live out his humble life in his small cottage on the edge of the Everfree. He wasn’t particularly poor, for He lived off of the inheritance his parents had left him. He also sold his family farm, for he was one pony, and could not do all the work himself. He refused to make other ponies work for him, as it was family tradition to not hold servants or workers. Besides, his siblings had already left off for their own lives, and it was about time for him to move on as well. He lived here and there for a number of years, but finally settled in ponyville. It reminded him very much of home. He was a fairly young stallion, only about 25 years of age, give or take a year (he was born on an awkward date).

Shadow trotted through ponyville, feeling the hungry eyes of the scant few passerby. Offering smiles and waves, he tried to be friendly. He understood that he looked out of place in such a town, but he never made any trouble for anypony. He stopped in at the library today, for he had books to return.

**********************************************************************Twilight’s Library********************************************

Twilight Sparkle heard a knock at her door. She wondered aloud who may have been awake at this time of morning. It was rare to see anypony out of bed before 9am, but Twilight was always up with the first light of dawn. Apparently somepony else shared her same philosophy of “Early to bed, Early to rise”. As she answered the huge oak door, she stared, mouth agape, at the pony who had visited her. Possibly one of the most intellectually interesting ponies in ponyville had come to see her. Shadow Foot. She liked him quite a bit, for he was one of the few ponies in town who could converse with her on nearly even ground on the topics of science, philosophy, and history. She thought she even felt remotely attracted to him.

“Good morning, Miss Sparkle. I’ve got some books for you. Spike hadn’t come by yet this week, so I thought I’d cut the little guy a break. May I come in?” Shadow said, smiling at her.

“Oh…of course, Mr. Shadow.” Twilight said. She was attracted to his accent also. It was refined, yet rough, like the upper class barponies from Manehatten. He spoke with the words of a professor and the voice of a laborer. As he trotted inside, Twilight caught herself staring at him in such naughty ways she didn’t think possible of a mare like her. She looked away quickly as he turned to face her, levitating said literature onto the table next to the card catalog.

“Miss Sparkle, we’re on the same level. No need to be so formal. Just Shadow will be fine” he said, laughing lightly. “Could I perhaps borrow some other books? I find equestrian history fascinating and can’t get enough.”

“Certainly, right this way.” She said, leading him towards some bookshelves at the far end of the humble library. “Take your time, and come see me when you’re ready.”

“Same as always.” Shadow said nonchalantly, levitating a few unfamiliar titles onto a nearby table.

Twilight was watching the strange pony from across the room, and couldn’t help but notice how focused he was, another attractive trait. She desperately wanted to “ask him out” as Pinkie abruptly put it, but she just couldn’t find it in herself, Instead she just watched him like a lovesick school filly.

After Shadow had found some interesting titles, he turned toward Twilight at her carry out desk. He noticed she had a funny, daydreamy look about her. “Twilight, are you alright?” He asked her, snapping her out of her reverie.

“Yes, I’m fine Shadow.” She said, a little too brightly. “Are these all the books you’d like?” She asked him, trying to assume a pleasantly light tone.

“That’s it. I’ve read just about everything else.” He said, laughing. “It’s no fun being bored.” He said with a slight tone of dismay. “If I had a job, l wouldn’t have as much time to read” He laughed off his previous disheartening tone. “I just wonder why nopony will hire me. But I guess that’s life.” Collecting his new material, he dropped a few bits into a small wooden box next to the registry. “Always a pleasure,Twilight.” He said as he trotted out the door. “Next stop, the aesthetically-built Carousel Boutique.” Shadow said to himself, as he made his way down the road.

###############################>-Carousel Boutique<

Shadow found the Carousel Boutique to be one of the most well designed buildings in ponyville. It was bright and flashy, without being an eyesore, much like the seamsmare that ran the humble shop. He always found Rarity’s company quite enjoyable. Even though Shadow was nowhere near fashionable or flashy, he knew there was no place better to find some new curtains for his bedroom.

An errant bird had simply flown into his bedroom window one night, and had gotten caught in the massive one-piece curtains that he had personally picked out for his home. The furious fowl had then proceeded to rip and shred the dark purple fabric into ribbons in its haste to escape its purple prison. Shadow was quite corss at this, but let the poor animal go with a warning. He didn’t know if they understood him, but he loved animals of all sorts, and couldn’t bear to see them hurt.

A small jingle announced a new arrival to Rarity’s boutique. Trotting out of her hideaway kitchenette, she began her famous line “Welcome to carousel boutique, where-“ Rarity stopped midsentence, staring at one of the most handsome stallions she’d ever seen. Tall, with piercing eyes of a nearly unique color, and well built. He carried himself like royalty, but he had the mannerisms of a gentlecolt. This particular stallion was a rare sight indeed, for he stood out from every other pony in ponyville.

“Hello, Rarity. How are you this fine day?” Shadow asked the young mare. “It appears I caught you at a bad time.” He said dejectedly, noticing the faraway look in the mare’s eyes. “I’ll come back later.” He turned to leave.

“No, no, please stay. It’s never a bad time for my customers, Shadow” The mare said brightly. “How can I help you this morning?” She said, flitting her eyelashes at him.

“It appears that a certain feathered visitor thought it would be fun to shred my bedroom curtains. Perhaps you could craft some new ones for me” Shadow asked, his spirits obviously restored. He didn’t like having glass windows in his home, so he instead left heavy curtains over them. Glass felt too unnatural to the stallion. Being raised on a farm had made him quite the nature-pony.

“Feathered…visitor?” Rarity asked, pulling a bolt of cloth from one of the many seemingly chaotic shelves that dotted her boutique. “It wasn’t one of Fluttershy’s dreadful critters, was it?” She said, not taking her eyes off of the forest-green fabric.

“No, no.” Shadow laughed. “They’re too well mannered to barge into somepony’s home unannounced. It was a wild raven who didn’t pay attention to where he was flying. Poor thing was scared out of his wits. I was able to extricate him from my curtains, but not without him doing a number on them.” Shadow said, pulling some scraps out of his saddlebags.

Rarity chanced a look up, and instead of being met with fabric scraps, she was met with his piercing gaze that made her heart flutter. He was obviously handsome, but he was also articulated, much like the royalty was. She found herself wanting to ask him to lunch or something like that, but he was always on the move, running some errand or another.

She then realized that was her moment, as he was sitting in her shop, waiting for his curtains. “Shadow, would you like to-“

“Oh horseapples! I’m late!” Shadow shouted, spooking Rarity as he jumped out of his chair. “I promised AJ I would help her finish the new fence she installed! Miss Rarity, please bear with me. I love the color, I’ll be back later to pick them up. Farewell!” Shadow said, darting out of the shop door. The only sounds coming from the shop were the jammed sewing machine, the jingle of bells, and grating teeth. Rarity mentally chastised herself for not asking him sooner.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Sweet Apple Acres^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Applejack was thoroughly ticked off at a certain red unicorn, and a certain big brother. They both had promised her that they would help install the new fences before autumn set in and the ground started to harden. But Big Mac was sleeping off a gallon of special cider, and Shadow had not yet arrived at the farm. She vowed she would buck the first one of the two she saw right in the first body part she could reach. Even though the day was still early, the fence wasn’t even halfway complete, and she had other things to get working on yet. Just then, she heard somepony approaching at a hard gallop. Spinning around, she spied Shadow, who was making the racket she was hearing. Her face flushed at the sight of the hapless red unicorn, and she was fit and ready to give him a muzzleful.

“Shadow, ya knucklehead! You were s’pose to be here half a’ hour ago! We got work to do an’ sunlight’s burnin’ !” Now c’mere so I can give you your well-earned punishment!” She trotted towards the breathless unicorn, deciding which part of him she was going to punish. She weren’t no liar, especially not to herself.

Shadow knew an angry farm pony when he saw them, and Applejack was no exception. She had the meanest streak in her when prompted. Even Big Mac feared his sister’s temper.

Raising a forehoof, Applejack punched Shadow as hard as she could in his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

Shadow grunted, rolling with the hit that he had just received. “hey! What was that for?!” He demanded, after catching his breath finally.

“For makin’ me wait so long for yer blockheaded self. You knew we had work to get done, and you were still late!” Applejack said, finally calming down.

“Long story short, I had some business to attend to this morning.” Shadow said with a grunt.

I’ll forgive yah this time, knucklehead. But next time you’re getting it right in the apple seeds.” Applejack said with a laugh. “And you know that weren’t no lie.” To be honest, Shadow was one of the stronger stallions in town, rivaling Big Mac sometimes. Applejack always asked for his help cause Mac wouldn’t let any other stallions near her. He was ridiculously overprotective of his sisters, but he saw Shadow to be on the same level as them, being as they were all farm ponies and shared some of the same virtues and beliefs.

“Thanks, AJ.” Shadow said, levitating a pair of fence planks into place as Applejack nailed them to the support posts.

Applejack found Shadow to be a down to earth, honest pony. He knew a good day’s work was worth every bit of sweat, and Applejack shared the same ideal. She wasn’t really attracted to his size and looks, or brains, as other mares may have been. She found his work ethic incredible, and his determination even more so. He would happily drop anything to help another pony, but most other ponies never gave him a chance because he looked so out of place here. How often did you see a Unicorn with stripes, with a coat such as his? That shade of red was rare in ponies, especially such a dark shade. Most ponies’ coats were faded due to age and sunlight, but his hadn’t faded at all.

Applejack often found herself staring at his humble house, which she could easily see from the barn loft. She always felt the farm had to come before her personal life, and as such, never got out much, except to save equestria once in a while, or to participate in some contest. She never had even given thought to finding a coltfriend, even though granny often teased her about it. She thought she might like to have Shadow as a coltfriend, but never bothered with it.

“That there should be it, knucklehead.” Applejack commented as she nailed the last planks of the fence into place. “Wouldja like some cold apple juice or somethin’, Shadow?” She asked her sweating assistant.

“No, thank you.” Shadow said as he broke his magical aura. “I’ve got somewhere to be in about an hour.”

“You know you ain’t leavin’ here without something cold to drink…or a spray down.” Applejack said, covering her nose.

“Celestia above, did you roll in a pile of cattle chips or somethin’ while I wasn’t lookin’?”

“you do realize I galloped hard and fast from Carousel Boutique, right, AJ?” Shadow asked, slightly offended, but his tone remained light.

“Not particularly, no. All I knew is you ran here like Nightmare Moon incarnate was chasin’ your flank” Applejack laughed, remembering his face after she hoofed him one earlier.

“Well, I did.” Shadow grunted “ and helped you. So please extricate your hoof from your snoutholes” Shadow grumped.

“Aww, is Mr. Grumpyfoot angry at little ol’ me?” Applejack said, putting on her cutest face she could muster. She knew he couldn’t resist that face. Being a talented performer had its perks.

“No, I’m not. Just be nicer next time.” Shadow pouted, deflated.

“Well, yer sure as sugar about ta’ be.” Applejack said, a sly smile crossing her muzzle as she cranked the watering hose to full pressure, dousing the disgruntled and stinky unicorn.

“Serves yeh right for makin’ me wait!” Applejack hollered, turning off the hose as she had completely soaked the poor stallion.

“Again, AJ? Really?” Shadow shouted, then his gaze softened, as he realized he was indeed quite cooled off and didn’t smell like the compost barn.

“You win this time, Applejack.” Shadow smiled at her.

That grin always made AJ blush. He did have a certain charm about him.

“Git yerself outta here, ya big lug.” Applejack told him, turning away to hide her blush. When she recovered, she turned back to him. “Same time, same place, tomorrow, or right in the apple seeds!” she yelled as he trotted off.

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End of part one

(A/N) It was 530am and I was bored. nuff said.