Shadow's Six Elements

Shadow grumbled as he heard a loud knock on his door, resounding through his quiet cottage. Trotting lazily to his door, he opened it to find a certain lavender pony at his door.

“Miss Sparkle, what brings you out here?” He asked Twilight as he made way for her to enter. Closing the door lightly behind him, He trotted off to the kitchen. “If you’ll be staying a while, let me scrounge up some refreshments!” He yelled from his small kitchenette.

“That would be lovely Shadow, thank you.” Twilight said as she made herself comfortable on one of the practical furnishings that adorned the Unicorn’s cottage. She looked around idly, noticing that his style reflected somewhat of her own. There was nothing particularly flashy or expensive about his home, yet it still felt warm and inviting to anypony that stopped by.

“I’m sorry it’s not much, but I’ve been rather short on jobs lately, so I’ve had to cut back on groceries.” Shadow announced, levitating his tea tray onto the small wooden table in the centre of the sitting room. A radio chattered on in a far corner, barely audible.

“That’s fine, Shadow. Don’t worry about it.” Twilight said, taking a cup of the warm beverage and pressing it to her lips. It was delightfully smooth, with a hint of citrus flavor, possibly a combination of vanilla and orange.

“So what brings you to my humble cottage, Miss Sparkle?” Shadow asked her, sipping from his own cup.

“Well, I just recently got a new shipment of reprints of some of the old history books from the royal archives. I know you enjoy history immensely, so I figured I’d let you know. They’re not even catalogued yet, so you and I are the only ponies that know about them.

Shadow smiled to himself. “And do you go around telling all ponies about new books at the library?” He inquired, chuckling lightly. This was the first time Twilight had ever done anything like this, and personally, he didn’t mind. He felt more connected to Twilight than most other ponies because of their intellectual similarities.

Twilight felt a warmth rise in her cheeks. “Well, n…no, not exactly…” Twilight muttered, hoping Shadow couldn’t see the blush across her muzzle. “I only go to such lengths for ponies I know will appreciate it, like Rainbow Dash and her Daring-Do books.” Twilight said a little defensively.

“Okay, Miss Twilight. I’m sorry if I offended you,” Shadow apologized.

“That’s fine, just don’t be so presumptuous, you old codger.” She smiled at him, laughing.

“Old? Hardly!” Shadow scoffed. “I’m barely a couple years older than yourself, Miss Sparkle.”

“Fair Enough.” Twilight said, finishing her tea. “Anyway, I hope you come by soon before I catalog these books. I didn’t give you a heads-up for no reason.” Twilight got up and made her way to the door.

“I’ll be by a little bit later this afternoon. Promise.” Shadow said, escorting his guest to the door.

“I’ll be waiting, Shadow.” Twilight said, leaving. Shadow noticed something odd about her walk. Was she strutting? “No, can’t be.” Shadow muttered to himself as he closed his door.

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About an hour later, as Shadow was beginning to set out upon his journeys for the day, a barely audible knock was once again, at his door. Answering, he found a teary-eyed Fluttershy. Forgetting all his business at the moment, he had to find out what was wrong.

“Fluttershy, are you ok?” he asked her, even though Shadow knew she wasn’t.

“Shadow, I didn’t expect to find you home. Normally you’re out and about by now.” she sniffled. “I hope I’m not stopping you from anything important.” She gazed down at the ground, not wanting to meet his gaze for some reason.

“I’ve always got time, Fluttershy.” He smiled at her softly. “Please come in and tell me what’s wrong.” He guided her inside, slowly. The curtains were finally open, bright sunlight streaming into all corners of the room. “would you like some tea or something?” He asked the distraught mare.

“No, thank you. I just wanted someone to talk to. Today has been pretty bad for me.” Fluttershy sniffled, almost bursting into tears again.

“Is it Angel Bunny again?” Shadow asked her.

“No, not at all. He’s been really well behaved all day, actually.” She smiled wanly. “But, one of my animals were attacked last night and left for dead. It died this morning in my arms.” Fluttershy burst into heavy tears again, trying, unsuccessfully, to push the image out of her mind.

“Oh dear.” Shadow brought Fluttershy closer, holding her so she could cry into his shoulder. “hush now, it’ll be okay. You’ll be ok” Shadow rocked her gently just as his mother used to do to him when he was little. “Your animal is in a better place now, I promise.” Shadow said, trying to comfort her.

Still sobbing, but quieter now, Fluttershy looked up at him with her wet, blue eyes. “I know, but It was so awful, that feeling. Feeling the warmth leave it’s body…was just so bad.”

“I’d imagine so, but at least it was in your loving hooves and not in some monster’s stomach.” Shadow added, saying only what he thought of firsthoof. “It’s still horrible, no less.” Shadow finished, wiping some tears from her eyes.

“Sometimes, I wish I could move closer into town like Twilight and the others, but I would only be allowed to keep Angel Bunny, and I can’t let all my other animals suffer.” Fluttershy said sadly.

“How about if I build you a security fence?” Shadow ventured. “It won’t be much better than what you’ve already got, but if I can build it slightly taller and more enclosed, it may help out with those Everfree monsters.”

“Shadow, I couldn’t ask you to go through all that trouble just to protect my animals. I should be prepared for things like this, living as close to the Everfree as we do.” Fluttershy said, a subtle hint of remorse in her voice.

“What else have I got to do? I don’t have an official job in ponyville, and I’ve got nothing but time to kill.” Shadow said, a slight smile dancing across his muzzle.

“What about your daily errands and things? Doesn’t that usually take up most of the daylight hours?” Fluttershy asked the unicorn.

“Nopony said it would be easy. Obviously it will be a couple days to build it, but I can start on it today, and at least lock off the area where the animal got in first of all. That should buy you some time.”

“Really Shadow, you’d do that for me?” Fluttershy asked, amazement in her voice.

“Why not.” Shadow smiled down at her. He couldn’t resist that adorable face if he tried.

“Oh, thank you so much Shadow!” Fluttershy was barely able to contain her glee, and she fluttered into the air slightly, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek which elicited a blush from the unicorn.

“Sure, anytime, Fluttershy.” Shadow said, rubbing the spot where she kissed.

“And thank you, also, for being a friend, and for listening to me.” Fluttershy alighted silently. She was as graceful as Miss Rarity, Shadow noted.

“What am I here for?” Shadow laughed.

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After leading Fluttershy back home, Shadow set off to Ponyville. He still had to go check out those books Twilight had mentioned, and collect supplies for the security fence. He enlisted the help of Applejack to haul the stuff to Fluttershy’s cottage. Applejack was busy with barn repairs, so she couldn’t help Shadow build the thing even though she would have loved to.

“Hey Applejack, what do you know about the Everfree?” Shadow asked the orange country mare.

“Nothin’ really. I know that the only critter to ever wander from the everfree is timbers. They’re pretty fierce too. Gave Big Mac a run for his apples last time they tried getting into the farm.” She said, speech laced with her telltale country drawl.

“Timbers are awful clever too, especially in numbers. This fence your building better be into the ground too, otherwise they’ll just dig under.”

“Uh, have you guys needed any help on the farm lately?” Shadow ventured, He knew if he didn’t find some paying work soon, he would be short on rent for the first time.

“Come to think of it, Mac needs some help in the fields, and with cider season fast comin’, we could use an extra pair of hooves to haul a better harvest than last year’s. Why you askin’?” Applejack quizzed the gaunt stallion.

“Well, my rent is gonna come kinda short this month if I don’t find some paying work soon.” Shadow mentioned, somewhat sadly.

“And yer’ thinkin’ of askin’ to give us a hoof in exchange for a few bits?” Applejack cornered the unicorn.

“Yeah, sort of.” Shadow added sheepishly. “But if you don’t have it, I’ll understand.” An awkward moment of silence followed. He knew the Apple Family barely made ends meet as is, so he never really asked for payment from them if he helped them.

“Tell you what, let me talk it over with Mac. If we oblige y’all, y’all better show up early squirrely and work your flank off. Our earnings barely keep us afloat, but I’m sure we can arrange something after cider season passes. How’s that sound to you?”

“After cider season…” Shadow trailed off. Usually, he always paid his rent early or on time, and his landlord was usually flexible. He would have to find a real job soon anyway, as his accumulated fortune from his family farm was slowly draining. He would run out eventually, but he had to secure steady income before it did. Even right now, he didn’t need the money, but he was trying to learn how to work for real instead of always volunteering.

“Shadow, you there, big guy?” Applejack pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Huh wha?” Shadow forgot what he was talking about initially.

“Well, do we have a deal? You harvest with us, and we pay you after cider season ends. Sound fair?” Applejack asked the

clueless pony. He was kinda cute when he had that clueless look.

“Yeah, definitely, AJ.” Shadow smiled at her.

“Then it’s settled. Starting a week from now, you work for the apples.” Applejack laughed at him.

After they arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage and unloaded, Shadow threw applejack a few bits for her services.

“Thank ya kindly, Shadow. I could use this towards supper tonight.” Applejack said, clanking the small sack into her bags.

“I’ll consider it even because I’ll be working for you soon enough, AJ. See you in a week.” Shadow said, sending her off with a hug.

Shadow got started immediately on his fence project, while Fluttershy watched from her kitchen window. She couldn’t believe he would actually go through such lengths for her.

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(A/N) I’ve decided to turn off into a slightly different direction with this fic. Some of the mane six will develop feelings for our unwitting pony, while he will develop feelings for others. I’m not gonna give details on who just yet, but you guys are free to place your bets.