Nix: Collision

        Fire.

        That was what Shadow saw.

        All around him, the buildings of the nearby city were ablaze. He heard the screams of dying creatures everywhere, disorienting him. This reckless abandon of the value of life completely disgusted him; how could rulers so callously throw away their subjects’ lives?

        He shook his head. As much as it pained him, he couldn’t stay for long. If he was caught, he would be held up; and most likely be thrown in some sort of dungeon. A part of him, however, reasoned that he should stay for a little while. Perhaps he would try and free this burning land from its tyrannical sister rulers.

        The thieving pony rounded a corner, and Shadow quickly followed after him, sticking to the darkness that the smoke created. He didn’t breathe, for fear of attracting attention with his coughing.

The pony shuffled through a dumpster, looking for something. He gave a disgruntled sigh, and moved away, continuing down the alley. Eventually he reached a brick wall; he tapped it three times, and suddenly the bricks moved away, revealing a secret entrance.

A hideout? Shadow thought. What else is this creature hiding?

The pony glanced at the Chaos Emerald once more, before darting inside. Before the bricks could close, Shadow dashed through them. The outside world suddenly quieted, replaced with the building’s inner silence.

What he saw inside almost made him throw up.

The carcasses of dead creatures hung on the walls, bloody and devoid of skin. Their faces were pulled back into looks of horror, a remnant of the time before their demise. Several seemed to have been picked clean, the meat just barely sticking to the bones. Chaos… he cursed.

The pony suddenly turned, and Shadow quickly ducked away into a corner.

***

Hmm… I could’ve sworn I heard something. Newt shrugged, and grabbed a towel. He walked over to one of the display cases and opened it, cleaning the jewels inside. I wonder if I can get that white unicorn from Ponyville to buy this gem? he mused.

***

I’ve seen my share of sickos, but what kind of deranged menace actually cleans his victims’ dead bodies? Shadow shook his head, still remaining in the darkness.

The pony hummed a quiet tune, before putting away the cloth and closing the case. He walked to the back of the room, presumably to lock away the emerald.

Shadow recognized this as his chance, and darted forward, eyes flashing angrily. This creature didn’t deserve to live; it was his responsibility to ensure that that he didn’t claim any more victims. I’d be doing the Princesses a favor, as well, seeing as how they haven’t done anything yet.

He made his way into the back room, carefully observing the creature. He didn’t seem keen on relinquishing his hold on the emerald. Seeing no other option, he decided to try something different.

He cleared his throat.

Newt Glint turned around with a gasp. “What the—hey!” he exclaimed, pointing a hoof at Shadow. “How’d you get in here? Business hours are closed!”

“It’s morning,” Shadow responded dryly, making Newt drop a bead of sweat. “And besides, what kind of person has business when there are burning buildings outside?”

“Burning buildings? What are you, high?” Newt tried to sound confident, but Shadow was easily intimidating him with his cold glare and threatening demeanor. “Besides, what do you want anyway?”

“That emerald for starters,” Shadow said, pointing at the Chaos Emerald.

“Oh, this one?” Newt held it up. “You can have it; for the right amount of bits.”

These bits must be their currency. Shadow narrowed his eyes. “That’s not an option.”

“Then I guess we don’t have a deal.” He smirked.

“I need that emerald more than you do,” Shadow tried.

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“What about those burning creatures outside? The countless lives that are being perished?”

“Buddy, I have no idea what you’re talking about! And besides, it’s everypony for himself in this world!” Newt shook his head. “Judging from what you’re saying, though, I’d guess that this emerald has some sort of power to it?” He grinned. “Guess I’ll be holding onto this for a long while!”

“Give it to me, or else!” Shadow growled.

“Or else what?” Newt laughed darkly. “You’ll get the guards to come and get me? You’ll be arrested for breaking and entering on the spot!”

Shadow was silent for a moment. “… you’re right,” he finally said, making Newt look up in confusion. “Judging by how I didn’t see any guards helping the citizens… they probably wouldn’t care, would they?” He took a step forward, voice dripping with menace. “They wouldn’t care about the fact that you have carcasses on your walls—just like how the Princesses don’t care for the senseless loss of life out there!”

Newt was unsure about what the hedgehog was talking about. He assumed that by carcasses, he was talking about the various jewels and heirlooms that he had “acquired” over the years. He frowned. “Hey! I worked my ass off trying to get those where they are!”

“Worked your ass—” Shadow took another step, his anger reaching a boiling point. “Is that what you think life is? Something that you can freely acquire? Have you no respect for the living?”

Newt felt his heart skip a beat at the hedgehog’s tone. He took a step back, his grip on the emerald loosening.  “N-now, buddy, I don’t know where you’re getting this ‘life’ stuff from, but I assure you, all that stuff in my shop are all dead.”

“I’m sure of it,” Shadow angrily responded. He grew closer, and Newt thought he saw a red aura surrounding him.

“H-hey! Look, m-maybe we can cut a deal! I can sell you another item, if you want!” he nervously bargained, doing his best to put on a winning smile.

“You’re kind sickens me,” Shadow snarled. “No regard for your fellow man; going so far as to kill and frame the innocent… you don’t deserve to live.”

With a flick of his wrist, he shouted, “Chaos Spear!”

A golden spear head appeared in his left hand, glowing in the dim room. It seemed to have been constructed entirely out of energy, and gave off a heated aura.

“Since I can’t convince you through sensible terms to give me that emerald,” Shadow growled, “then I guess I’ll have to resort to more… persuasive measures.”

Newt felt his back press up against the wall. “D-don’t hurt me!” he pleaded, dropping the jewel. “Here, you can have it! No charge! T-tell your friends to swing on by; I’ll give them a discount!”

“Thanks,” Shadow said dryly. “But… I’m afraid that your business endeavors end here.”

With a swing of his arm, he brought the Spear down, and Newt’s pleas turned into choking sounds as blood filled his lungs.

***

Shadow briefly felt a pang of guilt as he left, but he brushed it aside. He didn’t deserve to live, anyway. And since the people in authority aren’t doing anything, I had to step in. He glanced down at the green Chaos Emerald, now safely in his grasp. That, and, I had a personal reason to put him down for good.

He tried to convince himself that what he did was the right thing, but there remained a nagging doubt at the back of his mind. He locked it away, shaking his head. Have to get back to the others and Discord.

He took a moment to consider everything that had happened. One minute we’re fighting the Doctor, the next we’re in another place with talking equines. He chuckled ruefully. In another time, I’d have called myself crazy; but, seeing as how I have the Guardian of the Omniverse to talk to, I’d say that this is as normal as it gets.

Still, though, I never expected to land in a place such as this.

He pushed a switch on the wall, and the bricks slid away, revealing the sunlight.

And the burning scenery. Shadow winced as he stepped out, trying to focus on getting back. He was hard-pressed for time; each second wasted, his allies could be getting injured or attacked. Once I get back, I’ll tell the others what has happened. They’ll be able to back Discord and me up, and we’ll be able to free this land from the sisters’ tyrannical rule. That is, he added solemnly, if I can find the others.

“Halt!” a voice cried out.

He turned, and saw two guards standing in the alley, eyeing him with wary looks. They had horns on their heads. “Yes?” he said, fighting down the urge to call out the two on their apparent disregard for the ravaged scenery.

The one on the left, a equine with a brownish mane, glared at him. “What are you doing in Newt Glint’s shop?”

Shadow narrowed his eyes. “If this is about his killings, I’ve already taken care of him.”

“His what?” the guard questioned. Meanwhile, his partner glanced at Shadow closely, eyes trailing down his arms. He gasped when he reached his gloves.

“S-sir!” he stuttered in a young voice, pointing a hoof at Shadow’s hand.

The hedgehog glanced down, biting back a curse. Caught up in his thoughts, he failed to remember to wash away the evidence of his work.

“That’s… that’s…” The younger guard could only stare in shock.

“Easy there, kid,” the elder guard stated, though he faced Shadow with a worried expression. “Sir, what exactly did you do to Mr. Newt?”

Shadow shrugged. “What you didn’t do, I’d imagine.”

“You… killed him?”

“I prefer to say I did what any sensible person would do. I removed a threat.”

The elder guard took a step forward. “Sir, you’re coming with us on the grounds of murder.”

“Murder?!” Shadow exclaimed angrily. “Look around you! Don’t you see the burning buildings?! Don’t you hear the screams of dying citizens? What the hell are you doing about that?”

The guards glanced around, seeing only a peaceful scenery. A few ponies on the sidewalks stopped to look, but Shadow didn’t notice them.

“Buddy,” the elder guard managed to say, “looks like you’re coming with us to the asylum.”

He stepped forward, but Shadow held up a hand. “Are you going to do your job and save this land?” He sneered. “Don’t tell me you guards follow the princesses!”

“Well, of course we do!” the younger guard exclaimed. “To the letter!”

“I see… you really have no regard for the life of your citizens.” Shadow closed his eyes. “You disgust me.”

“Hey!” The younger guard’s horn suddenly glowed, a ball of white forming around it. “You better retreat that statement!”

“You’re coming with us,” the elder guard said, his horn also lighting. “Whether you like it or not.”

“No,” Shadow simply said. He summoned a pair of Chaos Spears to his side. “If I have to leave behind more bodies in order to save this land from the corruption that seeks to destroy it, I will.”

The guards stood little chance. Shadow smirked as the bodies fell. “They deserved it,” he murmured to himself.

Seeing that his work was done, he gripped the emerald in his hand. “Chaos… Control!” he shouted. A second later, the emerald glowed, and he was enveloped in a white light. When the light died down, he had vanished.

***

Unbeknownst to him, there were several ponies who had been watching the whole spectacle. Terrified, they each ran towards the police station, shouting something about a “hedgehog creature with crazy powers.”

A call was put out. “Be on the lookout for any hedgehog creatures. They are suspected of killing two guards and a citizen. If found, do not approach. Contact the royal guard and the authorities immediately.”

Rainbow Dash growled to herself when she heard the call. She didn’t know who this hedgehog creature was, but if he thought he could get away with murder in Canterlot, he was dead wrong.