The Hero of Shadows

1002 CE

            The next morning, Zecora was going about her buisness as usual, collecting herbs and such, when she saw a pony that she has never seen before.  He was wearing a cloak, so she couldn't see his features too well, but she could see that he had a horn, a deep blue coat, deeper than Luna's.  As he was wearing the hood down, she could see that his mane was a slightly lighter shade of blue, with streaks of black running through it.  "Ah! Who is this who is near?" She said "Well, it is a new pony, it would appear."  The pony turned to her.

  "Ah! Sorry, i didn't see you there." He said.  "My name is...Shadow Flame. Nice to meet you, uhh, sorry, may i have your name?"

"Your manners are quite sweet, it is Zecora of whom you meet."

"Ah, thank you. Anyway, could you point the way to the way to the nearest town?"

  "If you continue walking that way, you will find Ponyville. And good luck, I wish you no ill."

"Thank you" And with that, he trotted off into the direction of Ponyville.  'I have to make it to the castle, but i'm too drained to use magic, and without any bits, i can't take a train. So, i'll have to walk.' He thought.

As he was walking, he saw an orange pony with a blonde mane, green eyes, and a cutie mark that looked like three red apples.  She appeared to be...kicking the trees?  'Shadow Flame's' unworded question was answered a moment later, as entire bushles of apples fell out of the tree.  'Oh,' he thought. He walked up to the mare and asked "Hello, could you please direct me to ponyville?"

The mare turned around and said "Well, howdy. I haven't seen you 'round these parts before," before grasping his hoof and nearly pumped it off with a strong hoof shake.

"N-n-nice t-t-to m-meet you too" he said, hoof still vibrating. When he got his hoof back under control, he said, "Anyway, I'm Shadow Flame, what's your name?"

"Ah'm Applejack, and welcome to Sweet Apple Acers," she said, gesturing to the apple farm behind her. "We've got red apples, green apples, golen delicious, caramel apples, apple pie, apple tarts, apple turnovers, and pretty much any apple product imaginable."

'Shadow Flame' looked over the rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acers. Every hill was covered in apple trees, and every apple tree was filled with delicious looking red apples.

"Wow," said 'Shadow Flame' "That's a lot of apples."

"Well, it is called Sweet Apple Acers, and we are the Apple family."

"Well, it was nice meeting you, but I really have to hurry. So, could you please point the way Ponyville?" 'Shadow Flame' asked.

"Why sure, just head on over that hill, and Ponyvill'll be raght there."

"Thank you," he said over his sholder as he walked to Ponyville.