It all came down to this. ALl the practice he has been doing in this form of his when everypony thought he was asleep. All the times he has studied and improved on the techniques shown to him by that spirit are about to be tested. Zhou quickly takes his Wraith Form Which immediately changes into a complete shadow form as the darkness shrouds him. He could have used his seismic sense, but in this form, he had the advantage in this form, He couldn’t be seen, nor could he be heard. And as long as there was shadow, he could move about freely and anywhere he wanted. He just hoped that there wasn’t a pony around who knew how to use light magic. Or he’d have to deal with them first.

“So who are we looking for again?”

Asked one of the ponies who seemed to be carrying a weapon that that looks like it was meant for close combat, the other one carrying a crossbow of whom he was speaking to. Zhou listened carefully as he snuck about. He vanishes and reappears on the main chandelier in the middle of the room without so much as making it jiggle or move once.

“The boss said to look for a pale skinned creature with long silver hair. Apparently the mistress was embarrassed and humiliated by him and told the boss man about it. Now he wants us to bring him to him so that he can deal with him personally. We better start looking. He will be sure to get impatient should he have to wait too long.”

“Yeah, you are right about that. He gets pretty pissy when he can’t get who or what he needs quickly. Alright, you go search this half of the room i’ll go this way.”

“Yeah, sounds like good idea-.”

The one with the crossbow fell to the floor as something sharp severed the tip of his spine that lead directly to the brain. Instantly ending his existence and dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. It was starting. Zhou was making his move after he had thrown a shadow kunai at the ranged weapon holder. He slowly descends behind the now completely shocked pony and quickly covers his mouth and places the blade that the spirit gave to him to the pony’s throat. A voice dark and sinister came from Zhou.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t have you end up like your buddy here on the ground. You come here and threaten all these ponies simply because your bosses wife got upset over a small little spat between some stanger? Your boss and his wife must feel pretty entitled don’t they?”

Thankfully his voice was morphed and disguised in this form. So no one could recognize who he was in both voice and appearance. The pony dropped his weapon out of fear and lifted his hands up slowly. The only thing he could see in the mirror that was across from him was a glowing face that resembled death. And it drove him to the point of starting to shake.

“H-hey...easy. I am just doing what the boss told me to do! I have nothing against anypony here. It’s just my j-”

He felt the blade press against his neck a bit more harder.

“I don’t care about your life’s story. Tell me where your boss is and the layout of any more of your buddies that are scooping out this resort. Answer quickly or I will spill your blood onto this shiny floor. I don’t think the clean up crew will be happy with you…”

“T-they are mostly at the hotel part of the resort. We were sent here to make sure that the guests never tried to leave. It’s all I know, I swear!”

The blade slipped away from the pony’s neck. Zhou stepped away and said nothing at first. But with a quick movement of his hands, a shadow serpent sprouted up from the ground and latched it’s jaws around the pony’s head to muffle and silence any sound. It processed to drag him into the ground with nothing left. Zhou kneeled next to the body of the other and placed a hand over it, the corpse sinking into the ground as well. No evidence left behind. Nopony needed to see the bloodshed. Especially the younger ones. Zhou quietly disposed of any more of those same ponies that were left in the area. Once that was done. He approached the table that his friends were under. At which point they cowered in fear of who they were looking at.

“You two. The blue and orange one. I need you to listen to me.”

He said as he slid weapons he had gathered from the ponies he had slain. Both Applejack and Rainbow looked at him in a confused manner.

“I need you two to gather the strongest ponies together and hand out the weapons to them. You two seem quite capable. So I know your judgment will ring trust. Get the guests out of here and onto the beach. You will be safest there since they have already searched thoroughly over there. But I need you to make sure that all here are safe.”

“Wh-what about the ones out in the restaurant? What...did you do?”

Asked Sweetie as she stared at Zhou in complete fear. It hurt him a bit to see her look at him like that. Even more so when he could see the fear in both Rarity’s and Applejack’s eyes along with all his friends. Though Applejack hid her fear with a fierce gaze as her and Rainbow made their way in front of the group to defend them. He lowered his head and then spoke.

“They are gone, little one. That’s all you need to know. They won’t be bothering you.”

He then turned his attention to Rainbow and Applejack.

“Get them out of here. You are wasting time.”

“Wait!”

Shouted Rarity. Zhou’s gaze turned to her just as he was about to leave.

“Have you seen a non-pony around here? He is tall, long silver hair, pale skin, amethyst eyes? I heard them say he was looking for him and my friends and I are quite worried for him...”

“I do believe I saw him sneaking about around here somewhere. Perhaps he has gone to help in his own way as well? He looked like he could take good care of himself. Should I run into him again, I will aid him in any way that I can. I promise.”

“Thank you, Sir. And thank you for helping us. Even though you look rather...unsettling, we greatly appreciate the help.”

Zhou hated lying to them. He said nothing and left them to go and take care of any other armored and armed ponies that may be a threat to anypony who isn’t fortunate enough to be able to defend themselves. Soon enough however, the lights came back on and the resort was at full power. Zhou was quick to change into his normal self, and just in time to as he made it back to the room and grabbed his hook swords and chains from his shoulder pack. Once he had those in hand, he made his way through the corridors of the resort once more. Soon he heard a voice come over the PA speakers.

“Whoever you are that caused the disappearances of my soldiers. You are quite good at what you do. Maybe you are the only my wife spoke about or maybe you are just some do-gooder who simply wants things taken care of so that nobody gets hurt. However, if you want to make sure no innocence get involved, you will come to the beach and face me. Or I can’t promise the safety of these ponies…”

The pony whom he had threatened for information lied to him. Zhou was happy he didn’t let him go now. The earthbender was very upset now that his loved ones were in great danger. He wasted no time in making his way towards the beach. He didn’t care who got in his way at this point. Anypony who tried to stop him with force was going to be taken down.

--At The Beach--

Zhou walked up on a group of armed ponies, standing in the middle of them was a tall, well tone stallion with a long black mane and tan fur. He wore a business shirt with a tie and a knee length long coat. He looked like he was definitely the head of some kind of organized criminal syndicate or something along those lines. He sees Zhou with his weapons drawn, the blades dripping with blood as he approached. The stallion started clapping his hands slowly and smiled to Zhou.

“Very impressive. You took down all the ponies I sent after you and you only make it here with a scratch. And you are just in time for the show. Now that you are here, I am going to show you what happens when you mess with me or my wife. Bring them forward!”

He shouted as he brought forth Rarity and the others and forced them onto their knees with crossbows pointed at the back of their heads. Even Applebloom and her friends as well. There was a monster swelling up inside of him, and he was doing everything he could to keep it in check...for now.

“This doesn’t concern them. You wanted me here and here I am. It’s your fault for all this happening anyways.”

“Zhou...please help us…”

Pleaded Rarity as her eyes were about the well up with tears as she felt the cold steel of the crossbow pressing against her head. He looked over to her and gave a small nod. Reassuring her that she will be just fine. She noticed the way he was shifting his feet. In a rather distinct way actually. Applejack knew what he was doing however.

Heheh, clever as always…

She thought to herself as she feigned fear. The stallion turned back to Zhou and soon his wife joined him at his side. A wicked smile on her face. It was indeed that same mare who had lost to him earlier that same day. She wrapped her arms around her husband and giggled evilly as more of the ponies surrounded Zhou with their weapons drawn.

“You messed with the wrong mare today. And now you are going to pay the price. And should you resist, these little whores of yours will be put to death the moment you fight back. So I suggest you drop your swords and die like the dog you are.”

“Any last words,my friend?”

The stallion asked. Zhou lowered his head. Everything was in place...or every hole was in place actually. Zhou tossed his blades into the air. All the ponies including the boss stallion looked up in sync. They fell for it Suddenly the ponies behind his friends sand into the sand, not even leaving their heads above the ground and a wall of stone that was deep within the sand rose up around the group of his friends and the other ponies that had gotten caught in all this mess. The ponies that were surrounding him wasted no time in firing their crossbows at him, in which time Zhou’s blades landed back in his hands and he began deflecting the bolts. Twirling the blades in his hands and performing acrobatic flips and dodges as he does so. Minimizing his damage to a few of the bolts cutting into him or barely grazing him.

“What are you doing?! Kill him now! Now Now NOW!”

Screamed the now angry mare whose wishes were not being met. Eventually the group ran out of bolts and resorted to close combat. Zhou decided it was time to release that built up anger he had been keeping in check. No one threatened his loved one like that. Even if the plan was foiled, it was still enough to have his blood boiling. Zhou swung his blades towards anypony that got close enough. Kicking sand in the directions of them all into the faces unfortunate enough to get close. The anger that was fueling Zhou was apparent as his blades soared through the air with precise cuts and yanks with the hooked ends. Eventually the men left over were bleeding out from all the wounds they have received. Unfortunately his hook swords have taken such a beating that they were now unusable. He had to make a new set it seemed. He tosses the blades aside and gets into a fighting stance, his eyes now glued to the stallion who was removing his jacket and shirt. He was clearly a well muscled stallion and looked like he knew how to fight by his stance.

“I am going to enjoy beating you down...you should have never threatened those i care for…”

“To be honest, I was hoping you’d make it this far. I was only in this to see what you are capable of. When my wife told me of your abilities, I knew there was more to it than...sand castle making. Come at me with all you got…”

Zhou and the stallion rushed each other and began to fight like to martial artists in an area. Kicks connecting with one another and punches connecting with faces and ribs. His wife was screaming and yelling at him over and over. And he wouldn’t lie, it was starting to annoy him. The stallion was having the time of his life facing down a worthy fighter, one that could keep up with him no less and his wife was running the whole thing.

“Shut up, Priss, I am busy at the moment as you can plainly see!”

He shouted as he kept his focus on Zhou who was still trying to land every punch he could on the stallion. The fight went on for a good while, but when the stallion felt like he was losing, it was time for his last resort. He quickly pulls out a knife that Zhou wasn’t able to catch in time and stabs Zhou in the chest barely missing his heart. Zhou quickly leaps back and falls to the ground in pain. He lets out a cry of anguish and begins to slide himself away from the approaching stallion. He kneels in front of Zhou with a smile on his face. Not a sinister one, but more of a ‘you have earned my respect.’ kind of smile.

“You have fought well, my friend. But I cannot die here. I am sorry but resorting to cheap tactics is just the way the business world works. This is nothing personal. You got a lot of spirit in you. I will miss you, that’s for sure.”

Zhou coughs up a bit of blood and gives a smile.

Then why don’t we go together and continue this fight...in hell?”

He said as he holds out his hand and the chain around his arm unravels itself and wraps around the stallion’s neck. He didn’t have time to react because he wasn’t expecting this from the human. Zhou takes hold of the chain and gives it one swift pull to the right. A sickening crack was heard as both the stallion’s neck and spine had been separated. Death was instant. He falls to the side in a limp heap as he wife watches in horror.

“You will pay for this...you will pa-.”

She was suddenly taken down by a pony in golden royal armor who was accompanied soon by more. Zhou’s vision blurred after that. As blood loss began to set in from his wounds, especially the one to his chest. A large white figure walked up to him and kneeled beside him, gently placing her hand under his head to hold him up.

“Hang-..there-..get-...help!”

Was all he heard before his eyes closed.

Author's Note

Some good ol plot progression coming up I got something fun planned.

May the darkness grant you peace.