//-------------------------------------------------------// The Shadow -by Guitarfreak450- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 Maybe it was because she was tiered, maybe she just needed a break, but ever since she had got off the train, Twilight had felt a tingle in the back of her neck, like she was being watched. None of the other four mares she walked with seemed to have felt the same sensation, but Twilight did, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen, something bad. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had all arrived in Canterlot a few minutes prior, after having been summoned for an important council meeting, which included all the important ponies in Equestria. This was the royal family, dukes, dutchesses, admirals, lieutenants, the council of friendship (or what remained of it) and many others. It wasn't long before they arrived at the castle, guards bowing as they passed through each door, leading to the council chambers. The group came across a set of light pink and lilac doors, which lead to a silver and gold decorated room. Most ponies where already there, and as Twilight sat down, she noticed that only the three seats in front of her were unoccupied. Who they belonged to, she had no idea, until the doors once again swung open and five ponies stepped through into the brightly lit room. The one leading, was obviously in charge, with her golden coat, fiery orange mane and hazel eyes, complete with a hard expression; Captain Spitfire of the WonderBolts. Which only meant one thing, Rainbow Dash, who stood just to the left of her captain, wearing her flight suit and goggles, hanging loosely around her neck. Soarin stood to the right of the golden mare, wearing the same as his colleague. They walked to the centre of the room and bowed before the sun and moon goddesses in front of them. "My apologies for being late your highnesses," Spitfire said rising to her hooves, "Soarin, Rainbow Dash and I had to sort a problem out before we left." Celestia nodded at them, her eyes lingering on the spectral pony in front of her, before moving on, "No matter Spitfire, better late than never." And she gestured for them to sit, as the other two ponies split up from them to stand by the door. Unfortunately, the Wonder Bolt's seats where right in front of Twilight and her friends, giving them a perfect view of their former friend, who as she passed them, didn't spare them a glance. Seeing the mare again brought back bad memories from when they abandoned her and used the loyalty she gave them against her. After the way they had treated her, Rainbow Dash had left Ponyville and become a full time Wonder Bolt. They hadn't heard from her in two years, but they couldn't blame her, they knew that it had been wrong to treat her the way that they did, but by the time they realised this, it was too late, she was gone. Twilight blinked, trying to get her bearings, as the Duke of Trottingham spoke about the increase in floods. She glanced around the room, not finding anything worth her time, until something caught her eye. The three ponies in front of her, seemed to be having a quiet argument about something. Twilight payed no interest in them, as at that moment, she felt a tingling at the back of her skull again, as if the presence from the train station had followed her to the castle... Author's Note Hey guys I'm new to Fimfiction, but I also have a Wattapad account with the same name, so please go check me out. Comments any mistakes I might have made, and just any feedback you might have. I'm a pretty chilled back person so anything bad I can happily ignore and just carry on my life as usual. Thanks a ton Guitarfreak450 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Everyponies eyes widened, the princesses, ponies wanted them dead. Their reactions where varied , Twilight sat there with her mouth open wide, Cadence stared at the floor, Luna looked like she might explode and Celestia glared down harder at the four... assassins. The room was quiet again every soul waiting to see what the princess would do, but she only raised her eye brows and said " Who is your leader?" The ponies before looked at the mare once again" I'm so sorry your highness, we decline to share that information." The mare stared defiantly up at the deity of the sun, but Celestia switched her gaze to look at the three WonderBolts, who in turn nodded back. Rainbow Dash stepped forward, still limping from her wound. She gestured for one of the guards to follow her, as she walked up to the ponies who had tried to rid them of their leaders. As she approached, the mare snorted at her" What's she gonna do, do a flip and captivate us to tell you? Ha!" The look on Soarins face was outraged, he took a step forward, but Spitfire put a hoof on his back, shaking her head. " Seriously, we're not afraid of a little filly!" The mare laughed again, rolling around in hysterics. It was then that Twilight heard the voice of her long lost friend for the first time in two years. "Oh really?" She said in her raspy voice that had become softer, more feminine," Well you should be..." and the guard behind her handed her an object, said object happened to be a knife. Rainbow suddenly jumped on the mare, pinning her to the floor. She raised the knife and brought it down upon the still laughing mare, silencing her and the other assassins, along with all the other ponies seated in the room, except from two certain alicorns. Twilight looked away as the knife came down, unable to bear the sight of blood. She looked back when there was a strangled sob. The mare was led on her back, hooves covering her face, wings spread out and a dagger sticking out of the right one. Rainbow Dash stood above her, scowling down at her fiercely" I'll ask you one more time, who do you work for!?" Everypony but the wonder bolts, Celestia and Luna where cowering back in fear of the cyan mare, how could this once kind hearted spirit be so, so cruel. " No! I won't, I... I can't!" The mare sobbed, wriggling around on the floor, trying to escape the other mares strong hold. " Alright then." Rainbow said, as she reached forward and twisted the knife in the mares wing. The blood curdling scream made some ponies faint. " Alright, alright! I'll tell you!" The mare looked up into Rainbows gem like eyes and said three words" He sent me..." and she passed out on the floor surrounded by her own blood, and not the blood of the ponies she and her companions had come to kill. Author's Note Guitarfreak450 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 Twilight started to panic. That horrible feeling was back, but it was almost like it had been multiplied by four, and it was coming from different directions. She looked around in fear, the feeling of something bad was going to happen was back, she didn't know what to do. Something in front of her caught her eye, the three Wonder Bolts in front of her seemed to be having a quiet argument. What they where saying, she had no idea, but she snapped her attention away from them as the tingling sensation increased again. The ponies before her halted in their convocation and sat straight in their seats; the guards by the door acting the same way. They all looked at Spitfire, who gave some gestures with her hooves, and they all jumped in different directions. Spitfire and the two guards dived behind Celestia and Candence, Soarin dashed towards Luna and Rainbow raced for the vent behind Twilight. The room was quiet, no one making a sound, apart from the odd grunt or clang from various places around the chambers. Finally Spitfire and the guards reappeared, dragging a pony each along by the mane. A few moments later, and Soarin appeared, once again with another pony. The only pony who hadn't come back was Rainbow, and with a nod from his captain, the blue stallion raced after the rainbow mare. A few grunts of pain later, and they came back, another pony being dragged along by the wings. Rainbow Dash was limping, a long, deep gash running down the whole of her back right leg, it was turning the marble floor from silver to crimson. Twilight then directed her attention to the ponies knelt before the royal sisters. They all wore a black cloak, with a blood red strip going down their backs. They where armed, heavily, every single part of their cloak packed to the brim with lethal weapons and tools. Celestia scowled down at them," Who are you? Why do you come here?" Much to the surprise of most ponies in the room, the black clad ponies all chuckled. " Oh princess," the only mare said" You really aren't the brightest star in the galaxy. I thought it to be obvious, we're here to kill you." Author's Note Guitarfreak450