Chapter One

-- Shadow Strike --

Stable 100, an underground shelter made to protect ponies and zebras from the horrors of balefire and radiation. This has been my home for my whole life, and I've come to know it well.

As I walked down the halls of the west wing, I thought about the history of our stable, and what it meant to Equestria. Stable 100 was built by Stable-Tec, with assistance by both a tribe of zebras and a private pony corporation. They worked to design the stable, to outfit it with the essentials for survival in the event the worst should occur, which it did. But there were secrets that Stable-Tec was not aware of, and the true purpose of Stable 100 was kept secret till the day it was sealed.

200 years later, here we are, a thriving population of earth ponies, unicorns, and zebras all in one place. And for the most part, we live in harmony with each other, racism is rare here in Stable 100, but the punishment for said beliefs keeps them in check. It is through the cooperation of ponies and zebras that our stable's greatest achievement has been made a reality. The return of a long forgotten ritual, and the warriors it created. The individuals who served under the Goddess of the Moon long ago, The Guardians.

Guardians, on the outside, look no different from ponies and zebras, but on the inside, they can be considered something else entirely. Through the powers of pony magic and zebra alchemy, ponies and zebras were given new abilities and attributes that exceed the natural limits of their physiology. This ritual is called the Trial of the Stars; every ten years, ten foals around the age of 10 are chosen to undergo the alteration.

The results of the trials make the Guardian a unique being beyond the normal pony or zebra. A guardian's senses are heightened exponentially including sight, hearing, smell, and touch. These heightened senses increase a guardian's agility and reflexes to the extremes. While the enhancements are excellent and make a guardian a formidable force, all gifts come with a price, and in some cases, a very steep price.

But enough on that for now, let us continue with our story.

"I wonder what Master Broadsword has in store for us today?" I said as I walked down the hall towards the melee training gym.

I had my suspicions, but I didn't like to assume anything. But where are my manners, my name is Shadow Strike, and I am a guardian here in Stable 100. I've been a guardian for well over 15 years now, and my training has been going strong in my opinion. Guardians usually finish their training after the age of 30 so that the older generation can step aside and retire.

Walking towards the training gym, I began to hear something around the corner; or somepony in this case. I could sense ponies, three to be exact, all lurking behind the approaching corner that I was about to pass. Without needing to look past the corner I realized who they were, and I was not going to enjoy our contact.

As I walked closer to the corner, three security ponies came around it and blocked my path. Two brown earth pony stallions were standing to either side of their leader, a tall grey stallion with a coffee-colored mane. This stallion was named Granite, and he had to be the largest blockhead in the stable.

"Well, well, well, lookie what we got here boys, the half breed freak," Granite said to his two minions to either side of him.

That's why I hate ponies like him; they look at my biology, rather than getting to know me. Perhaps I should explain. I am a half zebra, half unicorn, a zony with a horn for simplicity. I have a dark gray coat with light grey stripes along it, a silver mane with gray streaks in it as well as my tail, and brown eyes.

Now, the reason I am getting harassed by this blockhead and his minions is that I am the only hybrid in Stable 100. Now, that might seem strange for a population that is equally divided between ponies and zebras, but there is a simple explanation for this. When the stable was sealed, the laws brought on by the first two Overmares declared any cross-breeding illegal. And yet, here I am.

"What should we do with him boss?" One of the minions urged as he stood next to Granite with a demented grin.

"Let's teach him a lesson about respect for ya' boss," the other one said as he started to pull out his baton.

"Yeah, cause that worked out so well for you last time, Granite; when I put your buddies in the infirmary after you ran off and cried to daddy," I said smirking at Granite who was about to say something.

I honestly hated dealing with Granite and his boys; because all it accomplished was getting Chief Onyx on my case, and he hated me enough already. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Granite's dad is the Chief of Security here in Stable 100? Yeah, that's the only reason he has any authority here in the stable.

He scowled towards me while drawing his own baton for a charge, preparing to strike me on the head, seemingly to knock me out. But with my reflexes, I easily evaded his baton and moved to the side in a blur of movement. Hearing one of the stallions come up behind me gave me an idea as of how to get away from the situation at hoof. As Granite extended his foreleg for another attack, I remained still till the last minute; then I quickly ducked to the side making him pound his friend in the head instead.

"What the hell!" Granite said after spitting out the baton.

The other stallion took a glance at me, fixing a scowl to his maw, but as I turned to face him, I only smiled and sat down on my haunches. He looked at me with confusion as to why I had stopped fighting until he felt a knife at his neck.

"Now what is this all about? Shadow, are you having fun without me?" Came the voice of a Zebra mare muffled by the knife she gripped her mouth that she held to the throat of the second stallion with a playful hurt look towards me.

"I would never go into a brawl without my best friend Keira, how could you ever doubt me," I said playfully back to my best friend.

Keira, a fellow Guardian and one of the few friends I actually have here in stable 100. She and I have known each other even since before the trial. She has always been at my side through the toughest times, and I've done the same for her. She is like the sister I never had.

Granite looked to the newcomer and glared, "This doesn't concern you Keira, this is official security business, now beat it," Granite said with an arrogant grin.

"Yeah like the million other times you decided to gather your boys here and try to mess with my friend, Shadow. Tell me, Granite, how are the bruises I gave you last time?" Keira said with a cocky grin, still firmly holding the knife to the stallion's throat.

Granite then glanced back at the both of us before snorting loudly. Picking up his first friend that he hit accidentally before looking at Keira with a glare that could melt steel, "This isn't worth it, let him go, and we'll leave the freak alone."

Keira released the stallion, he quickly departed from the mare and ran towards his boss. Granite then carried his friend on his back and proceeded to trot to what I could surmise was his dad's office in the North wing. His second buddy following him with a swift pace.

I walked towards Keira and looked down at where the stallion previously was only a second ago. He had pissed himself, and after Keira saw it; as well as putting her knife away, we both broke into our own fits of laughter.

I stopped chuckling first, and looked toward my friend, "'morning Keira, shouldn't you be in unarmed training right now?"

She looked at me and smiled, "'morning Shadow, and I'm not in unarmed training because guess who is passed out drunk in his room again?"

I shook my head and sighed, "Master Cross? -- she nodded -- Not again! The Overmares are gonna be pissed."

Master Cross, an old Zebra stallion that was in charge of the unarmed combat training in the stable. He may be a drunk and a bit goofy, but don't think that means he's not fit to teach. He taught me everything I know about Zebra martial arts. I am his best pupil, and he has always been a kind but firm teacher. Honestly, he is like a father to me in some ways, primarily because he's known my mom since both were young.

Turning back to Keira, I remarked, "Well since you're free, how about you come to melee training with me? Better than just going back to your room," giving a friendly smile to my friend. I always enjoyed having Keira around, she always supported me, when I needed it most.

She turned to me and gave me her trademark grin, "and watch you beat the crap out of the snobby unicorns in your class, count me in," she said walking up to my side as I started to trot towards the training hall again.

The walk to the training hall was uneventful after my run in with Granite and his lackeys, but it was nice just walking with my best friend. Honestly without Keira and my other friends, I don't know how I would get through most days. Most of the stable refuse to pay the slightest attention to me, while those who did either made fun of me or wanted something from me.

While lost in thought, I hadn't been paying attention to where I was going and promptly crashed my face into someone big and sturdy. Based on the smell of tobacco and the stern look I could feel on me, I looked up to find Master Broadsword.

Chuckling nervously, I greeted him, "Morning Master Broadsword, you're looking well."

He looked at me and gave me a firm smack on the back of my head, then proceeded to shout in that drill instructor voice I so used to, "Shadow how many times have I told you to stay alert? Those improved senses aren't shit for anything if you don't fucking use them!"

My ears rang a bit as I recoiled from the force in his voice before replying, "My apologies Master." I then quickly made my way inside and barely dodged another strike. Keira saw this and giggled as I ran inside, she then looked to Master Broadsword and said, "Master, may I join this class for today? I've got nothing to do at the moment."

He looked at Keira and smiled, "There's what I like to see, some dedication to training. Most would sleep in and be lazy, but not you Keira, come on in and maybe you can whip these horn heads into shape." Keira smiled and replied in a strong voice, "Yes Master!"

Then, she proceeded inside the training hall, followed by Master Broadsword as the doors slammed shut, signaling the beginning of training.

Author's Note

Footnote:

Shadow Strike:
Race: Zony
Strength: 8
Perception:7
Endurance: 8
Charisma: 4
Intelligence: 7
Agility: 8
Luck:2

Traits:
Guardian: Through the process of the Trial of the Stars, you have been altered to be beyond the normal pony or zebra. With this trait, your senses are greatly enhanced as well as strength and stamina. You are also highly resistant to disease, poisons and radiation. However these enhancements come at a price. These include being sterile, vulnerability to bright flashes of light.

Unstable Magic: Due to your hybrid biology, your magic is unstable and is difficult to control. This causes you to have extreme difficulty in using magic and learning magic. This can even lead to physical harm to you if you overuse your magic.

Alchemist: Learning from your mother, you have achieved advanced skills in alchemy. You can create potions and concoctions out of herbs and materials you find.