Laying wide awake Shadow glanced over at the clock beside her bed and read off the time for the hundredth time: 3:45AM. Damn Valkardian. Damn him. When she was in the caves keeping track of the time was never important since servants took care of everything and near as she could tell he owned not one clock in the whole damned place. For all this time he was sending her to bed at around seven to eight at night and waking her at 3:30AM sharp and now her body was perfectly adjusted to this routine and as she lay there cursing quietly she tried to focus on other things while waiting for the sun to rise in the next couple of hours.

Nothing was working though and no amount of willpower would force her to fall asleep again. She was wide awake and would just have to lay there or get up and do something until the staff awoke and opened the inn up for the day. Sliding out of bed and fishing out a book she lit a candle and brought it over to her rooms little table and sat down to read.

Thoughts plagued her mind and for one was her lack of dreams. All her life she had dreamed but since she met him they had all but stopped, relegated to the odd dream that only came over a concern of hers. Tonight was no different with a mind beset by questions and worry about what would happen now that somepony was making a go for the throne while Celestia still sat on it. Her family would undoubtedly suffer if the ones behind the article and book got their way since her family was far from noble and twice as far from having any degree of "power." Well save her far as she could tell considering what she had been killing in the caves. If that did not count for something nothing would.

The incident at the beach had come back to haunt her somewhat. Popping to mind now and then, not that she had acted wrongly for certain but it was what she had done. She had growled at a pony and told them to piss off. Not only that but had done so with enough force that it made a full fledged soldier back down but then again knowing far more about pony anatomy and psychology than before... Was not terribly hard to do.

But she had growled! Almost snarled at him! It made her happy but when had she gone from acting like a proper pony that simply said "no thank you" while smiling and walking off to what her mother would call a barbaric brute? Had she done this back in her village without a doubt her mother would have known in minutes and a stinging slap would have awaited her along with many hours or weeks of berating and reminders she needs to be civil. Why should she be civil to such... Halfwits? Insects?

Closing the book again knowing that until she solved this mental dilemma of hers no reading could be done Shadow sat back in the chair and stretched out best she could and stared off into the distance. Maybe this was how Valkardian felt, surrounded by idiots. Happy, jolly nitwits that wouldn't know the truth if it up and bit them on the flank. Was Raspberry in the same category then?

Locking herself deep below in the caves and left to her own ends for all time only returning to the surface to interact when it suited her, avoiding the foolish denizens above who knew not what they do or why... Valkardian's life sounded rather logical and not so terrible now. It made perfect sense in fact considering what happened the one time he stuck his neck out for those he cared about. He was willing to kill to protect them even from themselves and they had retaliated with all the violence they could bring to bear against him and killed... No murdered one of his closest friends.

Would she kill another pony for her family without a second thought?... Shadow's eyes turned down towards the book on the table as she ran her fingers along the spine thoughtfully. Light just appeared on the horizon, she had been lost in her thoughts for hours and had not realized it was 6AM now. Maybe the inn was finally open, maybe Lilac was up. However, that also meant the "other" guests were up as well and would be downstairs...

A groan escaped her lips at the thought of just seeing those fools again. "Give me the solitude of the caves back again" Shadow bemoaned.

-

Waiting another hour and a half had been near hell but hopefully it meant that the other guests were either staying in late or have already eaten and left already. The sounds of hooves had filtered through the door at seven and died off so most of them were up and gone now. Opening the door and heading down Shadow was greeted once again by a smiling Lilac who waved her over.

"Guards came and posted a note for everyone to read this morning!"

"Oh? What about? Racoon bandits wanted for stealing rotten potatoes?"

Lilac either ignored the sarcasm or failed to notice. "No, something about a newspaper, they are collecting them due to... Uhh... Well its on the note over there." She gestured to a board on the wall with a large sheet of paper stretched over it. Approaching it Shadow read it aloud "Attention! Equestrian Tribune papers recalled for... Yesterday... Due to libel, disinformation and defaming... Turn them in at local guard post... Yada yada..."

"Huh." Turning away and looking back at Lilac, Shadow feigned ignorance as to what it was about just shrugging and in turned asked Lilac if she knew anything about what was printed in the paper. Shadow had noted the notice had left out any details what so ever about WHY it was defamation and libel. The other pony had no idea since she had refused to read it due to the papers headline.

Heading into the dining room and taking a seat she ordered her breakfast and sat back. "Well, whoever is behind this is sifting the wheat from the chaff rather quickly. Only those with doubts will read it to begin with causing an uproar and giving them an idea of their support base before they make a move... Clever." Ponies were prone to bouts of extreme passion and they were playing on it heavily for their own ends.

Her breakfast arrived and was reminded about the flier out in the hall and politely shrugging it off she ate and headed out into the village for a walk. It was a nice little village, quiet and small with a homey feel to it. Strolling just beyond the village and into the outskirts a small gaggle of ponies were gathered near a home pleading with a very well dressed stallion carrying a suitcase with a guard backing him up.

Shadow felt like a spy this being the second time she tucked herself out of sight and mind in order to pry on what was going on. Then again it was not like there was anything else to do today or any day after this till she went home. Home? Which was her home now? The family home back in the forest or the one in the caves below?

"Overstuffed, strutting, fat, greasy, fat nosed, smelly peacock." Shadow could smell him from her hiding spot at a good distance which was another "gift" inheritted from living below for so long. Smells, sights and sounds were easier to pick up on now that her senses were more honed. The stallion in the suit was hardly looking at the other group with his nose held in the air as if to look at them would defile his person somehow.

Poverty sucked, that was true and now this family was getting the boot. Since they could not make the ever increasing payment demands they were being ousted for not making the newest demand. "So much for harmony at any price, well unless you have the bits to back it up." Muttering Shadow kept watching and listening as pleading fell on deaf ears while the other demanded they either uphold the contract or get out, it was not his fault they did not read the fine print.

The guard on the other hand was trying desperately not to take sides as if doing so would somehow get him into trouble and probably would. "Coward." When had following orders, the law and covering your own flank become more important than doing whats RIGHT? Even if it meant butting heads with higher powers you must do what you believe is right. Well that's what she had been taught as of late. Celestia more or less taught this but there was a stronger adherence to authority and law than anything else. Couple that with the general inability of ponies to make decisions for themselves preferring (and being encouraged no less) to hand over responsibility to government officials or Celestia herself only compounded problems.

It was all fun and games till the piper sent his bill then it was a mad rush to see who could grab a chair. This sorry lot had failed to grab a chair in time. The banker read off a condition loudly that the family could have at any time challenged and taken it up with higher authorities but failed to do so in the time allotted. A mare rebutted him saying the paperwork involved took longer to fill out than the time given and was always weeks behind schedule meaning they had to refile.

Not his problem, pay up or get out. Eyes bore into the guard who kept shrinking back in what Shadow found a hilarious turn of events. He was now trying to hide behind the banker who was demanding he "do his duty" and evict the family while the guard kept refusing to take sides. So this was what things looked like before a government collapses in on itself. She imagined this was going on all across the nation now that Celestia would soon be too caught up in political upheaval to "benevolently aid her little ponies" in their day to day lives. One fat pony was already playing his cards and too early at that not that he would fail most likely.

With a flair the stallion raised his arm high and shook his fist declaring that tomorrow the guards would be brought out en masse to evict them and to be out before then or everything in the house would be seized to pay off the overdue payment. Any attempt to stop them would result in legal proceedings and as the blathered on in an endless puff of hot air and legalese the family looked like somepony had kicked them hard in the collective balls.

Leaving them to try and work out their now shattered lives the banker strode off to a waiting cart with the guard closely at heel. An "old adage" Valkardian taught her came to mind as she watched him "obey the laws and his orders" no doubt to one day brag about his service: "He who pays the piper picks the tune." Dangerous and very true. She scoffed at him quietly as he ran after the cart trying to keep up with the bulbous banker. This would make a wonderful story for the foals one day: "what did you do daddy? I kicked ponies out of their homes and destroyed their lives because the one who controls the money told me too."

Turning and heading back into town she decided to stop at the bazaar and browse for a while scanning the nick-knacks and various fruits and vegetables being sold. All around it was a very good assortment that covered just about anything one needed day to day and one stall even had pots and cooking implements for sale amongst many other things.

It was about eleven going by her little time crystal when she entered Raspberry's bakery and scanned the selection again. While nowhere to be seen for a little while it gave Shadow plenty of time to browse without feeling watched until Raspberry came out with more confectioneries and put them on display.

"I will have that jelly roll and tea!" Shadow smiled at Raspberry and waited at the register for her to bring her order. When she brought the tea and went for the jelly roll however she stopped and looked back "Wait, you want a slice... Right?" Shadow shook her head "no, the roll." Raspberry looked a little surprised at this but brought it out and asked if she wanted it boxed to go as well whereupon she took the middle road of one slice to eat the rest boxed to go.

Sipping her tea quietly and enjoying the roll while watching Raspberry from the corner of her eye a thought came to mind. "Hey, do you know whats going on with the bank evicting ponies from their homes?" Yes, she was on vacation but considering her options were death by boredom, watch grass grow, walk along a lifeless beach or watch a fisherpony catch fish... Well that and read, she needed something to distract herself with.

"Oh that, yes, been several lately. The bank and realtor decided to advertise our village as a "retirement village" and they dont want farmer's or anything icky to be seen which might dissuade ponies with a lot of money investing here. We got together at the town hall and voiced our concerns about it. Even wrote Celestia! Anyway, since the bank and some noble own just about everything there is nothing she can do or us for that matter. Celestia said it was a great opportunity to develop our village into a town, grow, prosper and that there would be bumps along the way." Raspberry smiled but it was forced.

"How are a bunch of old dying ponies moving in going to make your village grow and prosper?!"

"Ah, well a few of us asked that but we never got a response. Frankly we like our village just the way it is and want to keep it that way! Everypony here knows everypone else and we get along great. Anyway the realtor and bank began to offer huge sums of bits for anyone willing to sell out and move away so half the farmers on the outskirts took the bits and left. Those that refused to being hounded legally and the bank paid to have our village "zoned" so now those farms are listed as being in residential zones so they have to stop farming or sell. So far they have refused."

Shadow watched Raspberries expression for a minute "What about the local guards? They could turn on the bank and realtor and refuse to have anything to do with it at least. Put them at the mercy of the angry public..."

Raspberry's jaw went slack at this. "That's vigilantyism! You cant do that!"

"And why not? Sounds like the only real reason things are falling apart around here is because of the zoning which is causing job loss making others loose their homes... It also looks like the bank and realtor are using this to increase payments since the land is valued more for development..." Shadow was prodding Raspberry along a path and hoping something would dawn on her.

"The laws the law! Our representative, who we elected... Promised us she would take this up and she did! There was nothing she could do since the motion was struck down immediately in Canterlot by the Parliament. We just have to live with it that's all. Besides, those of us who have lived here own our homes and are keeping them, no one is making us sell out. In fact since they built that subdivision and moved in all those old ponies my business had increased! I am making 7% more a year and growing!"

Raspberry was brain-dead. Completely, utterly brain-dead. Shadow would have groaned but kept it to herself, harmony came with a pile of bits. So long as you had the bits you had harmony and these self deluded fools could only see bits not their soul being squeezed dry. Looking back at her Shadow hazard another question: "What about those who just lost their home today?"

The purple pony moved her mouth to say something then closed it for a minute. "They will just have to move somewhere else and get a job there instead or take one of the new jobs being opened up here in the future."

"Has it ever crossed your mind that nopony should have to leave their home, not now or ever to find happiness because someone else wants to make more money? Your affixing a price to harmony and while your village with have it, it will not be true harmony, only purchased." Why in the name of tartarus was she starting to sound like Valkardian now?

There was no response to this just a moving mouth that tried to come up with an answer to justify her seeing old friends shunted away while those who came to make their lives got the boot all because of a 7% increase of sales that would probably compound in the next year or two. What was the price of friendship and harmony?

-

Leaving the bakery behind she wandered around for hours just looking and watching ponies go about their lives. If there was one thing she could appreciate about the surface compared to back there was life. There was life all around her now in every house and stall and street walking here and there going to who knows where but it was life and it was wonderful. Indeed a far cry from being one of two life forms in the caves and isolation was the norm not the exception. Valkardian showed this some times when he had her join him for dinner. He too got lonely now and then it would appear.

As she kept walking an older pony got her attention "You have wandered past here four times already carrying that box. You looking for somepony or lost?" This snapped her out of it and glancing over at the old stallion the gears began to grind. Shaking head she thanked him for his concern and made her way to the outskirts and spotted the house from the other day.

It was a small farm house that was being emptied out by guards under the watchful eye of what she assumed was the bankers assistant or a clerk who was recording everything being brought out and the family was nowhere to be seen. Walking up to them the clerk eyed her with suspicion "Anything I can help you with miss?" Her sweet voice belied the cold, dead look in her eyes.

"Where is the family that lived here?"

"Do you have business with them Miss...?"

"Ruby. Miss Ruby. I am just curious as to where they went." What a lie but every instinct told her to lie like her life depended on it.

"I am sorry but I can not give you that information." The gray mare turned away and went back to recording while a guard began to eye Shadow curiously. Choosing to go while the going was good "Ruby" walked away and back into the village, her vacation might be cut a little short if this kept up.

With a little luck and a lot of asking around she found them staying at another farm having moved into the barn for the time being while they figured out where they were going to next. Leaving them the box with a handful of bits Shadow walked off, it wasn't much but it was enough to help without drawing suspicion. With the local guard in the bankers back pocket and most of the others "unhappy" with what was going on up more than happy to keep their mouths shut in exchange for bits... Better to be safe than sorry.

-

Three days had passed and the family had left to another part of Equestria to rebuild their lives or at least try too. Already their home had been torn down a sign had gone up declaring it the site of a future housing development for retirees. Stopping by the town hall and talking to an aide resulted in the development plan being rolled out before her. Golf courses, senior center, tennis courts, the list went on. When the banker and realtor got done the forests would be gone replaced by carpets of buildings and golf courses.

With enough bits you can do anything and claim it to be for the good of others while lining your pockets from the suckers who answer the call. She left the office disgusted with the locals. They would keep their village but everything that made it what they love would be torn down, erased from existence in the name of progress.

Wandering into the edge of the forest and taking a seat below a large oak Shadow pondered what Celestia's so called harmony really meant. Maybe this place was an exception to the rule? This was only one location out of all Equestria after all but a sinking feeling told her she was watching the edge of a ship as it passed over the falls on its way to destruction. Even before meeting Valkardian and learning everything she had it was no secret Parliament was loaded almost exclusively with nobility and bankers who were corrupt but they always kept it low enough to not antagonize Celestia.

Still, that did not make it right and that Celestia had indeed locked some of them up for their crimes it was never for very long and always resulted in a public apology and a promise to do good. How blind was she? Was this a game of balancing the scales or had she become so self deluded in her own ideology she could no longer see the vipers surrounding her?

Shadow had to admit she greatly admired Celestia despite everything, she had done amazing acts of good for the ponies of Equestria. Literacy, health care, roads, rail lines, so much good had been done but now it seemed it was slipping away like all things did with time. Time was eroding it all away and now the empire she had built was dangling from the precipice and Celestia fiddled while the torch bearers set the world alight.

Meandering through the village and soaking in how it looked knowing that one day soon this would all be gone she made her way slowly back to the inn but was stopped along the way. Three ponies blocked her way one of whom was the fat banker she had seen before and was flanked by two guards one of whom she recognized from the day of the eviction.

"Evening Miss "Ruby," I understand you have been causing problems and I am just here to remind you that we do not like trouble makers in our little village."

The short, fat little greasy furred toad of a stallion in front of her smiled up but his eyes were hostile and seeking. He was more disgusting up close than at a distance. "If asking questions is causing trouble I weep for this little speck of a village and its inhabitants." She hid her glare as best she could but the odor made her cringe, he must have swam in cologne in an attempt to hide it.

"I understand you are here on vacation, I hope you enjoy it but just dont be causing problems young miss. Good day to you." He walked past her but the guards stayed still watching her carefully.

One of them finally spoke up after eyeing her up and down carefully. "What business do you have carrying lethal weapons?"

"I need no excuse to protect my person."

"I asked you a question, answer it."

"First who the hell are you to question me?" It was a fight starter but she was not about to back down to these bastards no matter what after what she had seen not that she would anyway if they were saints of virtue and kindness.

"I am guard of the peace by royal decree, now answer my question! Why do you carry lethal weapons?!"

"Because I can and dont care what you or anypony else thinks."

"Hand them over."

"Like hell I will." The response was automatic and without a second thought and already ponies were slowing down and had begun to gather and watch.

"That's an order! Now undo your sword belt and back away slowly!"

"Oh piss off. Your no master of mine and I sure as hell am not your servant." She thought about flying away but that would mean leaving everything at the inn behind, her words were not helping matters any but she also knew that they were already looking for an excuse to start with and they would have kept prodding till they invented one.

The blue mare on her left made the first move by stepping forward and attempting to grab her arm and a moment later the one to her front moved to her other flank and as one they rushed her. Shadow's movements were a blur as she stepped back and left rapidly and elbowed the guardsmare hard in the gut then grabbed her and used the mare as a bludgeon against the stallion by slamming her into him.

Ponies that had gathered to watch recoiled at this sudden change of events and seeing the two guards collapse and struggle back to their hooves made them back off. Shadow caught sight of the toad of a banker turning tail quickly and scampering off through the crowd calling for more guards. So much for her vacation. Oh well, may as well make it count.

Soon as the guards were back up they came at her again and once more Shadow went after the shorter mare landing a hard blow to her gut while grabbing the arm meant to strike her bending and twisting it violently still she screamed it pain. Bending her over fast and keeping the mare between herself and the other guard she bent her over and kneed her hard resulting in a sick thudding sound and a vomiting mare on the ground.

At first the stallion backed off a bit then changed his mind and slowly reached for his sword but Shadow was quicker closing the distance and putting her hand over the pommel keeping it trapped while kneeing him between the legs leaving him crumpled on the ground holding his jewels gurgling in pain.

As Shadow turned to go back to the inn and began to walk the crowd parted like water before her in silence. Well, they would be coming for her but she had taken out two of four local guards. Unless they brought that group of vacationers into it their odds were not good. Picking up her pace Shadow decided to gather her things and check out a week early, this was not a vacation, a vacation would be spending two weeks in the cavern gardens all to herself not this.

Lilac greeted her with a smile when she entered with a brisk step and informed her she was checking out early and would be back down shortly with the room key. Lilac went to ask why but Shadow just called back she had to get back on the road earlier than she thought. In truth she was more worried about Valkardian, he had left a crystal to get his attention if she were in trouble and right now she needed it.

Entering her room quickly and gathering up everything she had left out Shadow began to stuff her bags and prepare to make a hasty exit. Maybe she would leave the keys on the bed, just yell down the hall and go out the window or was she being paranoid? True, she had just beaten the hell out of two guards and most likely left one with a little internal injury but her instinct said she needed to get out right now while she could. Stuffing things into bags faster and faster and slinging her backpack on she almost reached the door when it flew open and a small mob of guards carrying spears and swords burst into the room.

Letting out a grumble of a sight Shadow eyed them down, they were the other vacationers drafted up quickly and armed and as it stood... Well she knew that the first two would die but the rest would get her, there was no way out of this one and with the window closed... Shadow dropped the bag she was holding and snarled at them. Even if they locked her up there was one promise she remembered: That if she did not make the recall Valkardian would come after her. She pittied the poor bastards who stood before her.

Author's Note

For those who read this: Heard a song and as I have written Shadow's character and expanded her, grown her into what she is becoming this song fits her quite well: see what ive become.

As I keep expanding on her this song will become truer and truer. She is a dangerous little bat now.