XII:
The expansion of shadows, four years later

The Academy for Gifted Unicorns of Princess Celestia was known for the most prestigious and exclusive of all Canterlot. But things have changed a lot during the last four years. The Academy was still the most exclusive but it wasn’t as prestigious as it used to be.

Potential students turned their backs to the Academy because of a group of masked ponies who would teach everyone who asked and wanted to learn. As much it hurt to admit it, the Knights have changed the educational system for good. Selection exams were suddenly lower their standards, elite academies lowered their prices because of a new law.

The Princesses said that their actions were made for the good of ponies, and of course it benefited ponies. But in the bottom of their hearts everypony knew they were changing the law because the Knights of the Silence were winning the battle.

One day the young mare Irish Coffee was whistling a cheerful melody as she walked to the front desk.

“Hey! I would like to sing up for the free course of History of the Magic!”

The receptionist looked at the earth pony and shook her head. “Sorry dear but even theoretical courses have some magic lessons as part of the curriculum. And because of this only ponies who are able to do magic can…”

“So you mean you have to be ‘horny’ to enter this class?” joked Irish Coffee.

The receptionist frowned at this pony, and was about to leave when a powerful magic aura held her on her place. She turned only to see the earth pony mare extending her hoof to her direction. She tried to free herself with her own magic but the black aura was stronger than hers.

“As you can see, I am a very powerful magic user. I am at the level of A-Class unicorns. Now, would you like to sign me up for this course or would you like to duel me? Because I’m going to win.”

The receptionist didn’t say anything. Instead she signed up Irish to the course and she left happily. Scenes like that were really common those days. Non-unicorns who mastered A-Class spells were seeing everywhere, especially in Canterlot.

“You know? You shouldn’t treat ponies this way. Isn’t what why you ended up in this situation? Let’s face it the only reason you still have applicants is because the streets of Canterlot had become really dangerous at night.”

The receptionist glared at Irish, who shrugged and left, this time for good.

Irish was in a very good mood, not only she humiliated a representative from the system she hated but she managed to get into the course. When she arrived to her bar she realized someone was waiting for her to open. It was a teenage dragon, with purple scales and green belly along with two small wings starting to grow on his back.

“Hey Irish! Just in time! Is your bar open? I was about to leave.” called Spike.

Irish giggled at this. “Excuse me? You don’t have the age to drink kid. Also the place is empty at this hour”

“But you make some great coffee, right? Also I wanted to talk, if you have the time.”

Irish smiled. “I get it, I get it. You’re nervous because of the graduation party, right? Are you about to become a bachelor? What exactly?”

“Bilingual secretary. Is my especiality!” assured the young dragon.

“Cool. Come on in kid, I’m always available for my friends.”

Spike smiled as Irish opened her bar and prepared him a drink. Spike accepted the cup of coffee he received, only to realize it was not regular coffee.

“Irish? Are you crazy?! You know I’m underage!”

“Come on kid, I cannot sell you this but I can always give it to you as long as no pony else knows. If you realize I haven’t change the sign from CLOSED to OPEN.”

Spike just smiled and started to drink his especial coffee as Irish joined him with one of her own. The two of them sip their beverages in silence until Irish smirked at Spike.

“So, are you nervous about your graduation party, or because of the Investment?”

Spike winked an eye to her. “What do you think? Aren’t you nervous?”

“Are you crazy? I never drink in work hours but look at me. Having a drink with a minor against my best judgement. This is how nervous I am.”

The two of them laughed and made a toast.

“For the Investment!”

“Because we proved to be worthy!”

And after hugging and promise they would meet at night, Spike returned to the castle.

“Hi Spike! Did you leave school early?” asked Celestia happily.

“Yeah, today we were only fitting the togas for the graduation party. Mine fit like a glove!”

“Unlike others, we had to order a custom made one just for you.” reminded Celestia.

The two of them chuckled, and out of nowhere Celestia hugged Spike.

“Princess?”

“I am so proud of you Spike. You decided to come here to finish your studies on your own and look at you now! Only a few days before graduation with the highest grades of your promotion.”

Spike blushed. “Well, you helped me a lot with homework.”

Celestia shook her head and smiled warmly. “It was the least I could do. You came to me when you decided to chase your dreams. Somehow it reminded me the time when I took Twilight under my wing. It was like having my own daughter. And now I feel like I have a grandson.”

Spike just smiled awkwardly but happy.

“And speaking of Twilight, are they coming today or tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. They say they have lots of preparations to do. Get ready for a big party, okay? Pinkie Pie just sent me the budget and it is going to be wild.”

“What? We have to tell her to stop.”

“I don’t mind Spike. Twilight is paying half, sadly this is the kind of party planned for the parents more than the kids.”

Spike laughed imagining what was coming, and then returned to his room.

It had been four years. Four years living in this room, and in a few days he would go back to Ponyville. But he wouldn’t be the kid he was when he left. No, instead he would return as the kid with the highest grades in school and also something else. As much effort he put in his daytime studies, in the end those were nothing but a cover for his real studies. And tonight, he would be invested. The moment he had been waiting for a very long time.

The end of an era in his life, and the glorious beginning of a new one.

But he was also tired. He have worked really hard in his real goal and in his cover. And he had to work extra hard to keep the best grades and not being forced back to Ponyville. And it was about to happen several times since the city had become extremely violent. Ponies were found murdered in what was presumed as aggravated robbery and the Royal Guard was still unable to identify the culprit.

But the Great Master had her own ideas, since lots of the victims were her students.

Still today was a happy occasion and Spike didn’t want to think in worrying things. He only laid on his beds waiting for the night where he would make the final step on the path he started four years ago.

And finally it was night time.

As each of his especial nights, Spike walked to the ‘bathroom’ but in reality he created an illusion with his power, and he fused with his shadow and went to the meeting spot along with several ponies hiding on their own shadows too.

They ended up meeting at an abandoned land right behind the Academy of Gifted Unicorns as a symbol of rebellion against the system they all hated.

All the ponies have gathered in a large circle around their leader standing over a rock.

The Great Master stood there proud as six shadows materialized in front of her. Five ponies and a dragon. They chose not only to learn but become teachers as well.

The six novices bowed before the Great Master as the crowd was mumbling. Finally two new figures materialized behind the Great Master.

East Wind smiled proudly to her students and raised a hoof. “Raise your heads, my new Knights!”

The six figures raised as the crowd of went silent watching them.

East Wind did not liked this part of the ritual but she had to follow the tradition. She lowered her hooves as the new Knights could kiss it.

One by one they approached to kiss the Great Master’s hoof and finally bowed again.

“Last time I invested new Knights it was four years ago. I only had two novices and no public. But looking at the six of you and the ponies who came to witness your investment as Knights tells me how we have changed things in the last four years. We are already transforming the system, and the Princesses know there is no way back despite how hard they try to tell themselves otherwise. However, our actions have brought consequences against us. Some bigger than the others.”

“And when the Crown being after our behinds is the less of our worries that means we are in big trouble!” said one of the novices, Irish Coffee.

“And precisely this is what makes your decision so valuable on these times. Tell me dear novices, are you sure you want to go to the very end? Is a dangerous path where we are chased by the Crown and very dark forces. Do you want to continue with our legacy from the bottom of your hearts? Do you want to become official Knights of the Silence?”

“We want!” said the novices in the unison.

This time it was the Great Master who bowed before her students. “I said it before and I repeat it. I am immensely proud of all of you my young novices. Irish Coffee, Bushroot, Flash Sentry, Eternal Wings, Dark Mercurius and Spike the dragon.”

The Great Master nodded and asked.

“Do you solemnly swear to expand knowledge through the world, teaching everyone who asks you?”

“We swear!” said the novices at the unison.

“Do you solemnly swear find new ways to help your students to improve each time they come looking for your advice?”

“We swear!”

“And what would you do if you find somepony you cannot teach?”

“We’ll improve until we get the answer!” responded the new Knights in the unison.

Then Cream Cone and Emerald approached. As veteran Knights it was up to them to dress the novices on their new tunics along with their masks. Then the new knights put on their hoodies and bowed before their seniors.

Cream Cone and Emerald bowed before them too.

“You have completed your training and swore your hearts to the cause. From now on I name you our new Knights of the Silence. Let’s spread the shadows together, and remember. Shadows shall not be confused with Darkness.”

With this they bowed before the Great Master one more time and then the ponies gathered cheered for the new knights and began to celebrate.

“Go on, it’s your party!” smiled the Great Master.

They joined the festivities happily. It was so great to be able to expand the shadows.

The Great Master wished that Mister Feathers was there to look how she managed to expand the Order beyond his wildest dreams. Except for the blood-thirsty monsters, everything was perfect.

“But I won’t let them defeat me Mister Feathers. We’ll prevail!”

Author's Note

And this is it, the time skip.

Four years have passed since Spike moved to Canterlot, and now the final confrontation between the three sides is approaching. I hope you liked it, and as always,

Read ya’ later!