Wanderings of a Paladin

Note, I do not own My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Please support the original franchise.

Life as a Shade was a difficult life no matter where you went in Equestria. Black Paladin had walked most of Equestria with little left in his life since he had left Princess Luna and her other Shades. He no longer wished to play the games of the court that Luna used him for. He preferred to be solitary and not around the many aristocrats of the court. He had no idea how many ponies have felt the cold sting of his blade or the crushing flow of his magic.

Black Paladin looked up from under his hood. The rain was coming down, blocking out Luna’s beautiful moon. In front of him was the glow of torches from one of the many pony settlements that existed far from the Everfree City and Canterlot. A sign pointed out that it was Hoofington, and had a population of about 140 ponies. Black Paladin had studied the maps in Luna’s personal tower when he had been taught there by Luna herself. This town had been founded about four years ago and had prospered greatly.

“Hello sir,” A guard pony bowed, as was normal for the guards, “Can I offer you some assistance? Maybe point you towards the inn.”

Black Paladin did not dignify a response to the guard as he trotted into the town. He was ranked higher than a guard, as his armour would signify. His cape, though, kept his armour and sword hidden from the sight of normal ponies. As he passed the inn, he heard the merriment of ponies relieving the stress of a long day at work. Black Paladin would have joined him if his current situation wasn’t so dire.

He traveled down the dirt road to a small hut at the very end of the street. It was unassuming, looking like it was home to a beggar or unemployed pony. Black Paladin knew better. A small skull etched in the frame of the door told him everything he needed to know about the hut. It was a hideout for Shades who were on missions or just needed a momentary rest.

Black Paladin intended to use it for a darker purpose. He opened the door slowly, casting a spell to check for signs of life inside the hut. When he was assured no pony else was taking up residence, he entered, levitating his cape off and onto a peg. He lit a small candle that sat on a small table next to the door, casting an eerie glow in the cramped hut. In the corner was a dusty bed with no coverings, though a Shade wouldn’t need them.

Across the room, there was a fire place that was stacked with wood already. Paladin walked over to it, creating a spark and being rewarded with a toasty fire. A gust of wind rocked the frame of the hut, though it held.

“So, you came,” A voice chuckled from below Black Paladin. He glanced down, seeing a bright green eye peering at him from beneath the floor board. It did not surprise him to find this pony here, since his scan had only been of the room. “Come down, come down, before those blasted guard ponies come snooping.”

A trap door opened in an orange glow revealing a stairwell into a cellar. Black Paladin took the stairs down, his sword at the ready in case the pony decided to pull something funny. The pony, though, was stooped over a strange bowl that glowed with an eerie purple haze. The pony standing over it was a dark orange with a vibrant pink mane that was cut just below his ears.

“So, wizard, what is it that you have to show me?” Black Paladin asked, his voice slightly echoing around off the dirt of the basement walls. The pony looked up, his bright orange eyes bloodshot.

“Please, call me Coltro. I am not a legal wizard you must know by now,” The stallion laughed crazily. Black Paladin was not shaken at all by the mad pony’s revelation.

“I know what you do Coltro,” Black Paladin growled. “Now show me this spell that you have been raving about, before I decide you aren’t worth my time.”

“Ah, yes, yes,” Coltro chuckled, rushing over to a hastily built bookshelf. He began rummaging through books, throwing many tomes onto the ground. He grunted and seemed to be having a fit when he couldn’t seem to find what he was looking for on the shelf. “Just a moment Shade, I have it here somewhere. I just know I put it here…”

He began mumbling incoherently to himself, making Black Paladin truly question the wizards sanity and if he had actually made a true spell. He tapped into his magic, grabbing his sword in a magical grip, unbeknownst to the unicorn. Or so he had thought.

“No, no. I know it is here stallion,” He chuckled nervously as he backed up against the walls. He scrambled around, grabbing a knife and waved it around at Black Paladin who merely chuckled. “Plea stawion, I kno it es hew somewere.”

“I have wasted my time here,” Black Paladin said, flicking his sword out. Coltro swung his knife crazily trying to buy himself more time. “You cannot run, so do not bother. Just allow the darkness to take you in its sweet embrace.”

With that line, Black Paladin slashed his sword as a distraction, while he unleashed a spell. He saw Coltro’s eyes shoot open in agony, his heart slowly being crushed. If he tried to do anything, his heart would be crushed even faster and cause his death more swiftly. Coltro must not have known this as he flailed about, trying to find the tome, but only causing himself more pain.

He began to cough and blood shot out and ran down his lip, staining his orange coat. Black Paladin trotted over to the table while Coltro continued to flail and die in the back. He could have cared less as he looked over what the mad pony had been reading when he had arrived. It seemed to be what the stallion had been looking for, though it would not save him now, nor would it have saved him in the first place.

Black Paladin would allow nopony to know that he was studying black magic, and that was the entire reason he had left Luna. He desired more power, and black magic would be able to give it to him. He would never have to worry about being an outcast in society, at least as far as his family was concerned.

His family. They hated the fact that he had been born a unicorn. His mother preferred his brother, who had become a general in the service of Princess Celestia and the royal army. He always had to hear about how his brother was better at everything and that Black Paladin would amount to nothing. He had decided to leave at the age of four, when he no longer could take his mothers hate.

That had been ten years ago, and he never had looked back, even when he had been starving on the street. In truth, he would probably be dead if Luna and his two Shade brothers, Night Blade and Galeful Knight. He missed his adopted family, but his need for power had overridden all those feelings, forcing him to leave. Now, he felt guilty of everything he had done in his life, all the ponies he had seen die.

At least now, he had something at the end of that long road. This spell, it seemed, could destroy anything that stood in its path, yet it seemed as though it had one major backfire of knocking out the user. At least that is what Coltro had theorized on the paper. It seemed he had never tested the spell.

BOOM!

Black Paladin looked around, noticing that dirt had been loosened from the wall. Something had definitely caused the world to shake. Something large. Black Paladin quickly read over the spell, believing it would be helpful. As he climbed the stairs, he kicked a candle onto the ground to burn any evidence that could be found at a later time. He galloped out the

door to see a hydra occupying the center of the town.

Flying around its head, he spotted a familiar pegasus in golden armour. Galeful Knight was battling the hydra, though he would later ask for what reason. Black Paladin bounded into the center of town, finding Night Blade ordering the citizens out of the town and into the hills for cover, yelling it wasn’t safe. Luckily, no pony would be able to recognize him because of a glamour spell that Luna had enchanted their armour with.

Only the three could tell themselves apart as well as Luna. The spell could be activated at any time they wished to, and they preferred to stick to the shadows when it was needed. Night Blade spotted Black Paladin charging for battle, and only just glared at him, unsure what to think it seemed. Black Paladin nodded at him, firing off a spell of pure energy at the hydra.

It seemed to catch the beasts attention, as it turned, lashing out one of its heads at Black Paladin. As it got closer, Black Paladin unleashed lethal blades of energy at the head, cutting off the head. He was rewarded with a spray of blood and a giant thud as the head crashed to the ground. He shot a fire spell at the nub that was left, hoping to seal the still dripping mess before more heads sprouted from its neck.

Galeful Knight made a few head-dives at the hydra, his blades cutting into the beasts skin, though it only seemed to be paper cuts. At this rate, the hydra would destroy the town before the three Shades could hope to beat it.

“There is no better time than the presence,” Black Paladin sighed, charging up energy in his horn. His entire being began to ripple with energy as he began the necessary rituals the spell required. As his energy grew stronger, a giant rune floated in front of him. He adjusted his head, aiming the center of the rune straight at the center of the hydra.

Galeful Knight must have seen what he was doing, because he took off out of the area the hydra occupied. The hydra turned to see him and realized what he was up to. Unfortunately for the hydra the spell launched at the exact same time the hydra spotted him. A large, bright red ray of pure energy shot through the night sky, piercing the hydra square through the chest, right at the heart.

Black Paladin only got to see the hole in the chest of the hydra before he felt the night’s cool embrace. He felt his eyes shut and not much else. It seemed Coltro had been correct.

Black Paladin awoke to find himself in Luna’s large bed, the sheets pulled up over him. His armour was off and the sun was slowly descending behind the horizon. Standing upon the balcony watching the moon rise was Luna. She was beautiful in the night, her hair flowing though there was no breeze in the night.

“Black Paladin, we art displeased,” Luna spoke from the balcony, not turning. “Black Magic, though art not a daemon. Thy use of the dark arts twas uncalled for and caused a large magical backlash throughout the realm. Many unicorns art still suffering from thy blatant use.”

“My Princess, I apologize for my disregard,” Black Paladin quickly jumped up, throwing away the covers and bowing in respect. “I shall not allow my actions to escape my mind next time.”

“Black Paladin, we hath allowed thou much free reign,” Luna turned, glancing at her Shade. “We were mistaken to allow thee so much time and power, so we hath decided you shall be staying with us.”

Black Paladin saw a tug on the corner of her mouth as she smiled. He was not sad to have his free reign taken away from him, but happy to be with his princess. He enjoyed her company and had never once felt useless when she asked him questions. He saw that Luna felt the same way as she strode toward the bed.

“Rest my student,” Luna whispered, hovering over Black Paladin. “Thy magic hast yet to truly regain its full strength. Thy fellow Shades shalt watch over the night.”

With that, Black Paladin was able to sleep, his mind set at ease. He may be a Shade in the service of Luna, but she cared for him like a mother. Maybe one day he could reveal his feelings for her as well. One day.