Chapter 13 for she can trust him

Once Shadow was reunited with the girls, the group entered a dark section of the forest. Somehow, this section of the forest trees is overgrown and the branches block the night's moonlight.

After passing a certain distance, soon the group was surrounded by trees and without any light source with them. Well, except the light emanating from Shadow's armor. Rarity and Fluttershy had no problem grabbing one of his arms each for themselves.

The group was able to pass without any problem but suddenly the trees around them changed. From the next moment, the trees had monstrous faces, scaring the girls and testing their courage to continue. And if it was a scary story, the girls might have had to think twice about continuing because they might encounter a monster. However, they knew that with Shadow at their side, he could take care of any danger that might appear.

Luckily for him, he wasn't necessary for this case since Pinkie showed them that even in the darkest and scariest places you can laugh at your fears. And with one of her songs, the group laughed at their fears and the trees stopped being seen as monsters. The girls were able to continue and left that section.

But Pinkie wasn't done and they could only leave once she was satisfied. Teach someone who didn't laugh to laugh.

"Okay. One more time Shadow. Laugh... just say 'hahaha', like this... HAHAHAHA!, OHOHOHOHOHOH~, MUAUAUAUAU!!!", Pinkie laughs upside down, laughs like a noblewoman refined and like an evil overlord in that order. Yet, Shadow just looks at the last tree that still has a scary face.

"Really? Pinkie, are you going to teach him to laugh all night?", Twilight thanked Pinkie for teaching her to overcome her fears but her patience was running out, as was hope for Equestria.

"Of course I'm going to teach him to laugh, even if it takes me all night! From this day on, I, Pinkamena Diane Pie, will put a smile on Shadow's face." Pinkie said to an annoyed Twilight with her side to Rainbow and Applejack. "If not, I'm afraid Shadow won't be able to laugh at my jokes! Can you imagine a world where he doesn't smile?"

"...But he doesn't have a mouth to begin with. And he's just staring at that tree, he's not doing anything.", Twilight was right, but she was wrong at the same time.

He was not trying to smile to a tree under his helmet. He was threatening a treant with his eyes.

What the girls didn't know was that the section of the forest they had just passed through was the treants' domain. To a treant, a mystical monster regarded as a living tree, it was a vicious creature that did not tolerate intruders. If the girls get close to one of them, they could be captured and sealed inside. Where they would absorb his life force over time, something Shadow did not allow them.

While Pinkie sang her song and the girls laughed at normal trees with some kind of illusion magic. Shadow was cutting down any treant that was targeting the girls in the background. He even cut off the branches of the treants that were blocking the light at night. Being fast enough, he was able to repel 7 treants while splitting one of them in half without the girls realizing he was missing. When he rejoined the girls, he found one more treant at the end where Pinkie was trying to teach him to laugh. While he taught the treant true fear.

"Is it me, or is that tree scared to death by Shadow?", Rainbow blurted out as she could see how the face on the tree reflected pure fear in its hole-shaped eyes and twisted mouth.

"Ah will be lyin if Ah say no.", Applejack adds.

"Oh~ There you are.", when they turn around, Rarity was coming from the river they found on their way. "Oh, my dear Shadow~ Could you come with me? We need your assistance."

"Oh, did you find a way to pass the river. Lets go every pony!", Twilight was the first to respond and follow Rarity.

Twilight was the first to respond. "Oh, did you find a way across the river? Let's go everypony!", and follow Rarity.

The group stopped paying attention to Pinkie's 101 class and headed towards Rarity, also missing the opportunity to see how fast a treant with his roots can run. As they get out of the way of the trees and treants, the group encounters their newest obstacle on their journey. A river that had rapids too fast to cross or swim to the other side.

"Well, not exactly, we found the cause.", Rarity explained as the group began to hear crying in the air. After a quick walk along the riverbank, the girls could see that Fluttershy, who went with Rarity to check the river, was trying to comfort the culprit.

Rarity begins the introductions. "Ladies and Shadow, meet Steven Magnet. The sea serpent who resides in this river."

Steven, a 50-foot purple-scaled sea serpent, was crying. "WAAHHH! My image is ruined! I'm too ugly! There's no hope! There's no hope! WAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

The group could only stare at the serpent's wail, but now they knew that its cry of desperation caused its long snake body to move over the water uncontrollably and made the water current too dangerous to cross. They didn't know why she was crying, however the answer came from Rarity as she continued.

"Long story short, our friend Steven was enjoying a night walk...swimming, just because an unexpected gust came by and suddenly his fabulous mustache was ruined.", as Rarity explains, the group resorts to Steven's golden mustache with the cut on the right side. "We tried to help him and calm him down, but we were not able to succeed."

Fluttershy flew off to meet the others once she saw that she couldn't calm Steven down. "Sorry Rarity, it looks like he can't let go of his mustache."

"Wait! This is all just because of a simple mustache?", Rainbow yelled, unaware of the ponies she was talking to.

GASP Not only was Steven hurt by her comment, Rarity was too. "It's not just a simple mustache! IT'S HIS FABULOUS MUSTACHE!"

"Is *SOB* okay Rarity.", Steven responds as he tries to calm down. "I-I-I know I'm s-s-s-still fabu-bulous. I s-s-still have m-m-m-my scales cle-clean and shi-shiny. My hair-hairstyle i-i-i-is still per-perfect. Is just... WAAAAHHHHH! IT JUST MY FABULOS MUSTACHE IS LOST!", tried.

"Ohh~ I know, sweetheart.", Rarity approaches him and comforts him as best she can. "I want to apologize for my friends here. They may not appreciate your fabulous, shiny scales."

"*SOB* I KNOW!"

"Also for your shiny golden hair. I can see how much effort you put into making it shine."

"I KNOW! *SOB* *SOB*"

"All just to be ruined for your beautiful mustache being vandalized cut."

"I KNNNNOO-OOO-OOO-OOWWWWW!"

"It simply infuriates me to believe that a crime against fashion like this would be allowed to get away with it, which is why I offer myself as a sacrifice."

"I- what now?"

Not only Steven saw Rarity strangely, the entire group was cleaning their ears as if they had heard correctly. As Rarity walked towards Shadow. Once face to face, Rarity looks him directly in the eyes. From the public's point of view they didn't say anything but among themselves they could understand to a certain extent. As if they, or rather, Rarity trusted Shadow for what is about to happen.

Once she got what she wanted to confirm, she smiles and talks to Shadow. "Well darling, to continue with our trip I will need your help.", and with that she turns away with her back to him. And she adds the following. "The head, would you kindly help me please?"

Steven and the girls didn't understand what she meant while Shadow just looked at Rarity's back. After a few seconds, he decides to act by moving his left arm and holding Rarity by her mane where it reaches her neck. And using the other hand to draw his right sword.

"Wait? What is he doing?" Twilight said, watching in horror as Shadow moved his sword towards Rarity's neck on her back. The audience didn't know what was happening, they just watched as Shadow moved his sword... and cut Rarity's mane.

GASP The girls and Steven saw Shadow holding Rarity's now cut mane. Everypony held their breath and tried not to say anything. For those who have met Rarity, they must know how delicate she is when it comes to her beauty and how much effort she puts into looking her best all the time. So they weren't ready for what Rarity asked.

"So~ How do I look?", she asks as she turns and touches her now short mane. "Does short mane look good on me?"

While Rarity was asking, she was checking and fixing her mane, but to everyone's surprise, it looks good and even better in some ways. Rarity's mane now only reaches just above her neck, however, the edges of her wavy mane were cut evenly, even her mane was not messy at all. Thanks to this, Rarity now seemed-

"OH MY FAUST! Rarity, you look fabulous. No, scratch that. It seems like you're a totally different pony!", Steven's statement was understandable. The girls also notice that Rarity's perfect short hair gives her a different vibe.

"Really? I heard that having short hair makes you look professional.", Rarity replies while remembering the trends from her latest magazines.

"OH OH Obvious! If you looked fabulous with your long curly hair that said 'Bitch, I know I'm fabulous', now with your new short but neat hair it said 'Did you come to play dumb? Or did you come for business?' Believe me girl, it looks good on you with your beautiful face and makeup. You just need a dress or business suit and the world is your girl!", Steven said while making fashionable poses to explain his opinion.

"Oh~ Thank you for your kind words, Steven. I will follow your advice later. Now we must focus on the main protagonist and solve his problem.", she then turns to Shadow, who is still holding her mane. "Thanks Shadow, I'll take it from here."

Using her magic, she levitates her mane and brings it closer to Sebastian's face. Then, with another spell, she attached the mane as a mane extension and fixed his missing right mustache. Once this was done, she was not satisfied, so she used one of her dye spells to change the color of the mane to match his mustache and straighten it. Once finished, Steven's mustache was restored.

"That's it, now your mustache is back to its glorious form.", she said looking at the now magnificent Steven and his wonderful mustache.

"Oh...", Steven touched and stroked his new mustache, feeling that it was now complete. "Rarity... I never expected this... Thank you. How could I repay you?"

"Don't worry about that. We are fashion comrades. It is my duty to show generous help to whoever is needed, so I don't need a form of payment... Well, maybe I got a free cut. Don't you think?", she said, checking her hair with the mini hand mirror she brought out.

"Oh, absolutely. If you have glasses, you will look divine with your new haircut. But I wish to pay somehow-!" Then Steven had an epiphany. "You girls were trying to cross the river, right? I can make your way easier. Here!"

Steven then submerges most of his serpent body into the water. By the time Rarity fixed his mustache, the rapids generated by his moment of desperation had stopped and the water was calm. However, Steven decides to use sections of his body to make temporary steps for the girls to jump in and not get wet in the river.

"Now you can cross safely and don't worry about my scales. It's the best thing I can do for Rarity and her friends.", Steven said as he leaned with his forearms on the shore with his chest up out of the river.

"Thank you Steven, we appreciate your help.", Rarity then addresses the group and confirms that they are ready as well.

First it was Applejack who had no problem. Then it was Pinkie who hopped on each step. Followed by Fluttershy who didn't follow Rainbow's example of flying to the other side. Only 3 members were missing. Rarity was finishing checking her new look with her hand mirror. Once she was done, she was ready for her turn, but stopped when Twilight reached her side.

"Uhm. Rarity?", Twilight struggled for a moment, as the subject of her question stood at her side. "I don't want to be rude... but... why did you do it?"

Rarity didn't answer right away because she somehow felt that her question wasn't clear enough so she asked her own. "About my haircut?...Or about Shadow's help?", when Twilight flinched in the second, Rarity was now able to answer her. "Well, if you're worried, why did I let Shadow put a sword to my neck? It was because I wanted to generously show you that he is not dangerous."

"HUH?! To show me! Why?"

"Because I wanted to give my generous help to him." She then followed Rarity's example, she and Twilight turned to see Shadow on standby.

But the strange thing was that he was looking at Twilight as Rarity continued. "Call it a mare's intuition, but I feel like Shadow worries you a little, and he worries about you. And you two are worrying me, you seem like an angry couple to me. Only that, maybe, you hurt him with what you said just now."

Feeling strangely bad, Twilight couldn't stay angry with him. However, she still did not want to forgive because of the fears she had of him. "I don't know... You don't know Shadow like I know him."

Rarity looks at Twilight for a moment, thoughts came to her without being able to show it, so she let it go. "I know, I may not be able to meet the Shadow Blade you met in the past.", she then went towards Shadow.

Bewildered, Twilight just watches Rarity say something in his ears, the side of his face. When she pulls away from him, Shadow just stares at her for a long moment. He didn't say anything in return, however, Twilight, unbeknownst to her, became concerned about what she told him. And when she saw how Shadow moved and picked up Rarity princess style she could only stare without saying anything. She still doesn't understand why, she got angry.

"But I do know my Shadow. See you on the other side~", with Rarity's advice, the second she finishes, Shadow carries Rarity onto Steven's scales quickly and safely. And the next second, they were already on the other side with the others.

Twilight was left speechless and with no way to respond to Rarity's statement. 'Is she suggesting to know more about him? But he's a dangerous pony because... is he really dangerous for me?', she then tried to remember their first meeting when it was her turn to cross.

With every jump, she keeps thinking about Shadow's identity. Because she was denied knowing him and his origin, Twilight had no idea what he is truly capable of. She only knew what her teacher told her about him that didn't allow her to accept anything else. She was also worried about this feeling when he was around and what it could mean. That's why she didn't realize that she landed wrong and was falling sideways into the river.

With a spike-shaped rock underneath. "...huh?"

Without warning, a strange blue night wind passes by as Twilight jumps. Being caught in the air, his body moved with the wind a few centimeters but it was enough for his foot to slip. Now she was falling sideways toward the river, and her stomach was at the perfect angle where the sharp rock would pierce her insides. Neither the girls nor Steven could help her or get to her in time, it was impossible.

But for someone who is bounded to her, was possible. BANG

The place where Twilight was about to fall suddenly exploded with her and the river. A mist of water covers the entire place. The girls didn't know what happened to Twilight. But with Rarity left on the ground, it wasn't difficult to get the answer. Twilight had her eyes closed as the thought of being impaled scared her, but just as that feeling came, another one replaced it. She could feel that she was safe again, that nothing was going to hurt her. She didn't need to ask why she felt this way.

Twilight just needed to open her eyes to see him. "...Shadow."

She named her savior when she could see his glowing red eyes. Not only did Shadow move and smash the spiked rock, but he was also able to capture her, again in princess style, before she reached the water. Once the shock and Twilight's heart calmed, Shadow crossed the river with her. The water only reaches Shadow's waist so Twilight didn't get wet, except for the tip of her tail and a few drops from the explosion. Once on the other side, safe and sound, Twilight is lowered to her hooves and turned to face Shadow. The two simply stare at each other, as if the rest were watching the two of them in their own world.

"Do we interrupt them or give them some time alone?", Pinkie was the first to ask. "I feel like we're a third wheel."

"Maybe... they want to make sure the other pony is... okay?", Fluttershy adds, but somehow it was right and wrong for her.

"Whatever it is, Ah am glad Twilight wasn't hurt. Just like another pony.", Applejack replied as Rarity walked to her side. And relieving the pain in her butt. "By the way, what did ya tell him?"

"Ow... I just told him that if he helps me cross the river, maybe Twilight's opinion of him can change for the better and ask for his help.", she then stared at the two who were locked eyes with each other. "But I didn't expect it to work. Is it just me or do those two have something between them?"

Before they could guess the secret between the two of them, the group was suddenly called out by the last member. "Hey! I can see the castle from here!"

All of them, including Twilight and Shadow, looked up while Rainbow was in the air checking the route. She was already in the air when Shadow defeated her to rescue Twilight, so she decided to explore a little further ahead and lost sight. "We just have to get past these trees and we can reach a bridge to cross. Follow me!"

"The castle...", Twilight began to remember her work. "The castle! The Elements! Oh, what a relief!", she shakes her head to remove any remnants of that feeling. "Okay girls! Let's not waste any more time and get The Elements to stop Nightmare Moon.", she ignored the rest and walked as fast as she could towards the next challenge that destiny will put in her path. Leaving Shadow alone with the girls.

Applejack only took a moment before concentrating on work as well. "And there she goes... Ya heard her, let's end this once and for all. The nation depends on us."

"YEAH!", as Pinkie's scream was heard, the girls discovered that she was riding on Shadow's shoulders. "You heard my Shadow, the final battle is waiting for us!"

concerned, who could see an annoyed stare on Shadow to Pinkie, asked. "Eh... Pinkie, don't you think is too trouble for Shadow... for you being on top of him?"

A concerned Fluttershy, who could see an annoyed look from Shadow towards Pinkie, asked. "Hey... Pinkie, don't you think it's too much trouble for Shadow... that you're on top of him?"

"Rarity is the one who doesn't care if he's on top of her. And we're bestie, he is not upset with this. Besides, I wanted to be carried too, so now it's my turn!", as a cowmare, she orders Shadow to start galloping. "Let's go! My faithful steed-OW!"

Shadow heard her and didn't try to shake her off. But that doesn't mean he was going to give her a good ride. Once he started walking to catch up with Twilight, he didn't care about the path. So he didn't care if the tree branches were too low, nor if a pink mare was being hit by them.

"OW! Hey Shadow could you-OW! Could you take another-OW! At least could you take-OW! Could I give an ad-OW!...OW!....OW! Are you mad because I sell merchandise with your image? OW! Or are you mad because I call you baby boy and that your mother will not even love you on our class 101 'How to laugh'? OWWW!"

As the duo left, a worried Fluttershy, an unfazed Applejack, and a happy Rarity decide to join the walk as well. While Steven was giving their farewell.

"Goodbye my dear friends~ I hope the best for your trip!", once he lost sight of the group behind the trees, it was Steven's signal to leave, but not before adding something to himself.

"I hope Rarity can win her fight over Shadow, I can see she's competing quite a bit for his attention. But... Is he okay? I wonder why his armor flickered just now."

"I'm fine, Glade. You can stop worrying about me."

"No buts Star, you need to eat before we can escape from here. SIGH... Look, just make sure your belly is full. We will need all the energy to run. And no, we are not going to fight him again."

"At least listen to him, Star. I am your teacher so I am worry for you, but... Glade is right. I don't think we are going to war against him, for now.", As Fire said the last part, Glade was giving him a deathly look that said 'hell no'. Star simply obeyed and began to eat her plate.

After Shadow left, the cult members were resting and eating with the provisions he left for them. All the survivors gathered in a large cell. Well, the ones Glade decided to free as some were terrified to go out and others were a danger to others due to the traumas they received from Shadow's 'interrogation'. But the reason they ate like a big family was for the same reason. They didn't want to go out and face Shadow again.

Fire and the other leader, Wind, a pegasus stallion, decide to vote on their next course of action. The reason why the other leaders, Earth an earth stallion and Water an unicorn mare, did not participate or wanted to decide as well, was that the first lost the desire to fight and the second almost lost his mind between the cult's oath of silence and Shadow's interrogations. As for Phantom, he didn't care as he didn't come out of his cell, not even once his straitjacket was removed.

In the end, all clear-minded members were able to vote and choose the same idea: let's hope our Queen takes care of Shadow.

So the cult decides to relax with light magic stones while they wait for everything to be over. But as Wind watched from a cell window, he realized that it was dark outside. More than normal.

So, while Star and Glade were eating on one side, Wind started talking to Fire on the other. "It's almost morning and yet the sky is still dark. It looks like our mother has already dethroned the golden princess. That's what I would like to believe."

Fire finished his plate before answering his old friend. "Well, that was the plan. When our mother descends, we will be there to greet her, giving the signal to our people to rise from all the cities and dethrone Celestia and her guards while we, our group, prevent the holders from reaching this place. So what do you believe now?

He stares at him, believing his words. "I think... our sister and brothers are being defeated and captured by the guards, that the holders will be here and get The Elements, and our mother defeated because she is fighting alone."

Fire gave Wind more time to express himself, but when he saw that he was holding on, he forced him to say it. "And who will she lose to?"

"...To that demon, Shadow.", Wind responded as he had no complaints that he and Fire believed it too. But Wind tries to understand the reason Fire told him why they shouldn't go fight him. "I'll ask you again, Fire. Is there no way to stop him?"

"There aren't any.", Fire responds without delay. "Unless we have another Yami Tool to fight him. However, the danger will remain.", and then he continues remembering the tales of the two dragons. "Knowing some facts and deducing how the 'Yami Tools' work, as well as the curse of the 'Yami Legion'. It's better not to mess with them."

"From what you said, no? And it all depends on your current master not making a mistake?", Wind also heard the story. But seeing Shadow, he now creates anything with Yami Tools.

Fire then moves his gaze to the ceiling of the cell, in the form of a prayer. "If the following events worsen, he will become a time bomb. I hope his master does not decide... to release him without the right words."

"I wish we didn't waste any more time. Really? A broken bridge. What's next? A fight between titans?", Twilight let out her thoughts as the group reached the chasm where the castle was on the other side. Just as she said, the bridge that allows access to the other side was cut off on that side and the bridge had fallen.

Between them was a chasm more than 30 feet high, if they decide to go down or around the chasm, it could be hours. Which the group doesn't have since every second counted when Nightmare Moon was free and Princess Celestia's whereabouts are still missing.

"How are we going to cross now?", Twilight was about to think of a solution, plus she forgot that she was not alone.

"AHEM!", Twilight turns around and joins the group again. Where Rainbow was present with her wings spread. "Hello! These babies are not for decoration. Leave it to me!"

Just as she said it, Rainbow took off and flew to the bottom of the abyss. There she found the ropes of the bridge that connected to the other side and took them as she crossed the chasm. Once she reached the other cliff, Rainbow found the two wooden posts that were used to tie the bridge rope.

The group could see that Rainbow was able to carry the heavy bridge and was connecting it to the other side. Now they just have to wait for her to finish, so they talk to pass the time.

Rarity, who stopped to check out her new appearance, spoke first. "You know, I was afraid that Rainbow wouldn't be strong enough to lift the bridge. I'm surprised how strong she is, but how?"

"Well, she's been training since the Lumberwolf attacked her.", Pinkie replied, while removing sticks and branches that were stuck to her mane with both hands. "She said she can carry twice his weight now... UGH. Could you stop moving! I almost got... YOU!", when Pinkie stopped searching through her mane, she pulled out a raccoon. Eating a cupcake.

"Oh Mr. Raccoon.", Fluttershy took him. "Where have you been all this time?... What do you mean you've been living there for a month?"

"...And what is she training for?" Ignoring the raccoon, Twilight asked her concern about Rainbow's training as she remembered how intense it was when she first met her. "It's almost like she wants to beat somepony?"

"Not somepony.", it was Applejack who responded. "She's just jealous of someone here.", and then points to Shadow, who was right at the back of the group. "She hates the idea of this guy of ours bein stronger and faster than her."

Twilight couldn't understand the obsession of Rainbow or the reason for it, but then she thought of something else. "Now that you mention it, did you guys know how strong Shadow is? And what he's capable of?"

The girls turn to Shadow. Rarity was the first to give her opinion. "Well, the first time I met him, he was able to knock out three full-grown stallions. And one of them was twice his size when he sent him flying into the wall."

Applejack was not surprised as she also added about Apple Bloom's incident. "Not to mention that Apple Bloom told me how he took on half a pack of Timberwolves in this forest. And that was before he survived being a Lumberwolf's chew toy. As for how he did it, I don't know."

The girls thought deeply, only for Fluttershy to add her own opinion. "Well... the answer is not clear.", when all eyes were on her, she almost backed away. But seeing Shadow's eyes, she speaks with confidence, along with her concern. "I-I-It could be because of his armor. Or... it could be what gives its power, his curse and his demon."

"Curse? Demon?", Twilight was skeptical of that answer, but the existence of the Shadows was an enigma to her from the beginning. "And how do we prove that?"

"Have you asked him?", then all attention focused on Pinkie, who had just finished removing the last branch of her hair with her hand. "Did you never think to ask him directly? I don't know Shadow, but I see that he listens to you."

Twilight was startled, she never thought about that. She now realizes that in all this time she has not spoken directly to him even once. During the castle incident, there were other ponies who confronted him and he never, neither Princess Celestia nor Captain Iron, answered or responded to their questions. But just today, Shadow answered Twilight's question during the Manticore attack. And he hasn't spoken since she forbade him to speak.

"Now that I think about it...", Rarity was worried so she tried to speak. "Shadow always acts when he needs to, but this is the first time I've seen that he hasn't said anything or acted freely with us... now that we're with Twilight. Plus... he's following you al this time. Could it be, Twilight are you- HEY!", but was interrupted when Rainbow called out her progress.

When everyone returned to the other side of the chasm, they could see that the bridge was hanging on one side. However, it was still dangerous to walk on. "I'm almost done here! Just give me one more second!", Rainbow's voice echoes throughout the chasm causing the girls to look in her direction.

"Good job Dashie! Tell your new friends we appreciate their help too!", Pinkie replied happily. The group could see Rainbow working on the second pole, as well as three strange pegasus in a tracksuit and glasses behind her.

Twilight could see them too. "It's almost over, well, soon we-! Wait... new friends?!", the girls try to guess why three strange ponies appear, they soon find out when the middle one summons a sword out of nowhere while the pony approaches Rainbow from behind.

"RAINBOW DASH!!!" the group shouts as loud as they can to alert her.

Luckily it worked, Rainbow as soon as she heard them and noticed the blade cutting through the air, she stepped to the side and turned around while dodging the blade. Unfortunately, the rope was cut again and now Rainbow was facing three ponies, like their first partner, with swords.

"What in Tarnation?! Twilight, Rarity, can you magically finish tying up the bridge?", Applejack commands the only ponies who can do something about it. But even they doubted they could help.

"Sorry, I don't think I can use it from this distance.", Rarity explains.

"UGH! It's useless on my side. I can move the rope but I can't make sure it's tight enough for us to cross. And we can't trust Fluttershy is able to send anyone there-!", Twilight stopped too, but not because she couldn't help. It's because she knew who can.

Twilight turns and looks at Shadow, who hasn't even tried to help, but Twilight might have guessed why since the feeling was coming back to her. 'Trust him. He listen to me. Ask him. And he cares about me, right?', Twilight mentally debates her next course of action. Also to take a leap of faith, with quite a bit of courage and leaving fear aside.

She asked him. "Please. Don't worry about us. Go and save Rainbow Dash!"

'The Shadowbolts?...How come the name 'Shadow' is so popular nowadays!'

Rainbow was working on fixing the bridge, but stopped when she heard a voice as a strange fog came from behind her. Soon three pegasus, who said they were members of The Shadowbolts came out to introduce themselves. Two stallions and a mare wearing a skin-tight athletics suit of dark blue design with yellow stripes and dark lightning bolt, ask her to not only join them but be their captain.

"So, what do you say?", the mare in the middle talks again about the benefits of the offer. "You'll be able to train on the best courses and equipment you can find in Equestria, no, all of Terra! As captain, you will receive a great payout with every race and shows around the world! And all the ponies and races across Terra will love you. You can have all males...even some females if you wish for your harem. If you know what I mean."

"Hmm... you tempt me, you tempt me...", Rainbow was thinking about it while she had her hand on her chin.

"So? Do you want to join us?", the mare extends her hand to check and seal the deal.

Rainbow stared at that hand and in a second she had her answer. "... Sorry, I refuse."

"WHAT?! WHY?!" the mare screams with her two teammates looking at each other in surprise.

"Because I will be abandoning my dreams. Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't know anything about your group so I'm going to stick with my original plan of joining the Wonderbolts.", Rainbow turns around seeing her friends talking to each other, while her eyes were fixed on someone. "Besides, I want to teach a pony about true loyalty, and as my rival, I will be losing to him if I give up halfway to achieving my personal goals."

Seeing that Rainbow was losing, the mare became desperate. "Who cares what other ponies think! You should aim for your own good!"

Somehow that hit Rainbow, but not in the way the Shadowbolts wanted as she smiled. "You're right. Somehow I'll think what I want. And that's what I'm going to do.", then she headed to the remaining post where she had to tie the rope to fix the bridge. "Plus you just arrived at a bad time. We're kinda busy right now, we were supposed to stop Nightmare Moon so I couldn't abandon my friends."

Rainbow shouted getting the group's attention. "HEY! I'm almost done here! Just give me one more second!" and she kneels down to finish fixing the bridge.

"Oh... we know.", unbeknownst to Rainbow, the mare hasn't finished her offer as she walks behind her and summons a blade from her palm. "That's why we're here."

"RAINBOW DASH!!!"

"Huh?", just as he heard the warning, he also heard the blade. Rainbow immediately took a step and jumped to her right as the blade became impaled on the pole, cutting the rope again. "What the-! Horses. You're with Nightmare Moon, right?"

"Ehehehe... Something like that.", as the mare removes her blade from the post, then turns to her two henchmen. "Get her."

Soon the two stallions went to capture Rainbow, but she wasn't going to let them scare her. 'Okay. Two stallions are not enough to make me sweat. I trained for this.', she was preparing the stance she trained. At that moment, both stallions summoned their own blades. "But not for THAT!"

She is still a civilian and since she was only focusing on training for the Wonderbolts, Rainbow still hasn't trained against weapons. So the best she could do was dodge and wait for her chance while the two stallions were upon on her.

With her speed, she was able to duck into the high swings going towards her head and fly upwards while the other stallion tried to cut off her legs. Rainbow continues dancing with the two as the mare enjoyed the show. When the stallion aiming for her legs tried to swing his blade again, Rainbow decided to counterattack now.

As he swings his blade beneath her, Rainbow jumps up and prepares to attack his lowered head. "I hope you like the taste of the GROUND!"

Just as she had planned, her double kick to the stallion's head as he lunged under her caused him to be buried with his face in the ground. And with the momentum, she jumps straight towards the other stallion. Surprising him, Rainbow came face to face with him and delivered an uppercut to his lower jaw, causing his head to snap back. This could be effective and could knock out two normal stallions. Unfortunately this was not the case.

Rainbow put so much force into the hook that she couldn't pull her arm back the next second. This was enough for the second stallion to turn its head and bite Rainbow's arm with its fangs.

"AHHH! WHAT BUCK ARE YOU DOING!", without wasting any time, the stallion turned his head with her arm to his left side making Rainbow come closer to him. Having her back to him, he then releases his bite and puts his right arm into a headlock to grab Rainbow's neck and his left to hold her head while his blade retracts from his hand. "What the buck are you?!"

"HAHAHAHAHA~", Rainbow's headlock was very strong but without making her lose consciousness, so she could see how the mare began to walk towards her. "Oh~ Don't worry. What we are is not important. What it is, is what we can do to you now~"

When she finishes speaking, the first stallion removes his face from the ground. He walked as if nothing happened to him and headed towards the left side while retracting his blade. He then grabs both of Rainbow's arms so they can have them in front of the mare. Rainbow was confused by what was happening, so she got really scared when the mare played with her blade in her right hand.

"All we wanted is to stop you and your friends. Killing you might do it, but we promised your life won't end tonight.", she seemed sad, only then happy for what would come next. "Then, we'll have to settle for separating your arms and wings from your body. There's no harm in that~ HAHAHAHA!"

Rainbow was in trouble, the stallions holding her were twice her height and their grip was strong as steel. And with the headlock, she couldn't do much to fight and free herself. She panicked not knowing what to do in her current situation, however, she was calm enough to listen to her surroundings. Besides the crazy mare's laughter, she could hear something else.

Her ears caught a familiar, chilling sound in the approaching air. A sound she recognized during the fight with Lumberwolf and knew what it was.

SHUNK Just like the stallion who is holding her arms, suddenly lets them go. "Ga...ggaa...aaa..."

"HAHAHA-! Huh? What are you doing-! What's that on your face?!", when the mare saw that something was wrong with her servant, she stopped. Because the forehead of his servant had a sword impaled in the head, right between the eyes. "What is-" BANG, an explosion was heard on the other side of the chasm.

Rainbow and the remaining Shadowbolts simply turn around in time to see a cloud of dust where the girls were located. Rainbow tried to focus her eyes on her friends and could see how the girls were trying to breathe due to the dust, while Twilight looked at the sky. In just a few seconds, Rainbow immediately understood when another sound, but this time heavier than before, was coming towards her.

More precisely, between them. BANG

A new explosion occurs again just a few meters away from them, as a dark gust passes between Rainbow and the Shadowbolts mare. Where the first stallion was just a moment ago. Rainbow turned to the other side where a new cloud of dust appeared. He didn't know what to say or think as the dark figure inside stood up. And his red stripes were lighting up with his right white sword shining.

"Orders receive: Save Rainbow Dash"

That's what Rainbow thought she heard as she watched Shadow get off the stallion and take the sword from his head. And then he crushed the head with his foot.

Rainbow couldn't take her eyes off Shadow as he did that. Part of her thought her entrance was cool. But the other part, surprisingly, was not afraid that he would start killing but rather confused as to why he was doing it. Her answer came in front of her.

"You bastard! Why?! Why are you interfering?!", Rainbow turned to the mare and saw how she was holding her now dismembered right arm. No blood was bleeding from her arm, but rather a dark blue mist was escaping from the cut. "DAMN IT! What are those swords made of?!"

Rainbow and the stallion were distracted by the mare's pain. Enough for him to act. SLASH Without missing the opportunity, Shadow closes the distance and dismembers the right arm of the stallion that was holding her. Once Rainbow and the dismembered arm hit the ground, Shadow kicks the stallion's chest away from Rainbow.

COUGH COUGH Rainbow was catching her breath. Once she can breathe calmly, Shadow picked her up, princess style, and carried her to the bridge posts.

Rainbow was never the kind of mare who wanted to be saved by a stallion, or what Rarity always fantasized about. So for the first time she felt safe under the protection of a colt. She was even tempted to rest her head on his chest, but ran out of time when Shadow put her down. There Rainbow rests against the post, safe from the battle that was about to begin while the Shadowbolts, two with their arms dismembered and one without a head standing up, prepare to kill them.

Their moment ended when the Shadowbolts transformed parts of their bodies. Their fingers transformed into long, sharp claws. And the dismembered part grows again and transforms into long night blue blades. Rainbow could only stare at Shadow's back as he prepared to face them. When his armor blinked.

"What the?" ROAR, Rainbow had no time as the one-arm stallion charged straight at Shadow.

The one-armed stallion uses his arm blade to strike Shadow, Shadow simply fights back and blocks the attack with one sword. When they were locked in, the stallion used his left free claw to impale Shadow's head, but in doing so put on some of his body weight. Shadow took advantage and took a step to his left side while pushing the stallion's sword to his right, dodging and making his opponent fall to the other side.

As the stallion staggers and tries to regain its balance, Shadow uses his speed and serves the stallion's legs with his other sword. With his legs gone, the stallion falls to the ground face-first, and the next second, Shadow impales both swords into his back, where his heart was located. When Shadow didn't feel any organs, he separated his sword in the opposite direction. Opening the stallion's back.

Rainbow was lucky that the only thing that came out was a dark mist, as the demonic stallion's body vaporized and left nothing behind. But as he did so, the Shadow armor flickered again.

'Is it happening again? So that mean I wasn't imagining it-! Wait! Is something wrong with him?!', her suspicions were correct when Shadow showed signs of difficulty standing up. However, his armor power up when the next attack came.

CRASH "You!", just as Shadow returns to normal, then blocks the mare's blade.

CRASH "Why are you helping this slut?!", they separated their swords and locked again when the mare tried to strike him again.

CRASH "Why are you trying to stop me?!", as she finishes, they separate again and the mare takes flight to distance herself.

"I set the rules so Celestia didn't interfere! So why... is that isn't affecting you?!", once she finish, she dive to Shadow. Shadow respond was simple, he give her a round kick to her face on the last second.

"I made the rules so Celestia wouldn't interfere! So why... isn't that affecting you?!", once she's done, she lunges towards Shadow. Shadow's response was simple, he kicked her in the face at the last second.

With the mare spinning and falling like a rag doll, the last member of the Shadowbolts attacks. Even without a head, the headless stallion was able to use its claws precisely and coordinately. Once again, Shadow simply blocks and repels his attack. After a furious claw attack, Shadow decides to finish him off. With a strong counterattack, Shadow repels the left claw back, and with the opening, Shadow dismembers the entire arm.

The stallion's body could feel the dark mist it was made of seeping through its severed shoulder, but it did not retreat. Using his last claw, he went to impale Shadow. Shadow's response was to insert his left sword into the palm of the claw. Twisting the stallion's arm with his sword, Shadow makes him kneel on one leg.

If it had a head, the stallion could be cursing him, but it couldn't since it had no head, and because Shadow impaled his other sword where it was supposed to be. To end his misery, Shadow kicked the body and, with his sword impaled and without losing his grip, the stallion's body fell to the ground while his chest was being slice opened from the inside.

Rainbow couldn't believe how brutal Shadow can be. If the Shadowbolts were real ponies, Shadow would be covered in blood by now. But for now he could only watch as his armor flickered uncontrollably after each fight.

'Could it be that he's tired?! But how?!', she got her answer as the mare already recovered and knocked Shadow behind him face-first into the ground.

Using her claw, she pins Shadow's head to the ground as she screams her frustration. "What's wrong with you!", with each scream, the mare lifts and then smashes Shadow's head to the ground.

"Why are you helping them?! What is the order you receive?! Are you broken or what! And why?! Why?! WHY! Are you against me- AWWWWW!"

In a moment, Shadow's armor's powers were restored and he was able to impale his sword into the right side of the mare's waist and pull her out. The dark mist escapes from the wound and with a sword instead of a hand she could not stop it. This distracts the mare. Enough for Shadow to hit her in the face and switch places. As the mare fell to the ground, she only had a second to open her eyes wide and stare into Shadow's red eyes. And in the next second, the mare's claw that was trying to take out those eyes was now being crushed by Shadow's hand.

"AWWWW! CURSE YOU AND THOSE BUNCKING SL- GUH!!!", she didn't finish when Shadow shoved his sword into her mouth.

Without finishing there alone, he released his sword and with both hands tore the mare's arm with her claw from her body. The mare tried to use her sword from her other arm, but with the loss of magic in her body, the sword began to lose shape and began to turn into more mist.

Having enough, Shadow stands over the mare impaled on the ground. Her body was beginning to fall apart, but not wanting his opponent's misery to continue, he knew it was time to put an end to it. Then he drew his sword from her and with both swords cut the mare in half. Boneless and fleshless, Shadow's swords cleave the mare in two as she gives a silent roar and vanishes like the mist she was made of.

"Wow...", if Rainbow was impressed with how Shadow fought, now she was afraid of how she might end up if Shadow decides to finish her off.

Rainbow wasn't sure she could call herself his rival. She well knew that he had power with his armor as well as toughness and endurance with his high speed. Adding his mastery with weapons, his hand-to-hand combat skills, and his acting prowess, she could admit that he was better than her. If he was perfect then why was he kneeling on one leg, breathing hard?

"Wait, what-Shadow!" Having rested enough, Rainbow ran to his side. When he reached it, he could see how difficult it was for him to breathe as the lights on his armor flickered uncontrollably. "What is wrong?! Tell me! Is there something bothering you?! Are you poisoned?"

"No."

With steely resolve, Shadow summoned his second wind and was now able to control his armor. When it stopped blinking, he stood up and began scanning the area for any more threats. "I'm just low on energy.", he said while nothing happened a moment ago.

"Low energy? Why? Is there something in the air? Did you eat something wrong?", she was almost on top of him, but his dry response stopped her.

"Negative.", once he was sure there were none. Then walk over to the bridge post and finish fixing it. "My physical body has not rested or eaten in a week. Now I rely on the magic of my armor to operate."

"Wait! You haven't rested in a week?! You're crazy! You can die if you don't take care of your body!" Rainbow yells to make Shadow realize his own well-being. But it fell on deaf ears.

"Your concerns are misplaced. As long my master orders are pending to complete, as a tool, I will keep operating until the orders are realized or this body reach its end."

Rainbow was angry. "STOP!" She ran in front of him. "Why do you keep saying that! You are definitely more than just a tool! You don't have a dream or a goal in your life!"

"No. I don't."

Rainbow was silent from that moment on. Not because she was angry. Not because she didn't have anything else to say. And not because of his words. It was because of the resolve in those red eyes that she found him exuding as he said that.

"My sole purpose is in the fulfillment of my masters' wishes. That's what I was forged and made for, it's part of my reason for existing. Everything else. It's irrelevant to me."

Once he finished talking to Rainbow, he went to finish the job of fixing the bridge and sent the signal to the girls that they could now cross. While they wait for the others to cross, Rainbow continues to look at Shadow who was waiting for the rest. After thinking enough, she decides to speak.

"What's the order?", Shadow turned to Rainbow giving her his full attention. "What did your master tell you to do so much that you need to ignore everything? Even your friends who are worried about you."

Shadow just stares at her waiting and analyzing Rainbow's concern. In the end he had nothing against it since he was not prohibited from doing it. He only cares that his master can believe and trust him, while she does not. Because he will complete whatever she asks, even at the cost of his life.

Even if his success rate was 0%. "Current Order: Stop Nightmare Moon"

Author's Note

First you are going to hate me for this cliffhanger, this is the end of part 3 but you can hope what is coming next is the main event and it will come full as I am working on it on this week that come. The only thing I may put the ending separate put all will come to piece together for the main frame.