Chapter 19 Since he is obliged to fulfill it

"Let him go! NOW!"

"Stand down! Is an order!"

"I can't free my-AHHH!"

"Damn it! My spear is-OW!"

BANG

"T-t-the chains! Is breaking the chains!"

"Any pony call the captain and the Princess! NOW!"

"Hold him! He can not leave this room!"

"What the?! He is leaving with the bed chained to him! Is he for real?!"

"Dear Faust he leaving! Call for reinforcements!"

BANG

"EVERYPONY! OVER HIM!"

Just outside a Ponyville hospital room there was a commotion. The staff and patients near the room were worried about what it might be like when the floor shook just now. Only the nurses and doctors who knew which room that was tried to approach through the hallway.

Until a shadow appear on the room window. CRACK BANG When a guard the size of Big Mac came out of the room's window, it was their warning not to interfere. Or dare to approach the room.

Nurse Redheart, a local pony and long-time staff member at the hospital, walked out of the nursing station due to the commotion in the hallway.

Looking at the large adult stallion with a broken nose on the ground crying while trying to breathe due to pain, she knew they had another special case. "It can't be. I hope this isn't like that time Rainbow broke her wings and all the bones in her body. Or how Apple Bloom hurt her brother with a saw... that was the bloodiest case so far."

Luckily for her, she was not required as she could see Celestia and other guards emerge from the corner of the hallway and begin running towards the door.

CRASH GASP Only to see it explode and be destroyed by a mare guard who was thrown through it, hitting the hallway wall and falling face first onto the floor. Nurse Redheart just decide to do her work. "SIGH...I'll get the first aid kits."

Celestia and her guards did not stop to help the two injured guards, but when they reached the broken door, they did and she could not hide her surprise. The medical equipment and some furniture were broken beyond repair. Chairs were destroyed, tables overturned and the hospital curtains were torn off like when a tornado passed through. However, that did not attract attention in the room. Not all the broken spears or dented shields on the ground. And of course they ignore the guard who was engraved on the wall and the one buried in the floor.

It was how Shadow found himself. Almost reaching a few meters from the door was Shadow, with 7 guards on him and 3 guards pulling back the bed chained to him. And continue taking one more step.

He somehow broke the chains on his left arms and foot, but the last chain was still intact and the bed was being dragged with him as it stood behind him. Some guards have some bruises on their heads, arms and faces, but that didn't stop them as each guard tried to keep him at bay. Shadow's arms were restrained by 2 guards each, one was trying to hold him from behind, another was trying to hold him at the waist from the front, and the other was trying to perform a headlock. While the last 3 guards pulled him back with the bed with the chain resisting breaking.

Given all that, Shadow was able to take another step forward, ignoring all the ponies, because he only cares about one. He was looking for her.

"...Get...out...of...my way!", Shadow took another step as he was close to the door, but stopped when he saw who was there to greet him. "...Celestia..."

"Shadow... I...", Celestia is amazed. She prepared herself for what to say to him, but she had no words to see how he was unfazed by her guards dragging him down. And keep moving with so much hostility towards her and her ponies.

"Where... is she...", Shadow took another step as her best guards sweated to stop him, but it was all in vain. "What did you... do to her...", Shadow was almost reaching her and was ready to leak his dark aura when his red demon eyes began to manifest. "...if you are holding her...I will... take -Shadow!-you...down..."

Shadow freezes and his hostility evaporates as soon as he hears and sees her. Right behind Celestia, Twilight and the girls appear, and like Celestia they are left speechless about the damage she did when she woke up. And.....nothing happens after that.

There was an awkward silence, but not only in the room but throughout the hospital. Celestia and the girls were waiting outside the room. The guards didn't let him go but couldn't help but look around and ask if it was all over. The staff and patients kept their distance, but the absolute silence encouraged them to go and find out the situation. Even Nurse Redheart arrived on time with 3 first aid kits.

It was an absolute silence that the ponies didn't dare disturb, Shadow didn't care. "Master... your orders."

So all the ponies, even those without knowing why, turn to Twilight. "Huh?... ah... well...", she was somehow embarrassed by all the attention.

"Come on.", Spike who came too, nudged her to say something. "Remember that he listens to you."

"Right...so uhm... calm down and... back off?", Twilight wasn't sure, but it was all she needed to say.

"Order received.", after hearing it, Shadow put aside all hostility and calmed his body. Literal.

With all the weight on his back and being weak, it was logical that his body was going to give up, so Shadow began to fall face forward. With all the guards and the bed with him.

"Oh no.", is what only the stallion guard in front of Shadow could say.

CRASH Celestia, Twilight, Spike, the girls and all the ponies outside the room close their eyes imagining the poor bastard's pain. They slowly opened their eyes, and could see a large mass of guards with a bed on top. Again the hospital fell silent, perhaps to respect the dead guard after hearing a faint 'Ow' under the bulk.

Nurse Redheart simply poked her head over the edge of the door to see the damage. "SIGH... I'll get more first aid kits. Hold on."

"Thank... you...", the dead pony thanked her.

CLICK CLOCK CLICK CLOCK CLICK CLOCK The room was silent and only the clock on the wall ticked.

After an hour of helping all the injured guards, cleaning up the mess in the room, and calming down the staff and all the pony patients, they could now talk to him. In a new room, Shadow was sitting on a new bed. Chained of course with new chains on his arms and legs again. With Celestia, Iron and Pink with 5 new guards on standby. And Spike and the girls sitting in chairs around the bed. Everyone was waiting for Twilight, who was on their right side, to say something while Shadow stared at her.

All the ponies stare at Shadow. And Shadow stares at Twilight. And Twilight couldn't decide what to watch as she played with her fingers. A minute had passed when everything calmed down but nopony wanted to break this tranquility-

"Oh, come on! How many times will I win the silent game. I get bored every time we start a new game. Can anypony say something?!"...Pinkie just said- "Can we start now? I want to know Shadow's hobbies, favorite foods, and stuff like that! NOW!".... Pinkie-wait, you mean me? Well, uhm, then they started- "Thank you!"

....... While everypony looks at Pinkie as she loses a screw, or what she calls talking to the fourth wall, Celestia decides to begin the interrogation. "Um, okay. *Ahem* Shadow Blade.", Shadow turns to Celestia.

"It's been a long time since we saw each other again. But let me formally introduce myself again. I am Princess Celestia, Princess of the Day, co-ruler of Equestria and teacher of Twilight Sparkle.", she emphasized the last part for him, to give him a message.

"I have nothing against you, however, due to the mystery of your actions and powers I had no choice but to place you under arrest until we discover your role in all the recent events in which you have participated. This includes your unauthorized permission to enter and cause trouble in my castle. But. I am willing to listen to your explanation and give you a fair trial for your actions.", She finished and waited for the reaction.

But neither her speech nor her message reaches him.

He simply stares at her, then turns to Twilight. Ignoring what she just told him. Everypony saw this and began to worry if their princess was being insulted. But Celestia saw something else and waited for his response.

"Well, do you have anything to say in your defense?" she waited for a response, once again he simply turned to her later to turn to Twilight. 'Strange, could it be... that?', while she thinks for herself, other ponies try.

"Hey buddy.", Rainbow tries to talk to him. "You should say something. You're talking to Princess Celestia, you should respond or you might get in trouble... Well, more than we already know," once again his reaction was the same to her. He moves towards Rainbow for a moment and returns to Twilight.

Celestia saw this but waited again. This time it was Pinkie's turn. "Yes! Finally!", then she jumped on top of him on the bed with her face close to his.

"Do you like cupcakes?!", as she waited waving her tail, Shadow glared at her, but nopony could tell if he was simply ignoring her or threatening her to get off of him. "Well?! I need to know so I can start throwing your 'Welcome to Ponyville' party and-HEY! I'M NOT FINISHED!"

Having enough and seeing that Pinkie was giving a clear glimpse of her rear to the stallions in the room, Rarity took off and removed Pinkie from the bed with her magic.

"Pinkie, please control yourself. Will you have time for your... party?", Rarity just wanted to get her away from him, however she noticed him do it again and turned to Twilight, ignoring everypony but her. "Hmm. So that's it."

Knowing that something was wrong, she wanted to try something for herself. It was even something she would never do to anypony. He moves to the other side of the bed, in the opposite direction from Twilight and approaches Shadow.

"Shadow dear~", he turns to her as Rarity leans towards him. "Do you want to see them or touch them?", she said as she put her arms under her babies.

There were many reactions. The girls just widened their eyes not believing what she just said. While the guard stallions, except Iron who saw how interesting the roof was, had red faces. And mares and, in some ways, Spike were angry for their own reasons. But like Celestia and Pink, Rarity saw what she needed to see. Shadow didn't say anything, he just stared at Rarity just like he did with Pinkie. Trying to figure out if she was a 'threat'. Once he was satisfied that she had nothing to be alarmed about, he returned to Twilight.

"I knew it.", Rarity said as she returned to her seat. "Twilight, I think he's waiting for you to say something."

As Twilight looked at her dumbly, Iron spoke up. "If I may say something, Your Highness.", Celestia gestures for him to continue. "I think The Shadow Blade doesn't answer our question because he's not allowed to, so he looks to his mistress for permission. That's how I think of the soldier he is."

Celestia simply nodded her head. "Yes. I think that may be the case, Captain. It may be that he only answers to his master. So, Twilight.", Twilight instantly spins around and turns to her teacher. "Try talking to him. Try asking him why he's not answering."

"Oh! Okay...", not sure if it was going to work. "So, Shadow. Is something wrong?"

"Negative.", Shadow finally spoke, but he was only direct with her. "There is no negative effect on my condition. However, I must report that, since I have not eaten, I can only operate on the magical energy of my armor for the next 4 hours before my armor cannot withstand the famine that is affecting my physical body."

All eyes were on him. Even if they were expecting him, his response left most of the ponies speechless. Some even almost jumped from shock at his artificial and emotionless voice. But only the ponies who were fond of him were happy about that answer. Fluttershy didn't miss her chances.

"Really! So you want to eat something?" Flutershy waits but receives the same responses as the other ponies, looks at her and returns to Twilight. But that didn't bother her since she knew what the mistake was. "Oh! Do I need Twilight's permission? Twilight, can you ask her if she wants something to eat?"

Twilight hesitates but needs to check if it's true. "Uhm. Shadow, do you want to eat something?", but Shadow didn't respond right away. "Why don't you answer? Don't you want to eat or what?" he still didn't answer, that worried her. So the rune spoke for him.

User 'Twilight Sparkle'.

Twilight flinches at the call and widens her eyes. She raises her hand and finds the rune responding to her in surprise.

As 'User' of Unit #3 you have the right to keep your Yami Tool in your own way, you are not obligated to do so. But we recommend keeping your Yami Tool at its peak performance. In the event that you fail or do not wish to maintain your Yami Tool, the unit's defense mechanism will activate and keep the unit active and operational. Warning. The Unit does not have permission or know the requirements you asking unless you order it to confirm and update the way the unit must operate with your orders.

"Hmm, I understand that he won't die if I forget to feed him but...why is everyone looking at me like that?", Twilight receives the message, unknowingly it was only meant for her mind. "...You didn't hear it did you? Dear Faust, what did I get myself into? Rune, or whatever you are, can you talk to everyone? And tell us why Shadow doesn't answer our questions when another pony talks to him?", for those who heard it for the first time, they almost freaked out on the spot.

Affirmative. The Yami System will respond to your requests, as long as it is authorized. Processing............. Analysis Complete. Unit #3 currently has no Main or Passive order. Unit #3 is in Standby Mode until new orders are received.

"And what's that supposed to mean?", Rainbow asks, ignoring the guards scared of having a voice inside her mind. "Does he need permission to speak?"

"Maybe that's the case. Like... a computer waiting for the next command.", Twilight then stares at the rune. She was afraid of being denied, but for now she's only asking about Shadow's secrets, not how to interact with him. "Let's try this. Ahem. Rune, what kind of order can I make with him?"

As a User, you are allowed to make valid orders to your Yami Tools and make requests and permissions in the Yami system. As a User, you are allowed to place Main, Conditional and Passive orders to your Yami Tools.

Main orders are considered orders for a goal or action to be performed. Conditional orders are considered specifications or situational orders of how to execute the Main orders. Passive orders are considered secondary Conditional orders that are not linked to the Main orders, the Unit will execute with the permission authorized by the User when the situation coincides with what the order was created.

"And what are the differences between that?", Applejack was worried, she imagined that Shadow was chained to everything, even speaking without permission. Twilight repeated the same question when she saw that the rune did not respond.

Main and Conditional Orders are considered a one time request of the User and can be combined as a single order. Passive orders can be executed with or without the presence of the User at any time and multiple orders can be placed. Warning. If a Main order requires more time to execute or a Conditional order is not specified sufficiently, the Unit will enter Automatic mode for any interaction or obstacle the Unit faces. But if the User establishes it before, the Unit will follow it according to the User's demands.

Each pony paid attention to the rune. The guards weren't interested except how that thing spoke. But for Celestia, Iron and Pink were valuable information. The girls and Spike didn't care if it was worth it or not, they just wanted to know how Shadow takes orders.

Twilight understood most of it. "Can you give an example please?", this was more for her but the rune didn't bother to answer her.

Processing.............Process complete.

A Main order can be the following action: 'Jump'. A Conditional order can be created by adding the following example: 'With one leg'. Passive orders can update the order as part of the Unit's operational performance by adding: 'When a bird sings'. Together do the Passive order: Jump on one leg when a bird sings. The Unit will know that it should 'jump' with the condition 'on one leg' in the situation of 'when a bird sings' with or without your presence. You are allowed to create new ones at any time and you can delete any existing Passive orders.

While it's too much information for anypony, Twilight had it easy. "So you're saying that he doesn't and won't do anything until I tell him to or allow him to? And what about when I do it? ...Hmmm I wonder..."

Twilight then thinks about the only order she made. "When I ordered him 'Stop Nightmare Moon' was the Main order, but since I didn't tell him how he came to Ponyville on his own to find a way and complete my request. And since he had no Conditional or Passive orders, he simply acted as he believed he should act while searching for The Elements of Harmony."

Twilight turns to her friends, the only ponies who could interact with him. "Am I right, girls?"

Rarity was first. "...Well. He told me I had to come to Everfree Forest. My entire interaction was about where the forest was.", she said with a sad tone. She was worried that they would only save her to complete the order. And the time they spent together, and what she thought she had with him, was artificial.

Then Fluttershy. "I ran into him when he was hungry. Maybe he just stopped by to get something to eat and that's it. I didn't see him again because he wanted to continue with his order.", she was also sad but above all worried. She thought that if Shadow received an impossible order, he would not stop until he completed it. Even if his body falls apart.

Pinkie was next. "And he hasn't sued me for selling his legend, I guess he wasn't under orders to do anything about it either, just what you tell him to do. By the way, Twilight, do you want to do business with me? Or can I buy the rights to his image?", she said while holding a quill and some documents with the first page titled 'Rights of the Cursed Knight of Ponyville'.

Later Rainbow. "I only know that he fights well, and that he doesn't kill unless necessary. You could say that he only defends himself if you provoke him.", she said, not seeing that Iron agreed with her while Pink was still not convinced. "But I don't know why he protects me from that Lumberwolf."

"It's because he has a kind soul.", Applejack came next and didn't care if he was ordered around or not. "I know when I see a good pony and Shadow is one. I just wanted to know how he can have a normal life." despite everything, her personal goal of saving him from his curse persists.

Twilight and Spike listened and was processing the girls' opinion, their own thoughts about Shadow continuing to change for the better. This was also the same case for Celestia and Iron, they no longer see him as a threat as long as the 'User' is not an enemy of Equestria and her ponies. Only Pink was not convinced and wanted to give her opinion.

"Good or bad, it doesn't change whether he behaves like a weapon." All the ponies question Pink, but Iron and Celestia knew what she meant. "If you want him to act like a "normal" pony, just make him do it. Or allow him to talk to himself."

"Make him?...", Twilight murmurs and is completely surprised by what she means by that. "You mean order him?"

Pink didn't say anything else but looking into her eyes told Twilight to think about it herself. "...Let's see. That will be a Passive order if we want him to talk to everypony at all times, so... That's it!"

She turned to Shadow, but Twilight stopped as she was a little embarrassed noticing where she was. All the ponies would witness how she was about to order a pony. Shadow only looked back at her but still obediently waited for her order. Even if it was a bad order, he was still waiting for her. Twilight saw this which made her swallow her pride and just do it.

"Shadow. Speak what's on your mind or express your opinion when talking to anypony about anything. This includes me, my friends, my family, and anyone else who wants to talk to you. Even without my permission."

"........................................................................Order receive.", Shadow said after a long wait to respond. But not all the ponies were happy with it.

Rainbow asks unconvinced. "Is that it? Are you now able to tell us what's on your mind? Or your thoughts about food and-" WHOOSH, Rainbow couldn't continue as a pink blur jumped back onto his bed.

"Do you like cupcakes or not?!" Pinkie yelled in his face, while she was on top of him again. But this time she wasn't put in her place by any pony, especially Rarity who had a vein about to burst.

It was by Shadow himself. "I don't know."

It was all to make Pinkie speechless. All ponies in the room. This time their reaction and response was different, making them question whether it worked. Pinkie and Shadow stare at each other, but Pinkie had a face that seemed to be insulted, somehow.

"What do you mean you don't know?! It's the best thing humanity could create with flour and sugar! You better have a good explanation, mister!", and he did since he now had permission to do it.

"Affirmative. I don't know if I like it because I don't know what a 'cupcake' tastes like. Unfortunately I can't give you the correct answer as I don't have any information in my database or memories of interactions with 'cupcakes'."

GASP! Everypony was shocked. They were surprised that the order worked. To some of them it was proof that Shadow would do anything if Twilight allowed or ordered it. Others got confirmation that if they wanted to know more about him they could now do so through Twilight's orders. And if they wanted to restrict Shadow's actions they had to convince her to create such an order to tell him and prohibit it.

The only thing about all this is that a pony took his answer as if it were the end of the world.

"Don't you know what a cupcake tastes like?", at his response Pinkie stood up and was now on her knees but still on the bed on top of him when she heard his response. And she sounded like she was about to cry. "Because is the saddest thing I ever heard!!!"

Before anypony could react, Pinkie grabs Shadow's head and buries it in her big chest as she cries. "WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED, MY POOR LITTLE SHADOW!!! I PROMISE TO TEACH YOU AND GIVE YOU A HAPPY LIFE!!! WAAAHHH!!!", she lets out the biggest waterfall tears as she snuggles him.

"Pinkie! You're suffocating him with your big, fat breasts!", Rarity wanted to get her off of him. She tried to pull Shadow off of her, but Pinkie's grip was so strong that Rarity was on top of him as well. "And if a mare is going to comfort him it will be ME!"

"That lucky bastard.", a murmur was heard from the back of the room.

"AHEM!", before things escalate, Celestia walks forward. "My little ponies, please calm down. Remember what we are trying to accomplish here... I never thought he would be so popular.", after Rarity and Pinkie backed away, and no pony spoke or interrupted her, she spoke up.

"Okay. Let's try again. Shadow Blade, who are you and what is your purpose?", Celestia always wanted to know this, imagine her surprise at what she got.

"I am my master tool, weapon, arms and legs. My will is to serve my master wishes, commands, and desires. Her will is my reason of existence as I am her shadow. As a blade and tool, I will continue serving, my master, until my body become dust and my existence reach its true end."

'The same answer as that time? Is this your only reason to live? Let's try another question.', Celestia questioned if he was answering or how the supposed curse like the girls said made him say that. That's why she focuses on something else.

His real name. "For now, we have called you by your legend, can you at least give us your real name?", she hopes that she can at least get something, but the answer leaves her no hope.

"This Unit has no name."

It wasn't just Celestia, all the ponies and Spike were stumped by that answer. Spike, who was no longer afraid, asked what all the ponies thought. "Dude, Shadow Blade is your name. Why do you say you don't have a name?"

"Negative.", Shadow turned to Spike and there were no lies in his eyes. "This Unit does not have a name. The identification name 'Shadow Blade' was the name and/or title given to me by the ponies. To complete my previous order it was necessary to identify myself in order to interact with the ponies."

He then turns back to Celestia. "Therefore, I do not have a proper name from the beginning. This Unit will always be identified as 'Unit #3' of the Yami Legion."

After hearing that, many thoughts crossed the ponies' minds, however, they all had the same feeling in common after hearing that. They felt sadness for him.

Even Pink couldn't deny her sympathy for him, she was joking about the term 'weapon' with him, but she had no idea how right she was. Even Iron couldn't suppress his worry that a fate like that would happen to anypony, even if they were his enemy. The guards in the room also couldn't think of anything other than feeling sorry for him. And the girls were devastated because he didn't even have the right to his own name.

That even his identity was stripped from him. "But."

They snap back as Shadow continues. "I have nothing against it if all of you continue to call me by that title. As my master's tool, I will obey any order and decision she makes about me. Even if she wants me to continue using that name or another title.", everypony turned to Twilight.

Being the center of attention again, Twilight was getting shy now. "Why do I even have to decide that?"

User 'Twilight Sparkle'. As 'User' of Unit #3, you have the right to operate your Yami Tool in your own way. You are allowed to decide how to use your Yami Tool in any way you want, as long as it is authorized.

The rune spoke to her, and this time Twilight wasn't acting crazy. "But that's insane! Do I have that much power to even change his name?"

"Affirmative.", both Shadow and the rune respond to her. For Twilight's sanity, she didn't want this, but the girls didn't mind.

"OH! Pick me!" Pinkie raises her hand. "So if Twilight decides to call you 'My Baby Boy', you'd accept it.", when he said yes, Pinkie continued.

"How about 'My Little Colt', 'Dough Boy', 'Big Boy', 'Bloomer', and how about 'Daddy'? Wait, this is for Twilight too? Can she sort out how you can call her like 'My mistress' or 'My lady'? Even if you're alone with her or- PINKIE!"

With every name and affirmation from Shadow, Twilight's face turned as red as a tomato. "He's not any kind of pet! And I won't call him that way or that! His name is Shadow Blade and that's what he is!", but it wasn't over yet.

Shadow comments on it. "Master. She is right. You have the authority to change my title and what I should call you.", only adding more fuel to Twilight's embarrassment.

"I know! But I refuse to take your advice on how to call you, even if we're alone or going to sleep!", Pinkie was only going to say it when they were alone or in public.

So it was too late when she realized her mistake. "...Wait. I-I-I-I wasn't referring to us g-g-g-going to sleep together. I-I-I want to say that we are going to live together so- No! I-I-I mean we are going to be under the same roof in the same house, so... I HAVE NO WEIRD MOTIVES FOR HIM!"

"Nopony said it.", Rainbow said after everypony looked at her outburst. While Twilight hid from her embarrassment in her chair, Celestia put aside her student embarrassment and went for what she wanted to know.

"If that's all you know what you are now?", Celestia was determined to find out something. "Do you remember who you were before you turned into a Yami Tool?"

"That information is neither available nor permitted to me.", Shadow's response was enough for her to give up.

'So they also took his previous memories. The Yami Legion, what was their purpose in creating you like this?', Celestia was immersed in her thoughts letting another pony continue, so Iron wanted to try something.

"I have a question with you, Shadow.", all the ponies turn to him, even Pink was keeping an eye on him. "Do you usually go to kill when you don't have orders to do so? That being said, if a pony or other being interferes with your mission, do you typically eliminate them, permanently?"

"Negative. As a first option, I do not take the lives of other Users, I do not kill unless my master orders it or allows it, it is against the commandments. However, if the situation cannot be resolved and gets out of control, it is the last option as I have no choice but to take that route to protect my master or it compromise my orders. I will have to eliminate the threat, to my master or myself, even if it is permanently.", Shadow narrows his eye and emphasizes that he will do it.

Iron didn't feel any fear at those words, instead he was happy. 'I hope this calms your fears, dear.', but it didn't as Pink was the next to ask hers.

"I'm more concerned about your physical body. As I can see, you're not a pony.", when Shadow confirms her, Pink continues. "Are you alive? What do you eat to live? And what does your diet consist of?"

"I am a living being powered by the Yami System. I am omnivorous. My diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Also include a variety of protein foods, such as seafood, lean meats, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, nuts and seeds. And no, I haven't eaten a pony.", Shadow said when he saw the reactions of the mention of 'meats' out of the corner of his eye.

"Hmm... I have no idea what kind of species can eat all that, so..." Pinkie mutters to herself after hearing all that.

But she couldn't finish because she froze like everyone else when a certain shy pony screamed.

"OH NO!", Fluttershy stands up as she remembers her box of food. "I NEED TO GET IT BEFORE-"

KKYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAA!!! DING DONG DING "Dear patients, Please remain calm and evacuate the building in an orderly manner." DONG DING DONG

"I think somepony found the box full of meat.", Pinkie added as the ponies' screams were soon heard.

"So~ How was it-? You couldn't go, right?", the violet stallion unicorn guard, Solution, who was her partner after graduating from being a recruit of the same generation, asked her. He was resting with his magazine when Scarlet entered the break room of the guard headquarters.

"Does it look like I did?", Scarlet said as she fell face down on the couch on the other side of her friend.

"I'll take that as a 'no'.", both of them were not real guards until they were assigned to a post and squad, due to the Summer Sun Celebration vacation they could only stay and wait in their rooms at the guard headquarters. "Just because you're his daughter, I was sure you couldn't go because you were a rookie guard."

"Funny to hear that, because I never heard you say that.", she rolled over to rest on her back with her wings secured to the couch. Then she stares at him. "Did you say it when I interrogated that rookie or when I ran out of my room?"

"Nope.", he then turns to the next page. "It was when you were outside the building."

Scarlet snorted at his joke. "Haha. It's good to know that you can cover my back. But I'm really angry because I couldn't go and -Hello there.-! Ha? Wait. That voice.", she stopped when she heard that voice.

She and her partner raise their heads to see the entrance to the break room. "Excuse me, where is Scarlet Wind?", they learned that a civilian unicorn mare entered the room asking other recruits.

A young light red unicorn mare wearing a high-necked brown dress that hugs her curves nicely with a white coat appears asking some new recruits passing by. She had pure white curly hair and round glasses in her red eyes that had the same beauty as Rarity but almost the delicacy like Fluttershy. Although she was small in height (1.6 m/5'2") compared to Scarlet (1.8 m/5'9"), like her father, she had that pure maiden aura that attracts most colts than Scarlet, a tomboy. And it definitely wasn't because the mare was a D while Scarlet was a B.

"Oh boy! Who is that beauty!", even Solution was admiring the mare as she tried to ask her fellow colts, who flirted back. "I'd better bring the guns!", without knowing the landmine he stepped on.

"My little sister.", Solution freezes, slowly turning to Scarlet. Who was watching and remembering each colt and how they spoke to their sister, and how they failed. Why she did it was for herself and for later. But Solution, who knows her family, turns to him and smiles. "She is our mother's apprentice. Perhaps I can introduce you to them."

Who knows who her mother was, just by her name she could say "Okay", but Solution knew more than just Pink Heart, Chief doctor of the castle, so he could only answer one way. "I'M SORRY! I have m-m-m-y age-ge-genda full! Please say hello for me!" he buries his face in his book.

'Coward.' Scarlet smiles at that reaction. Then she got up from the couch and went to find (save) her sister. "What are you doing here? Sister?", she said out loud to announce herself and warn the colts surrounding her sister.

Red Miracle, or just Miracle, is Scarlet's 19 years younger sister, she was happy to finally find older sister. "Sis! I was worried about you going with Princess Celestia and our father on that mission. Although I already had suspicions that you couldn't." When she mentions her father, only the newbies were confused. That was until Scarlet removed those on top of her sister.

"Yeah. Our father, Captain Iron Wing, said that I was still a rookie so I couldn't go.", she emphasizes to her father to give them her message. Not for Miracle. "So I'll be stuck with you, sister. Come on, let you go to my room so we can talk."

Wasting no time, Miracle escapes through the space that Scarlet made for her to escape from her stalkers. Some who did get Scarlet's message withdrew or pretended they were doing something. For those who don't, try asking Miracle or Scarlet about their free time, especially Miracle. Those attempts die with Scarlet's glare at them and then watching the two sisters disappear into the hallways.

The building was built to house 50 recruits each year with 50 high-ranking royal guards coming from other cities and 50 patients in the nursing wing. The recruits' rooms had bunk beds for two with individual cabinets and desks on the other side of the room separated for each recruit. The rest was up to the recruits how to decorate it, but they could only bring essential personal things. In Scarlet's case, a recruit post on the wall with her father on it.

Scarlet brought Miracle to one of this room, now hers, seeing the room almost clean as her partner was moving in for the new recruits. Perfect for them to talk.

"Make yourself at home.", Scarlet went to her bed and threw herself on her back. "Close the door so nopony can hear us. So what do you want to know?"

"You know that.", she obeyed her sister since she didn't want some randompony to hear them either. Then she went to sit in Scarlet's desk chair. "First, was it alone?"

"Nope.", Scarlet responds with her eyes closed. "I could see my senior guards go with him. Of the 35, I can say that 17 are on our father's level. Besides him not wearing his armor, Princess Celestia was going too, AND our mother."

"Mother went too?! What a relief!", Miracle placed her hand on her chest, she was able to calm her heart. "With my mother there, we don't have to worry much."

"Wanted to. But can't.", Scarlet opened one eye to see her sister confused. "Reports claim that he showed up and Princess Celestia wanted to arrest him. You know what that means."

Miracle opens her eyes wide. "My father and mother could fight him."

"Yes... And that's why I can't sit still." BANG, Scarlet out of nowhere hit the wall with her free hand. "I know I'm not on the same level as my father, but my mother asked me to stay here. It's just… I guess I'll have to wait until I can meet him."

"The Shadow Blade. Right?", Scarlet nod to Miracle. Like her sister, Miracle was also curious, in the same way but different from her sister. "He is the one who defeated father, the one who father has no chance. But. Did you find out how he was injured?"

"Yep. It's just like you guessed it. Just like you told it.", Scarlet sits on the edge of the bed to look her sister in the face. "About the cut on his chest, my father did not dodge it but received it, but it was not deep and he lived to tell about it. In the fall in the report, Sergeant Shining told me that they fell together and my father I have no broken bone just like mom told us."

"I see...", Miracle finally calms down as she lowers her hands into her lap. "So my guess is correct. Shadow Blade isn't a bad pony. That's good. Hehe~", she said with a smile on her face, a smile that wasn't missed by her sister.

Scarlet's mind was racing, she debates what she is seeing and what she knows but she couldn't find an answer to her question. She risks asking her anyway. "Miracle, you're not going to keep that promise? Aren't you?"

Milagro raised her face and saw her sister face to face. Unlike her sister, Miracle was good at reading Scarlet, so she smiled at her. "What would you do then? Aren't you going to do the same?"

Scarlet's eyes widened and her mouth opened, she was attacked by surprise by Miracle returning the question. She shakes her head to calm herself, but is embarrassed to look into her eyes, so she opts to look out the window. "Shut up!"

Miracle smiles seeing how innocent her older sister was. If she tells her that she is quite popular in the medical department, especially the colts who like strong and healthy mares, it might embarrass her even more. However, the same thing happens to her if they bring in the recruits who talked to her. They both already had plans. Then Miracle dropped the topic and started looking out the window with her sister.

Where both sisters could see a couple of birds on the branch of a tree.

Back at the hospital, everything was calming down.

With the help of Princess Celestia and her guards they were able to calm the staff that there is no murderer or pony-eating monster in the building. After Fluttershy spends the next half hour begging for forgiveness, all the ponies return to Shadow's room. To see something scary and surprising. How Shadow eats two boxes full of food.

When the food is brought, Fluttershy asks him if he "needs" food. She was happy because she asked correctly and he said he really needed it so she accepted his help. She was just disappointed at how he just swallowed the food. Because that's what happens.

To eat, Celestia allows the chains on his arms to be removed but keeps the chains on his legs. Celestia, Twilight and Pink wanted to see if he was going to take off his helmet and how he ate, they were greeted by the demonic mouth manifesting itself. And he started swallowing all the food.

He grabbed the first box and shook it up so the food fell into his mouth. Luckily the first box was seasoned and boiled vegetables so Shadow's fangs had no problem chewing them as he put them all in his mouth. Continue chewing and swallowing the food until you finish the box. He finished what could be a week's worth of food in just 3 minutes.

It was the second box, the cooked meat, that all the ponies, almost but still Spike, had green faces. Because Fluttershy doesn't like cooking meat, and she didn't learn well since it was only for her animals, most of the meat was burnt black and unseasoned. However, that didn't stop Shadow.

For any soft meat that didn't burn, he chewed and swallowed it like vegetables. But with the meat hard and burned, he devoured it like a beast. To eat, Shadow buried his fangs and tore the flesh savagely. Sometimes they had bones in between them, so he would chew the bone or spill it. What was more interesting was that even small bones, like a whole burnt fish, could spit out all of it and fall into the box after consuming all the meat. Everything clean, not a corner of meat was left.

The sight of him eating and the sound of the meat tearing made the guards almost spill their lunch. The girls and Spike were upset but tolerated it since they knew his eating habits. It was Celestia, Pink, Iron, and even Twilight who were impressed.

"How does he eat?", Twilight, after the moment her lunch was almost out of her stomach, was taking notes. "Does his armor process the food or does it go to his physical body? And he spills the bones, so that means he can't digest them?", with Celestia and Pink arguing behind her.

"Impressive, he doesn't need to take off his armor so he can still be ready to perform even at lunchtime.", Celestia said with her hand under her chin and her arm in thought. "Is his armor really his skin or part of him?"

Pink was also taking notes on her part. "I can't give an answer right now. I'll have to take samples of the armor, but some of his blood would be better. That might tell us more about him."

While those three mares were in their world, Iron decides to talk to Spike and the girls. "Was he able to do this before?", the girls respond yes, they have witnessed him eating before. "I see, so he's not totally inorganic and yet his armor can change and open like that?... Can he do anything else besides make a mouth out of his helmet?"

"We can say that.", Applejack was answering his question. "First, Shadow is alive. We have seen him bleedin durin the fight. And yes, we saw that the armor can change form, but Ah think it still requires Twilight's permission."

"Yeah! He can turn huge and have dragon claws and legs!", Pinkie tells Iron of the Combat Mode transformation. "I didn't believe Shadow could transform!... Mmm. I wonder if Twilight asks can wings grow on his back?"

"Oh no! Tartarus no!", Rainbow adds her opinion. "It's enough for him to transform into a demon dragon or whatever that was. And he doesn't need wings!... But? I can beat him with a flying competition? Only, the idea that he can fly...", without her wanting it, the guards behind became paler, imagining Shadow hunting them from the sky.

All of this was happening while Spike worried about Rarity. "Hey? Uhm? Rarity? Why, hehe, are you looking at Shadow like that?"

"Hmm... Oh! Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.", Rarity was just thinking to herself. 'If the armor can be transformed... does that mean he can also remove part of it?' Princess Luna says he could... I just need to trick Twilight into-' KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK, just then the door opened.

"I'm back!", Fluttershy warned as she entered carrying a large jug of water. "Sorry for the long wait, but I thought you might need water too. Do you need water, Shadow?" she asked once she reached his side.

Shadow tore a large chunk of meat off the tomahawk steak he was eating, but it didn't bother Fluttershy. After swallowing, he thinks about it for a moment. "...Affirmative. I'll need it."

Happy to have figured out how to make him eat, Fluttershy hands him the jug. And just like the food, he moves the jug over it and lets the water fall and disappear into his mouth. When he finished, the entire room heard a loud gulp. Fluttershy, happy with her work, returns to her seat. "Did he eat all the food?"

"If ya mean those two boxes, yes.", Applejack replied as she took a core out of an apple to her. "But it was seen that he ignored or did not like all grass food. He left the hay and flowers aside, and it seems that he doesn't like the fruits stem or the core of my apple."

"I see, then I'll take note." Fluttershy then took out her own notebook from her pockets and reviewed the references for Shadow's section. "Hay, apple core and stem, bones and flowers. Hmm... Does he also eat gems like Spike?"

"If he does, there will be serious trouble coming his way." It was enough for Spike to have Rarity focus on him. Now he was worried about his gem snacks. "I'm not going to let him take my emerald cupcakes."

Rainbow, bored, decides to ask her own questions as Shadow finished drinking the jug. "Now that I think about it, what kind of powers does your armor have?"

"Unfortunately, you have to be more specific," Shadow spoke once he put away the water jug.

Getting the attention of all the ponies, Rainbow asked again. "I want to know if you have anything more than your super strength and speed. I will lose my mind if you prove that you can teleport or go through walls.", Rainbow waited for his response, but Shadow didn't speak to her.

He turns to Twilight. "Why are you looking at me?", Twilight said but she already knew. "Wait. You require my permission for that? But I thought- Negative."

Shadow interrupts her. "There are things I want to verify with you, my master, before giving out information about you or me. Giving out such important information can be used against you."

Twilight reacts to the meaning of his words. What Shadow just said was true, as he was foreseeing this for her own good. 'He's right and if I want to stop Shadow's power from going to the wrong pony, I need to know that too.'

Twilight adjusts her notebook ready to capture it. "Shadow, can you tell us all the characteristics and abilities of your armor."

"Order received.", he then closed his eyes and began to bring up his list of skills. "My armors have divided the functions into Combat skills, Defensive mechanism and Support features."

Combat skills: close combat mastery, clean fist combat mastery, sword mastery, twin sword mastery, weapons mastery, bow mastery, firearms mastery, Taijutsu mastery (combat flexibility), Ninjutsu mastery (spy skills), Kenjutsu mastery (killing skills), Taekwondo mastery (smashing skills), Judo Mastery (self defense skills), Kyusho Jitsu mastery (pressure points skills)

Defensive mechanism: High resistance to blunt attacks, High resistance to slashing attacks, High resistance to piercing attacks, Medium resistance to magic attacks, High resistance to mind effects, low resistance to lighting, Medium resistance to heat, Medium resistance to frost, Absorption of damage, Transference of damage, Purification filter (air, water and food), Sanitary and maintain system, Auto defense mode, Auto pilot defense system, Armor plates manipulation (transformation ability)

Support features: Anti ninja magic swords, High speed healing regeneration, low speed restoration armor, Low Magic absorption, Low magic regeneration, Magic conversion to energy, Energy conversion, Energy Recovery acceleration, Instant endurance, Instant stamina recovery, Instant body strength, Sensorial vision, Night vision, Magic trace vision, Language Translation (speak and hearing), High Learnability, Quick thinking acceleration, Magic link to User signal, Magic link to the Yami System

When Shadow finished listing the armor's features, it opened the eyes of the ponies who were worried if he was more of an army than a soldier. However, that was what it was from the beginning.

"Those are the functions available in my database.", he turned to Twilight, who was typing all this. "The rest is prohibited from being disclosed by the Yami System."

Twilight finished writing and received a revelation. 'Is Shadow also banned by the Yami System?' So could it be that there will be things he doesn't know about them? But is it because it's forbidden or... is he hiding something else?', unable to finish her thought, Rarity took the opportunity to ask.

"Shadow, darling~ I want to check something about your armor.", Shadow and all the ponies, including Twilight, turn to her. "I don't mean to be rude, I'm just a little worried about this but... You're able to take off your armor because you don't do it inside it, right?"

There was an awkward silence in the room.

While those who were innocent didn't understand it right away it took time, those who did understand looked at her like she was crazy, but then immediately turned back to Shadow. Their curiosity to know if it was true. Soon all the ponies, even Twilight thinking about how she would have to take care of him, were worried. Fortunately, Shadow's response, which took some time, gave them an idea of how it was handled.

"...After checking the characteristics of my armor, with a combination with the 'Sanitary and maintain system', which cleans and keeps my physical body in good health, and the 'Energy conversion', which also processes and manipulates the sources of my physical body's energy, and other systems, can eliminate any waste within my body without needing to expel it from my body."

Not all ponies like the sound of that, but they don't like Rarity who was looking for something else. "I can understand that your armor helps you, to a point, but you have to cleanse your body at least to a certain level without magic. Don't you take the armor at least once to refresh yourself?"

"Negative. Removing my armor reduces my combat and operation levels and puts my master's safety at risk. Furthermore, I will not be able to respond to my master when she gave me her orders in that moment of weakness. Only if she allows it will it be considered possible."

And that's what Rarity wanted to hear. "So it's like that... so if Twilight, your master, orders you to take off your armor, well not all of it, just the helmet, so that you can lead a normal life, would you do it?"

Shadow didn't answer her. What she said was correct even if it wasn't actually necessary for him to agree or deny it. In the end it shouldn't matter to him, if Twilight wishes he will obey. "Affirmative."

With a happy smile, Rarity turned to a stunned Twilight trying to understand what was happening. "Uh huh, well I think Shadow deserves some freedom or let's say permission to live his life. At the very least, he should take off his helmet when he doesn't need it as a Yami Tool."

It took Twilight a while, but her clue was pretty clear. She then turns to Shadow, who also looks back at her. 'You mean I can order to release him from that metal prison?', she wasn't the only one to think that.

The girls also think about asking Twilight to try it. Spike, Celestia, Iron, Pink, even the guards on standby were eager to see him without the helmet. But in the end, all fall to Twilight who still hesitates. 'It's just that something doesn't feel right. Have I missed something? Let's try something safe just in case.', she calmed her nerves and opted for something simple.

"Shadow, can you take off your helmet?", she said very confidently, that didn't last long.

"Master... Are you sure?" Shadow for the first time did not obey her. Twilight for a moment thought she had made a mistake, but Shadow just wanted to check with her. As Twilight debates whether she wanted to or not, each pony has their own thought on the matter.

'Will he be able to take it off?', Applejack thinks there is hope for him. 'If we can remove his armor, can he have a normal life like any other pony?'

'He can take it off! Oh yeah!', Rainbow's boredom melted away, interested and eager to see him without it. 'Without his armor I can finally challenge him. I'll finally have my rematch!'

'Oh my...', Fluttershy was more worried if he was going to get angry, but then another thought came. 'Is he shy around other ponies... like me? Does he think I'll think he's ugly and hate him?'

'DO IT TWILIGHT!', Rarity was more into making Twilight say it if she didn't. At this point, she just wanted to know what he looked like. 'If you're not going to do it then I'LL TAKE THAT HELMET OFF! Will he be cute? Handsome? Would he be my lost and charmed prince of a lost country?!'

And Pinkie. 'Readers! I know you can read my thoughts! MIAU MIAU MIAU~ MIAU MIAU MIAU~ MIAU MIAU MIAU MIAU!'

...The guards and Spike didn't care much, but they were still interested in knowing his true face. Iron and Pink were mostly neutral, just interested in who was under that armor for many different reasons. The only thing in common was that they wanted to know Shadow's species, just like Celestia. 'Was it a demon or something else besides my suspicions?'

Unfortunately, all the ponies have to wait until Twilight decides that.

"Master... Are you sure? Do you want me to take off my helmet?", and make him obey.

Author's Note

Hi guys, thanks to reach to this part. This chapter is more focus to explain how the Yami tools operate. In short, when Nightmare Moon was defeated Shadow automatic return back to the default settings if you are asking, with this you may have an idea to know more of the system and how Twilight will need to learn to use it. Any question leave on the comments, I will 'try' to be more active on my phone to see and answer your questions. P.D.s I am not lazy just too distracted. Also, the sister were not original part of the story but now they have a key event in the future of the story.