Who are you? A Shadow

Chapter 23 to recognize his role

Spike was relaxing and enjoying the scenery in his window seat. 'Finally, we can go home.', Spike couldn't believe everything that had just happened in the last couple of months.

First, he was trying to check what he would do at the Summer Sun Celebration to the point of trying to find a way to get Twilight out of the library. That's when he met Shadow for the first time and was locked up with her for the next few weeks due to his 'misunderstanding' entry to the castle.

When the day finally came, he met his new friends when he and Twilight went to Ponyville, only to hear them talk about him. When night falls, he wanted to help the girls but couldn't and falls asleep while Shadow fights side by side with Twilight. And when Spike wakes up, only to follow the girls and watch him recover, where he got the scare of his life.

Spike thought the drama would end in the hospital. But was not the end. Everyone knows where we're going and what's bothering him.

Spike, annoyed, turns to it. His sister couldn't hold back sleep anymore, she fell and was sleeping peacefully on the shoulder of her Yami Tool. Whose red eyes stare at him from the other seat in front of him inside the carriage.

It all started when Spike with Twilight, Shadow and the rest leave the hospital where the royal carriage was waiting for them.

As Celestia promised, the three of them will be able to return to Canterlot with her. Something that made Twilight happy since sleep was claiming her after everything that had happened, including the medicine she received. When she couldn't take it anymore, Spike tried to help her, but Shadow went ahead and picked Twilight up (princess style) to the carriage.

As each pony processed the image like Twilight did with a tomato-red face, Spike later follows them and enters the carriage behind them. He watched as Shadow carefully placed Twilight on the far window seat as she fell more and more asleep. While he was grateful for helping her, Spike was not happy that Shadow simply sat next to her, where his seat was supposed to be.

Spike was about to say something to him, but another pony intervened. For no other Luna, taking the last seat on that side of the carriage with them, at her side with Shadow in the middle. She simply said that her part of organizing the leaders' carriage was already done and that she decided to join them. Was all Luna said, and she said no more, closing her eyes with her arms crossed over her flat chest, making Celestia and Spike take the seats on the other side in front of them.

Once the preparations were made and during the entire trip no pony spoke and they were silent the entire time, only Twilight's snoring could be heard. The entire trip was uneventful, just Celestia watching the duo with a silent Luna at their side. And Spike trying to think of what to think of Shadow with Twilight.

'Yeah, I don't like this.', Spike looks at Shadow as he looks at him. 'I don't approve of this. He definitely won't steal my job as her number one assistant. But...could this mean that I also have a subordinate if he follows Twilight?'

'I don't think that's right.', Celestia also has her own thoughts. 'Twilight cannot and will not be the next Nightmare Moon. But if Shadow or the power within him influences the transformation... I hope that the examination of the results will be completed soon.'

"You two should relax and enjoy this peace.", Celestia and Spike flinch at the voice of Luna.

Luna opens her eyes to address them. "You two should follow Twilight's example, she is resting before the storm she will face the rest of the day. And besides.", she closes her eyes and returns to her rest. "It's not like any of you can change the fact that Shadow is staying with her from now on."

Celestia slumped her shoulders, her eyes showing an expression of irritation. "You may be right Luna. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't take the role of Shadow lightly. And those rules.", then she crosses her arms under her chest. "We don't know what side effects may appear in Twilight's daily life. We could miss something important and- Tia."

"Her results show that she is still the same filly you care for and raise, sister.", Luna interrupts her with her eyes closed. "Besides, she's already an adult mare. Eventually, you'll have to let her go live her own life."

As Celestia narrows her eyes at her sister, Spike asks Luna about his concerns. "Princess Luna, he won't hurt her, right?"

"No, my dear Spike.", Luna opened her eyes to the little dragon. "The rules wouldn't allow him to hurt your sister. Or rather, they won't allow any pony to hurt her. And that includes you."

Spike's eyes widen. He turns to Shadow, who continues to stare at him menacingly. Luna closes her eyes once he gives her the message. "A word of advice, you better not make her angry."

As Spike began to sweat, the arrival announcement came. "Your Highness, we have arrived back in Canterlot. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is ready to receive you.", the announcement caught the attention of all the ponies.

"Oh!", Luna awakens and asks her sister, intrigued by who was mentioned. "Mi Amore Cadenza? Is that our niece, Cadance, the one you mention to me?"

Celestia responded. "Yes, Luna. She is an alicorn who was born outside the main branch of our family. And she shows that she has everything to become a celestial alicorn." BUNK, the carriage trembled when Celestia answer.

With this Twilight finally awakens. "EPP! I swear I wasn't sleeping teacher... Huh? Where are we- Hmm?", Twilight's words escape her as she wakes up from her dream trying to wipe her eyes, when her left arm didn't move she turned to find out why.

Twilight discovers that she was holding Shadow's arm. Twilight, as well as Shadow, turned to look each other in the eyes. "WAH!", she pulled her arm back with her face red from her grip on him. She sits upright with her hand on her chest, only then does she look at her hand.

Twilight almost got lost in his red eyes as she looked at him, almost imagining him without his helmet. And that's why she began to remember that rare smile of his, as well as the warm touch she felt when he took her hand. She was remembering that pleasant feeling and how calm it made her feel, but there was no time for that because she was reminded that she was not alone.

"Ahem!", Luna's voice makes Twilight wake up from her trance. "It's good to see that you are well rested, Miss Twilight. Was your sleep to your liking?"

"HUH?! Oh! Princess Luna! Are we there yet?", Twilight and Shadow turn towards Luna, where she was waiting for something from Twilight. "...And, well, I rest well... is that what you were asking?", and Twilight responds, unaware that Luna was monitoring her dreams.

'She looks good for now.' Luna was satisfied, so she let her go when the carriage door was about to open. "Good, because I think you'll need to concentrate for what's coming. So I'll have to remind you."

Luna then turns to Celestia and Spike. "To all of you."

Before taking off from Ponyville. The five of them talk about an important task that everyone must follow while she already did it with Pink and Iron. Luna just wanted to remind you how important it is.

"No pony should mention anything about the Yami Tools, the Yami System and Twilight's User role. So, no one should know the power of The Three Yami Commandments."

"Why wasn't I made aware of this sooner."

Shining was waiting impatiently with the welcoming committee at the castle's landing platform tower. "As her brother I must protect her from all nasty colts, INCLUDING THAT DESPICABLE DEMON!", he grits his teeth as he mentions it. So loud that the committee ponies backed away from him, all except his marefriend.

"Uhm, Sergeant Shining Armor, we have not yet received confirmation of The Shadow Blade's true role, the reports may be ambiguous. There may be a logical reason why he is following your sister." Cadance, in her role as princess, try to calm him down. "It's too early to assume. They're almost here, so if you can do me the small favor of... calm down for me? Hehe~"

Shining did not turn towards her as his eyes were fixed for any sign of the carriage. However, since he loves her very much, he vents his anger with a breath of his nose and composes himself. He will have time later to educate his sister's stalker since he must receive the princesses as a sergeant of the royal guard. He didn't wait long until the carriage show up and landed on the tower.

The carriage was pulled by Pegasus guards selected to transport the carriage and park it at the landing port. The head maid with the four selected maids ran to receive their princess, Luna's notice was also informed so that each one would have a gift basket for their lunar princess. When the driver jumped out of his seat, he went to open the door. Where Celestia was waiting for her head maid to receive her.

"Your Highness.", the head maid bowed to her, as well as her maids and the rest of the committee. "Was your trip successful?"

With Celestia's smile she is already telling them that she succeed it. "I will say that we were successful. Ladies and gentlecolts, I present to you your lost princess. The princess of the night. Luna Selene Moon"

Celestia steps aside on the way down as Luna follows suit. Soon the ponies admire Luna, their lost princess, and pay their respects to her while the committee bows with the four maids presenting her with baskets of flowers and small gifts, combined with perfume and incense, macaroons and candy or chocolate. Cadance walks to the front to talk to her new aunt.

"Princess Luna. I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, on behalf of our ponies, welcome you back to Equestria." Cadance chose her red dress with silver straps and heart decoration to give a royal bow to her aunt.

Luna stood still for a moment unable to respond, but looking in Celestia's direction, she was told to just accept it. Luna smiles in surrender. "Thank you, my little niece. It's good to be back.", she then went down to let the next pony out.

Celestia and Luna position themselves at the side of the carriage and like everypony else they waited for the next pony. They relax as Twilight, before doing her mental preparation, arrives at the door. Just as Luna's return was announced, Twilight's heroic victory and her new position as holder of the Magic Element was also announced. She appears shy as the committee also bows before her. Cadance and Shining were delighted to receive her.

Cadance welcomed the new heroes as she came out. "And we welcome our new heroes, the wielder of the Element of Magic, Twilight Sparkle. We, like the rest of Equestria and inhabitants of Terra, thank you and your friends for... stopping... The Shadow Blade?", the speech changes when a dark hand with red eyes shines behind Twilight.

Cadance was the first to see him and her disbelief made one by one of the committee raise their heads. Soon the entire committee stares Shadow in the eyes and immediately freezes under his legendary pressure. Even if Twilight simply told him not to attack the ponies, that didn't include him scanning for possible threats. So his aura makes weak ponies succumb to their fears and strong ponies become alarmed.

And unfortunately, Shining was one of the latter group. "IT'S TRUE! YOU'RE AFTER ME- Wait!", and a desperate Twilight stops him.

Before Shining attacks, Twilight screams and spreads her arms between them to avoid any harm. For her brother. "Shining! He's not looking for any pony life! We just broke his curse and he's a normal pony!"

"What?!", Everypony asked.

In addition to discussing how to hide the truth of the rules, Luna came up with the idea of a curse for the chaos Shadow had caused in the castle. She educates everypony, including the Mane 6 with Pink and Iron, to a curse that forces Shadow to fight strong ponies until he is defeated. And that he was defeated by the elements.

Knowing that the Elements of Harmony purify Luna, everyone came to say that the curse had been broken and he was free at the end of the battle. But since he no longer had anything left, Luna also adds that with his (false) honor as a knight he will help Twilight pay her from now on. So everypony has to tell that story, and Twilight was doing just that.

"Please hear me out!" Twilight continues to stand between her brother and possibly his killer, Shadow. "He was under the effects of an old curse. With the help of my friends and me, we simply freed him from his burden and he just wants to pay us for everything he has done wrong."

Shining has prevented himself from drawing his sword to understand it. He looks between his sister and Shadow. Almost buying it. "Are you sure?! How are we sure he's not faking or hiding his true motives?!", before he could continue, Luna walked in giving him her word.

"I take it you're Sergeant Shining Armor? Don't worry, Shadow has no ill motive to harm your sister.", when Shining turns to her, Luna gives him an ultimatum. "Instead of threatening him, I advise you to thank him. Because your sister could have died if it weren't for his help."

Shining took a step back with how serious Luna was. While he didn't know that Luna almost killed her, he just needs to know that Shadow actually saved her. And while Shining was stunned by the fact that his sister and Luna defended Shadow, Cadance took the opportunity to talk to Celestia and Spike who had already left the carriage.

"Auntie, is it true? Did Shadow really save Twilight?", when Celestia nodded, she received her answer, but only then did she have another question. "But what curse are they talking about? I received a report that Twi- SHUSH!"

A question that Celestia did not allow her to finish. "Dear niece. We'll fill you in on the details later. For now.", she turns to Shadow, who hasn't taken action yet. "Shadow is harmless until he's threatened... or Twilight is in danger. The best we can do is not bother the duo, just keep an eye on them."

Cadance stared at her aunt in disbelief, however when she spoke to Spike, he could only confirm the last part that Shadow hasn't attacked anyone, without a reason to defend himself. She then turns to her little sister and her new aunt stopping her coltfriend for making such a mistake. Then she focuses on Shadow, who wasn't speaking or acting, yet. Cadance could only think of one thing after seeing him.

'Shadow, you'll have to prove to me that you're capable of defending my best little sister friend forever (BLSFF) if you want my approval.'

"So you're saying that he caught you from falling off a cliff, kept a frenzied manticore away from you, prevented it from impaling you in the stomach with a rock, saved your friends, and fought to the death to protect you... Okay, I don't think there's any colt I can approve of better than him.", Cadance said once she finished listening to the story in her in-laws' house.

When they arrived in Canterlot it was already after 6 p.m. and the day was finally ending. Even in the festive atmosphere, Celestia allowed her ponies to continue resting and all business could restart the next day. Also good that taxes were not processed today so that companies would allow workers to return and rest after the longest night in history.

Then our heroes were able to return home, and there they were at Twilight's parents' house.

In the dining room of the house, the three princesses, the tree brothers with their parents and the guest of honor were sitting to listen to the story of Twilight's quest. Where her family still doesn't believe everything that happens on Twilight's heroic journey, and how close she could be to death. Even the most protective of his family was still in denial.

"There is no way I will approve of such a monster being around my little sister!" THUD, Shining shouted as he slammed his hand on the table. "Besides, he's not a normal pony and Twilight should stay away from him!"

"Then make him.", Shining snapped at Luna's comment. "We already explained that Shadow just wants to pay Twilight for freeing him from his old curse. He has nothing else in this world besides his honor as a knight. But, if you want to prevent it and separate him... try to convince him."

Luna crosses her arms and smiles at the sergeant. Shining, who was sitting in a chair on the other side of the room, right in front of Luna, could only shut his mouth. Where Luna was sitting on a 3-seat couch, with Shadow next to her. And next to Shadow was Twilight, putting him between the two, in front of Shining as well. Celestia and Spike were off to the side with Cadance in their respective chairs while Twilight and Shining's father was in his personal recliner with them.

Everypony was watching as Luna constantly contradicted Shining, this surprised them, even Celestia, at how she was defending Shadow. Only for them to think she was protecting Twilight's role as a master and preventing the rules from being activated. It's what everypony thinks.

Everypony except Cadance who detects something else in her voice. 'I read and they told me that Aunt Luna had history with him... but why is she helping my little sister?'

Candace hasn't been told yet, so she can only guess for now. But what she wanted to know were someone else's feelings, it was Shadow himself.

From their arrival until the visit to her in-laws' house, Shadow has not said anything or shown any emotional reaction. He just keeps following Twilight around and hasn't shown any emotion for Cadance to analyze. As the Princess of Love, she kept wondering why she couldn't detect or read anything from him. But the conversation was getting heated and her father-in-law had to put the house in order.

"Easy there, son. That's no way to serve our guest, especially one who saves your little sister.", said the blue light with dark blue mane, old Stallion.

Night Light was the father of Twilight and Shining, he is a 48-year-old unicorn astrology professor from Canterlot University who could return home today. Like Twilight, he likes to wear a green vest under white cloth shirts with his distinctive trademark of two crescent moons, one large and the other smaller, facing each other with brown pants.

"Listen to your father!", a still young female voice was heard from the other room. Shining, unable to respond to his mother, sank with his arms crossed in his chair.

Night smiles at his son's protective side, even if he was on Luna's side. He then turns to Shadow. "Ahem. Sorry for my son's behavior, he only wants the best for Twilight's future. That's why I can't help but thank you enough for protecting her during her quest. If possible, my wife and I would like to reward you in some way... Oh, but I cannot give my consent to marry you to my daughter. Not until you beat me in a game of golf! Hahaha!"

"DAD!" Twilight and Shining yell at their father's bad joke. Only Celestia and Spike enjoy the family atmosphere while Luna remains silent. Cadance for her part focused more on the Shadows' response.

"Thanks.", Shadow finally responds, surprising Cadance as he continues without any emotion, not even in his voice. "But your concern is misplaced. There is no reason to care for a fallen knight like me."

Twilight, with Luna's guidance, gives new orders to Shadow to change his way of speaking.

First, they order him not to mention being a Yami Tool again to anypony unless Twilight has allowed it. With this, the story of the cursed knight, thanks to Pinkie's propaganda, will be more accepted by the ponies and the secret will be kept.

Second was using the pretext to pay Twilight for her help in saving him from an old curse. This was to hide the rules and nopony can find out that he can take control of Twilight away from Shadow.

And thirdly, which Shining was against, was Shadow changing the way he called her.

"Currently, my reason for existing is to help and protect Twilight.", Shadow continues, but he was never told how to respond and why. "For my only goal and dream is the happiness of whoever saved me. Twilight's happiness is my top priority."

When he finishes he leaves all the ponies speechless.

From below, we had Celestia and Spike with their hands in their faces not believing that he just said it. Twilight, Light and Shining have their eyes wide open looking at him in disbelief, only Shining had his mouth open with rage in his eyes. That leaves Cadance and Luna with their own thoughts. While Luna had her own opinion about his statement, the important thing was that Cadance was finally able to feel something from him.

A True feeling for the care of Twilight's well-being.

'There is no hesitation or doubt in his voice... not even Shining can show such strong conviction when expressing his feelings for me like this.', Cadance was lost in her mind.

Then the last member of the Sparkle family appears. "As long as you don't make Twilight sad or hurt, you can receive my blessing to stay by her side."

From the kitchen and carrying a tray with glasses of water, Twilight Velvet joined them, Twilight's mother. She was a mature light gray mare close to 45 years old with a multi-striped white and light purple mane and tail, her mane style was the same as her daughter's. As a librarian, she wore a light purple cloth blouse and a long black skirt that reached her knees.

She arrives and gives all of them each a glass of water. "The only thing that matters is Twilight's safety and her being able to return to us. That's all I ask of you, Mr. Shadow."

Shadow reached for his glass of water, he was about to think what to do when Velvet continued talking to him. "Of course if you can make my daughter happy, I will not have complaints. But both of you have to wait until you get married before giving me grandfoals."

"Mom!" Twilight scolded her mother by insisting that she have foals. But she, like the others, held back.

Shadow spoke up. "I'm sorry to have disappointed your wishes, Ms. Twilight Velvet, but it's impossible to pair with me. I don't know that my body can procreate life with other species, this includes ponies."

The room fell silent at his words. And the silence intensifies with his next words. "Besides...if the goal is to give him a happy life, I doubt anyone would have one with a 'broken' knight... such as myself."

Shadow stared at the crystal clear water in his glass as his red eyes reflected on it.

Unbeknownst to him, his voice was breaking as he said the last part, something in him felt 'broken'. He already mentioned this to the Apple family, but this time it was different for him. While that time was with strangers, this time it was with a special pony as Twilight, his master. For Shadow, Twilight was his center of the universe, and somehow, the mention of foals to someone he cares about triggers something in his soul.

An 'error'.

Shadow was about to dive into his mind to try and find the 'error', but was stopped.

Don't worry...

'!!!', Shadow was brought back to reality by the voice speaking to his mind again.

Soon, the 'error' he felt disappeared and he looked at the water again, as if he was suddenly fixed. He didn't know why the voice spoke again until now and what could make him feel different than normal, which is normal for him. And his silence was noticeable to all the ponies in the room.

Twilight stared at him as she was lost with the way he had just spoken. With the knowledge that he might be the last of his kind, she now felt sorry for all the jokes so far, for not having asked herself what Shadow's thoughts were on the subject. Even if the rules didn't allow it, she wonders if Shadow ever wanted to restore his kind.

Her thoughts, like those of many others, stop when her mother asks for forgiveness. "I'm sorry Mr. Shadow... I got carried away with the idea that my daughter could meet a colt who would take care of her like you. I hope for your forgiveness for not considering your thoughts of having your own family, even with your kind."

"...Thanks.", Shadow turns to her, giving her confirmation that was okay. "But your concern is misplaced. There is no reason to care for a fallen knight like me."

Velvet nodded and smiled at him, while ignoring the last part she was still happy that her daughter had a colt like Shadow at her side. As for him, he simply returned to his glass of water. And scare her, like the others that didn't know, when his helmet opens its mouth. Twilight saw this and soon remembered her job as a caretaker.

"Uhm, Shadow...", he freezes with the glass and his demon mouth open, he turns to her giving her his full attention. "You can take off your helmet to eat. This is my parents' house and... you don't have to have it on all the time."

After processing her suggestion (order for him), he lowered his glass as the helmet returned to normal. "Understood." like last time, the air pressure later escapes so that the plates on his face and the back of his head move and open to reveal his true face.

Still with a messy mane, Shadow's human face continues to surprise the ponies. Shining, Night and Velvet were amazed to meet a human for the first time. Cadance was also speechless, but soon her attention was drawn to another pony. She saw Twilight staring intensely at Shadow, which triggered her matchmaking job.

'HOLD YOUR HORSES! Twilight...she's finally IN LOVE?! Does this mean... MY BEST LITTLE SISTER FRIEND FOREVER EVER HAS FINALLY FOUND HER BRIGHT KNIGHT!... Well, not bright or white but more like... dark?, she continues to process her discovery just to grasp something else. Luna looked sadly at Shadow. 'Oh my... Even my Aunt Luna is interested in HIM?! LIKE IN THE LOVE TRIANGLE IN MY NOVEL?!'

Like Rarity, Cadance also read that novel. She didn't approve of love triangles but having one in front of her couldn't deny how interesting they were. Especially when she didn't know who to support. While Candace played her role as matchmaker, other ponies talk about their opinion of Shadow. Velvet was first.

"I knew you weren't a pony, Mr. Shadow. But I'm glad I was wrong to think you were anything more than a monster, more like... Hum, are you perhaps a subspecies of apes or monkeys?", Velvet speaks, not sure how to refer to him.

"Monkey?!" Shining shouted out of his disbelief. "I was defeated by a monkey?!... Damn. If the rest find out, this will be the end of my reputation in the guard corps."

"I don't think he's just a monkey.", Light began to give his opinion. "His characteristic is similar to what some of my colleagues in the nature department have said. I've seen the university's ape exhibits and none of them come close to catching Mr. Shadow. Plus, he's definitely smart and rational to wear that armor and talk to us. Not to mention how advanced it is- Ahem!"

Celestia, who was silent the entire time, spoke up. "I know that Shadow's identity is an enigma, unfortunately, my sister and I have no idea who Shadow was before and where he comes from. But we're happy to say that Shadow is a good pony at heart. And Twilight will be under our protection as much as she is the holder of the Element of Magic."

Both parents understood that not much can be said about who Shadow really is. But they understood that he is as important, or will be, as their daughter.

However, Shining realizes something. "Wait a moment, Your Highness. You said that they are both under your protection, but why do you somehow mention that they...", his eyes widened at what she was about to say. Only for Twilight to break the unpleasant news to him.

"About that...", she taps her glass, looking down, unable to meet their eyes. "There's something I need to announce... something about moving... and who's coming with me."

"Well, we can say it could have been worse.", Twilight said while combing her mane in her fillyhood room.

"I think the part where Bubu lost his voice was to be expected.", Cadance said as she removed the makeup from her face next to him. "It reminds me of how he used to bark at those colts that were flirting with you when you visited us in college."

"But I never thought that Father would also recant and shout his opposition too." Twilight said, leaving her comb on her desk with her personal mirror. "If it weren't for my mother, he might also be voiceless like Shining for the rest of the night."

"Tell me. In my case, my parents exploded when the horn came out of my forehead.", using a soaked cotton pad, Cadance removes her lipstick. "They were a little happy, scared and... ideas appeared like I wasn't ready... so much so that they thought my brother should come. SIGH... Now I have a brother who thinks he's a 'prince'. At least Spike isn't like him... Spike is coming, right?"

Under her sister-in-law's questioning gaze, Twilight desperately answers her. "O-o-o-of course he's coming! This whole thing isn't like moving in with my coltfriend!... And Spike is sleeping in the same room with me! Even Mother said it's no problem for both of them to come with me!"

After her announcement of moving to Ponyville, both men in the family explode when they are also told that Shadow was coming with her. But Velvet could see that Twilight didn't mean as a couple but as roommates partners, she understood the truth once she checked Shadow.

Velvet saw in his eyes that he had no ulterior motives with Twilight, but in her daughter she could see that she was a little interested in the idea.

Knowing her daughter well, Velvet knew that Twilight simply didn't know how to handle her feelings. So, Velvet's hope, is that if she stays with Shadow, it will help her develop her feelings as a mare. Besides, she figured Twilight would never be interested in another foal again and she couldn't miss the chance to pair her with a good choice in his book. At least they can adopt if they can't have foals of their own.

"It's true, and I have to admit that mom is right.", Candace said as Twilight turns to her with a raised eyebrow. "It seems that Shadow is interested in protecting you. Since he honestly doesn't want to see you sad or hurt at all from what she and I see."

Twilight's cheeks began to heat up. 'REALLY?! So that smile... was it real?', without knowing it, she wanted to see that rare smile again. That's why she kept looking at him every time he was without his helmet. But others took her wish as something more.

"And I'm with her. He could be the only chance to get you out of those books and living your life. Who knows, maybe he's your destined someone we've been waiting for!", Candace adds fuel to Twilight's red face as she wipe her face with a towel.

"For the love of- For the last time, Cadance! I'm not interested in him-!.", but her opinion stopped when Cadance put his finger to silence her.

"Yes, yes, yes. Your studies come first, blahblah. We all know that.", she then left Twilight on the desk and headed to the bed. As it was Twilight's last day in Canterlot, Cadance decides to stay and spend their last night as sisters together. "Let's talk, I'm interested in knowing more about your new friends. Let's talk about them!"

"My friends..." Twilight let out her frustration and her happiness returned, remembering the girls who helped her on her quest. She got up happily and went to bed with Cadance. "Yeah. Hehe~ Oh Cadance, those girls are the best thing I can call my friends. Each girl is amazing on her own."

Cadance smiles that Twilight finally has real friends. "I'm happy for you Twilight. But!", only to grab Twilight's shoulders, making her come face to face with her. "I need all the details! What do they look like?! Are they pretty?! Are they single?! Are those of your friends bigger than you?!", said the last part looking down.

Twilight's eyes widened at those questions, just then to look at Candace in disbelief. Knowing where this is going, she will regret asking. "And why do you want to know all that?"

"So we can prepare a defense plan against any colt stealers!", Cadance then dragged Twilight to sit next to her. "We need to figure out who we can't trust and allow to be around you if they just want to steal Shadow from your side. Believe me, colts can turn mares against each other and, worse yet, they can steal your stallion. Let me tell you how my ex-friend was flirting with Bubu behind my back. That bitch, she was-"

As Cadance began to teach Twilight how to identify a racket thief, Twilight stares at her knowing there was no escape from this conversation.

She knew the girls weren't thinking that way and none of them were going to hurt her like Cadance says, Rarity maybe but she dismissed that thought. However, when she thought about stealing Shadow, the rules appeared in her mind again. More about how Three Yami Commandments asks her if she found or was willing to pass on Shadow's power to another pony. And that makes her think.

Was it possible to lose Shadow as her Yami tool? And will there be someone looking to steal her User title?

From the bedroom window you could see the raindrops hitting the glass.

The view of the city of Manehanttan in the night rain was a sight that made the citizens inside. A view to sit and enjoy the peace or do something else. With the sound of the rain the inside of the room could be hidden, and the ponies inside could have their privacy. The perfect environment for these two ponies to make all the noise with their love.

"OH! GADGET! AH! YOU ARE MORE INTENSE! AH! AH! AH!", a naked pink earth mare with green mane scream with each thrust to her butt.

"UFF! You know me! UFF! OH! When is about you! I can't hold it!", Gadget said without losing the rhythm. "UGH! Rose! You always make me crazy! Or you want me to stop! HMM?!"

As he promised, Gadget finished his work and arranged all his future assignments early. Once done, he wrote to his mother, assuring her he was fine and that everything he had done was to keep Equestria safe and sound for her and his sisters. He sent his blessings and asked for forgiveness if he was not there to see his new nephew. Once he was done with his family matters, he rested for the remainder of the day. Only when night fell did he go to see his favorite mare at his favorite brothel.

"No...", Rose make him to stop, but give him the best lustful eyes he haven't got from any mare while she was on her knees and hands. "I wonder who will cum first."

Motivated by her challenge, Gadget got harder than never. "Is that what you want...", He then push her to be on top of her.

Gadget use his left arm to grab well her waist and bring it closer and up to him as he use his right hand to push down Rose. Satisfy and seeing the anticipation of Rose, Gadget breath in gathering forces to make her scream, for he was not sure if he could beat her today.

"OH! AHHH!!!", Rose scream mix with the FLAP sound their bodies were making.

Gadget fiercely move his waist as he penetrate her deeper than before. He increase the rhythm with his frenzy breath trying to hold the best he could. But he was tired with his work and was already on his limits.

"Damn! Rose! How are you still this tight!", Gadget close his eyes trying to not see her lustful face.

"AH! Just! OH! Give! UGH! UP!", Rose's voice show as well she could not hold, yet she knew how to make him to release it. "JUST! DO! IT! AHH! INSIDE! IMPRENATE ME!"

"DAMN IT!", Gadget lose his rhythm and fall on her, giving his finals thrust.

"HHMMMM!!!" Both hold as longer they could for the thrust were even deeper than before. Yet both release their minds to enjoy the moment.

They stay still for what could be an eternity for them, but wanting to see her face, Gadget remove himself from her. He fall on her right side while she keep her face low, still tasting and enjoying the moment. Even if she didn't admitted, he was sure that no one could make her feel the way he felt for her. After a couple of seconds, Rose could relax and breath out as she turn to him.

"Oh~ Gadget. What is the occasion this time~", she position herself for more comfort as well give him a view to her DD babies, where he could see her black rose cutie mark with her hourglass body. "I thought that yesterday we were already celebrating."

"Nothing important, Rose.", he caressed her bottom with his free hand. "I just wanted to come here and show you my fondness for you."

"Gadget.", she didn't remove his hand, yet her voice was no longer with the flirt tone she use, but her serious one. "How long you are going to keep it." She move her left hand as she care his chest, where his heart is with his cutie mark of a coat and hat of a spy. "You know my 'job' and why I am here. I can't just leave everything for you... and you can't do the same for me."

"Yeah. I know. But once we do not have those jobs anymore. Would not be our chance to be happy.", he then pull her closer, enough for there breath mix. "With the one we wanted to be."

Rose didn't resist yet her mind still think it about. She could tell how much Gadget love her, he already taste him and test him before. However, both he and she held important positions, which was not a good combination. And if they were found out, could be the fuel for something bad. That is why Rose always told him to forget her. And now, she just wanted to grab that head and kiss him until the worlds end, forgetting those jobs. But their lovely moment ended when her work partner enter the room.

"Oh, for the love... Could you two just admitted and marry already.", both turn to the bathroom of the room as Rose's work partner came out. "Believe me that I haven't see any pony as lustful as the two of you. UGH!
I hate it when both decide to had fun and force me to join in too."

A blue mare pegasus, not older than 25 years, with a cream color mane, name Tulip, came after refreshing herself. She was not wearing nothing except her striper socks and her wet white pantie, she have a top part for her small yet beautiful B water drops. But were throw away when those two tag to eat her chest while the other work on her below, and change position later on. She was able to escape when those two wanted to submit the other, yet her crazy mane and feathers were not able to be restore for her next client.

"Ow... Is worse when you stupid Rose bite my nipples.", Tulip massage where bites marks could see. "I hope no client of this night see this. I really don't want them to make their own."

"Ops~", Rose relax her body while turning to her friend. "Well you know Gadget want to warm his body before the main plate. As well how you said to me that no stallion buck you with such passion."

"Passion that shows how jealous he is of how you make me scream while you eat me.", she deadpan not knowing when they tag o compete to see who is best to make a mare scream. And usually she was that mare. "But seriously, just admit that you belong to each other and that way no pony else will be your victims."

She take her leave. "I'm out of here. I need to hide this mark. Crazy sex maniacs.", and the door close leaving them alone.

Gadget and Rose stare at the door, but their mind where on the words of Tulip. They wonder, if she knew who they both really were, she would say the same thing. Gadget didn't think it to much, Rose was thinking it carefully.

In the past, when they meet, their secret were reveal and Rose was expecting Gadget to leave her alone on her own fate. Gadget ignore it and he help her in the weakest point on her life, at the same thing discovery he really care for her. That his care would turn into his interest in her, and over time it would turn into a love for her that could put him in danger.

"Even if she didn't know our true relationship, she still saw how I love for you.", Rose snap out her mind with Gadget taking her hand. "Would you just admit that I love you, even if you are not 'Rose'."

Rose stare him with her green eyes. He demonstrate over and over again his love for her as she keep tasting it. "But what if you want to have foals. We are different and you know how our foals will come out. What will think your family, your country, your kind when I-HMM!"

Gadget tired she always bring her excuse, seal her voice with a deep kiss. He pull her closer to him while their tongues dance, that made her finally give in and pull him with her arms towards her. They enjoy the moment forgetting the rest of the world. After a minute they separate to catch their breath. They wanted to continue, but they knew their time was over.

"Ha... I really should paid the whole night.", Gadget sigh while he keep his hands on her bottom. As his finger find the hole he was looking. "But 'work' is calling me." He separate his hands from her ass and he stand up out of the bed.

"Buck. I hate when you do that.", Rose with annoyed stare, sit up on the bed picking up the bed cover to cover her half chest, rubbing her butt. She then just stay on bed while Gadget was picking up his clothes. "Are you not going to take a shower?"

"Nope!", he said as he put his pants on. "I risk enough time already. Besides, I have that matter pending.", he turn around to put his shirt just in time to see her worry eyes. "Rose... I wish when all this is over, we can live together."

Rose snap and turn away so he could not see her concerns. "You know the risk to live with... somepony like me."

"Yes I know.", when he finish putting his coat, he move his hand on his pocket and approach her. "That is why I bring this."

"Please Gadget, if is another of your toys to remember you, at least give me something- Huh?", she shut up when she turn and saw the green emerald ring. It was an engagement ring.

Gadget was kneel down on one leg holding the ring on his fingers. The piece of jewelry rest on a golden ring and had the form of a rose. Gadget had to bargain the price, and seeing the face of Rose, the mare he came to love, was worthy for it. Rose freeze for a good moment witnessing the ring, she was able to feel Gadget's feelings on it. By far her opposition melts and turns towards him.

"Although there is a long way to go. I just want to seal the deal.", he grab her left hand and put the ring on her. "With this... no matter where or when... my love will keep you company... Emerald."

Emerald snap when her real name was say it out loud, it show her how committed Gadget was with her. For it pain her to think to said no to his proposal, and burn her heart not letting her say what she really want to say. However, Gadget didn't need her response so he let her go.

"Well, while was fun, it's time for my leave.", he grab his hat from the coat hangers and turn to the door. "Hope when we see us again... you have your answer.", he twist the knob before his last message. "Not as Rose... but as Emerald."

"WAIT!", he stop to turn around and receive one more kiss of his beloved mare. There was no lust on it and no desire. Just the kiss of love for him. The small yet short kiss was long and strong as never they had before. Emerald separate from him, using her hand with the bed cover to calm her heart. "You will come back for me, right?"

"...Yes.", Gadget smile to her. "When we are free from our jobs... I will come to pick you to our place, a place we can call our home.", he kiss her on her forehead.

Once each one had the will to let go the other, Gadget open the door to the halls of the brothel. He quick his pace for he already risk more time than was allowed. So he said no more words and allow his message reach her.

Emerald watched him leave and stay until he turned around, her eyes following the path he followed until she could no longer feel him nor his love. Then she raises her hand and the ring with it. If he had stayed a little longer, her defenses might have crumbled.

'Gadget... I could abandon my kind to be with you... so is a y- wait. What is?', however, her thoughts stop when she saw something that catch her eyes.

Through her hand she just saw at the end of the hall a light. She cleared her vision and saw that the door to the last room in the hallway was slightly open, what caught her attention was that that room was Tulip's room. Light escaped from the small opening, but there was no movement or anything to indicate to her that Tulip was working or doing anything else. She thought that Tulip was already cleaning herself in the bathroom, if she was taking a shower for the second time it was possible that they would not see her.

Emerald could check or try the effort to find what Tulip could be doing, however she already put her in trouble with Gadget's trio order so she just close the door to then clean herself on her bathroom.

If she could have make that effort, could have seen the red stain.

CLICK
FLASH

Emerald's eyes widened at the sound of the door closing.

The world stop for her but she could heard the flashing sound.

However, a moment ago she could feel everything, and she no longer felt the world around her.

She just didn't realize the breeze behind her and soon she stop feeling at all.

THUD

She then heard a noise.

She could tell that was below her.

Her body didn't respond and was unable to move.

Her view didn't change and was staring at the same door where her beloved one just leave.

She could see the big shadow overshadowing the whole door from behind her.

As green flame appear on her view just below her... as well covering her face and eyes.

Her only thought... was Gadget as her lips pronounced it.

Before the darkness consume her and her message.

Run.

"Buck... This rain is making the sky even darker. Aren't we supposed to be celebrating that we won?", he said as he left the brothel. "Why did it suddenly become so gloomy?"

Gadget adjusted his coat and hat so as not to get any wetter than he was, with the rain of course. He could see that with the day off and everyone tired from the longer night, all the ponies have returned to their homes leaving the streets empty with only a few lamps illuminating the city. With the rain he saw that the darkness of the streets covered every corner and alley with a dark blanket.

'This is bad... I really risked it this time.', Gadget thought as he sharpened his senses and started on his way.

He decided to walk along the big, well-lit streets to stay safe. Even though he was in the middle of the city, with his comrades and some guards around, and despite being a top-notch spy with years of training, he had no confidence tonight. Gadget had learned well that there were ponies better than him, and even entities better at hiding their presence.

'That's why I shouldn't have risked it. Why did I stay longer than I allowed myself?', he cursed his actions. But he really loved her and wanted to see her one more time.

Gadget went to see Emerald for one reason. Yet he let his feelings get the best of him and made that marriage proposal. In his mind, he questioned why he did it, thinking he should have left it to another pony. After reflecting, he concluded that he had to do it before he no longer could. Plus, he was happy with the look on her face.

'I really want to see her with a bridal veil... but I need to take care of you.', he thought, looking around to see he was not alone. Neither was the one he knew he was about to meet.

Gadget continues walking almost four blocks from the brothel. Although he saw some ponies on some street and in the distance, he knew that there were some activities going on tonight. That's why he wonders who could risk acting out in the open with so many eyes. He even dares himself when he turns and walks past a group of guards patrolling the same street he passes by. And yet, the figure in the heavy coat maintained the same distance and the same pace.

The big pony kept following him for a block after leaving the brothel.

'Is he not scared that witnesses might see him?.. No, it must be because of this dark night. He's sure no pony will be able to recognize him... or he trusts his ability to escape or hide. But why isn't he hiding from me?'

Gadget continues to hit the streets with more eyes, even the entertainment streets with drunk ponies and whores next door on the sidewalk. It was really tempting for him to talk and take a whore to his apartment with his stalker in tow. Only for him to think that putting the mare in the same place as his will only slow him down. He made the decision not to try it when the figure walked along the same route ignoring the other ponies.

'So, it will be plan B then.', Gadget thought as he changed his plan and headed to a street with an alley at the end. 'Fight back.'

Gadget wasn't fully in charge of the espionage department in each city, especially the main headquarters. Yet, his memory retained all the spy hideouts in the major cities, and the alley he was approaching was one of them. While the unknown enemy had not shown his intentions or capabilities, Gadget still planned to fight and simultaneously send his subordinates to different guard posts to alert the city. He just hoped he was enough to take down the intruder as he turned and entered the alley, with his stalker just a few feet behind.

The alley had an L-shaped route with a dead end, for any pony except Gadget, since the secret entrance was hidden on the floor. Gadget didn't know if he should be happy that he was right about his stalker as he entered the alley just behind him. Soon, he was faced with the cruel reality, as he turned to the entrance, he realized he was never in control.

"... Impossible...", Gadget stared under the rain at what was waiting for him.

The entrance was open, but the path was blocked with two poles in an X pattern. That didn't stop Gadget.

Gadget found the entrance and his subordinates, impaled to welcome him.

On those two posts, two bodies were impaled from between their legs to their mouths. And they weren't the only ones. On the walls on both sides were other bodies, two or three on each side, impaled through their legs, chests, arms, and hands. He didn't have to ask who they were since he recognized them, and he knew who did it because the culprit's footsteps had stopped in the distance.

The two figures in the poorly illuminated alley didn't move for a long moment. Only the sound of the rain gave an ominous atmosphere. Both figures recognized that death was over them, waiting to harvest. Yet Gadget didn't accept it, he was fighting with all his will not to succumb to his fear.

He had managed this kind of result in previous missions, had seen the works of psychopaths, and had brought them to justice. He had steeled his heart for those he lost. But he was not facing the same kind of psychopaths.

STUD STUD

His opponent was not playing with him. And neither was trying to break him. This intruder was giving him a message in the form of two round objects he threw at Gadget. After cruel minutes, Gadget could process his situation, the intruder gives him the checkmate of this game. For he threw a blue and a black round object to the floor to him.

'No... please no...', Gadget swallowed his voice and against his will turned to look at those objects. 'Not her...'

Even in the rain and in such a dark place, Gadget could see their expressions.

Those were heads of the ponies he had just seen a moment ago, he could see their final moments imprinted on their faces.

The first thing he noticed was the surprised fear in Tulip's eyes, mingled with despair. Her head had been cleanly severed from her body, and he knew it had happened recently because her face had not yet turned pale from blood loss. Gadget quickly pieced together her story.

She had left the room in annoyance to go to her own. Once inside, she closed the door and sensed something was off. Turning around, she came face-to-face with an intruder. She had just seen her life flash before her eyes as she stared at her decapitated body. Gadget wanted to cry out in anger, but he kept it inside, overwhelmed by the sadness from the second head, his beloved one.

Black as the darkness, the head bore a resemblance to that of a pony, and like a unicorn, it had its own horn. The only things out of place were the sharp fangs that no normal pony could have, and the horn, which had holes and was twisted like a torched and dried tree branch. There was no mane, only a transparent green organic fabric, similar to an insect cocoon. The eyes were not normal for a pony; they were crystalline, like those of an insect. The green pupils he once saw in those eyes were now dull, devoid of life, never to shine again.

Gadget stared at the insect-like head. As the chief of espionage, he should have known what kind it was, but in this case, he knew her personally. He could have exploded with rage right there, but the intruder didn't have time for that.

"This is the reason."

Gadget snapped his head from her to the intruder. His male voice was emotionless and artificial, much like the black metal hand that held a piece of wet paper between its fingers. "The reason she, and they, had to die."

Gadget didn't ask what it was, but rather how he knew it. 'How did he discover it... no, for how long has he known... how long have I been-'

"Since you entered that brothel, and even before that, I was already here.", the intruder answered, not opposed to providing an explanation.

Reading Gadget's mind, the intruder walked halfway down the alley. "I came here the moment I discovered you received that report. I couldn't stop that captain from sharing the diary and its contents he found."

With each metallic step, Gadget's mind was in a frenzy, thinking of a way out. "I had to abandon my primary objectives to come here. Once you found out a secret that should have never been discovered, you became my next objective. And everyone around you."

He stopped in the middle, blocking the way out. "And to make sure the information was not leaked. That is why I am here.", he said, lifting his head with blazing red eyes. "To silence you... and everyone you shared a word of it with."

"So you were here... from the beginning?!", Gadget spoke through clenched teeth, suppressing his emotions. He never expected the one who took out his team to arrive the next day for him. He was angry with himself but even more upset about what had happened. "Still... they didn't have to die! Especially those foals!"

"Negative."

Under the cover of darkness and rain, the intruder's figure appeared omnipotent and wise, as if his words were law. "Your subordinates knew the dangers they might face in their roles. However, they were targeted because they were notified of your arrival. If I had to choose the right course of action, your death would satisfy me. But then, my existence would be tied to your disappearance, just as it was with the team you sent to the Everfree Forest."

He lowered his head, emphasizing his words. "That is not allowed. No one should know that I exist. For that reason, all of them had to die."

Gadget couldn't deny it. If he disappeared, his spies would do everything to discover his whereabouts. After seeing the state of the bodies and considering the rain, he could tell they were attacked hours ago. This meant that while he was having fun, they were being hunted by this intruder, making him hate himself for such a mistake.

"Yet, we can say that it is not your fault."

Gadget stared at him in disbelief, but his doubts disappeared as the intruder's red eyes blazed over him. "We can agree that if that captain of yours hadn't discovered that book and sent his findings to this branch, it could have prevented you from becoming my objective. Then all these deaths... could have been avoided. Shame. The world is still unjust, don't you think?"

Gadget couldn't believe his words. While he was his enemy, his voice lacked any emotion, no joy or sadness. The message was clear: 'this is not personal but a job,' his mind concluded. That is why he couldn't reject his reasoning. Gadget no longer saw him as an evil to defeat, but as a force required to bring order to this cruel world. His disbelief increased when the intruder turned to her head, the head of Emerald.

"If you ask me... I wouldn't like to kill you or her. I have nothing against who you should, have, or would love in your life. But you have my respect.", he then turned to Gadget's eyes, where he could see his sincerity. "You are one of the few ponies I have ever met... who could truly love a changeling of this era. With your help, she could have become one of those able to escape the darkness of their kind. With your love, she could have reached her true form."

"What is this... Do you feel sorry for me? Buck.", Gadget breathed in and out to control his emotions.

Rage and despair filled his soul, yet regret was killing him. He tried to distract himself, but in the end, he asked what he had wanted to know since he met her.

"Tell me... Ha... could I have saved her... fixed her... was it possible for her... to be beautiful?... Could she have been... accepted?"

"Affirmative."

The intruder's voice resonated in Gadget's mind. "Changelings are a kind that mold to the world's feelings toward them. They look dark and monstrous because the world sees them as destined to be monsters. But just as there are different kinds of ponies, there are different kinds of changelings. So, to answer your question... it was possible."

Somehow, Gadget could sense a hint of regret in his voice. He thought he was only imagining it when the intruder lowered his head, looking at Emerald's head. "You could have fixed her, where others failed."

Gadget still had his guard up. For a moment, he thought it might be possible to reason with this intruder. However, it was just a foolish dream, as he still wanted to bring him down for killing all the ponies he cared about.

"I don't know what you're doing... why all of this is happening... and what you're getting from this. Are you doing this for pure fun?"

"Negative. I still have a job, a reason to continue.", the intruder then changed his posture. Gadget knew what that change meant. "And for that, my existence shouldn't be revealed until the time comes."

Then, from under the heavy multiple coats he was wearing, he took out an object that shone, announcing that it was time.

Gadget had no problem seeing his reflection on the thin blade. "However, your time, like the others, has come to an end."

Gadget breathed out his fears. Even if it wasn't his opponent's intention, he could calm down enough to finally face him. He admitted that he appreciated the small talk and could process that this was his only option. Escape was not possible; turning his back would be his worst move. Asking for help was out of the question. The intruder had simply told him that he would continue killing until he was satisfied. He could kill the entire city if necessary, to silence anyone who encountered him.

'So we came to the same option.', Gadget thought as he took out his daggers and prepared his spells.

The intruder slightly moved, giving the impression he was crouching, preparing as well. Gadget smiled and shouted his response. "Either it's him, or me!"

Gadget launched his spell below him, creating a smoke screen where he was standing. The intruder just observed and focused his senses, waiting for Gadget's next move when he saw movements under the smoke. Then Gadget ran straight at him, as well as running on the wall, towards the hideout entrances, and towards a trash can to jump on it and attack from above. Multiple Gadgets emerged from multiple directions from the smoke.

It was obvious what his strategy was, yet the intruder wasn't fazed by this problem. He waited patiently until his turn came as the sea of Gadgets closed in on him.

And then he made his move. CRASH SLASH

The intruder advanced with a flash, illuminating the alley with the sound of rain. This made all the Gadgets freeze in their places, even those mid-air and on the wall. The intruder just stood up and waited for his attack to take effect.

"AHHHH!!!", a stream of blood and reddish matter appeared in thin air in the middle of the Gadgets.

The owner of the voice crashed into the wall, holding the wound as his spells wore off. All the Gadgets turned into mist as the real Gadget materialized from his invisibility spell. He clenched his teeth, eyes shut tight, as he held his right side, but his opponent told him it was useless.

"It is a clean cut on your stomach's right side. You can't keep your organs inside anymore."

Gadget summoned his willpower to assess the damage, wondering how he was still alive. From the middle of his stomach to the right side along his entire back, there was a clean cut that opened up the entire right side of his abdomen. He could see that the cut had passed without resistance, and his organs were spilling out, held in only by his bloody hands. To sum up his injury, it was as if he had been half-finished, sliced in two with a butter knife that met no resistance. Neither bones nor flesh opposed it.

"With this wound, you will not be able to escape and will die slowly."

'BUCK!', Gadget's mind was racing.

Gadget tried to remember his safety plans, his experience with mortal wounds, even attempting to summon his teleport spells to find a way to survive. However, he couldn't suppress the pain and maintain his sanity with everything that had just happened. He even started to lose his mind when he heard the metal footsteps approaching him.

"Your efforts are useless. Even if you prevent your organs from spilling, you will succumb to blood loss. Suggestion. Accept your end."

He was right. Gadget could confirm it with the pool of blood beneath him. His arms were losing strength as his legs gave out. Soon, his mind was unable to think straight, his vision blurred, and his face lost color. Without the correct help, he could not get out of this as he had in previous missions. When that thought crossed his mind, he saw that he had fallen just in front of her, with Emerald's head staring at him.

Gadget always saw his life flash before his eyes at death's door, and this was no different. He decided to focus on his memories with her.

Like other spies, Gadget started with field missions, and one took him to a village far from the cities. When he arrived, the mayor received him and informed him that they suspected a changeling was infiltrating the village. After learning of the mayor's wish to get rid of the pest, Gadget began interviewing the townsponies, and one mare caught his eye. That mare was Rose, the caretaker of the town orphanage, loved by all the ponies.

Unknowingly, Gadget kept an eye on Rose and discovered how she won over all the ponies, including him. He came to know her kindness toward others, the affection she displayed to the foals, and her fun and creative side. That is why he pinned her as the main suspect and interviewed her like all the other townsponies. But from their first talk, he couldn't stay away from her. What started as one interview became small talks. Small talks became encounters. And one of those encounters was outside of town when he found her sneaking off somewhere. Still on the job, he followed her.

That is when he met Emerald.

After discovering her secret, he confronted her. Emerald, afraid, tried to run away, but he managed to catch her, making a fight inevitable. When the winner was about to dominate the loser, the abyss they were fighting near gave way, and they both fell into it.

Gadget didn't know how he survived, he just remembered opening his eyes to darkness. And Emerald was in front of him.

He tried to stand up but discovered his left arm was covered in a goo cocoon. He was about to incinerate it, but the pain made him think twice. He discovered that the goo was holding his broken arm together. After calming himself, he discovered he was patched up with the goo and pieces of cloth. He realized how it was possible as he stared at Emerald's ripped clothes, with her smiling at him, leaving Gadget uncertain.

When he was able to pull himself together, he and Emerald had a staring contest. When he got bored, he talked to her, and she responded. They kept each other company for hours, knowing that escape would take days. Gadget thought they were done for, but Emerald had brought food for her mission, so they could stay alive for the next couple of days.

It was during that event in his life that he discovered Emerald wasn't different from the Rose he had met.

Emerald told him she was a scout for her colony, with the mission of understanding the ponies' opinion of her kind. Her colony had just immigrated from their lost homeland and were looking for a new place to settle. But since the ponies hated her kind, it wasn't possible, and war seemed unavoidable between them. That is why she volunteered as the vanguard to establish a link to her kind.

Gadget sympathized with her commitment to her kind, as he was with Equestria and their ponies. He tested Emerald by asking her opinion of the world they were living in, and she surprised him. She didn't care who was good or bad, right or wrong, a being of light or dark. If she had to choose what to defend, it would be the little foals of the orphanage. Because the foals didn't live and grow to hate other ponies, but to love the world given to them. She wanted the new generation, changelings and ponies, to know each other's side rather than keep to their own.

Her wish was for a Terra where her kind could be accepted. Gadget's view of the changelings changed forever from that chasm. And his view on Emerald changed, for he could see the Rose he had fallen in love with.

With that change of mind, he no longer saw her as an enemy when she collapsed in the final days. He discovered why no pony showed signs of energy drain. Emerald was one of her kind who decided to absorb the love in the air, so she never attacked any pony in the town to sustain herself.

Now that she had been in an abyss for many days, she finally needed her love energy supplement to stay awake. To her surprise, Gadget decided to give his love.

At the beginning, they discussed whether he should do it or not. Then they disputed whether she had the energy to change into Rose or not. The two of them ended up embracing each other as they were, as Emerald and Gadget. On the final day, a rescue team issued by the previous espionage chief found them, as Rose and Gadget. After he was back in action, Gadget gave his report that the changeling was taken care of. With his mission done, Gadget left the town, a town without the Rose he had met.

But he didn't wait long to meet another Rose on another mission.

Gadget remembered what he had told her. He promised that he would keep an eye on her and ensure she didn't attack another pony as Rose. But he didn't mind if he was attacked by Emerald. Rose and Emerald didn't mind tasting his love either. Over time, Gadget kept seeing her with her secret, for he would take care of her and all that came with being with her.

Including seeing her real green eyes, eyes that were no longer alive. "Es... merald... I... sorry-"

"She didn't suffer. It was my gift to her."

With the little energy he had left, Gadget turned to the intruder. His attack had done little to him as he stared at the black, flat metal face with red eyes, without a mouth, and a V-shaped crest on his forehead. Gadget's attack to his neck only removed the coat covering his head.

Finally, his suspicions were confirmed. "Yami... Legion... so you guys... are real..."

"Real or not. It doesn't matter to me what you believe.", the intruder said, preparing his sword for the final blow. "What is important is that no one should know my mission. So I'll let you mend your mistake by telling me what I want to know."

Under the rain, Gadget stared at his executor. His body stopped responding. His mind was leaving his body. In his pale eyes, it was clear he wasn't going to resist any longer. There was no way to oppose this natural force. With what little he had left, he listened to what this being asked of him.

"Did you tell anyone else my role in this world?", the heavy, emotionless male voice resonated in the alley.

Gadget's weak response followed. "...no..."

"So be it."

FLASH

Gadget's last memory, as his life was leaving him, was seeing Emerald, face to face, one last time.

The city fell silent again. Only the sound of the rain covers the streets.

If a pony came to the alley, they would find nothing after the strange noises ended. They would never find out the hideout was breached. They would never discover the bodies. They would never notice the blood that was spilled. And the story of the couple and their forbidden love was lost forever, unknown to anyone.

Only the intruder who exited the alley would ever remember the chief of espionage's secret, after cleaning the place and leaving no sign he ever existed. He stood at the entrance of the alley, fixing his coat, staring at the piece of paper he had removed from the mare's body.

"They loved each other... to the point of trusting this...", the intruder's voice resonated with the rain, carrying his sorrow for the couple. "...if only those two weren't destined for this end... could the story have ended differently... just like those two..."

He crushed the wet paper, tearing it into pieces and letting the water carry the secret away. He then turned to leave, finished with Manehattan. His next objective was located in Canterlot. The intruder focused his sight in the direction of his next target. Just then, he started to remember a name he had investigated once he discovered a Yami Tool had been reactivated.

He wondered what this new User would do for this world with him.

"Twilight Sparkle."

"Huh?!"

Twilight opened her eyes. She had the impression someone had just mentioned her. But she didn't see the old roof of her fillyhood room. Instead, she was staring at the Ocean of Stars. Confused, she sat up and looked at herself, noticing she was wearing her pajamas.

"What is this place?... How?... Am I back?..."

She stood up, expecting to get wet from the ocean beneath her, but the water never touched her. For a moment, she hoped she wouldn't get wet in the real world. The last time she wet the bed was years ago, and she preferred to keep it that way.

"Hmm, this doesn't look like a normal ocean... and the sky is weird as all the constellations are grouped together. They are not in their right locations... but this place... seems nice."

Forgetting her worries, she started to explore the place. The last time she was here was during her encounter with True Nightmare, and she hadn't had the time to appreciate it. She was captivated by the landscape. Even though it was a night sky, she could see multiple stars and constellations. The sunlight was far on the horizon, and the moonlight was on the other side, creating an area of eternal twilight.

"Strange, but nice... I hope I don't go crazy talking to myself. Hehe~"

She could feel that this place was hers alone, yet this was where she had met Shadow's real face for the first time. She unconsciously wished for some company. What she didn't know was that she was not alone anymore. She discovered something on the horizon.

"What is that?..."

Twilight stared intensely at a strange spot where the light merged oddly in a deep and distant part of The Ocean of Stars. Without realizing it, she started to walk toward that spot. The closer she got, the more she thought she could hear the voice of a young filly.

"Hehehehehe~... I want it... all of it..."