Author's Note

Hello again, here I bring the second part what I want to called 'the journey for the elements'. Well for a quick brief, this part consist more on placing Shadow influence on the life on the main 6, specially a bookworm unicorn. To be honest, this part was totally construct from zero. What I mean, I already had the story in mind but decide to connect and make bigger the story. For that this will be the first book of Shadow Blade.

Why I am announcing this, well the free time I get after this week may disappear so I will make my effort to complete this book at least. As mention before, this will cover mostly before and the first two episodes. As the rest of the book I had in mind, well let see if I can get more time to finished, because I reach the part that I had no draft for the next part.

Well hope you liked this part, at least.

Chapter 6, no matter what happen to you

Chapter 6, no matter what happen to you

The day was finally over and all the ponies could go home to rest with their family and friends. Some of them wanted to see their loved one. Others wanted to party after a hard day at work with friends. And some were thinking about going to dreamland as quickly as possible.

But on the castle there was a group that were working overnight due to a special request from the most VIP pony in Equestria. Princess Celestia herself made the request to check her suddenly broken garden water fountain.

The head maid commissioned several construction companies to repair the fountain, but on the condition that they work immediately and, if necessary, overnight. Most groups were hesitant, for the new group founded by Quick Builder, who had no problem exploiting their workers and saw an opportunity, accepted the job.

So his group and the guards selected for that night did not rest until they finished, luckily their morale to work was positive since Celestia also accompanied them.

Celestia was supervising the inspection of the courtyard while the team of workers with her guards reviewed the damage to the fountain that was recently destroyed. After the fight, she and her groups of elite guards surround the new hole in the courtyard and expected a war. Everything changes when they notice that 'Shadow' didn't come out. Then they change the operation to search for his body.

She had to cancel the rest of the appointments and meetings that day and the next. She took the opportunity to change into a dress before the Builder's groups of workers arrived at the castle. She was glad that this day was about to end when the sun set and the moon appeared.

Only one issue, she was lost in thought about what happened today.

'Is indeed that was 'The Shadow Blade' I face in the past returned, but I found out that Discord's statue was still in his place were I leave him.', Celestia remembers that the first thing she did once she prepared for war was to make sure Discord escaped or not. 'So why does he appear alone?'

"Princess.", she soon returns to reality as informed by the boss of the workers, Builder himself.

"I am listening chief.", she said as she divide her attention to him and the site.

"We checked the underground columns supporting the fountain and they all look good, we just need to reinforce them. But the water column that connects to the castle's water channel was destroyed, we don't think we have a chance to repair it. We only suggest building a new fountain so if you had the idea of building a new one with a new design, now is your chance.", Builder jokes to lighten the mood.

'If only that was my only concern.', Celestia already knew that fact so she followed his efforts to make her happy. "Now that's good news, I already have the new fountain design in mind. Could your team build it for me?"

"Yeah! Just say the words and we'll build it before dawn.", even if it was a joke, he said it with great confidence that he will be able to make that wish come true. Of course, he ignores the murders stares his team was throwing at him behind his back.

"Thanks for the efforts, but now for the bad news.", she clears her throat, about her true commission. "About my other request, did your team find anything in the water channel?"

"Oh, well..", he looked around to make sure nopony could hear him. "We inspected around the support beams, possible holes around the water channel, and even with the help of the guards we stopped the water to have a better chance, but we couldn't find the body."

Celestia hired the team for two reasons. The most obvious thing for the public was the inspection of the fountain that suddenly sank in the castle courtyard. The second was only shared with the guards, castle staff and Builder only once he signed the contract, was finding the body of 'Shadow'.

Celestia's concern in her soul grows heavier as time passes without knowing what happened to him. "I see, did your team check the entire channel?"

"Sorry your highness, it may take days to check the inside of the canal since the castle's water system runs next to the city's water system. If the unfortunate pony didn't get stuck on the castle grounds, he could end up in another part of the city. In the worst case scenario, it could end up outside the mountain through one of the water outlets.", Builder said in a sad tone about this bad news.

This was really bad news for her. 'In other words, he could be anywhere. There is no choice but to pause the search for now.'

Celestia clears her throat before turning to Builder. "This was unexpected, so I understand. I want to thank you for your efforts, Builder, and your team works. So for now we are going to suspend rebuilding the fountain. Your group can rest tonight and I hope to see you tomorrow."

"Oh... Okay. As you wish, your highness.", Builder said with his motivation a little low as his team shouted victory behind him.

Soon Builder's Team began packing up as Celestia moved to one of the hallways near the courtyard, where her second-in-command of the Royal Guard after Iron was waiting for her. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"First notify the city's public water system that we will need access to the entire city system. From there he forms all the necessary teams to cover not only the city grounds but also all the exits in and out of Canterlot."

The captain narrow his eyes for such order. He didn't have any issue to follow her and assign the teams. However, his doubts fall on the numbers. "...How many teams we assign?"

"If possible, the full body of royal guards and city guards available tonight. I don't want to insist on the issue, but we are in a situation of maximum alert.", Celestia said as she turn to the courtyard. Her eyes falls on the hole.

"Only for one guy?", he raise his eyebrow. Not believing was really necessary.

"Yes... Just this guy have the strength of an army.", she said as she believed those words.

The second in command wanted to believe that his princess was joking with him. However, after what he heard about Iron's statement and the story of the fight, he let the idea sink. "As you order, your Highness!"

"Thanks..", she responds with a sigh. 'If only Luna were here, we could make this easier, but for now, it's up to me to take care of these problems. And I also have to prepare her welcome party for her dark side.'

She then turns to her guard before letting him go. "Before you go, are your fellow guards okay?", Celestia asked in general but was more concerned about a specific group.

The commander, knowing what he means, answers where Iron and Shining were treated for their injuries. "They are taking care of them in the west wing, and I heard that your niece personally went to help."

'Cadance, if you are not careful enough you can get Shining in trouble.', Celestia was not surprised. After all, her niece was not good at hiding her emotions and feelings for the future Captain. "Thanks, I'll go too, so if anypony needs me, you know where to find me."

From there, Celestia dispatched Builder and his team to the castle gates and went directly to the Castle Guard headquarters, where the high and low risk treatment infirmary of the Royal Guard corps was also located. Since both guards were injured in the castle, there was no need to send them to the hospital. But the main reason was the Iron's condition due to the side effects of his armor, the only doctor assigned for treatment was only available in the castle. Both guards were on the west side where high-risk injuries were treated, while the throne room guards were treated on the east side.

'Cadence must be glad she can play nurse with Shining alone. I just hope they both can control their feelings better. If Iron is awake, those two should wait until they can have some quality time later.', Celestia continue in her thoughts as she walks to the Guards headquarters.

'But I'm glad Cadance found her special pony. Just a Twilight, Shining to have a good heart and believe that the answers to both of my concerns for the future came in one package. Maybe my luck is changing after losing Luna.', she hope that the time she walk to the Guards headquarters could get her peace she wishes.

But everything changed as soon as she passed the destroyed courtyard with guards ready for war, she couldn't find that happiness enjoyable again.

'Just for him to show up.', Celestia paused for a moment as the problem with 'Shadow Blade' came to mind. 'Why, at of nowhere, he appears on the throne room? What was after, what was his goal?... And why I feel bad for him?'

Celestia couldn't shake off her fear in that moment 'Shadow' was about to release his rage. For the first time she feel that he was serious on her, but she couldn't find the reason. As well the reason why she suddenly feel pity for him.

'Do I hate him? No, I am scare of him. At the end, Discord already say it before.', she restarted her journey and looked away from the hole he fell from. 'He was just a tool, a poor soul being used.'

After thinking about that topic, she enters the castle extension where her royal guards await her next order. The guard headquarters was located in another large courtyard, the difference from the rest is the large T-shaped building with three extensions and a courtyard with dummies, weapons stations and an obstacle course for training. One extension was the living rooms for cadets, the lockers and other daily facilities where her guards could rest and prepare for their duties. The other two were the main and secondary infirmaries but she only plans to visit one.

As she approaches, several guards who were exchanging shifts stop and greet her. She only took a second to respond so she immediately went to the west wing. She walks down the hallway and soon reaches to open the doors to the guard section with life-threatening injuries. And she was greeted with the cry of pain caused, no other, by the princess of love.

"Cadance! I can do it myself, don't- AHHHH!!!"

"Okay, that's not my fault, you moved Shining, so please let me just- Hey! Come here!"

"Please Cadance! Wait don't bring it near me- AHHH!!!"

"Princess, his face is fine and does not require treatments. Additionally, the cotton is too soaked in alcohol that you are doing more damage than healing it.", Celestia let out a sigh as she approached Shining's bed.

When she moved the curtains on the bed where Shining was resting, she found him, head doctor Pink Heart, and her niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadance as she liked it. She was a 24-year-old alicorn with pink fur and a multiple combination of pink and magenta mane. She usually wears dresses colored from white to red with pink stripes and heart designs. But for some reason she was wearing a nurse's outfit.

She was the third princess, just like Celestia, who was an alicorn who was born into an extension of the royal family. As soon as they discovered that she had the magical core to be a celestial alicorn, they took her to Canterlot where she announced her status as part of the main Royal Family. Then she met a fun unicorn filly and her handsome older brother.

Now, she was treating that brother's wounds 'well', as she thought was the right way.

"But I didn't have the chance to nurse him and when I left my room he was already patched up. I even steal- I mean, I asked for these cloths so I could cure him with my magic of love.", Cadance answers to the castle's head doctor.

Pink Heart, who was a mature unicorn mare about 40 years old (not exactly), with pink fur like hers but with a dark red mane. She was wearing a doctor's coat over her brown shirt and black skirt. She believes The Princess of Love was the worst nurse and apprentice she has ever had.

"Yeah, if you want to torture him with your 'love', he really is in good hands.", Pink said monotonously after seeing Cadance in the form of 'healing' him.

Celestia wanted to enter the conversation, she had seen enough. "Well, they say love sometimes hurts. Either he did something terrible in his past life or Cadance is bad at holding grudges. What did you say, Shining?"

"Wait, is this because that time I said you were too big for that dress?", Shining let out his thought. He soon met three stares in disbelief at what he had just said, forgetting that he was talking to mares.

"...Shining, I think there is a spot that was not treated.", Cadance said as she re-soaked the cotton she used to 'treat' him. "So don't move."

"Let's leave the lovebirds alone.", Pink said to Celestia as they both came out of the bed curtains and Shining's screams were heard louder than before.

"So what's the diagnosis, Pink?", Celestia asks her old friend as Pink pulls out a cigar. "You are a doctor. Shouldn't you use it as an example?", even she already knows the reason why, she still wanted to ask the question.

"... As long as that idiot keeps getting hurt, I'm going to need one of this. This way he can be responsible for my life.", she light it up with her magic and took a breath.

Even if they were in the infirmary, even all the ponies knew why Pink took a cigarette, no one stopped her since she was the head doctor of the castle. Also, there were none patients in the west wing at the moment and there were only 2 beds in use, so nopony will be affected if she do so. Once Pink calmed her heart and exhaled, she finally answered Celestia.

"SIGH... Assuming they were guards, they were a bunch of pussies in my opinion.", letting out her frustration, she continued with her report. "All of them were just knocked out. "They will have bruises in the next few days, but nothing permanent."

Pink took another breath and got to the serious part. "Only Shining has taken a real beating. He'll be purple for a couple of weeks, luckily for him love can be blind so he won't care. As for his arm, he only sprained his bicep and the muscle around it. It will burn for the rest of the day and he'll be numb for the next few days, but he should keep away from that bastard who twisted his arm."

Celestia was worry for the last part. "For his safety or-"

"For both. His due the fact that if was twist harder in the way he was, his arm could dislocate or tear the ligaments in his elbow and shoulder. It were almost tear apart in a way I didn't know could be possible and it will take months for his arm to recover. You could see it as another way to break an arm without breaking the bones since it was meant to be torn off. For the other reason, well, Cadance kept talking about bringing a meteor to crush the culprit.", Pink end it with another breath of her cigarette.

"I see.", they reach the other bed and this one also has curtains. But because of the one who was using it, they lowered their voice. "And the other patient."

"...See it for yourself.", Pink replied as she opened the curtains to see Iron awake reading a book, who welcomes the two mares with a smile. Celestia was happy that he was okay, but stopped because she could see that his state was more broken than she remembered.

Iron was taken to the infirmary immediately where Pink tended to him, so he was in good hands when it was all over. They took off his armor to check his wound, bandaged him from the chest, and there were no signs of blood loss on him.

But his body seemed weakened, the proud toned and muscular body he had in his prime was just an old memory. He received multiple injuries, including fatal ones, but it was the weight of the aftereffect of his magical armor that consumed his life force. He even looks older in his face and hair as if 10 years were taken from his life.

Celestia was saddened to see the great Captain Iron in this state, but another mare was angrier than her. "As you can see the idiot is fine, if you call good to be closer to death's door again.", Pink said as she took another puff of her cigarette.

"Hey, this idiot can hear, you know words can hurt. Ehehe.", Iron laugh even if Pink was looking with murderous eyes. "You should quit that too, it's not good for your health."

"As if you know what's good for you...", she turns away leaving Celestia talking to Iron.

She went to the other side of the bed and brought a chair to sit next to him. "So how are you?"

"As always when I go full throttle. I feel like I've been chewed, tossed, and crushed by a manticore, a hydra, and my wife and daughters all together. But I will live.", he smiled as the shadow behind the curtain suddenly choked.

""Well, I'm glad you can stay with us for a few more years.", she replied with a smile. "I just wish I was there before you had to use your armor."

"Don't worry princess, it's part of the duty. As your Captain, I will risk my life to protect all the ponies I care so much. Well, for you it wouldn't be the same when I do it for my WIFE.", there was a sound of clicking teeth on the other side when he finished.

Celestia hoped Iron would act more mature as the years went by. So she tries to ease the tension. "You should consider your family's feelings, Iron. We don't know when the last time we'll be able to see them will be.", the last part was also for her. 'Luna, just a little more time.'

Iron, seeing that she also referred to her 'wish', as he had been notified a while ago, took her princess feelings seriously. "Okay, I'll take your word for it, your highness. Besides, my retirement is approaching and I'm already preparing for it so I'll make sure to use most of the time I have left in my life."

Celestial sees Iron with a happy face towards the figure in the curtain. She was happy that he was learning, but now it was the role where she had to be Princess Celestia and not his friend. She clears her throat and enters her royal avatar.

"Now, could you tell us what you discovered about him, The Shadow Blade?", Iron turns to her and gives her his full attention. "Captain, did you discover his goals? Even a hint of his objectives?"

"...No. I have theories but I can't prove them so I have nothing.", Celestial was upset but was surprised by what he said next. "I'm just convinced that he didn't come to cause trouble. Maybe it was the other way around and we were the ones who caused him trouble in his quest."

"Huh?...", surprised, Celestia asks him another question. "...What do you think of this? About 'Shadow Blade'?"

For a couple of minutes Iron was silent, until he let a smile escape on his face and his true feelings. "He is just as you describe him. A true warrior of legends.", Celestia didn't respond and let Iron continue.

"His first move was all I needed to tell me that he is a top-notch warrior, the best of our guards, including me in my golden age. Even if we try our best and make him sweat for his life, he continues with a calm mind. With time he found a way to defeat us. He had the chance to kill us, but he didn't. I don't know what his objective is or the orders of his 'Master' as you warned me, but I do know that he has good warrior sense. Only an idiot like me is foolish enough to stand in his way.", Iron said as he looked up at the ceiling. He remembered every move of his battle.

"Why do you say that?", Celestia insisted while not wanting to hear the answer. That the Captain was no match for him. And she nailed it.

"Because I didn't have a chance.", Celestia and the figure behind the curtains trembled at the thought of Iron being weak against 'Shadow'.

"All our efforts to stop him were just a joke to him. However, I was happy to confront him.", he turns to Celestia with a smile I've seen for a long time. "I was able to give him, not one, but up to five hits while he was off guard. At least I repaid him for the punishment we received. hehehe. Ah... Only to see that it was still nothing to him."

It was soon lost in memory when he said it. "If I was younger I could have performed better. All I can say... it was my best fight."

And with that the curtains opened as the pony behind them had enough. Pink, his wife.

"Your best fight... Your best fight!!! You could have died! What do I have to do to pierce that idiot's skull of your head so as not to use that bucking curse!", Pink storms into Iron's face and doesn't let him respond.

"Your body is not the same as before, you are too old to use it! Your resistance gets worse every time you use it! We warn you that the next time you use it the worst can happen! Then why!? Because!? WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN!!?", by this time, she grabs him with her eyes filled with tears.

"Every day I fear the moment when you leave us because of it! Every day our daughters wait for your corpse to come to them!", at this point, she was already crying into his chest.

"... SOB.. why did you... SOB... put your life... SOB... in danger...", at this moment, Iron is holding his wife. "Don't you... SOB... care for us...", after her scene, Iron remains silent.

Iron let her vent her feelings, when he saw that he could speak, he gave her his answer. "I know I couldn't stand the spell again. You said it before, that could be my last time. And that's why I used it.", he turned to look at Celestia to see if she was paying attention too.

Then he lifted his wife's face so that her teary eyes could see his. "I just wanted to give him a good fight. Because that was my last fight as Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Huh?!", Pink was speechless so Iron continued. Even Celestia was surprised to be speechless.

"Why are you surprised? You were right. I couldn't last 5 minutes with that, even worse with 'Shadow', but I should be thanking him. Now I know there is a better warrior and I could trade blows with him before I kick the bucket. So from this moment on I am satisfied and will begin to retire from my warrior life.", he said removing her mane from her face. To be able to see her better.

But Pink didn't believe this moment. She was full of doubts. "...This is real? If you're lying I swear-mhm!", Pink stops while being kissed by her husband.

"This time for real.", Iron replies as their lips part. "But you should already know all this, you were the one who chose an old stallion like me."

"... Just shup up... SOB...", Pink hides her face in his chest as she continues muttering. "... SOB... I finally win... SOB..."

He keeps looking at his sweet wife, thinking out loud. "...At least with this she will stop smoking. I still don't understand how she ended up with this old stallion.", but he was not paying attention when the spectator decided to speak.

"Well, you were a hot stud at the time and a crazy stallion for battle. No wonder she was able to defeat all of her rivals since she always keeps you in control while the others give up.", Celestia finally speaks after letting the couple have their moment. "So I guess that's all for me for today, I'll leave you two to have more time to yourselves.", she gets up and prepares to leave.

Iron, nervous about what he just declared, tries to have one more word with her. "Your highness about-"

"Let's leave it for another day, after all you must prepare for when that moment comes." she said as she closed the curtains of her bed and began walking out of the infirmary. But she stops when Candace gets out of Shining's bed.

The Nurse of Love comes out to talk to her aunt. "He'll be fine?"

"Yes, my niece. They just need some quality time together. So I'm going to ask you to keep your games a little calm. Okay?~", she smiled at Cadance, whose face began to turn red but her embarrassment soon drained away.

When she asked her aunt about her concerns. "I'm happy for Pink that Iron is retiring of his warrior zealotry, but who's going to stop that monster now? I don't want Shining to use that kind of power or face something like that... being."

"Don't worry, my niece, he is not omnipresent or invincible. I know that 'he' can be stopped and we can put him down, we just have to prepare better next time.", she said with dangerous eyes.

But that false determination was useless to Cadance. "You say that because you stopped him in the past with the elements. But you can't handle them, so that means-"

Celestia stops her from saying more as she raises her hand in front of her, stopping her from openly revealing her future plans. "It's not the time for that. And she's not prepare for it yet.", Celestia knew what, or rather who, she was referring to. 'Twilight is not mature enough to face greater dangers like 'Shadow'. If I prepare it right, she will be enough for the demon inside my sister, but not for a pony like him.'

She return back to Cadance from her thoughts. "If somepony will confronts him, I'll take that job."

Cadance was relieved to know that no innocent pony would stand up to him, but now. "You're sure? I can help. I'm also an alicorn and my magic is getting stronger and- That is not necessary.", she was interrupted by her aunt.

"Sorry my niece, but you're still young. I wish you to focus more on having fun and cherish your time with your loved ones.", she then walks towards the exit, only to stop for one more thing. "By the way, you should give that uniform back to the poor soul you 'borrowed'."

"Oh? This.", Cadance look at the nurse uniform. "Actually, I didn't stole- I mean I borrowed. Jejeje. This is- SAY ANOTHER WORD AND SOON YOU WILL BE MY NEW PATIENT FOR THIS NIGHT!!!", but a scream stop her.

"Ah... I see.", knowing that Pink's warning was her cue to leave, Celestia walked out the doors while deep in thought. 'But the uniform looks new so... I shouldn't keep thinking about it.', as she leave, prepare a teleportation spell to her next destination.

'For now there's another pony I need to check out.'

Spike was running with a tray of sweets and beverages back to his and his sister's room. He should be there already, but if they're locked in for the rest of the day and the next, at least he won't starve.

'This should be enough, at least for me.', he turns a corner and immediately steps aside as a group of guards pass down the hall in the opposite direction. All the staff and guards knew who Spike is, so one of the guards in front stopped as soon as he saw him.

"Spike, you should be on your room. The whole castle is in high alert and all must not go out until it safe or the rule is revoke.", said the guard leading the squad.

"Sorry, at least I wanted to... bring Twilight some sweets, something to distract her. You know... ehehe.", he laughs at his own lie. However, for some of them it was enough.

One of the guards in the back catches what he may be referring to. "Oh, you mean that nerdy sister from Shining. I heard the intruder appeared in front of her."

"...Yes, she met him when Shining was fighting him. Like a guard is supposed to do.", Spike responded to that with venom in his voice.

Something that did not escape the group of guards. "What did you- Stop."

He didn't finish as he was stopped by the first guard. "We are wasting time. I will escort Spike back to his room, the rest continue with the patrol."

With orders from their leader, the rest of the guards pass by Spike, some passing by without giving him a look of hatred. Once the group was out of sight, Strong Shield, a guard of the same generation as Shining, began talking to Spike as he escorted him back.

"You know having half the guard corps hating you isn't a good idea, what if you're in trouble?", he started walking with Spike following him.

Spike responds with a deep sigh knowing what he means. "...I know but every time they insult my family I can't just stand by and let them go."

"Yeah, I know, they're just jealous that Twilight and Shining are the princesses' favorites.", he looked back to make sure no one was listening. "Beside, did you know that Shining is the candidate to replace our old Captain?"

Spike spun to his direction. "NOOOOOO. For real?"

Shield nodded. "It can be so they will be soon receiving his order in the future. So hang on."

"Wow...", Spike soon imagined everything he could do as the Captain's little brother. 'I will command them or threaten them with Shining', then he let out an evil laugh "eheheh~"

'Did I release a monster?', Shield began to regret it and imagine the same thoughts as Spike.

They soon arrive at their destination. Almost close to the research tower were also Twilight and Spike's bedrooms, since over the years, Twilight only went back and forth from her bedroom to the study room. The reason why the castle staff now views Twilight the same way the previous guards refer to her, a bookworm.

"Well, we're here.", Shield said once they were in front of the door. "So don't make me find you in the hallway again.", He turns around and prepares to leave.

Spike stood there watching Shield walk away. "Just because she sent you flying is no excuse not to greet her. That's why you no longer have my blessing."

Spike remembers how Shield was interested in Twilight before, being his friend's cute sister. But due to her lack of experience and her lack of dating knowledge, she had nothing to show to him once she invited him to her lab. And she sent him flying due to a chemical explosion that she tried to show off but failed to impress him.

"But it was Twilight's fault so I'll let him go.", unaware that he got a new company moments ago. A feminine and mature guest, like a mother.

"I agree with you, I was hoping Twilight could connect with Shield.", Spike almost threw the stray food but was able to control it as he knew the owner of the voice when he turned around. "But it was actually Twilight's fault, like you said. I don't know what that young filly was thinking using those chemicals. She wasn't supposed to start using them before her advanced potions lessons later that week."

"Oh, Princess Celestia, are you here to see us?", Spike calms down after the shock of his spilled food on the floor.

"Yes, Spike. Oh, I'll take this piece of cake if you don't mind." She took a piece of strawberry cake with white frosting from the food tray. "So, shall we.", she said as she open the door to the room.

She walked in and was speechless. "Oh, my."

Once inside, Celestia didn't know if the room was the same or different due to the mess of books and scrolls all over the floor, shelves, and desk. Even the closet and linen clothes cabinet have books stuck inside. What really caught his attention were the multiple images and the main theme she could see in them. They all referred to legends of black metal beings as well as magic related to golems. Some were about tales and legends of a dark knight, others about alchemy for golems and, what scared her the most, dark magic.

"Oh boy, she went full throttle with this one.", Spike said as he entered the room.

"How long did she start?", Celestia asked as she walked in and found Twilight at her desk with her back to them, not paying attention that they were there with her.

"After the initial 'I was going to die' moment. Five minutes after we got back, so... all day long. And yeah, she skipped lunch.", He grabbed a lettuce and orange juice sandwich from the tray and walked over to her.

Celestia went with Spike to Twilight and the closer they both got to her, they could hear her murmuring. "...not this...what was he...not a golem or a puppet...the aura was not like it was how I felt...", she stops when the sound of a plate and a glass interrupt her train of thought.

"Here, I brought you your lunch and dinner. So eat or no dessert later, young filly.", Spike said, hoping to get his sister out of that horrible state of mind she was in, but to no avail.

Twilight looked at the food for a moment and soon returned to her studies. "Thanks, I'll take them later... So if it's a living being, that only leaves me with the option of dark magic and that strange book... The true- What the?!", she jumped back as her books moved away from her.

"That's enough!" Celestial said it with an authority that gave Twilight goosebumps and she turned to face her. "As a student of mine, I thought you had already learned that some magic is forgiven until the right time comes to learn it. Plus we already talked about how your body needs to rest. How would you feel if you knew that we would be sick worrying about your health? What were you thinking young lady?!"

Twilight, feeling guilty for disobeying her teacher's rules, thought about what to say to her. "I'm sorry Princess Celestia. I know I did wrong but I can assure you that I was not going to misuse that knowledge. And I don't want any of you to feel sad for me. I know I need to rest but...", she lowered her head while expressing her true concern.

"...Is just...what was that? Or... who is he?", something that caught Celestia's attention.

Celestia studies Twilight's question for a moment, when she discovers that she was honest with her, Celestia debates whether or not to tell her the truth about 'Shadow', or what she knows so far. Finally, with a deep sigh she let out, she activated one of her personal spells, one she used in her youth when she was a messy pony like Twilight.

Soon her student's mess began to be cleaned up. Books and scrolls levitated and were arranged in piles. The scratch notes and trash paper were collected and went straight to the trash can. She also focuses on cleaning up Twilight's personal mess since the clothes were also placed correctly in the closet.

A surprised Twilight and a happy Spike see a clean room. "You should learn that spell.", Spike said.

"Ahem!", Celestia cleared her throat once she had both of their attention. "IF you want to know the truth and only the truth, I have nothing against sharing it. BUT it is a secret that both of you will not reveal to anypony. Am I clear about that?"

Twilight and Spike look at each other to make sure if they want this. It was Twilight who asked the question. "Who or what was he?"

With another deep sigh Celestia answered her. "'The Shadow Blade', or so my subjects call it."

"...You don't know it either?", Twilight asks realizing that not even her teacher knew.

"It's just like you said. The only thing we know is that he is a shadow, what each pony believes, follows what his master wishes. But today was different, he was alone so what we assume or believe could be wrong or even incorrect. Unfortunately we couldn't get any answers from him or his supposed master and some mysteries are still unanswered about him. The only thing we can say for sure is that he is a fearless warrior and servant who will follow even the pony's wildest wishes to the end and make them come true. Even if those desires could harm other ponies or himself."

Twilight let this tale sink in, then compared it to the legend she found. "Is it a legend like Nightmare Moon?"

Celestia drew on her memories as she continued. "No, he's just... a poor damn soul. A soul forced to obey the wishes of a lunatic by the curse that will surely follow.", now she remembers the reason for her pity. She had nothing against him, but her mistakes hurt him and she couldn't save him like her sister.

"Cursed? Obey? What do you mean princess?", Spike asks as his curiosity gets the best of him too.

Celestia looks at him and gives him a motherly smile to calm him down. "It's... just a theory. Until he explains it to us or we find the answer elsewhere, all he is to us is the 'Shadow Blade'. A living legend.", she looks at a nearby clock. "And that's all you need to know, now you both need to rest so go to sleep early."

Then she turns to leave. "But princess-", Twilight wanting more stopped when her teacher looked at her and told her that was enough.

"That's all you need to know, now go to your bed. And that's double for you, miss." she turns to leave before saying more. "Your dark circles are getting worse. And I'm also going to confiscate all these books as punishment."

And with that Celestia left with all the dark magic material Twilight gathered, all the books including her personal notes and trash papers with the trash can, and closed the door behind her. While the brothers were processing what they were discovering, sleep was finally conquering them. Spike was the first to admit.

"YAWN... well, you heard her, we should go to bed.", he headed to his personal bed in the corner of the room. "I'll leave the sweets for tomorrow, who knows how long we could be locked in our room until they catch that guy. It was time for vacation.", he jumped onto his bed and let himself drift off to dreams.

Twilight continues to look towards the door where her teacher came out and the legend that 'Shadow' is true could mean that Nightmare Moon was real too. But her mind couldn't separate itself from him and his purposes, especially what has to do with her and the connection she feels when seeing him. Unfortunately she will have to abandon it since fatigue and hunger hit her hard. Now that her study material was gone, her adrenaline was running out.

"YAWN... Spike's right. I can't continue if we're locked in.", she turns back to her plate of food and decides to swallow half the sandwich and the juice.

Then she decided to go to her bed in her current clothes that she didn't mind changing when it all started and plopped down on her mattress. As time passed, his candle on the desk burned down and went out as he fell into dreamland. But his mind keeps the same thoughts as he murmurs it.

"... Shadow..."

wake up...

He opened his red eyes as something was calling him. But he finds nothing but a bright, clear night sky.

Confused, he took some time to clear his mind. Once he succeeds, he begins to review his memories of what happens. Once he found the right memory, he started thinking. He came to a conclusion. He just falls down.

'Shadow' didn't know what to say or what to think. He was defeated and ruled out as an "accident" during their fight. Right, an accident where it wasn't his fault to fail but then he thought what he was going to fail if his order wasn't to defeat anypony at that moment. So he was able to calm down and suppress his rage. As he keep lost on his thoughts, his head was hit by something. When he try to turn his body he soon found that he was not hit but rather he drift to it.

'Shadow' noticed that his body was floating in the water and collided with a log that was floating in the same river as him. When he regains his strength, he turns his body to try to stand up, but was too deep and decide to looks for the edge. It was dark but he had no problem seeing his surroundings and began to swim to the edge. Once there, he orders his body to stand up. However, it did not obey and found the best mattress to rest on the shore, so he did not move for the next few minutes.

'The enchantments must have been drained.', his body was not completely mechanical as the ponies believed.

He still has blood and muscles, so he needs to rest too. His armor had better resistance and resistance enchantments than Iron's armor. But like any crystal battery, it can also drain its energy and will need to be recharged later. They were empty from the beginning. It was sheer force of will that allowed 'Shadow' to move since he woke up.

He let his body rest and the armor generate magic for the enchantments. After a few hours passed, he said it was enough and his armor reactivated as the red stripes lit up, just not as bright as before. Taking his time, he began to wake up his numb arms and legs, ignoring the pain of the abuse he received. He turns his body onto his back and returns to continue observing the night sky.

Just then, he turns to his left arm. He found no damage as usual, but he was glad because he found that his hand did not let go of his sword.

He already marked and trained his body not to let go of them even unconscious in a fight. If not, he would need to pick them up the entire time he was flying or thrown in all his orders and fights before. When his left arm was recovered, he raised the sword and placed it in front of him. As the blade reflected his red eyes as he inspected, that was also undamaged.

rest...

Again the distant voice he heard before reached him, but after listening to Twilight, he is sure it wasn't hers. So who or what could it come from? Unfortunately, as mysterious as it was to him, it was also weak and would soon disappear into the back of his mind. He no longer cared and focused on his mission again. He released his arm and lowered it to look at the sky again.

'Just a few more minutes.', he convinces himself to wait until he regains his strength.

He always found in the night sky a source to calm him, even in his worst moments. Maybe you even want this moment to continue forever. But the commandments did not allow it and he was soon called by them.

'It's time.', although he needs more rest, he admits that it is unacceptable to spend more time inactive.

He let his armor reactivate the enchantments and was soon back in action. He gets up and checks out his new surroundings. Just as his memories confirmed that he fell into a water channel, he found himself in an unknown river in an unknown forest. If this river is connected to the city's water outlet system, then he must have been washed away from the castle grounds and the city he was in before. That means he was separated from his master.

'Must return.', he looked around and saw the mountain with light on the top. It could be the city he was before and decides to find a way to climb. And that was all he could do.

He moves and takes the first step only to stop. He froze not because of the idea that he didn't know where to go, but because of the orders that were implemented on him. Even if he didn't complete the initiation ritual or present his allegiance as a Yami Tool. Twilight's orders remain absolute as the commandments dictate. And some of them he received even though they were not serious.

'DON'T COME NEAR ME!'

It was her last order (prayer for her life) and/or wish that he received from Twilight's will. Even if it hurt him to follow the order, it hurt him not to obey it at the same time. 'Shadow' was in a paradox of wanting to be with her and not being with her.

'What to do?', he began to think how to complete her order or to wait until he receives a new order from her. He looked into his memory and let the commandments work their magic on him. In a matter of seconds he reached a resolution. I had another order (desire) to fulfill.

'Nightmare Moon', the memory of his master mentioning this being came to his mind.

Twilight let out her worries or fears when he reached her. And one of them was to stop this enemy unknown to him. Even if it were possible, he was wrong, as his master tool, he must do everything he can to help its owner. Perhaps in the meantime he can obtain information and stop this enemy for his master. He already received this kind of order, even if it was to trick all the ponies for Discord.

But an order is an order.

Then he turns around even without a direction or goal. No, I had clues thanks to Twilight's notes in the library. Remember the keywords 'Nightmare Moon', 'Elements of Harmony', 'Castle of the Two Sisters' and a forest.

The 'Shadow Blade' went to his new quest. His next objective. "The Everfree Forest."