Chapter 9, he only need to be honest and loyalty to his orders

"What do you mean he hasn't shown up?"

It's been a week since the incident at the shelter's celebration party that Fluttershy and her animals throw every year. Where a special uninvited guest made his debut and everypony began to receive notice of his arrival. This event was well known thanks to a certain party pony who was making arrangements for his 'Welcome to Ponyville' party.

Pinkie began to announce the newcomer to the entire town and hoped to throw a successful party before the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. Most of the town was already used to Pinkie's parties and knew that although it might be impossible to have both parties on the same day, it was no problem for their crazy party planner. The only problem they had was over the pony she mentioned the party was for.

Or rather to the metal being that had appeared on the town grounds and on the edge of the Everfree Forest, The Shadow Blade.

The first time they knew about Shadow was from Pinkie. She shouted in the center of town about her party and they were welcome to attend, she had to do it so as not to violate her restraining orders. When he first described it, his thoughts ranged from simple fantasies to stories of Equestria's conspiracy with the unknown and unnatural of the world. But as the days passed, more and more ponies began to believe in his existence.

Witnesses began to tell their experience when they began to see a dark shadow with a red trail moving in the night, as darkness fell over the town. Some even share the story that the unoccupied Golden Oak Library lit up and saw a ghostly figure inside in a blanket of red light. Reports of a dark being appearing and disappearing in the town's alleys and the street market came from witnesses pony to pony. This could be considered just popular folklore stories or heat-of-the-moment conspiracies, but new tales of encounters with him came to light supporting his existence from true witnesses.

Fluttershy was the first to share hers, against her will becoming the center of attention again, thanks to Pinkie. Some might believe it is one of her adventures where she found a new animal or doing her job as the owner of an animal shelter. But when Rarity, the fashionista from Carousel Boutique, claimed that she was the one who brought him to town, everyone started to believe it. Soon other ponies who were alone at night or near the forest could see him in real life and his existence became wildfire popular from day one.

Some even tried to venture into the forest to find it, but they didn't go deep enough, so they couldn't find him. Some others even tried to hire tracking and search specialists to capture him, but they settled for just believing in the legend so no pony reported him since nothing bad had happened. Only a few were determined to find him, among them Fluttershy.

Since the day he found the empty box in the pond they found, she decided to help him by bringing him more boxes of food and candy if he needed more. That way, she can make sure that he can survive in another way instead of hunting her animal friends in the forest, but she was sure that he wouldn't do that because she knew how kind he was, so she just wanted to help him.

The day after their meeting, she brought another box and waited all day, unfortunately he didn't show up again. She was about to give up hope while camping there that night, but when she wakes up the next morning and sees that the box was empty again, she internally explodes with happiness.

Fluttershy continued this process the rest of the week and was not alone. Pinkie, as the first to join just to give him her invitation, and other ponies decide to accompany her for multiple reasons, from being able to meet him or being able to reach him at least. That's why the one who was asking her, along with Pinkie at her side, the one who brought him to Ponyville, who was insisting on finding him and unraveling his mysterious identity, asked Fluttershy for a new update.

"As I said, I keep finding the boxes empty when I leave them and come back for them. I also asked some of my animal friends if they saw him or have any trace of where he might have gone. But no one could track him. So, I'm sorry but I don't know where he could be, Rarity.", Fluttershy answers as she welcomes the ponies who came, again, to see Shadow today.

"Ohhh. And here I thought I might meet my cursed Prince Knight again.", Rarity said as she placed the back of her right hand on her forehead with her eyes closed and the other hand on her large chest to calm her broken heart.

"Cursed Knight Prince? I think more like the cursed puppet knight. OH! How about the legend of 'The Shadow Blade of Ponyville', the metal demon that lurks in the abandoned castle in the Everfree Forest? It could be the best name for his story for selling his merchandise.", said the pink mare who was looking for him with Rarity.

Pinkie not only spread her existence, she also thought of spreading her 'legend'. He currently makes products for tourists who had heard about Shadow and wanted to see him. That's why he always brought souvenir gifts. She had a dark knight's helmet on her head with a vendor box in her hands that had chibi dolls that looked like Sombra, as well as stickers, flags, and sweets in the shape of his head.

They were sold by dozens. And Fluttershy was worried.

"Pinkie I don't know if you should use his image to sell merchandise. What if he gets mad at you if you invade his privacy?", Fluttershy asked while holding one of the dolls she gave her. She was surprised that Pinkie was able to capture his details well. 'But it was a very good idea to leave the demon mouth. She might give the ponies the wrong idea once they meet him.'

Since day one, Pinkie and many others have gathered to meet Fluttershy at the place where they can see the story of the empty box and possibly meet Shadow. Some were about to verify the legend by putting up their own candy either to participate or for the purpose of tracking it down and revealing the truth, especially a cyan unicorn mare. Either with spells or methods to track him.

But this group was surprised to see that only the good food, which had not been altered in any way, was taken or mysteriously disappeared. They stayed with Fluttershy the whole time and knew that Pinkie was not capable of pulling such a prank, even if they knew that she can be in two places at the same time. Then the ponies started to believe that he is real.

"Also, if he wanted to meet you girls, I'll definitely let you guys know.", Fluttershy responds as she hands the small doll back. "But I haven't seen him again, so I have no idea where he could be."

"Well, if you do, please let me know.", Rarity said. "I wish to repay the debt for his help during the short time we spent together. Also, if he wants to be my date for the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. AND NOT! I'm not jealous that he ate your hand, so stop it!", she yelled at Pinkie who was about to put her hand over her mouth.

"But you looked happy when I told you, and you entered your fantasy. You know, where you are being dominated in your dreams.", Pinkie answers her. Making Fluttershy feel some heat on her face.

"One, that tells me that he's not made of metal and that maybe there's a beautiful gentlecolt knight inside that cursed armor. Two, stop coming into my dreams. I don't know how and I sure don't want to know. And three, that was a one-time fantasy I read in my novel, so STOP SCREAMING IT IN AN OPEN PUBLIC!", Rarity said, she wasn't afraid to scream since they were alone. So nopony will look at her with strange eyes like at Sugarcube Corner with all the customers listening to her.

Fluttershy just waits before she can comment. "Well, wherever he may be, I know it's important to him."

"Drop it, ya THIEF!", Shadow was paralyzed by the sudden order he received, as he picked up an apple on the way.

Shadow continued his research to locate the items, but finding them in bookstores and the Golden Oak Library was a dead end. Books about the elements only contain the same stories or already known information and could not give you more clues or another way to find them. That is why he was careless in hiding his presence from the town.

To look for more clues, he toured the entire town. Visiting local stores or public places with the objective of information about the region or legends and stories. When he infiltrated the mayor's office he already had all the information about the town's buildings, shops, points of interest and also some addresses of important places with history in the town. But still he didn't get anything.

Obsessed with achieving results, he tries to spy on the town's ponies to broaden his horizons. But they showed that it was difficult for him since the new annoyance he encountered made it almost impossible to avoid her, with her invitation to his party.

The next day, he wakes up from hibernation to find that Fluttershy still came to the clearing to see him. When he goes to town he decides to stop by the clearing whenever he can. He decided to take the help she was giving him as it helped him cut down on the time spent searching for supplies. He did not consider her a problem but rather the one who accompanied her.

Pinkie Pie, the mare he met and who was the one who showed him off in the first place, was making a big deal by inviting him to some kind of party. He didn't need it or want it but her persistence made it difficult for him to hide from her all the time, so he changed his routines and took the risk of investigating in broad daylight to avoid her. An almost impossible feat for a pony who wears dark black armor with red light stripes like his own.

And today was not his lucky day as a little 14-year-old yellow filly caught him red-handed with her dog. The filly was a farm girl with a mane of red hair with yellow fur who was wearing blue farm overalls with an orange shirt tucked in and a red headband.

'I knew night was a better option.', he thought about his bad luck as he checked out one of the places he hadn't visited yet, the Sweet Apple Acres apple farm.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!", the supposed farm pet dog that followed the filly discovered him and revealed his location, catching him in the act. That he was picking up an apple from the ground.

"Don't worry Winona, I'm not goin to repeat ma self. Drop-", The filly screams as Shadow drops the red apple. "Huh? Well, that was easier than Ah thought."

"Woof.", her dog replies that she couldn't believe it either since she could tell how dangerous Shadow was.

'I do not have time to waste. Better try later.', Shadow thought as he was about to leave. But the filly stopped him again.

"Hey, hey, hey! Where are ya goin?", she ran in front of him to block his path. "If ya think ya can come to ma family's farm and steal one of ma-"

"Pick up.", Shadow interrupts stopping her train of thought.

"Huh?..." the filly almost backed away. "Well, ya just picked it, but ya took one of our apples inside ma farm-"

"Outside.", he interrupts again.

The filly was now slowing down as she listened to him. "Outside...?", just in time to notice that they were never inside the farm, only on the road on the other side of the farm's fences.

Shadow already knew that invading the farm could cause him problems, only if he was discovered, so he decided to explore the surroundings of the farms. At that time he was walking along the road and saw a tree that was too close to the farm fences, where one of its branches was outside the farm grounds. The apple from that branch fell to the ground as he passed. He decides to pick it up and see if he can keep it as a reserve, since the apple was no longer on the farm's property, so he could take it.

And a missing apple couldn't harm any pony. But fate decided to take a turn in his path when the filly stopped him, since she wouldn't go easy on him.

"We're off the farm grounds, so I'm not stealing from your farm. Just picking up an apple that fell outside.", Shadow explains his situation, that he hasn't done anything wrong.

"Oh, well... But this apple is from ma tree, so ya can't take it, okay!", the filly replies to make her point clear. She was simply surprised that he was listening to her.

"If you are part of the family that owns this farm, then I will not be opposed to returning it to you. But if you are also a third party like me, we will have to return the apple to the rightful owner.", he replies in his monotone tone.

"Ohm...well ma family owns our farm. It's just that ma older sister won't let me sell them or eat them. So...", it was right at that moment that the filly began to realize who she was talking to.

She verified that she was talking to a flat-faced metal pony, almost falling into the term demon thanks to the stripes and red eyes.

They both stare at each other in silence trying to know what to do. Winona, the filly's pet dog, became suspicious of Shadow, still on guard growling at him. But when he shifts his gaze to her, Winona freezes and stares back at him. She almost backed away but after a few seconds she tilted her head to the side.

Shadow could sense her feelings of protecting her owner, so he was able to resort to it, since the same thing happens with his master. By calming his senses and lowering his guard, he accomplishes enough to be 'friendly'. When he let Winona know that he didn't want to bother her or her owner, it was that moment that she too let her guard down and approached him. She sniffed him for a few seconds and then started yelling happily at the filly, telling her that he was friendly.

"Is he friendly?", the filly translates what she understood. "Well, if Winona thinks it's okay, then Ah think it's okay. Sorry sir, Ah thought ya were stealing our apples."

Shadow simply nodded his head and let him know that it was okay too.

"Sorry for the misunderstandin. Ya know, a strange pony in black armor with red stripes doesn't come around all the time. It might be... strange to... see... Ohm, eh sir, what's ya name?", She asked as soon as she realized that he might be the legend she had heard about.

Her suspicions were confirmed. "Shadow Blade.", is all he said.

"...Shadow Blade, the dark knight pony Pinkie talks about? Shadow Blade, the specter that came from the shadows to take ya to the dark world? The Shadow Blade! The pony that take ya candy for being a bad foal! That Shadow Blade?!!", she shout as she remembers all the crazy rumors.

"I have no information on what you are referring to, so I don't have the correct answer for you.", He responded deadpan. Since the beginning, it was not part of his order to hide his existence, so he did not care or take note. But with this he began to think that he should do it.

"Really? So, those were all crazy mare tales like the ones from Granny Smith? I knew they weren't real.", she was disappointed but soon regained interest. "Well, true or not, ya are real and ya are here, that means Ah am the only filly who knows ya. Did ya know what this means?"

"I don't.", Shadow wasn't following her train of thought.

"This means that ma chance to become popular among the other foals has come! Oh, all the foals will want to be ma friends once they hear Ah met ya!", the filly shouted as she jumped on her hooves with her hands in the air.

Shadow and Winona just stood there looking at her, until the filly finished her celebration. "Ah can't believe Ah met a real legend, is this ma destiny? Does that mean Ah have ma cutie mark- Huh?!", she stopped when she heard a metal step moving away.

She turns around just in time to see Shadow walking away back into the forest. "Hey, where are ya going?!", she screams for him to stop, but he continues to walk away.

She could follow him but he was moving at a speed that she couldn't read him. It seemed as if he was merging again with the shadows of the forest and soon she lost sight of him. The filly and Winona continue to look in his direction for a few seconds before wiping their eyes to make sure what they saw was real.

"You saw him too, right Winona?", she said with her eyes on the forest.

"Woof!", Winona nod back to her.

"Di ya catch his scent?", Winona tilts her head and asks her owner what she means. "To track it, of course! No pony will believe me that Ah found him, so we will follow him and discover the truth of 'Shadow Blade'."

"*Whine*", Winona looks back at her with narrowed eyes and asks her if this is a good idea.

"Hey, it's the only way to prove that we know him, plus Applejack won't believe me even if it's true. Let's go before ya lose track of him.", the filly began to run in the direction he was going. 'Soon all the ponies will want to be friends with the filly who meets The Shadow Blade.'

With an innocent idea, the little filly with her pet Winona ran into the forest with the goal of revealing Shadow's secrets, without hearing an older green mare who screamed calling for her.

"...APPLE BLOOOMMM! Where di ya vanish! Ya still have chores to do before ya...."

'Ponies can be very annoying.'

Once he confirmed that the filly was only causing him trouble, he decided to return and wait for a better opportunity to check on the farm. Only to discover that the filly and her dog were tracking him and complicating his exit. He could just run and lose them deep in the forest, but the filly could be one of those ponies who ignore their safety and get lost only to find it until the end.

If that's the case, a new rumor might start circulating about him that he now takes on lost fillies. Somehow he felt it was something he didn't want to be associated with. So he stays nearby to keep an eye on her.

Shadow decides and makes sure to stay close, but at the same time guides the filly and her dog to another place where he was sure they would be safe. That was Fluttershy's shelter. So if he could guide them to one of his animals or to Fluttershy herself, he could be free of the filly when she returned to safety and back to the village. It could happen, but that was not the case.

In the middle of the road, the filly took alternate routes that neither Shadow nor Winona told her to go. She got distracted many times she took the wrong path forcing them both to follow her. It didn't help that she ran away in fear without any direction from a small spider that fell on her red ribbon, even further away from the shelter after Shadow removed the spider and Winona caught up with her and told her it was gone.

As time passed, the group reached the deepest part of the forest, where trouble found them.

"MR. SHADOW!!! YOU CAME TO SAVE ME?!!", the filly shouted behind him as he blocked the path of the predators that were coming for the filly. For easy prey.

A natural creature from the forest domain appears in front of them. Spirits that refuse to abandon the world of the living that can become attached to nature itself. So when a wolf-like creature wearing wooden armor appears, Shadow decides to stop hiding.

'Timberwolves, they still exist.' Shadow comes between Apple Bloom and these deadly creatures.

Timberwolf, was a wolf-type ghost that used parts of trees, sticks and wood to manifest the desire to feast on weak prey. They do not eat but enjoy the feeling of desperation of their prey and fear for its death. It was theorized that these creatures feed on the soul rather than the flesh, but nopony could verify this truth. Or live to find out, since the main problem was that they hunted in packs and their special traits.

'13 Timberwolves, almost the requirements to make one of them. Better taken them fast before given them the chances to call it.', Shadow tells them as the pack was blocking all ways to escape the clearing where they intercept Apple Bloom.

"What do we do, Mr. Shadow?!" Apple Bloom asks fearing for her safety as Winona was also ready to defend her.

Shadow turns towards her with his back to the Timberwolves, something he shouldn't do. They saw the opportunity and jumped at Shadow with their wooden jaws ready to tear his body apart. Apple Bloom stood there watching as the carnage was about to begin, listening to the culprit's words.

"Stay back." SLASH

The sound of metal cutting through the air was met with the sound of wood splitting.

Soon Shadow was no longer seen where he was before and the 3 Timberwolves that jumped towards him were cut in half in the air. The Timberwolves who were behind their comrades were caught off guard. Unfortunately one of them didn't have the same time to process it as the others as Shadow appeared in front of him with his swords.

SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH

Unable to react, the poor creature could do nothing as Shadow's twin swords flashed all over its body. The next moment, all parts of his body were reduced to small particles of wood and leaves as he disintegrated into dust.

'Wrong one. This is not the leader.', Shadow thought as he ran towards the next Timberwolves, but lost the element of surprise when they were finally able to react.

They split up to avoid and give Shadow the opportunity to eliminate more than one while planning their strategy. 'They're regrouping, the alpha must be hiding.', Shadow thought as he ran to find their leader, but he still needed to keep them away from Apple Bloom and Winona at the same time.

That was his concern as he witnessed that the first 3 he cut in half were already rebuilding. The special feature of the Timberwolves is that, having no permanent physical forms, they can revive as long as there is material to replace their body parts. And they were in the middle of the forest where there was plenty of wood for their bodies.

'And the alpha can resurrect them quickly. I'll have to beat the pack to give him the message.', seeing that he lost sight of the leader, Shadow decides to start his kill streaks.

He meets the next one who decides to take him from the front. Shadow simply brought his fist with the handle of the sword to deliver a direct blow to the face, with enough force the wolf was thrown into a tree where his body was torn into pieces by the impact. But he didn't stop, Shadow jumped on the one running to his left and swung his twin swords cutting him into four pieces. He then turned his body to do a roundhouse kick and catch the one who was about to bite him in his blind spot. With the momentum, Shadow threw the wolf back to where the first 3 were already rebuilt and ready, but they never had the chance where their comrade hit them and broke them into pieces again. By making a pile of wood and mixing its parts, it will take time for them to rebuild.

In one move, Shadow was able to incapacitate half the pack, hoping that was enough to make the leader think about whether he wanted to continue the massacre of his pack. The remaining 6 began to back away as Shadow stopped moving, only to disappear again and reappear next to the one furthest away from everyone.

The leader did not move while frozen by Shadow's gaze, that was because Shadow emanated the dark aura from his armor and it scared him to death. The beast did not even know if it died again or came back to life as it felt fear for the life it had forgotten. But he could understand the warning.

"Your choice.", Shadow said as he showered the leader with his bloodlust.

The leader did not respond, he simply sank in dread of the situation for a moment. Even the others did not look in their direction only to not see what was behind them. And with his current state, his special alpha trait wasn't working so the fallen weren't rebuilding quickly to rejoin the fight, especially the one that had disintegrated. Then, with no choice, the alpha let out the signal to retreat.

AWOOOOOOOOOOO

OOnce the signal rang, Shadow stepped back to be between Apple Bloom and Winona as the remaining Timberwolves retreated to the other side. Shadow stares back as the alpha pauses before making sure he can imprint Shadow's image into his memory, only to return and hope to never meet Shadow again. Once the danger passed, Shadow let his guard down and calmed down so he could confront the frightened filly.

"THAT WAS AWESOME!!!", not that scared.

Apple Bloom runs to his side as Winona steps forward to shout and warn the remaining fallen Timberwolves, who were considering reviving. But they decide to embrace the peace of death for those who remained as immobile remains on the ground. Shadow simply makes sure the clearing is safe just in time to see the little filly's excitement end and tries to mimic the action bits.

"You just came out of nowhere and then WUSH! 3 Timberwolves were cut in half and then SWINE! You flash the other one and then BANG! You hit one in the face and BUNK! Kick another one to smash the other 3!!!", if Pinkie was here she will be proud of how fast Apple Bloom was talking without breathing.

Apple Bloom continues talking as if she was talking to her idol. "I never believe you're real, you moved like a ghost or a specter! How did you move so fast?!"

"I am not a ghostly entity. I move at such a high speed that your eyes could not follow me.", Shadow replied without delay.

Apple Bloom surprised that he reply back decide to continue. "Really? Then how ya do it?"

"My armor has enchantments that allow my body to receive a boost of adrenaline and magical strengths to my muscles and mind. The burst provides unnatural speed to those with untrained eyes, making it seem to me as if it were disappearing."

"Wow... I still don't get it. But that makes you invincible, right?"

"Negative. The outburst has a price I must pay and the risks it entails. I only use it for a special occasion or the situation warrants it."

Apple Bloom shows a confused face still not being able to understand it. "So why do ya use it?"

"It was necessary to end the fight instantly to avoid or give the possibility that your safety would be compromised. The dangers you encountered were worthy enough to use it."

"Well. And what happens if ya misuse ya... high-speed power?"

"Overuse could leave my muscles under enough tension that it could numb my legs to the point of muscle injury. Furthermore, the risk of making a wrong move could incapacitate me for combat or restrict my movements. Like spraining my ankle on my foot."

"Oh, that sounds kind of painful.", it was at the moment that Apple Bloom realized what she let go of in the whole conversation. "Ankle? Foot? But ponies don't have... GASP! Ya're not a pony!", she blurted out when she realized.

"I never said I was.", he replied as he put away his swords.

"That's not the main point, it's that Ah'm friends with someone as rare as ya. Ya saved me, that means we're friends and all the ponies will be jealous of me!!!", her eyes shine at the thought, Shadow didn't like it.

Shadow narrowed his eyes not liking how the filly was taking it. He couldn't be a friend, he even believed that that was even impossible, even if his master ordered it. He feels that it will be fake and not honest with her. He was about to stop her until he heard what she said next.

"Finally a friend who can play with me! It will be like the times we spent before with mom and dad!
I won't be alone... anymore...", suddenly Apple Bloom stops jumping, regretting remembering her past pain.

"*Wine*..", Winona, who was able to detect her change in altitude, approached her and tried to comfort her.

"Thanks Winona. Sorry, Ah forgot Ah'm not the only one. So don't worry about me.", she told her while scratching the back of her ears. She didn't want her to worry, but she did worry someone else.

Don't worry...

The voice sounded again when Apple Bloom reminds him of the memory of a lost loved one, but somehow managed to comfort him when he was hit by it. The reason, still unknown. 'So why do I worry about...', still thinking about what the voice was for him and what could be bothering him, he decided not to let himself be consumed by it since other things were priority now.

"Okay! Okay! Stop licking me, hahaha!" Winona was on top of Apple Bloom licking her face all over, he believed he was lost enough in his mind to not realize they were playing. But he needs to concentrate since the danger has not passed yet.

"We need to go back. We're not safe yet.", he said as he walked in the direction of the farm.

"Oh, okay.", deciding that Shadow was right, she pushed Winona off of her and began running to his side. "Come on, if we can get back before sunset, Ah can introduce ya to ma family. I just hope Granny Smith doesn't shoot ya with her shotgun... Ah better get there before that happens!", she runs forward knowing that can happen with Winona behind her and leaving Shadow behind them.

'Ponies can be so annoying...', Shadow was about to run to get ahead of her, but immediately turned in the direction the Timberwolves ran towards.

He could feel it. A new presence that he had not noticed before. But he knows well the emotion he exuded. He debates whether he should take it over or leave it since it has nothing to do with him or Apple Bloom. And just like on other occasions, he considers that it has nothing to do with him as he sets off to reach Apple Bloom.

Unfortunately for his luck, he didn't see the two large green eyes staring in his direction.

"What do ya mean ya haven't seen a rainbow one?"

"Like I said, I haven't seen a rainbow apple. I didn't even know that existed."

Making sure they were already out of the deeper parts of the forest, the group slowed down as Apple Bloom, being a filly, needed to rest between a few stops. So their new pace took them time to walk back to the farm. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom asks questions about him. When she found out that he wasn't going to talk about something personal, she switched to trivial topics as if he knew the main sites and events in Ponyville. Including her farm and her family history with apples as they walk back to the farm.

"Well, they do and ya can only find them on our farm. So only at our farm ya can buy rainbow apple cider! So ma recommendation is to be ma best friend if ya want the first batch!", Apple Bloom shouts happily having a conversation with Shadow.

"I will consider it for the future.", he still didn't want to give the idea that he is a friend to her, but after hearing her past, he didn't want to deny it either. So as long as she convinced herself that they were, it was enough for him, for now, since having connections with her could be useful to him later.

"Ya better bet it!... But still ask Applejack just to be sure, hehehe~", she retracted what she had said, she was not sure she could escape her sister's wrath. "But Ah am sure ma family won't mind.", an idea soon occurred to her.

She was afraid of what might happen and even if she didn't get personal information from him, she still asked. "Hey, Shadow. Do ya have a family?"

"No."

"So how about a love? Do you have a marefriend?"

"No.", he answered without delay like her previous yes and no question, but she couldn't get what her curiosity was looking for.

"Huh, strange? Ah thought a pony as strong as ya might already have one or more. So what's ya type?", she was just playing with him, but she was actually hoping to add Shadow to her family somehow. In a possible future.

But she got nothing when he responded with his personal response. "I don't know.", he always responded that way with the answer that she began to hate.

'The same?! Come on!', was the same response as for food, hobbies, his opinions on the reasons for life and theories of the universe, even with colors. 'He's almost as vague as Granny Smith with her stories... or it could be something else.', she thought as she watched him always walk in front.

Deciding to get something from him, Apple Bloom bombarded him. "Really? Don't ya like mares as a delicate lady type? No, what about a shy one? Okay. And how about non-feminine? Do ya like it if she's strong? Are ya more of a tomboy? If she is an earth, arrogant, stronger than ya and stubborn mare, would ya like to date her? Ya don't swing for males, do ya?"

All of her questions were answered with his answer 'I don't know.', except the last one where he got a 'No' answer. 'At least Ah know Ah have a chance with him if Ah don't find a stallion for my sister... or maybe Ah could keep him for ma self. But...'

"Ya are not interest in fillies-"

"NO!!!"

Before she could finish, a loud 'No' was heard throughout the forest. "I'm sorry, something feels off about that question.", Shadow added after a few minutes of his sudden outburst, as if he didn't like getting those kinds of questions.

"... Yeah... is okay, Ah guess.", Apple Bloom was also able to calm down. 'At least Ah know to wait if Ah want to try. Fortunately Ah am not like Sweetie Belle, who falls in love with all the colts. Or like his sister.'

"WOOF! WOOF!", they both turned towards the road where they could see Winona barking at them, telling them that the farm was in sight.

"Oh! We're almost there! Let's go! Let's see who's the fastest!" Apple Bloom shouted happily gaining some advantage as she ran towards the farm with Winona running beside her.

Shadow just stares at her for a moment, wondering if he should run after her or let her go. He had to prioritize his quest for the Elements, but he could consider escorting Apple Bloom back to the farm and gaining access to the farm grounds without repeatedly trespassing as part of the quest.

Yes, you might consider that option. If it weren't for the rainbow trail in the sky that was heading towards him, more towards Apple Bloom. Not knowing what it was, he started running towards her.

"COME ON! YOU ARE-", Apple Bloom's scream didn't end because Shadow was already in front of her. "HEY THAT IS NOT-", even tried to complain, because Shadow was knocked out of the air when he jumped in front of her.

BANG The impact caused Apple Bloom to fall on her butt as Shadow and the rainbow trail headed back into the forest. "Huh?...", is all Apple Bloom could say

She saw Shadow hit a tree and break it with him as the rainbow trail left him. As he began to recover from the blow and remove the tree, he received his warning.

"If you know what's best for you, stay down, buddy.", from there he could see his opponent. The mare that attacks him.

She was a light sky blue pegasus mare with a short dark blue mini jean and jacket as well, she had a white top with a rainbow lightning bolt marking that matched her rainbow mane and tail. He could see that she was a civilian, but her toned body tells him that she is trained somehow. Something rare to see especially in pegasus mares. He truly believes that Fluttershy was a normal civilian, however with this mare, he may need to consider her at the same threat level as Iron.

'Her speed is greater than that Captain's. I may need to take her down, but should I ignore or take on the other nuisance now?', Shadow was in debate but the blue pegasus mare didn't wait for him.

"Last warning!", the mare shouts as she lands in front with a karate stance. "Believe me, you don't want to mess with me."

"...", Shadow didn't respond as he finally stood up. He didn't even care who she was, he was just thinking about-

"WAIT!", Apple Bloom was running back to them.

The mare looked away from him for a second, only to see his dark spot moving towards Apple Bloom. "Oh no! You wouldn't take her!", she shouts as she takes flight and goes after Shadow.

With his speed he could pick up Apple Bloom and run towards the farm to leave her in a safe place, but the mare's speed was more than he could imagine. Knowing that she was able to close the distance in no time, Shadow turned to face her while crossing his arms to block the mare's just-in-time kick. The blow was hard and sent him sliding on the ground with his feet away from Apple Bloom.

'The speed of this mare is faster than I thought. She can catch up me easily.', Shadow finally focuses on the mare as she spins and stabilizes herself in the air after her kick. 'I can't ignore her anymore.', Shadow now thought she was over him the first time they collided.

"OwOwOwOw! What are you made of! Dude that hurts!", but he sees that she was just speed. "Ow... Well, it doesn't matter anyway, once I make you eat dirt. I'll show you not to mess with me or my friends!", she screamed when she was able to suppress and shake off the pain in her leg.

Apple Bloom tries to stop them from fighting. "Wait, Mr. Shadow! She's not-", but she couldn't finish when Shadow cut her off with his hand.

"Don't come closer.", he said as he notices the mare to prepare her assault.

Soon the mare took flight and turned downwards. This caused her to gain sudden speed and she was now at the speed of a bullet. Shadow was able to point out three facts. One, even if she was well trained, she did not have a strong physical body like him or Iron, so her toughness was below them. Two, she was all speed so she used more kinetic energy in her kick. So the best way to overcome her is to read her movements and stay still so you can counterattack with potential energy in her block. After all, what can happen when an unstoppable force meets an immovable force?

'Let's find out.' Shadow prepares himself and sharpens his senses, taking her and the third 'fact' seriously. Soon the mare was on him and prepared to kick him in the face.

Disappointed in her for attempting a frontal attack, Shadow didn't move. He simply accelerated his arms, not blocking her, but catching her and redirecting her to the side. The result was that she was thrown into a nearby tree, where she crashed face down.

"HUFF!.. What the?" The mare could not believe that she was catch as she was on the floor upside down. "Oh, you're ON!", but soon she jumps into the air again and gains speed to continue.

Apple Bloom, afraid to be among them, simply stays by Winona's side and watches as Shadow handles the daredevil of Ponyville. She simply watched as a trail of rainbow ran through Shadow, as he moved his upper body from side to side, but he looked like a ghost passing through the air. When the rainbow trail was about to hit him, it passed through him as his image split into two and the next second it came together and reappeared in its new position. This was more common in his head, which was why she reacted badly to the sound of metal being hit as his head snapped back with a cry of pain.

THUNK

"YOU SON OF- What are you made of?!!", the mare shouts as she lands and takes his hand.

'She is just speed, but... Ugh...', Shadow was also holding his head. Even if he braced himself for the blow, the impact was enough to rattle his brain. 'I better take her down now.', he started running once the dizziness subsided.

He swung his fist to knock her in the face, but she was also able to recover and go on the defensive. She dodges his fist to move to his side and jumps high enough to land a roundhouse kick to his head. Shadow responds by withdrawing his fist and using his other arm to block it. He was dragged on his feet on the ground as the kick was super fast to deliver a strong blow with just its speed.

Shadow tried to regain his position but the mare was fast enough to close the distance and send another kick to his stomach. He acted in time when he put both arms to block it and was able to prevent it from moving from the ground. With the opportunity in his hand, he grabbed her leg and sent her flying into a tree, only to see her learn to react well. The mare began to concentrate more on her movements so she could control herself in the air. Before hitting the tree, she spun so that her legs could kick it and jump back towards him.

This didn't surprise Shadow, he was able to block her new high jumping kick again with his arm. Without giving him another chance, the mare moves away from him with her wings and puts some distance between them. They both reduce that distance to meet in the middle.

From there they both exchange blows and kicks, Shadow continues standing on the ground while the mare uses her wing to stay in the air. Blocking and knocking could be heard, but Apple Bloom only saw dark and rainbow trails between them. In the end, the mare delivers another powerful kick that sends her flying into the air as Shadow is dragged along the ground. Soon the mare, now on the ground, and Shadow stare at each other, looking for a new opportunity.

After the round ended, both of them remain silent as they look at their opponent with their guard up.

'Buck! What's up with this guy?!', the mare, who came to help her friend worried about her sister, couldn't believe that she was going to fight hand-to-hand with a dark metal knight. "Okay, who or what are you?!"

"...", Shadow didn't respond to her sudden outburst.

"Aren't you going to talk big guy? Well, it doesn't matter once I pulverize you to the ground. I won't let you foalnap Apple Bloom!", she shouted as she prepared to continue.

But he was stopped when Apple Bloom came between them. "WAIT! Stop! Both of ya! NOW!", she and Winona stood up from their seats to prevent things from escalating. "Mr. Shadow, she is not an enemy, she is ma sister friend. Rainbow Dash!"

"Rainbow...Dash?", Shadow repeats as he stares at Apple Bloom, as does Rainbow Dash.

"Huh?! Shadow? Apple Bloom, do you know him?", Rainbow asks while she was near the dark forest. Somehow with a touch of green light.

"Yes! He came to the farm when Ah met him, but Ah decide to follow him through the forest. He was taking me back to the farm, he didn't foalnap me. So please stop fighting!", she and Winona yelled for them to stop as they looked at Rainbow, their eyes widening as they noticed the brighter green light.

"Huh? What are you... Oh no!", Rainbow tried to process what she was being told, but all her thoughts stopped when she saw Shadow move his hands behind him and draw his twin swords. "No! Applebloom, be careful-", and soon the place was filled with the sound of an explosion.

And a warning. "You're going to die... move!" BANG

With a kick from the ground, Shadow launches himself after activating his speed enchantments and moves in front of Dash. She did nothing as many things took her by surprise. One, he had weapons and was in front of her with twin swords that she wasn't expecting. Second, it moved at a speed that could leave her eating dust, something she couldn't match. And three, it was the same fact that Shadow did not forget during his match as he observed his surroundings.

They weren't alone and he came after her. The 'third' fact decided to come out. ROAR BOOM

As Shadow tossed Rainbow aside, she could only watch as a large unknown dark brown and green object smashed Shadow into the ground. With a great tremor and cloud of dust was created while consuming Shadow. Dash was thrown far enough away that once she stopped sliding on the ground, she could only lift her back off the ground to see the cloud of dust where Shadow was before, with a large figure moving within it.

"What's... that?" Dash continues to stare dumbly, she stops moving as the figure moves side by side. Soon the sound of metal cutting material was heard and the figure let out a roar as it turned to the side. When Shadow was thrown out of the cloud.

Shadow fell and bounces to the ground like a rag doll. Once he stops, Shadow tries to stand up, but falls to one knee. He tries to suppress the pain that assails him, but forces himself to pay attention to the annoyance that was haunting him and Apple Bloom from the beginning. Who decided to act now.

Once the cloud dissipated, everyone could see the wolf following Little Red Riding Hood (Apple Bloom) and the hunter. Just like the creature they encountered in the forest, this was like the ghost-type wolf that Shadow faced. But instead of using sticks and leaves like its lower-class comrades, this one uses large trees and rocks as its main material. A being that was between 5 and 6 meters tall, had a body composed of a large cracked tree trunk with vines as a chest and small tree trunks as legs with stone plates at the joints and as fangs and claws. He was looking at the group with his ghostly, empty glowing green eyes.

A Lumberwolf makes his entrance. AAAAWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

He roars when he announces his hunt. Dash was speechless, she knew their legends and she didn't expect to see one so close to the town. Apple Bloom simply stood frozen in fear as Winona barked trying to get him away from her owner, but her confidence was not strong as she had her tail between her legs and her barks were low.

The Lumberwolf was enjoying the reactions he was getting, however, he was more focused on his current prey and the reason for this hunt. And it was the one who was returning a deathly glare, Shadow.

'That explains why the pack didn't summon him. And the reason I didn't sense the alpha is because he was already in the shadows waiting for his best opportunity.', Shadow was angry, he knew he was being followed but he didn't guess that this was the real leader of the pack he defeated.

Shadow determines that he is disturbing the domain of some kind of forest lord. When this lord receives news of his presence, the beast decides to hunt Shadow to defend his right as an alpha predator. Now he knows why it appears until now.

'He knew I would protect the ponies, so he waited for the best opportunity to disable me. But believe it worked.', he thought about that idea as soon as he encountered a pain that he couldn't ignore. And the Lumberwolf knows it too.

ROAR The Lumberwolf roared as the beast leaped at Shadow.

Everypony expected Shadow to dodge it, but he simply braced himself as the monster crushes him to the ground. With his superior brute strength, he was able to crush Shadow as the stone's claws and fangs began to tear him apart. Shadow wasn't going to go down that easily. Shadow waited for the wolf to bite him and when it came, with just his strength, he was able to remove the claw that was on him and move to the side. Where he had a clear path to the right ghostly eye.

SHUNK Soon Shadow thrusted his right sword into the eye where a green goo began to pour out. ROAR

Roaring in pain, Lumberwolf backs away from him to make room. Not after swinging his paws and launching Shadow another 10 meters into the air, where he hit the ground again like a tattered doll. 'Again?!', this worries the little filly who was now able to escape her frozen state.

Apple Bloom was shocked, she thought Shadow was a strong pony, but seeing him being the Lumberwolf's toy made her worry that something was wrong. And she found out when Shadow tried to get up again and fell to one knee with a loud groan of pain. She focused her sight on the leg he was trying to lift and discovered that Shadow's right foot was twisted at a terrible angle than she remembered.

Then she remembers what he told her. "If he misused his high speed, he might twist his ankle! He must twist it when accelerating to save Rainbow Dash!", she said as she watched in horror as Shadow was hit by Lumberwolf's claw. "He can't move, so he can't dodge! We have to do somethin!"

"WOOF!", Winona barked that she agreed too. They both run towards Dash who hasn't moved since the monster appeared.

"Rainbow Dash!", Dash finally comes back to reality and sees both girls running towards her.

Finally recovering, she calls out her main concerns. "Apple Bloom! What's going on? Who is he and why is there a Lumberwolf here?!"

"Shadow and Ah encountered a pack of Timberwolves deep in the forest! He repeals them but Ah believe they followed us! Please ya have to help him! He is ma friend!"

"Help him? But...", Dash looked back at the two monsters, where the black one was being chewed up like a dog toy. "But he's a strange pony! We don't even know what he is!"

"We do! He's ma friend!", Apple Bloom shouted, not noticing the newcomer. "We need to save him, he will do the same for us!"

"Who are ya talkin about?", the two ponies and Winona turn around, Apple Bloom opens her eyes wide. She could stare at the newcomer, BOOM but she returned to the fight because Shadow was launched once again.

And he falls hard this time. 'UGH... How... annoying...', Shadow groans as he is sent to the ground for the fourth time.

He didn't take much damage but his armor focused more on healing the broken ankle that consumed almost all magical defenses. So every bite and bounce was too painful for a normal pony, just because he's not normal doesn't mean he enjoyed the pain.

'It will take hours to heal. I think the bones are broken too.', Shadow continues to try to suppress the pain, but when he turns to Lumberwolf he knew he didn't have that time. 'Just need to be able to take the heart to end this, but... how?'

He was thinking about what to do when Lumberwolf was about to crush him on top of him. But his plans stop when he realizes that the trail of the rainbow is heading towards him. With something strange, since he also sees an orange trail. He wondered what it was and why it was coming towards the beast.

Soon receiving his response, the rainbow and orange missile hit the wolf's side. BOOM

What surprised Shadow was that it could send the beast flying 20 meters away with just the impact. The blow and impact with the ground caused the large tree trunk of the Lumberwolf's torso to crack more than before and the joint of the stones dislocated, breaking the connection and dissolving its body momentarily. Shadow sees enough and turns towards the rainbow missile that lands in front of him to meet not only Rainbow Dash, but also the new mare.

He could see the resemblance to Apple Bloom, even though she had orange fur with a blonde mane and tail, thanks to her red apple marking. This mare had a cowboy outfit design that, like Dash, had blue jean shorts with a white top under a red plaid sleeveless shirt without missing the characteristic cowboy hat and a rope at her waist. But what Shadow noticed the most was that she had an even better and toned muscular body, especially her legs.

Since she is an earth mare, that means- "HEYAH! That will teach that varmint not to mess with ma family!", The cowboy mare screams in her southern accent while flexing her legs. It was obvious that her kick knocked down the bad wolf.

'So she single-handedly kicked the beast with her sheer brute force.', Shadow tries to imagine what kind of training he must endure to be able to kick so hard, even with Dash's speed. Either she was gifted with leg strength or she kicked 100 trees every day for a year to get where she is. He wondered which theory is correct.

He didn't have time to guess when the new mare approached him. "So, ya're the guy ma sister met at our farm? Well, Ah hope ma little sister hasn't been a bother to ya! So thanks for keepin her safe!", she expressed herself happily while offering her hand.

"...", but Shadow keeps looking at her, trying to see through her.

Seeing that he was judging her, she decides to open up to him. "Ah'll be honest with ya. Ah don't like a strange pony like ya to be around my little sister, but Ah saw how she cares about her friend. So if ya're her friend, then ya're also my friend, so that puts us on the same team, don't ya think?"

We can trust them...

Again the voice appears for the second time this day. But he couldn't deny her logic either. "It's too early to thank me.", both mares were surprised at how impassive he sounded, even more so for Dash because it was the first time she could hear him properly. "He hasn't given up yet.", he replies as he turns with the mares to see the Lumberwolf almost back to normal.

"If the Timberwolves are tough enough, how are we supposed to beat that thing?", Dash let out her thoughts. "He will keep coming back! And it's a walking natural disaster! We can't let that thing go to town!"

The cowmare was also thinking the same thing about how to stop him, but somehow she knew who to ask that question to. "Any ideas, Mr. Shadow?"

"There is." Shadow turns to the mare as they pay attention. "Permanently, but Apple Bloom may be traumatized. Tell her not to watch the fight."

"Because? And what do you mean permanently?", Dash asks, but as soon as he saw Shadow's eyes he knew that meant killing it. "Okay, I'll let her know!", she took flight and went to get Apple Bloom to safety.

Shadow just stares as Rainbow flies away when the second mare speaks to him. "Ya really are a kind pony.", he turns to her giving her his full attention. "Ma sister must tell the truth about ya. Well, Mr. Shadow, Ah am Applejack, at your service. So what's the plan?"

ROAR Lumberwolf's roar announcing that he had returned as he looked at the two with a look of hatred and Dash returned with them. "Make him show me his belly.", once he explains what to do, the Lumberwolf charges at them.

Dash took flight into the sky but Lumberwolf ignores her as Shadow and Applejack were her new targets. He was imagining how they would scream as his fangs and claws tore them apart, but if he hadn't made that mistake he might have seen Dash skyrocket towards his face.

Her target, the damaged eye, he didn't see her coming. POW CRACK ROAR

The Lumberwolf stops in pain when Dash breaks the wooden plate on its right face and its eye is destroyed until it is replaced. The angry beast tried to capture Dash with its huge jaws, who couldn't fly away in time. Unfortunately for him, a sword flies into the remaining eye, stabbing it and leaving him temporarily blind. Unable to suppress the problem of losing his sight, he roars towards the sky making the last mistake of his life.

With the opportunity in her hand, Applejack ran around him and tossed him her rope, where she was able to tie it to the top of his jaw. With his lasso skill that he gained over the years, he was able to capture it and stop it by keeping his mouth open.

The Lumberwolf continues to roar and fight against Applejack's pull to the point that he almost pulls her towards him. But to make matters worse for him, Dash came to her side and picked up Applejack so they could pull together. In the air, both make his upper jaw face up. With the strength of both mares, they were able to not only open the Lumberwolf's mouth wide but also get it onto its hind legs. Where his chest was wide open to Shadow as he prepared his launch. Using the enchantments of his armor once again, he steeled his broken foot to rush straight towards the beast's heart.

'This will hurt. For both.', Once he channels enough, he launches himself towards the Lumberwolf. With speed that will make Rainbow Dash jealous, Shadow runs straight to the chest and stabs both his free hand and the other sword.

BOOM The impact causes Lumberwolf's body to fall to the ground on his back and shake the ground.

The mares are still looking at the damage from the blow in the air, but when the dust from the cloud of the fall began to clear, they could see a dark spot on the beast's chest. Lumberwolf was able to restore his good eye only to watch in fear as Shadow's hands were inside his chest. Once Shadow knew he had a good grip on what he wanted to grab, he began to pull.

With a horrible tearing sound, Shadow rips open the beast's chest with his sword as he pulls out a green object that was tangled with vines and pulses with the green goo. The Lumberwolf simply watches in horror as Shadow finally pulls out his main source of life, his heart stone. Unlike the Timberwolves, Lumberwolf had a kind of heart that allowed them to manifest better and bind their spirits to heavier materials, such as stones, making them even more difficult to break.

Their choice to make their body from strong tree trunks with stone plates was more to protect this heart. They could be considered golems since they share the same weakness. A weakness that Shadow knew as he held this stone heart bathed in his green blood. And crush him under it grasp in front of the beast's eye.

As the heart was destroyed, Lumberwolf's green goo began to leak from his wounds and the light in his eyes went out. With a final roar, its body began to crumble, leaving stones and tree parts as remnants of what once existed.

With a deep breath he was holding, Shadow was finally able to relax. Only for the pain to come back to him, very strongly. With his foot now broken, he was 100% sure his bones were now broken, he limped to the skull where his second sword was still impaled. Only for Applejack with Rainbow flying towards him.

"Now Ah see why ya didn't want my little sister to see the end.", Applejack said as she was lowered next to the skull with Dash. She was happy that the goo was vaporizing, even on Shadow, and only wood and stone were left.

Rainbow had a different vision. "Dude. That was sick. BUT AWESOME!!!", scream Rainbow remembers the moment when he crushed the heart. "You were standing there holding his heart and then you crushed it in front of his eyes! That was sick, but still AWESOME! What are you?! A monster hunter?!"

"Negative.", Shadow replies emotionlessly again. "But it was clear that the Lumberwolf was after me. It was him or me. The choice was quite clear. So I have no choice but to put it down.", even if he was in danger or had taken a life a second ago. Well, a ghost or spirit.

"Dude, you just got out of a fight with a Lumberwolf. At least show some kind of excitement about pulling it off, if it were me I'd definitely do my victory dance!", Dash said as she crossed her arms.

"Ah don't think he can do any celebration at all.",Rainbow, confused by what Applejack said, looks at her friend where she points at something with her finger. "Ah am worried about how he can still stand."

Dash followed what she meant and nearly emptied the contents of his stomach. "WHAT THE BUCK! It's supposed to move like that!", Rainbow didn't need to know how Shadow's body worked, but she knew that he wasn't supposed to be standing on the ankle of his foot.

Shadow follows the mare's gaze and stares at his foot. Just as they were worried, Shadow's right ankle was twisted 90 degrees to the right and he was now standing on his ankle instead of his foot. He decides to stand on his good left leg and lift his right foot, a sight that Dash was actually about to vomit. His broken right foot now hung limply in the air, moving side to side like a hanging piece of meat ready to be torn off. The foot was still in the metal boot but the thought of a piece of meat was already in the mare's mind.

"Yeah, Ah am sure your leg shouldn't do that.", Applejack said with experience from her job on the farm, while Rainbow had a green face and was holding her stomach. Rainbow had also experienced the bones in her body breaking from time to time. But the way Shadow didn't show any concern made her sick at the same time she worried for his well-being.

Shadow didn't want to worry them. "Affirmative, but my armor has begun the healing process. At this point, he has turned off all pain receptors and is focusing on restoring my bones and muscles.", just as his words came out, the plates of his armor between his thigh and the red stripes on his foot grew brighter as a dark aura enveloped the foot. But it was not enough.

"Yeah, sorry sugarcube, but Ah am not goin to let ya go like this, at least Ah'll let ya go to ma family's farm to patch you up. And no, I'm not goin to have a 'No' for an answer.", Applejack said as she went and grabbed him under his right arm so Shadow wouldn't keep putting pressure on his bad foot. "Come Dash. If ya help ya won't have to see him walk."

"Okay... Just a moment while my lunch goes back down. Ugh...", once Rainbow calmed down, she went to Shadow's left side. Everypony started walking towards Apple Bloom.

Shadow just stares at Applejack as she takes him to the farm. He could deny her and push her aside to reject her help, which he didn't want or need. But again he did nothing. He let Applejack and Rainbow Dash with Apple Bloom and Winona, who came out of hiding from a tree trunk when they picked them up, to take him to Sweet Apple Acres. He didn't show any resistance the entire way, as the voice continued to speak in his mind.

Thrust them... thrust me...

"So what kind of freak are you?", said the eldest green mare of the Apple family.

"Granny! That's kind of rude! Be more polite to him.", Applejack shouted from the kitchen of the main house as she prepared the family dinner and the guest meal.

"Oh! Sorry! Ah forgot about them... So what are ya, Mr. freak?", the older green mare told Shadow as he introduced her.

Granny Smith, the eldest of the Apple family, was an old mare of about sixty years or more. Like the Apple Sisters, she was an earth green mare, but the once proud strength of her species was no longer present. She was thinner than Fluttershy and wore an orange plaid shirt with a bandana-like headband around her neck while wearing a white dress skirt with her green apple marking.

Since they returned, Granny Smith almost tries to end Shadow's suffering with her shotgun. Once the Apple Sisters and Rainbow explain to her that he is friendly, she let him into the house so he could rest and recover. But she didn't let him in without his interview. Something Shadow didn't care about answering or not while he and all the ponies were waiting in the dining room of the main house.

"I am a Yami Tool for my master goals and desires.", He answers the biggest question.

"A what now? Are ya sure he didn't escape from the circus?", she asks out loud to her little granddaughter at the table.

"Granny! He's not a circus freak!...Well, maybe, he's Shadow Blade, the pony Pinkie Pie is talking about in town.", Apple Bloom tried to defend him since his answers remain the same from her interview. He answers them with 'I don't know'.

"Wait!", Dash who decided to stay longer at the farm was also there. She didn't want to admit it, but she was worried about Shadow. "The 'Shadow Blade' that Pinkie keeps bothering to mention. The same guy Fluttershy and Rarity say they met? Also, those crazy granny rumors?"

"Hey, ma stories are 100% real!", exclaimed Granny Smith. "But seriously, are ya that guy from those crazy granny rumors?"

"Rumors or not, he saved ma little sister, so Ah prefer the truth.", Applejack said as she brought the food with her older brother, the last member of the Apple family.

A big earth red stallion, twice Shadow's size, helps Applejack bring the food. Like the rest of the apple family, the clothing choice was the same as the rest of the apples. He is wearing a yellow and black plaid shirt with long sleeves, but he rolled them up to his elbows. He is wearing jeans with a tool belt that was empty, but it gives the idea that he equips all his tools during work hours. The older brother Shadow met once he was inside, like his sister, had a big, strong, and even better toned muscular body, Big Mac.

"Eeyup.", was all he said that he was convinced just like his little sister, but something tells Shadow that he still has his eyes on him.

Until Apple Bloom ended up spilling the beans. "See! Even Big Mac agrees that he's a good colt. Oh, Ah also agree that he's perfect for Applejack."

Applejack rolls her eyes. "Apple Bloom, stop playin find me a partner. Ah am sure Ah can find one on ma own."

"Nope." Big Mac responds as Applejack gives him a death glare.

"Well, as long as he doesn't end up bein one of those damn varmint degenerate colts who see her as an easy night, he can have my blessin.", Granny Smith also adds to her granddaughter's discomfort. "Ah want to see ma grandfoals before Ah kick the bucket! HAHAHAHA!!!"

"Just because Ah kick that varmint's jewelry doesn't mean Ah can find a good colt.", Applejack mutters before handing Shadow's plate over. "Well, here is the food, enjoy it!"

Shadow stares at the plate of food he receives. It consisted of apple slices, applesauce and a piece of apple pie with some steamed vegetables. Wine with apple cider as a drink. For apple lovers, this might be the best dinner you will ever experience. That's why Shadow thought it was a waste if he ate it, but he put it aside as Granny and Applejack continue talking.

"And please stop botherin any colt that come to our farm. Shadow surely has important things to do instead of ya guys tying him up with me.", before anyone from his family responds to counter his statement, including Dash who was holding back his laughter, Shadow decides to give his opinion now.

"I'm sorry to have disappointed your wishes, Granny Smith, but it's impossible to pair with me. One, I don't know that my body can procreate life with other species, this includes ponies. Two, unless my master orders or allows it, I cannot go against the wishes if it is not part of the demands or decide to change it later by my master. And three, if the goal is to give her a happy life, I doubt any mare has one with a Yami Tool, such as myself."

The ponies all stared at Shadow, surprised that he finally said more than three words. And before they could respond, Shadow took the plate with all the food they offered him. Like Rarity, all the ponies expected to see his face, they were disappointed but at the same time trembled when the mouth plate of his helmet opened as his demonic mouth manifested itself. In one motion he dropped all the food and poured the cider into his mouth. The next moment, his helmet returned to normal as he swallowed the food leaving all the ponies speechless.

"Maybe the rumors are true after all.", Apple Bloom spoke for all the ponies as she pulled out one of Pinkie's dolls. "That explains the mouth."

Seeing his chance, Shadow decides to ask his own question to the one pony he thought could only answer him. "I have a concern that I must clarify with you. Granny Smith."

The elder mare, surprised at being questioned, now put aside her worries and decided to take it seriously. "And what could that be, Mr. Shadow?"

"Is your family or the farm grounds and their history connected to the legend, The Elements of Harmony?"

The room was silent, the apple children and Dash remained silent as it was the first time they had heard such a legend. As for the older mare, she just narrowed her eyes and answered him with her own question. "And may Ah know what you need them for?"

"My Master is looking for them, as the Yami Tool that I am, I must find them, as part of my orders."

Granny Smith keeps looking at Shadow, like the eldest of the Apple family can smell a lie, but Shadow was completely honest with her. She detected no malice or motive for mischief in his words, only loyalty and a sense of obedience. That's why it hurt her not to be able to help him.

"Ah am sorry but Ah have no idea about them, and Ah think these lands have nothin to do with them either. So, Ah'll be honest, this may be a dead end for ya."

"...Understood.", he stood up surprising all the ponies while Granny Smith kept her eyes on him. "Then I will withdraw and continue my search elsewhere. Thank you for your time.", he bows slightly and turns to leave immediately. This makes Apple Bloom worry about him.

"Wait! Where are ya going!", she soon began to follow him, leaving the rest alone.

To listen to Granny Smith wail. "What a kind soul. It just saddens me that he can't rest from his damned loyalty to this Master of his."

Rainbow who was nearby turned towards her to try to understand what she meant. "What made you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious?", she leans back in her seat looking at the door he left through. "He just walk off on his OWN."

"Eeyup.", Big Mac agrees as the two mares notice. Shadow still injured in the foot decides to continue forward.

Rainbow was the first to follow Shadow as she flew through the door into the sky to find him. 'That idiot doesn't care about his life!', once at a high place, she could see him and Apple Bloom already halfway out of the farm. Where she could hear Apple Bloom pleading with him walking badly.

"What do ya mean ya don't believe it! If ya foot is broken, ya shouldn't move and rest here!", Apple Bloom screamed and ran to Shadow's side, but he still didn't take her advice.

"I have already verified that my foot is restored to the minimum necessary to function again. I can't stop to rest and waste any more time.", even so, he walked with difficulty.

Apple Bloom was not naïve to realize that he needed help. "But ya don't care about ya well-bein! Ya don't even care about what Ah think of ya injury? I'm worried ya might get hurt again."

"Thanks, but your concern is misplaced.", he turn so she could she his eyes. "There is no reason to care for me."

"And what makes you say that!", Rainbow shouts as she lands in front of him, stopping him. "I don't get the big deal with you, but I know when somepony needs help. And you definitely need it more now with your broken leg, so why go to the end of this quest? What could you get in exchange for this... so-called master of yours?"

"It is proof of my loyalty to the reason I exist. For me and my master."

Rainbow Dash was speechless. She knew she could be stubborn, even with Applejack she could compete for the title of most stubborn pony. But as Shadow's words echoed in her mind, she knew that wasn't the case for him, that he honestly believed that was his reality. Somehow she feels it like a curse, blindly following this so-called teacher he keeps mentioning like a lapdog. "But still I can't-"

"Let that go, Dash, he's not stubborn like us.", the group returns to the house, Applejack walking towards them while carrying a basket. "He is simply honest in what he believes. Even if we don't think the same way."

Once he reached them, he stood in front of Shadow. Applejack continued to look into his eyes, this let her know how serious Shadow was in his crusade. So when she found that nothing had changed, she also decided to give up and let him go.

"Ah wish we could help ya, Sugarcube. But for now, take this.", she then hands him a basket full of apples and pies. "Take this as a reward for taking care of my little sister. Also, you are welcome on our farm, so don't be shy to visit us.", she said while winking at him. Something that her sister did not let go unnoticed.

Shadow holds the basket and sees that it was indeed full of apple-based food. "Thank you. I will consider the advice in the future for possible encounters." And with that, he bows to say goodbye and resume his journey back to the forest.

Far enough away that she couldn't hear Apple Bloom's question to her sister. "Hey AJ, when ya said that, did ya mean-"

"Just because I was upset doesn't mean I didn't consider it. You heard him, right? He doesn't know that he can give his mare a happy life.", just when Applejack said that, Rainbow was looking at her as she said something strange. "What?", but when their eyes lock, something clicks in Rainbow like something awakens in her soul at the sight of her friend's eyes.

"HEY SHADOW!", Rainbow screamed loud enough to catch Shadow's attention as he stopped and turned around. "You better not die! You still have a duel with me and I have to pay for saving my life! So you better know that I'll be waiting for you!"

Shadow stood there for a couple of seconds before nodding to her that he understood her and that she would be a bother to him in the future. He soon returned and left the farm while the mares continued to watch his back. Rainbow stood there not believing what she had just done.

"'I'll be waiting for you~', damn Dashie, Ah didn't know ya could be so poetic.", Rainbow's face began to turn red as Applejack imitated her.

"Shut up! And what about you, 'you are welcome on our farm, so don't be shy to visit us~'. What do you mean by saying that, ha?!", she tried to crawl under Applejack's fur but Applejack only smiled back.

"That's what Ah mean.", AJ then turns towards the direction Shadow left. "Maybe Ah want to save him from what's torturin him. If Ah can. Don't ya want to try that too?", Rainbow just stares at her 'friend' but then heads into the forest, where Shadow went to continue his crusade, even if it could finish him off.

Apple Bloom simply stood by their side and witnessed her plan go well, too well. "Great, then Ah'll have a lot of competition if Ah wait."

In a dark kingdom isolated from the world, a dark queen waited on her rock throne.

In her first days she curses her destiny and her luck for being on her sister's side. For weeks she tries to break through his dark prison with all her power. For years she planned to take revenge on all the traitors and on her sister for abandoning her. For centuries, she simply waited for the opportunity to come. And now, after thousands of years, her chance came.

"Soon all of Equestria and Terra will know the price for betraying and humiliating me.", her voice echoes throughout her dark throne. As the memory of a dark metal clad warrior crosses her mind. "As for him. Well, I hope he can handle the new me now."

She smiles as she summons her night astral scythe where the blade reflects her blue cat eyes.

Author's Note

Again, sorry in advance! Why? Well first I haven't see the show for a long time and I most from the first seasons so I may not be able to catch the apples accents, since I want to speed up the process of the chapters I can take me time to edit all the apples lines. I may change it once the other books but still hope I capture their personalities. Again, all feedback are welcome and for now I will see when I can complete the next part, or where can ended. Hope you enjoy until now, because I make my best to put the best first finale.