Shadow Colt The Series

The last few days have been rough. We lost one of our best soldiers, we were overrun by Abhor and then me and Shield were kidnapped. Shield got the worst of it with a broken horn and some other injuries. He's out for a while. He's in so much pain he often starts randomly crying during the day. Doc says there might be some more damage beyond the horn itself. I would do anything to make him feel better. I know Shining would too but I have a weird feeling almost like the end is near for one of us three.

“Your son’s crying again. I've run out of ideas at this point.”

“Alright thanks Blue, tell him I'll be there in a second… oh and tell copper he left his armor out last night.”

“He did it on purpose it’s actually a good idea ill have him tell you later.” Shining was waiting for Cadance and Flurry Heart. I hoped they would be able to take his and Shields mind off the pain.

“Hey shield, you have some visitors.” I said as his family walked in.

“Mom!” he said as he shot up. He was so happy he forgot that he was on the bottom bunk of the beds. I’m sure you could hear his cries from across the castle.

“Go get the kid some ice Raider.”

“In what?”

“A bag. What do you think?”

“From where?”

“Raider!”

“On it!”

“Make it snappy.” Cadance was giving Shining a pissed off look. I wondered why but I figured I'd refrain from asking. I was getting uncomfortable to many ponies in one room all at the door. I knew that what was happening to Shield was my fault. I didn't want to be here when Cadance found out.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh sorry Blue.” I squeezed by before he could even move. I kept running until I almost ran into Dash.

“Where you going so fast?”

“On a walk.”

“Looks more like a run.”

“I’m running from a place I don’t want to be.”

“Blue are you alright?”

“No and I just want to be alone.”

“What's wrong? Let me help.”

“I just want to be alone right now.”

“Well where are you going?”

“The forest.” I ran off again hearing her say something about being alone. It took me a second to navigate to the way out of the castle but I finally was able to navigate to the forest and be alone.

“Blue!” Just what I didn’t want.

“What!”

“I just want to know what’s wrong. I mean you just scared the crap out of Rainbow Dash.”

“How much more simple does it need to be! Have I not told you multiple times what the issue is?”

“Why does it bother you this much? I told you it’s not your fault!”

“You don’t know the whole story!”

“Then tell me!”

“I left the decision to your son whether or not Rusty got the journal. That's what got him hurt.”

“And so? It was his decision.”

“At the end of the day I was responsible for what happened to him and I failed.”

“Wait where are you going?”

“On a walk!”

“You’ll die in the forest alone.”

“Hopefully.” I knew Shining would run after me so I made a wall to stop him. I forgot that walls are hard.

“What the hell!” I turned around and went pale. A piece of his horn had broken off.

“Dammit shining!”

“Why?”

“What is with your family and losing their horns? Don’t move.” I said as I put the piece where it belonged and used magic to reattach it.

“You just fixed my horn, why can’t you fix my son’s.”

“With you all I did was reattach it. With him I'd have to fully rebuild it. I don't have the power nor the know how. There’s a spell to do it in Shadow’s book but for some reason it explicitly says not to use it on you or your family. Now please, I want to be alone!”

“Blue!... don’t kill yourself if not for me or the guard for my son he still likes you ya know.”

“Yeah.” I headed into the forest and just kept walking straight. I got lost in thought about Rainbow Dash. I had grown to like her. She was nice and liked what she did. We had a lot in common.

“Ya shouldn’t be here kid.” I looked up at a Jet black pony standing in front of me.

“Who are you?”

“You don’t know?” He lifted his head to reveal a scar across his left eye and a broken white horn hidden by his hood.

“Shadow Colt.”

“Yes sir.”

“Rusty said you were dead.”

“You believed him?”

“Yeah with the way he said it and how he is, I honestly did.”

“Never trust one whole hurt you even if what they say is something they would do.”

“What happened to you?”

“Rusty is my brother, what once was sibling foolery turned into war.”

“You’re marked as a hero in the Guard. Ponies strive to be you!”

“Why?”

“Your story of being the best and saving Canterlot and probably Equestria as a whole.”

“I told them not to do that. I never wanted to be known as that. I didn’t even do what they said I did. I never saved anything. I failed and went into hiding then pawned my problems off on you.”

“We wouldn’t be here right now if you didn’t do what you did.”

“You need to go kid.”

“Why won’t you come with me?”

“I won’t come back unless absolutely necessary. If I go back Rusty will attack you guys.”

“How do you survive with a broken horn?”

“Go back to the days where I had little to no magic, everything was done with hooves.”

“Must be hard.”

“The earth ponies do it.”

“I’m stupid apparently.”

“Shield is looking for you. He's with Doc. He got worse. He'll survive and be back to normal in a few days.”

“How do you know all this?”

“What he has, I was forced to build. I made it with a flaw so that no pony could die from it.”

“That's cool and sad.”

“You need to leave but before you do take this it’ll save Shining.” He tossed me a journal looking identical to the one I have.

“Save him?”

“He’ll end up here in the forest trapped by Rusty. That journal is almost identical but everything on the inside is flawed; it won't read the same and any spell he tries will fail. He’s dumber than you think and won’t test anything inside.”

“How is he so smart but so dumb?”

Before you go though, how is everyone?”

“I’d have to assume you know about Shining and his family. Twilight has been alright. I don’t talk to Celestia and Luna hasn't been the same since Govend died.”

“Wait Govends dead!”

“I figured you knew.”

“Anyone else?”

“In all we lost Salt, Govend, Ace-

“Ace is dead!?”

“Yeah and it's my fault I'm sure.”

“How?”

“I made a comment about how you died and they found him dead later on in the day.”

“Damn I should've never left, never pawned my problems off.”

“How did Govend die?”

“Mangled by the Abhor.”

“Close it’s Aboori, they're basically the undead.”

“What the hell

“You know what, I'm going back with you but not like this.” He stood there for a second and I watched his black body turn to brown and his horn virtually disappear.

“That’s a change.”

“Yeah now no one will know it’s me, not even my brother.”

“Good.” We left abruptly. He still wore his hood. It was similar to a rain jacket but it wouldn’t stop rain.

“My brother won’t stop until he gets what he wants, sadly he’s patient meaning you guys will have to strike first.”

“What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Clearly something bad happened that made you leave the guard.”

“I didn’t want to leave the guard but it’s hard to do work like that when…uh just watch out for my brother.”

“Come on man, I won't tell anyone.”

“It’s not that I’m just not the same anymore.” he lifted his jacket i thought he was a pegasi but he was an alicorn it’s just his wings were gone.

“That’s not all that got messed up.” he lifted his back leg and vigorously shook it. The prosthetic fell off.

“Your brother did that to you!”

“Yeah brotherly love right.”

“Let’s hurry it up.”

“Will you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Go talk to Luna when we get back and do it as Shadow Colt.”

“Speaking of Luna, why don’t you guys talk? She loves talking to the guards.”

“Shadow, will you talk to Luna please.”

“You have to go with me. I have to do something I don't want to do so you're doing it too. I also know you’re afraid of griffons. I saw the night you were with Garring.”

“You saw it and didn’t do anything!”

“That was the first Aboori attack and there was nothing I could do.”

“That’s crap!”

“Hey look trust me I would have done something griffons are the best hell Govend was my best friend.” he stopped

“Huh, now I’ll never see him again.” he stared off into the distance and I laid a wing on him.

“Don’t pity me, I did this to myself now let’s go you have to see Shield.” We hurried back in silence the whole time. Shining always said we’d get along but I'm not seeing it.

“Shining!”

“Blue! What the hell were you doing!” he ran towards me but stopped

“Who is that?” Shadow had stopped behind me looking down so his hood covered him

“A new guy I think.” Shining walked closer but stopped right beside me. That's when Shadow showed himself.

“Damn you look old as hell Shining.”

“Shadow!” shining wrapped him in a hug causing Shadow to yell in pain.

“You alright?”

“I never got to recover, things still hurt shining. That’s why I never came back to the guard. I couldn't do it anymore.”

“Why did you leave? You left me, your own group, Govend.” shadow took off his jacket to reveal his wings

“This is why Shining! And that’s not the only reason!” he shook his leg again to reveal it was missing.

“I’m sorry I didn't know you usually always shake it off like nothing.”

“Think about what you say to the guy thrown to the ground from 200 feet before you say it! What the hell were you thinking? I said to leave! Your ass got me hurt!” I interrupted their festival and asked how Shield was doing.

“He’s dying Blue.”

“Your son will be fine. Shining, I only know because I had to build what he’s got, it won't get worse than it is now.”

“How did Blue not get it?”

“I don’t know. Has he ever had changeling fever?”

“Yeah, I had it not too long ago.”

“Could be why it’s just a worse version of that.”

“What made you come back?”

Two things, one Rusty has it out for you and your son and two apparently I have another brother and a sister.”

“How do you not know?”

“Rusty definitely had something to do with it.” The door to Shields' room opened and Doc walked out his face changed from worry to anger in a second.

“Get out of my office!”

“Yes sir.” Shadow walked out and we just stood there shocked looking at Doc.

“Your son was asking for you.”

“What the hell just happened?”

“Long story, not enough time. You might as well take him, I can't do anything.”

“Thanks doc I guess we’ll go.” he went to get Shield and I went to find Shadow

“Over here.” It was dark out by this time so all I could see was his broken horn

“The bunk above me is open, go take it and get some rest.”

“Before I do that I want to know two more things.”

“Go ahead.”

“How are Flash and Spike?”

“Spike has an issue with trust. I think he only talks to Twilight and Shining. flash is… well… broken he doesn't allow anyone to feel for him and his group in the guard while they get the job done isn’t the best.”

“He was never the best leader but he was on par with shining.”

“Not even close now.”

“I knew emotional damage did that to ponies but I never thought it would be him.”

“It’s more than emotional damage.”

“Oh I thought you ran away again Shadow.” Shining carried Shield on his back he was asleep which was good he hadn’t gotten any for two days.

“Don’t use that name around anyone other than us, do you understand?”

“Yeah sorry.”

“Looks like I have some rekindling to do. I'll start tomorrow. I'd think everyone’s in bed by now.”

“All except for Luna.” I said a little too ecstatically.

“You just want to see me uncomfortable don’t you Blue?”

“You uncomfortable? I’ll be the uncomfortable one.” We walked back to the castle. We weren't far but it stayed silent the whole time. When we made it back Shadow made friends again with Flash and Twilight; at least it seems he did. We went and talked to Luna. He requested extra protection on Shining and his family as well as Twilight to my surprise it was granted. I went to sleep not long later as it had been a long day but i was awoken by Shield

“What happened?”

“Huh? Oh you fell asleep in Doc’s office you’ll be alright kid don’t worry.”

“I’m dying aren’t I.”

“What gave you that idea?”

“I heard Doc talking about it.”

“You’ll be ok trust me go back to sleep you need it.”

“When will my head not hurt and my legs feel right again.”

“Soon.” he winced as he tried to roll over, his horn had become visibly darker.

“Do you need anything Shield?”

“No, I'm good.” movement at the end of my bunk had me questioning my sight

“Shield, did you see that?”

“Yeah, It was probably Shadow. It's ok.” I decided to get up to see what it was. When I got to the end of the bed I put my hoof on the figure. It was hard but it moved.

“Shadow is that you?” I looked up to see two Glowing green dots. It moved with unmatched speed disappearing into the darkness unsure of what I just saw. I decided to go back to bed. I figured it was just my brain playing tricks on me. I laid back down and closed my eyes. There was a presence close to close. I opened my eyes just to look around and make sure. I’d rather be crazy than right but I was right at the farthest corner of the rom the green eyes were back.

“Shield.” There was no response .

“Shield.” I looked over only for a second as I heard steps. The eyes were closer now only three bunks away. What was this, a horror movie? Had I been transported onto the set of a movie.

“Shield.” I wasn’t whispering anymore but I wasn’t yelling yet. I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I blinked. Two bunks away

“What the Buck man!” I figured if I kept my eyes on it the thing wouldn’t move. I ripped off the covers getting ready to make a move. They blocked my vision of the thing. It was there right in front of me. It wanted me to blink. It was a staring contest but with dire consequences if I blinked my eyes burned with no end they watered with an unending flow. The green eyes stared into my soul. I involuntarily blinked. I saw him move before my eyes even closed, his impatience getting the best of him. He hit my exposed neck first pain shot through my body as I tried to yell but I couldn’t when my eyes opened he was gone. I could tell I was bleeding a lot. Not wanting to scare Shield, I got up to get Shining.

“Hey you alright kid?” It was Shadow. I was unsure if he could see me but I shook my head no.

“Alright I've got you just hang in there.” I stood there wavering back and forth as he scrambled down.

“Where are you hurt?” I tried to say something but the more I did the weaker I got

“Let’s get into the light.” he guided me out where there was a full moon

“Oh shit kid hang in there. Nevermind.” He was right. I was starting to shake, it was taking everything I had to stay upright. He scooped me up onto his back and rushed to Doc.

“Hang in there kid were almost there.” My vision faded but I could still hear.

“Doc! This is an emergency!”

“It better be a damn good one! Oh crap where did you take him that got him this hurt!”

“I didn’t take him anywhere. It was in the barracks.”

“Yeah sure! Get him in here!”

“Whatever it is got him in the throat, real good Doc.”

“Clearly! Was it Aboori?”

“I don't know it was gone by the time I saw him.”

“He won’t talk again ever.” That was the last thing I remember. I woke up in the Hospital Copper Blade by my side and another figure in the corner.

“Hey Blue!... don’t talk, it'll only hurt.” I gave an awkward wave while I laid my other hoof on my neck. It hurt a lot. The figure in the corner finally moved. A Griffon got up and walked over to the other side of my bed. A calm gentle voice came from him.

“Hello, can I get you anything?” I tried to signal that I wanted something to write with.

“Food? Doc said you can’t eat anything right now.” I shook my head and looked around for anything to write with but there was nothing.

“Get him something to write with that’ll help.” I shook my head to say yes

“Alright I'm on it Rainbow dash wanted to see you is that ok.” I didn't know how to say that I wanted to wait so I just said no. The griffon walked out when he came back. I could see rainbow Dash peeking into the door worried.

“Here you go my name is Goring. By the way, I'm the new guy in your group.”

“Nice to meet you.” I wrote on the pad I wanted to say something so bad but even the slightest change in my throat hurt like hell.

“Shining will be in soon. He has to talk to Shadow.” I forgot about Shadow

“Get Shadow in here when you can please.” I rather hastily wrote on the pad.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Copper left to go get shadow and I had Goring go get Dash. It took a minute but she came in.

“Blue… what happened?” the night flashed through my head

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I wrote on the pad. Just thinking about it made me breath heavy.

“That’s fine. They’re thinking of letting you go.”

“What? Why?” My brain was filled with questions as I wrote that on the pad I wasn’t disabled I only lost my voice.

“They can’t talk with you. You can’t call for help.”

“That doesn’t matter, there are other ways to do that.” my brain raced with questions. Having to write everything on a dumb pad made it incredibly hard to ask them.

“I’m worried for you Blue. What if you go out there and get hurt?” I paused for a second I didn’t know she cared that much about me

“You care that much about me?”

“Of course I do, you're cool you still owe me a flight time with you.” I smiled and a laugh tried to make its way out. I grit my teeth and clutch my throat rolling into my pillow trying everything to make the pain subside.

“Sorry Blue.” I held up a hoof trying to let her know it was ok while I laid in pain. I felt her wing rest on my back. I understand why flash didn’t like it. I felt weak and helpless under her wing.

“Now that I know somepony cares, maybe I'll be a bit more careful.” I still laid face in the pillow trying to get the pain to subside

“I’m sure you have a family that cares for you.”

“My family abandoned me. The only reason I'm alive is because of the guard.” it was the hard truth. If it wasn't for the guard I'd be dead and now to think I was getting booted.

“I never knew Blue. I'm sorry I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“You weren’t ever supposed to know it's ok.”

“I’ve got Ice!”

“I’m calling you Ice Raider from now on.” I wrote on the pad he saw it and chuckled. I never asked for ice but I hoped it would help my throat.

“Goring got Shadow and Shining, it's up to you who comes in first.'' A quick thanks and he's out. With the pad I told Rainbow Dash to send Shining in. She gave a worried smile then exited. Shining came through the door before it even shut.

“How are you feeling Blue?”

“Just great!” The pad was getting full so I flipped the page.

“I wish I was up, maybe it would’ve been me.”

“Don’t! you have a family to talk to. I don't.”

“What do you mean you have family don’t you?”

“No they abandoned me, if it wasn’t for the guard I wouldn’t be here.” he looked at me sorrow in his eyes.

“Have you heard yet?”

“Yes.”

“I'm trying to get them to drop it. It's between Twilight, Luna, and Celestia.”

“They can’t keep you out, you're my boss, you have to have a say in this.”

“I wish I did. I’ll send Shadow in." I wrote thanks and he left. Shadow stuck his head in the door.

“How ya doin?”

“Making it.”

“I wish I could’ve helped you more.”

“Are you planning on walking in?”

“You want me to?”

“Yeah, I'm not mad at you.”

“I didn’t want to. I brought all of this on you guys.”

“Your brother brought it on us.”

“Yeah I know but I had the chance to stop it and I didn’t.” He sat down burying his face in his hooves. He sat there for quite a few minutes when he looked up and a fire raged in his eyes.

“Whatever you’re thinking isn’t a good idea.”

“But it may be the only good one!” he got up heading towards the door trying to get his attention while waving wasn’t working so I squeaked out any sound at the disapproval of my throat. He stopped

“Why kid?” He turned around to look at me. Having forgotten that the pad was there I tried to say something else.

“Stop, stop, stop, stop! You’re going to hurt yourself worse than you already are.” he picked up the pad

“Use this kid, save your voice, let it heal. I know that hurt throw something, don't hurt yourself. I’ll go get Doc see if he can help you out here.” i rushed a question on the pad

“What happened between you and Doc the day you came back?”

“It’s too long of a story for right now ask when you’re not hurt.” rushing another question he stopped me.

“Slow down kid. Look, I have to go try and talk to Celestia get some rest. I'll be back later.” He left and with silence in the room I fell asleep again.