Shadow Colt The Series

Shadow returned a few days ago. It was a surprise but a welcomed one; well welcomed by most. He’s changed though I mean he’s always done this but it’s worse now he doesn’t accept any pity if he has his mind set to do something he’ll do it, it doesn’t matter what anypony says. He won’t take help at all anymore he used to accept it or at least think about it but now he’ll yell at you. You need to get drastic for him to even consider anything you say.

“Hey Shadow! What are you up to?”

“Nothing much. Gonna try to get some sleep.”

“Did you get to see Blue?”

“Yeah.”

“How is he?”

“He was good until I came.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I should have never come back, not this time, the last time, or the first time.”

“Why? We want you here.”

“You don’t understand. My brother wants me dead. Everywhere I go he knows the last place I stayed he destroyed. It’d be better for you guys if I just killed myself then you could go back to fighting your changelings and timberwolves, something you're used to.”

“But we want you here, we enjoy you being here.” without even a noise he teleported in front of me.

“You enjoy having somepony who has killed more than he’s saved! Who has brought nothing but death and destruction since he arrived! Nothing but sadness and anger!”

“Every relationship has ups and downs-”

“This is more than ups and downs! Shining this is the possible destruction of what you call home all because of me!”

“It’s not because of you, it's because of your brother!”

“Ace, Govend, Garring, Salt, Lanes, and Delta wouldn’t be dead if I had just never shown up in the first place! Your son wouldn’t be crippled and Blue wouldn’t be disabled if I had just died!” I threw him at the wall behind him and held him there with magic.

“Listen here-!” I was cut off by him blowing me across the room. His magic was too strong for me to break out of his hold.

“No! You listen! I’ve got one job here right now! That job is to make sure my brother leaves you guys alone! I can't do it alone but I won’t let more guards die to my brother! We’ve got one shot! If it doesn’t work we’re all screwed!” a deafening yell came from Shadow. I hadn’t seen Copper walk up but he had stabbed Shadow in the chest with his sword. His magic broke and I was free but Shadow wasn’t done. He threw Copper into the farthest wall away from him.

“Copper!”

“I’ll be fine, check him!” carefully I walked over to Shadow whose breaths were heavy and strained. The sword is still buried in the side of his chest.

“I deserved that shit.”

“Damn right you did!” shouted Copper now on his hooves.

“Everypony calm down!”

“Is shield in here?”

“Yeah.”

“Bucking shit!”

“Calm down.”

“Your call Shining, what do you want me to do?”

“We have to get him to Doc.”

“You want to save him! He just tried to kill you!”

“It's a misunderstanding.”

“That was far from a misunderstanding! Do I need to remind you of the meaning of misunderstanding!” he walked over and grabbed his sword rather crudely.

“Shit!” Shadow yelled followed by a bloody cough.

“We need to get him to Doc quickly.”

“You’re on your own, I don't save double agents.”

“Copper! Copper!” He walked away but stopped by the window.

“Shining! The sky is black and it's 1 o'clock!” I ran out to get a look and he was right the sky was turning black.

“He’s coming then.” I turned to my left and there was Shadow on his hooves like he had never been hurt.

“What the Buck!”

“How is that possible?” Copper pulled his sword and checked it making sure it was actually real.

“I’m not normal. I'd ask Luna but I told her not to tell anyone what I was. We have a week before that spell kicks in when it kicks in we’re too late. I’m going to talk to Luna and Celestia.” He ran off and I followed after him.

“I’m coming with you!”

“Works for me!” We made it to Luna’s quarters where both Luna and Celestia looked out of the window.

“I’ve never seen anything like it!” Luna said, fear filling her voice

“It’s called the Black Eclipse. In one week the world will become completely dark and he will have won.” Shadow spoke out startling the two.

“What’s the call?” Celestia said fury in her voice not at shadow but fury for her kingdom.

“All in dew time. Everyone in the morning right when the dew would sit on Equestria.”

“Why so specific?” Luna said voice still having fear

“My brother is sleeping at this time. I learned that, that’s how I escaped him and got here.”

“You’re not going alone on this and you better not try.”

“Celestia, I can’t defeat him on my own, especially not now and since when do you care i thought you hated me.”

“I never hated you, I just hate knowing I can help you but you won’t let me.”

“Ok hold on one second this just popped into my head everyone told me you died like were killed.” Luna and Celestia looked at each other, their eyes widened. Shadow turned to face me.

“I told them to lie to you, you've been there for me when I needed it and even times when I didn't. This was different though if they told you the truth that I wasn’t dead I had simply left after getting you back to them you would’ve come after me. I didn’t want you to die looking for me.”

“So it was a lie!”

“It was a lie that whether you want to believe it or not saved your life.”

“You could’ve left something Shadow.”

“You don’t check the bottom left drawer of your desk too much do you?”

“Why?”

“I put something in there maybe 12 years ago just to let you know I was alive.” I started to make a run for my desk but he stopped me.

“Don’t worry I’ve already got it.”

“How is that possible?”

“It’s my stuff I can put it anywhere I’ve ever been or in anything I’ve ever touched. Now it’s in your jacket pocket.” I didn't even see it leave his hoof but sure enough it was gone so I checked my pocket and there it was.

“Since we’re giving stuff out. Celestia I found this. I don't know how my brother got it but it’s yours, it's the only piece of the set I could find.” she didn’t say anything, just took it and walked out.

“What was-” I started to say but Shadow cut me off

“If she wants she’ll say but don’t expect her to.”

“What do we do about our currently injured?” Luna said her voice filled with fear

“By the time this goes down the only one we have to worry about is Blue. I don't know if he’ll be ready to fight.”

“What should we expect?”

“Luna you can’t be scared of him, that's how he gets you.”

“What do we do about the civilians?” Celestia said as she reentered the room.

“Doesn’t matter, if we fail, they're dead. We have a very thin one to revive those who died to Abhoori.”

“When? How?”

“Until the day we fight. They’re weaker during the initial start to the eclipse but they get stronger as it builds.”

“Let's do it then.”

“How do we do it though? How do we find them?”

“A very old spell I just recently found in the archives of Sombra’s lair. Also you don’t think I track these guys? I know where they are all the time.”

“Let’s go get some then.”

“Well there’s one guy we won’t get back.”

“Who?”

“Sorry Luna I can’t find Govend he’s super hard to track and only barely pops up in my head as being near.”

“That’s ok you’ve tried we can still get back good guys.” The four of us put on our armor but one thing was necessary before we left.

“Ready?” Celestia said

“Not quite I tried to put on my old armor but I’ve got nowhere to put these things.” he held up two wing guards.

“You want to help me with that Celestia?” her eyes brightened at his request with a flash from her horn. His wings were back.

“Yeah I think that’ll do.”

“Hang on, let me see how Shield is doing.” I walked over to him.

“Hey, how are you doing?”

“My head stopped hurting and I can feel my legs I think.”

“Let’s see.” I helped him up and he was able to stand.

“That right there is a tough ass kid.” I smiled back at Shadow.

“You want to come with us kid?”

“Sure!” Shadow tossed him some armor and Shield suited up.

“Before we go though I’m going to talk to blue let him know what’s going to happen.”

“I’ll join.” i said

“Why don’t we all just go? Celestia stated

“Works for me.” We headed to Doc’s he was in so we went to Blue’s room. He was asleep when we entered.

“What happened to him?”

“Oh I forgot you weren’t around kid. He was attacked in the night while everypony slept.”

“He’s asleep.”

“Not for much longer he’s waking up.” his eyes opened and closed a few time but we must have finally caught his eye. His face turned to anger and he grabbed a pad to write on.

“Back to torture me again?”

“No I’m not Blue that’s not what I was trying to do the first time.”

“What were you trying to do the first time?” I said while giving him a worried face

“Had to replace that tube.” Shield caught Blue’s eye and he got excited but that didn’t last long.

“Glad you’re up Shield I just wish you didn’t have to see me like this.” he coughed then breathed heavily for a bit

“Don’t you dare Shadow.”

“I’m not doing anything. I haven’t moved since we walked in.” Blue smiled

“Where are you guys going?” Shadow sighed

“My brother has already begun his attack. We have less than a week to prepare before it’s too late.”

“What can I do?”

“You can sit here and get better.”

“He’s right Blue you don’t need to worry we’ll handle it right now.” blue coughed again.

“Blue, are you sick?”

“Sick of this damn tube!”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I don’t think I am, this tube is doing it.”

“Ok.” without any warning Celestia leaped over Blue and out of the window.

“What the buck?”

“I’ll follow her Shining you stay with shield Luna you do whatever you want!” Shadow did the same following her out as he left he hit the pad in Blue’s magic breaking the magic and dropping it on his neck.

“Damn Blue I bet that hurt.” He kicked in the bed while biting on the tube. I walked over and put a hoof lightly on his throat just to see how tender it was. He almost did a backflip in bed.

“Hey, hey, hey relax, relax.” he slowly calmed down releasing on the tube he quickly started on the pad.

“Just leave me alone, go away!”

“I’m sorry Blue I wasn’t trying to hurt you, you know I only want to help.” I realized the device the tube was originally attached to had come free. He noticed my seeing it.

“Touch it and you’ll wish you hadn’t.” in a whisper I said

“Be strong for Shield, he looks up to you.” he glanced over at shield who was still standing behind me.

“Just be gentle then.” I nodded and carefully grabbed the tube using magic so that my movements were precise. I guided it to the device requiring me to pull up on it. He latched down on it again.

“I have to pull on it some Blue, just a little.” He let go, allowing me to finish putting it on the device.

“Done.” He opened and closed his mouth a few times contorting his face in the process./

“I get it’s uncomfortable but it’s only for a little while.”

“Better not be much longer. I haven't eaten since yesterday morning.”

“I’m sorry Blue.”

“Get out of here figure out what made Celestia take off.”

“Want anypony to stay with you?” he glanced at Shield but decided to not have anypony stay so we left… out the front doors not the window… we’re civilized here. It didn’t take us long to find the two

“What made you leave in such a hurry Celestia?” Shadow moved to reveal the body of a colt one too young to even think about leaving its mothers side.

“My brother personally did this. That’s a mark only his knife leaves.”

“Where’s the mother?”

“Probably back at home wondering where her boy is.”

“Your brother dabbled in dark magic you said?” I asked

“Much more than dabbled but yes.”

“How do you get rid of it?”

“Only somepony with a strong power in the magic can remove it but it won’t stop ongoing spells.”

“Who knows dark magic?” I was surprised to see everypony raise their hoof excluding me and my son.

“Who's stronger than him?” Celestia and Shadow lowered their hooves

“I’m not sure if I'm stronger than him, it's been a long time since I’ve tried dark magic.”

“If Celestia can’t and Shadow isn’t sure what makes you think you can Luna?”

“Well she was Nightmare moon.”

“I did a lot more than dabble in it. I'll be honest, I still study it. It's a fascinating form of magic.”

“Sister!”

“It’s not like I use it!”

“But you study it!”

“Girls, we don't have time for this. Luna, if you think you can remove my brother's magic, do it!” she lit her horn not much happened but not very far from the edge of the forests we heard a shrill shriek.

“I think I've done it but I'm not sure.”

“So… um… I'm a little late to say this but we just accelerated his attack. I can almost guarantee it. I bet we went from six to two days.”

“It’s ok he’s weaker now right?”

“I only hope so. Luna put this on.” He tossed a magic suppression ring to her.

“Umm… no.”

“It’s so he can’t take your magic, it'll keep you from using magic but you will be able to keep your magic.” she sighed but put it on

“We had an original plan to get our guys out of there, we're still going to do that, let's go.”

“Wait, what about the colt?”

“It’s not real.”

“What? it looks real to me.”

“That’s my son. I watched my son die a long time ago. That's a fake body let’s go!” Without any more delay we left to get our guys. It didn't take long for us to find our first guy. We hid in the bushes out of sight.

“Who is this?”

“I don’t know who, I only know he’s one of ours.” Shadows horn flickered and the Abhoori screamed it seemed to get ripped apart but not in a disgusting way more like it’s magic camouflage was removed.

“Salt! Over here!” He looked over and started running. He tackled me in a hug.

“Holy shit dude you don’t know what that’s like!”

“Damn I’m glad you’re back.”

“Hey love birds we can make out later we have to move on more are coming.” Shadow said We moved on quickly to the next guy, this one turned out to be Delta after that it was Lanes.”

“This is either Govend or Garring.” Shadow said

“What about Ace?” Luna asked

“As much as I wish it could be one of these he overdosed that doesn’t count as dying to one of these.” Shadow said, his horn flickered and the Abhoori disappeared leaving only Garring behind.

“Damn, I wish Blue was here.” I said

“Garring over here!” Shadow said, He saw us and ran over.

“Holy Crap, Holy Crap, Holy Crap!” is all we could hear as Garring ran at us

“We need to move, we have one guy left, then we need to get out for real.” we got a move on following Shadows orders our group was much larger now but we managed to stay quiet.

“This is gonna suck.” Shadows horn flickered and the Abhoori disappeared this time leaving Govend behind.

“One of you call him.” shadow said I was confused but I called out for him. He came running over.

“Alright we need to get out of here if you can fly follow me from above the tree line if you can’t fly follow me.”

“Whoa whoa whoa!”

“Govend if you hate me if you want to kill me it doesn’t matter we can’t stay here. We need to go back to the castle.”

“What? Why would I want to kill you? I'm only mad you didn’t at least say hi.” Shadows' face brightened and he smiled for the first time in a while. In one go he tackled Govend.

“Damn I'm so glad you’re not mad at me!”

“I can’t be not after how you went out. I’m just glad you’re back you butt hole.”

“We need to go we can talk later.” getting back was hell we had to dodge Abhoori both sleeping and awake ones. When we made it back everyone was asleep which was nice.

“Ok Garring and Govend I need to talk to you.” I pulled them aside and Shadow followed as well.

“You both knew Blue right now he could use some cheering up i’m not asking you to do it nw im just telling you what’s happened.”

“Where is he?” Govend asked

“Doc’s office.” Both of them simultaneously bolted to Doc’s and we followed suit. It didn’t take long for us to make it to Doc’s office. He was of course asleep so we stayed quiet.

“What the hell?” Garring said

“The fuck happened?” Govend said

“Middle of the night attack I assume it was directed at him since no pony else was hurt.”

“He’s waking up.” he opened his eyes and immediately caught us.

“Am I dead?” Blue wrote on the pad

“You’re not dead. They’re actually here and alive.” Govend was the first to make contact with Blue

“How are you?”

"I still think I'm dead but I'm also still in pain so maybe I'm not dead."

"If you're in pain you're not dead.”Shadow said

“Back to hurt me yet again Shadow?”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you in the first place Blue!”

“Yeah sure.”

“Well, when you left the last time you broke the hold he had on the pad causing it to fall on his neck.” I said

“Buck it I’m just gonna go I'm no good here!”

“So you guys are back for good?”

“Yeah we’re back here now.” Garring said

“Garring, I'm sorry.”

“What for?”

“I left you to die.”

“You didn’t leave me to die. You left to try and save me.”

“Maybe if I had been faster or just carried you or something.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m here now, that's all that matters.”

“I need some sleep, I'll come back tomorrow.” Govend said, it was clear he didn’t want to leave Blue behind but he very much needed some rest

“I second that.” Garring said

“I know I need sleep.” I said

“You guys get rest, I'll be fine, I think.”

“Don’t forget you still owe me a coffee so don’t go dying on me.” Govend stated a chuckle coming from him

“Got it.” Blue smiled for the first time since he was hurt. We left, the good thing was the barracks were right at the Castle entrance the bad thing was apparently Luna wanted to see me.

“Luna wants to see me. Govend you should come with me.”

“Ugh… why…”

“You don’t have to just figure you’d want to.”

“Ugh, why do you have to be right.”

“I’ll be honest, Shadows' reaction today was different.”

“He thought I hated him. I mean that’s where he always goes when he thinks he failed someone.”

“Yeah I guess.”

“Luna!”

“Good you’re here… oh Govend I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Shining said I should come.”

“It’s ok it won't affect anything that you’re here. I haven’t seen Shadow since we got back. He was supposed to be here.”

“I bet I know where he’s at.” dating up i headed to the door.

“Wait where.”

“By his son.” I left heading down the same path we took to leave. That’s where I found Shadow sitting down by his son head hung low. I sat beside him.

“I need to change… but I don’t know how.”

“Twilight told me about your dragon friend. Maybe you should try and find him.”

“There’s not enough time anymore.”

“Go find him.”

“I can’t just get up and leave.”

“You know how to change, you just don’t want to. You know you need to but you don’t try.”

“I know I can only change so much under the circumstances though.”

“What do you mean?”

“My brother has done so much and has told me so many things that I don't know who my old self was.” We sat in silence at least until the others came. First it was Govend and Luna, then it was Garring, Salt, and Delta. Before too long Celestia, Twilight, Doc, and Lanes joined it didn’t take long for just about the whole guard to be out there.

“I’ve been… horrible to you guys.”

“No you haven't, you've been misunderstood. We didn't know everything and I'm sure we still don’t but now that we know more we understand more.” Celestia said her head still down.

“But what I have told you some of it has been lies. What I told you about my son was true up to the part where he died. He’s not dead, this fake body was my brother warning me that if he doesn’t get what he wants he’ll kill my son.”

“We won't let that happen, Shadow, we'll save him.” I said

“I can keep limited contact with him the same way I kept contact with Blue. he doesn’t want us to go after him, he wants us to go after my brother even if it means he dies.”

“We won’t let him die, Shadow, we'll come up with a plan.”

“I have one.”