Chaos Origin

Shadow Cloak arrived in Ponyville after his long run from Manehatten. Back in Ponyville for yet another visit, huh? he thought to himself. He saw an old acquaintance in the distance. It was Pinkie Pie. They had first met at the previous year's Grand Galloping Gala, however he had spoken to her a few times afterward as well.

When Pinkie saw Shadow, she reacted screaming "New pony?!" in delight, about to go prepare another party.

"Here we go again..."Shadow said, "Pinkie, for the third time this month, I visit Ponyville on my weekends off. You must have forgotten again."

"Sorry, Shadow Cloak, didn't recognize you with that headband on!"Pinkie Pie said to him apologetically.

"It's quite all right, Pinkie. Have you seen Summer Palette? I wanted to say hi. I'd be glad if you could take me to her."Shadow said, putting a smile on his face so she would not be too sad about forgetting his face, which she never does!

"Sure! She's at her art store." Pinkie said, beginning to lead Shadow to Summer's art store, Summer's Palette.

At Summer's Palette, Twilight Sparkle had just arrived to take a look, as it was a relatively new building.

"Welcome, Twilight," said Summer Palette, a yellow coated mare with green eyes,a brown mane, who was wearing a grey hat and scarf. "Need something?"

"Oh, no thank you, I'm just browsing right now." Twilight replied.

"It's your first time in my shop, right?"Summer asked, her store was new and she had not had many ponies come to shop yet.

"Yes, it is a very nice little place."Twilight said, as the door behind her opened up, Pinkie Pie bouncing in with her normal manner.

"Hi Twilight! Hi Summer!" Pinkie greeted them, "It's me! Pinkie!"

"I'm here too." Shadow Cloak said.

"Hey Pinkie! Who's the new pony?" Twilight asked her dear friend.

"I'm not new, Twilight. I visit every weekend."Shadow Cloak said."As well, I know you, you just don't know me. Allow me to explain.

"Do you remember your battle with Discord? '...Then find the Elements back where you began.' was the riddle given by Discord. Celestia anticipated you would go to the library first, however the Elements of Harmony where were you first found them. I moved them there per Celestia's orders.

"Also, when you and Princes Cadence were locked in the crystal mine underneath Canterlot, the Changeling Queen had sealed the exit. I opened it with special help from the magic of explosives.

"I am part of a recently declassified special force unit known as Rays of the Sun. My code name is X-ray, because when I'm on a mission, I'm invisible. 'Alone we are invisible, but you see our work all around you.' That is our motto. Your brother, Gray Sun, a code name of the highest honor, is a member as well. It is a compilation of some of the greatest talents in Equestria. And that's how I know you."

Twilight did not believe a word of it."Really?"she inquired disbelievingly, "you look a little young to be doing all that. How old are you?"

"Same age as Pinkie Pie. I started to train for this at a young age. My parents submitted me to the program to aid in the defense of Equestria."Shadow Cloak said, serious as can be.

"Yeah, uh-huh." Twilight replied sardonically. "So how do you know Summer?"

Summer was the one to reply to this. " I met him one day while he was training for ROTS, or Rays of the Sun. We were still foals, and this big unicorn trainer was there. Shadow wouldn't stop running in place while we talked!

"When we grew older he took a liking to me, and we hung out when he had time. In fact, he gave me the hat and scarf I'm wearing now. We have play arguments for fun sometimes, too. Actually, it was recently after I got these clothes that I opened this store."

Twilight nodded and said,"Okay, but I still don't believe this Rays of the Sun organization exists."

"Good, the less who do, the less who interfere."Shadow said with an unnerving smile.

Just then, the door opened again, with Rarity and Spike entering.

"Hello, everypony!"Rarity greeted them, all replying back with their own greetings. "I came by to receive inspiration my my next dress line up. And just look at this art! It's all so beautiful and insightful! I absolutely knew this was the one and only place to be for inspiring art."

"Great!" Summer said, "would you like to buy some?"

Spike then stepped up with a particularly elegant piece of art in his hand, "I'll get this one for you, Rarity." He offered. As Spike and Summer transacted, Shadow announced that he would be heading to the inn to get settled in,

"I'll go with you." Summer said, brushing her mane all to one side of her face.

And so, the group left the store, with Summer closing up early to walk with Shadow to the inn. The remaining ponies, and Spike, decided to tag along as well.