Chaos Origin

Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Summer Palette followed Shadow through Ponyville toward the Ponyville Inn. Along the way, Pinkie asked, "So, Shadow, how was the train ride here? All the way from Canterlot, huh?"

Shadow Cloak shook his head, "I didn't take the train, I ran. Also, I came from Manehatten, I just spent the night in Canterlot."

Twilight had a hard time believing him again. "You ran?! That's insane! Why would you do that?" Twilight asked, trying to rationalize this strange pony's actions

"To travel in utmost secrecy, of course. Force of habit." Shadow replied. He continued on with his head held high as the others followed.

Soon after Shadow had stopped talking, a voice disrupted their quiet. It said, " Excuse me, everypony! Please listen."

Shadow Cloak seemed disturbed. Under his breath, he muttered "That voice...It can't be." The group turned to face the mysterious pony. Somepony from Shadow's past?

"Excuse me," the pony said,"I seem to have misplaced a letter with my current art projects in them. I had just received it too. Would you fine folk be willing to help me look for it?" The pony was a cream coated unicorn stallion with a blond mane. He wore a fine, black suit and had a smooth, posh voice.

"Of course we will help!" Summer said with a cheerful smile. Shadow Cloak's reaction was the exact opposite.

"Count me out! This guy looks like nothing but trouble! I can smell it on him." Shadow shouted harshly. Shadow leaned in close the the pony's face, glaring into his eyes. The unicorn averted his eyes.

Rarity was taken aback by Shadow's reaction. "Shadow! How rude of you to say that! Especially to somepony so nicely dressed." She pushed passed the others and went to the strange unicorn. "I'm Rarity, it's an honor to meet you."

The unicorn looked in her eyes and gently lifted her hoof in his like a gentlepony."Espio Nage is what most call me. I'm glad to have met you as well. Shall we begin my search?"

Spike took notice of how close Espio was getting to Rarity and got a little irked. "Getting a little close there, Espio."

Shadow began to capitalize on Spike's irritation, saying "This guy is no good. None at all! Right Spike?"

"Yup!"Spike agreed.

Twilight frowned at their attitudes. "You boys are being super prejudice right now. What's the matter with you two?" She asked, sounding disappointed.

Again the group's train of thought was interrupted by another appearance. "Mr. Espio! Mr. Espio! I found your mail! I have it here!" The voice belonged to a grey coated, blond maned, and cross eyed pegasus mail-carrier named Derpy Hooves.

The pegasus touched down next to Espio and handed him a large manila envelope. "There you go!" She said

"Thank you very much." Espio said, staring into her eyes with a memorizing look.

"Oh, it was nothing!" Derpy replied, blushing slightly. She looked around at the rest of the ponies, and Spike, in the group. One of her eyes locked on Shadow Cloak and he cocked his head. "Hey, you're Shadow Cloak, right?" She asked. "I have a letter for you." Derpy searched in her mail satchel and pulled out a letter. It was clearly marked 'From LoveStruck dating services' Shadow Cloak quickly grabbed the letter and stuffed it away in one of his olive colored saddle pouches.

Summer looked at him oddly, as if he weren't acting strange enough already."Shadow, is something wrong? You're always so kind, and what's that letter?" She inquired sternly.

"It's nothing..."Shadow replied.

"It certainly is!" Summer said. "Tell me what it is!"

"It's classified." Shadow said bluntly.

Summer's face twisted in frustration. She growled and said "You don't tell me anything! Everything is 'Top Secret' this and 'Classified' that! How can I trust you? How do I know that's not from some other mare?"

"Summer, Please" Shadow said, a hint of pleading in his voice. "You shouldn't worry about it, please trust me."

Summer shook her head."That's just it, I'm not sure I can."

Espio looked at them blankly, then smirked. "I think I'll leave them to their quarrel. I'm going to host a ball at my house just outside of town, near the Everfree forest." He then walked to Twilight. "I would be honored if you and you're five friends attended." Espio then walked off toward the forest.

"A party!?" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily. "Count me in!" She jumped with joy and began to follow Espio.

"I'm going with you girls." Summer said, turning her back on Shadow.

Shadow shook his head, saying "Please, don't do it. He's no good!"

Spike was about to agree with him, when Twilight levitated him onto her back. "Come on, Spike. Shadow can help himself. He seems to be a professional at being alone anyway."

Shadow stood in disbelief. All his friends, even his special somepony, left him for that blasted"Infra-red!" Shadow thought, saying the last part aloud. "Blast you Espio."He whispered, continuing to the Inn.

A short time later, Shadow arrived at the Ponyville Inn. He walked in just as Derpy Hooves, who nodded happily to him, left. He saw an old acquaintance tending to the counter, however the stallion appeared to be swooned.

"Zee?" Shadow said to the light gray coated earth pony with a blue mane and eyes. His name was Sleepy Zee.

Zee sighed."Isn't she just the most adorable pony you ever saw?" He sat on a stool and shook his head. "What's up Shadow."He asked.

"Things are not well, my friend." Shadow said. "I'll take a cider please." He then took a seat at the counter, and also ordered a room. Sleepy got him his cider and Shadow downed is quickly.

"What's wrong, Shadow?" Zee asked, trying to be kind to his friend.

"Summer and her friends probably think I'm a bad pony now. I couldn't let them talk to Espio!"Shadow lamented, putting his hoof to his face

"Espio?"Zee asked, "Wasn't he that former ROTS agent who went AWOL to the Land of Griffons?"

Shadow nodded. "That's the one. He's a lying, cheating, and crafty unicorn with a serpent's tongue. They totally misjudged him and me. I mean, look at our cutie marks! Mine is a shield with a cloak of courage behind it, and his is a deceptive masquerade mask. What do they know...Not like their talents are judging. I mean, Summer's is art supplies ." He shook his head and sighed. "Oh, I should not speak ill of her," Shadow folded his forelegs and rested his head on them on the counter. "I still lo- wait a second...Zee, are you even listening to me!"

Zee had fallen asleep while Shadow was talking. His cutie mark was a pillow marked with a Z, containing a crescent moon in the background. Shadow slapped him, waking him up. "uh-oh-uh-huh, wah?" Zee stumbled over his words. "I'm sorry. It sounds tough."

"Yeah, right. You weren't even listening, you narcoleptic fool." Shadow said with a large furrow in his brow. It shown through his headband.

Zee sat back. "Well, maybe you should go see what he's up to. You know, Espio. You say he's always up to no good."

Shadow nodded his head,"You're right, I need to sneak around that ball he's having and find out what he's after." Shadow thought a few moments with a look of pondering, then looked a little irritated. "He said his house was next to the Everfree forest. To sneak into the back, I would have to go through there. What a pain."

"Well, it seems you have a plan." Zee said, his eye lids heavy and drooping.

"Alright then. Let's get to it."Shadow said.