Know Your Limitations

Chapters

Chapter 4 : What can possibly go wrong?
Chapter 5 : Everything has gone wrong!
Chapter 6 : Endgame
Chapter 2 : Treat Others Well
Chapter 3 : Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Chapter 1 : Don't be a Stranger
Chapter 7 : New Beginings

Chapter 4 : What can possibly go wrong?

Chapter 2 : Treat Others Well

Shadow stepped outside of the Carousel Boutique, and looked towards a forest in the distance. Maybe he could find somepony else that could give him useful information to the whereabouts of the element of magic. He ventured to the edge of the forest where he stopped to notice a sign that read: "Everfree Forest, BEWARE OF-" The rest of the sign was rotted away. Well, I have no Idea what to expect. Shadow thought. He turned his head to a small cottage near where he was. Maybe whomever lived in the cottage knew some useful information he walked forward and knocked on the door, he was answered by a small bunny. "Step aside rodent." Shadow growled. The bunny's suspicious scowl morphed into wide-eyed fear, and moved away. Shadow pushed the door open to see a pegasus feeding some small critters. She seemed vaguely familiar. "Uh... hello?" Shadow called. The mare spun around to greet him. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I got so caught up in feeding my critters!" she said, in a soft voice. "It's quite alright, I just came to ask about what to expect in that forest." Fluttershy pulled Shadow into the cottage, and said "Oh no! You cannot go in that forest! There are serpents and manticores, cockatrice, and so many more dangerous creatures!" Shadow rolled his eyes. Any creature that stood in his way had a violent, merciless death.

"Ah, I understand. You are concerned for my safety." She was kind. A little too kind. "What is your name?" She mumbled something almost inaudible. At that moment, Shadow knew there was no reasoning with a scared pony. He put a hoof softly on her shoulder. "Hey... I know I am big and tall, but that's not a reason to be scared of me." Their cutie marks started glowing, and Shadow grew a pair of magnificent wings, and dawned a new cutie mark. He amassed the animals in the room behind him and took a few paces back, and held out his hoof. "Will you join them?" Fluttershy's eyes glittered with wonder and accepted his gesture. "Now I ask again," this time he spoke in a softer voice, "what is your name?" She lightened up with a smile, "My name is Fluttershy." The name stuck him painfully, it was definitely familiar. "What do you know about the elements of harmony?" His eyes pulsed, hoping to gain control of her mind. She shook off the spell long enough to put her own stare into the equation. It was a stare that only great ponies could master, the pony he could remember that could do that was Starswirl the Bearded. He met him once. Fortunately, books told him about her stare, and how to resist it. Before she could realize that it was not working, it was too late for her.

Fluttershy let out a final scream before she was controlled. "I'll ask again, what do you know about the elements of harmony?" Fluttershy could only bear a quiet whimper. Shadow placed his hoof against her neck. "Who is the element of magic?" Fluttershy had tears rolling out of her eyes, and Shadow took a few steps back. What have I done? Shadow thought. "Fluttershy, where are you darling? Tell me now to end your harming!" A voice in the distance yelled. Son of a... this was the last thing he was expecting! A hoof slammed the door open, and he turned to face a zebra. Shadow quickly controlled the zebra and pulled the life force out of her. He did the same to Fluttershy, but only enough to knock her out cold. Shadow turned to face a large group of very angry animals. A bear ran towards him and Shadow dispatched it with a quick hoof to his back legs, and then shattering the rib cage on impact with the ground. A bunny punched him in his cheek and he squished it with an evil rage. The animals fled from the graphic battle, some bearing wounds, others, dying as they ran away. Shadow took careful preparation in covering up the mass murder. He hid the bodies, cleaned the blood, and closed the windows and their blinds, and, finally, left and close the door behind him; eager to take his next victim.

Chapter 5 : Everything has gone wrong!

Chapter 3 : Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace

Shade Shadow ran as fast as he could from the cottage, hoping nopony noticed Fluttershy's scream. He trotted into Ponyville, surveying the sights. His stomach grumbled. Looking around, he saw a small shop near where he was. Looking at the sign, it said: 'Sugar Cube Corner'. Shadow took a deep breath and walked in the door. The air was smothered with dough, a sent comparable to his childhood home's kitchen. A turquoise mare was at the ordering counter. "Welcome!" she called across the room. Shadow edged over to the counter. "I'm new in town, and I don't have any bits. Can I work in the kitchen for some food?" The mare looked at an angle towards the ceiling. "I can't burden you with a task like that." She reached under the counter for something. "Here, take this." The mare had hoofed Shadow a small cupcake, it's icing looked very sweet and was weaved in an intricate pattern. "Thank you... who are you?" She smiled and nodded. "I'm Mrs. Cake. I work the bakery with Mr. Cake." Shadow nodded and headed for the door. "Thanks Mrs. Cake!". He ravenously ate the cupcake. It was the best tasting thing he had ever had in his life. The creamy icing accented the soft crust. He felt a hoof tapping on his shoulder he turned to see a vaguely familiar pink pony bouncing up and down.

"Are you new in town?" She asked. Shadow proceeded to roll his eyes and he walked through the town around a few buildings, wondering where he should look next for elements of harmony. He felt another hoof tap on his shoulder. "Aren't you going to answer me, silly filly?" Rage encompassed Shadow as he spun around. "Who are you calling a filly?". The pony's smile quickly eroded, as she realized she insulted a colt. "It would be a good thing if you left me alone. Now!". The mare, looking defeated, turned around and started walking away. Shadow watched her walking away, and kept walking when she was out of sight. He stopped at the gate of a barn on the outskirts of town. He felt that annoying filly tap him again. "Are you going to Sweet Apple Acres too?" Shadow threw out his hind leg, bucking the fool in the face. Shadow turned to see her knocked out. He drained the color from her, and tossed her into a bush. Shadow chuckled in his petty revenge, and walked onward to the barn.

It was sunset when he arrived at the barn door. Shadow placed a few firm knocks with his hoof. A large red colt answered the door. Even though this colt was tall, Shadow was taller. Shadow looked down on him. "What do you folks do around here?" The colt looked up at him with fear in his eyes. "We, uh, buck apples?" Shadow smiled. "If I help you buck apples in the morning, can I stay for the night?" The red colt looked him up and down, it occurred to Shadow that looking up was not too common with this colt. "Eeeyup" The colt said, and parted from his path to make room for Shadow. As they walked down the hallway, Shadow could have sworn he could smell copious amounts of apples. "Soup's on everypony!" A shout rang through the hallway. Shadow had a confused look on his face. The colt nudged him. "Dinner." Shadow shrugged and followed him into the dining room. Around the dining room, he saw a small filly, and an old mare. "Who's this, Big Mac?" said the small filly, with a worried look. If Shadow wasn't mistaken, the filly must have thought Big Mac was crazy. "He's gonna help us with applebuckin'." The confused looks of the table quickly turned to indifference. "What's this about somepony gonna help us?" Another mare entered the room, carrying a bowl of apple salad. "Hello to you all, my name is Shade Shadow, but, Shadow is fine." The mare with the hat placed the salad onto the table and grabbed Shadow's hoof with a firm hoofshake. "Howdy Shadah', ahm' Applejack, I own Sweet Apple Acres. Dis' is Applebloom, Granny Smith, and y'all already met Big Macintosh." Shadow returned the hoofshake. "Well met, all of you. May I join you for dinner?" Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applejack unanimously nodded.

The five ponies laughed and told stories and had a great time during dinner. The other ponies went off to bed, leaving Applejack to do the dishes, as Granny Smith was too old, Big Mac was too clumsy, and Applebloom was too short. Shadow walked into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame. "Hey Applejack." Applejack paused her duties and turned to him. "What's up sugarcube?" Shadow hesitated for a moment. "Do you know anything about the elements of harmony?" Applejack's warm smile turned into a cautious stare. "Just who ah' ya'?" Shadow put on a scowl. "I don't have time for this, what do you know about them?" Applejack continued her duties. "And why should I tell you?" Shadow was tired of this. He bashed Applejack on the side of the head, knocking her out. He drained the color from her, and placed her hat over her face. He turned off the sink, the lights. He had time somewhere between now and dawn to find the elements of harmony. He probably should have used an alias or a disguise, too late for that. Shadow walked away from the barn, he turned around to have one last look at it. It reminded him of when he was raised.

Chapter 6 : Endgame

Chapter 4 : What can possibly go wrong?

Shadow raced onward towards town, determined to find any clues as to where the elements are. As soon as he hit town square a sky blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail landed in front of him. She said, in an aggressive tone, "You new around here?". The night was growing cold, nopony should be awake. Shadow relaxed and proceeded to roll his eyes. This pony looked him up and down and asked with a distinct ferocity in her eyes, "Do you like to race?". Oh joy, another hothead here to pull me away from my eventual goal. Shadow frowned. "I don't have time for this." The pony was eager to do something. "C'mon! I have no one else to practice with!" Shadow looked around, she was right, there wasn't anypony else up. "Hey, what's your name, slick?" Shadow moved his eyes over the pony. "I am Shade Shadow, but Shadow is fine by me." The pony puffed out her chest, attempting to look tough. "The name's Rainbow Dash!". Shadow noticed the stars coming out. "Say... Dash, what are you doing awake?". Rainbow Dash looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing awake?" Shadow hesitated. If I tell her, could she help me out? "I'm looking to find those who represent the elements of harmony." Rainbow Dash put on a huge grin. I'll only tell you about them if you beat me in a race!

Rainbow Dash had started ranting about how lame it was to race on hoof instead of in the sky. Shadow had long tuned out from her speaking, and began to take her cutie mark and wings. Rainbow Dash stopped talking mid-rant when she noticed that their cutie marks were identical, and that Shadow had grown a pair of brilliant wings. Shadow stretched his new wings, and asked, " Do you like to race?". Rainbow Dash smiled, "Let's see how you fly!" She darted into the sky at incredible speed. "Get back here!" And with that, Shadow chased after her with a similar speed. Shadow made sure to keep up with her, and was having a lot of trouble doing so! She quickly weaved through a group of trees, Shadow followed perfectly. Shadow noticed Rainbow Dash started turning clouds around and around, he did the same, with excellent precision. She then put both hooves in front of her, and a very peculiar white cone was starting to appear around her. What in Equestria is she doing? Shadow thought. All of a sudden, a large explosion came out from around her, making a ray of colors as far as the eye can see, and leaving a solid rainbow in her path. Shadow was determined to win, he had to win! Shadow copied her hoof routine, and sure enough a cone started forming around him. Rainbow Dash looked back with a grin on her face which quickly turned into total fear. Another explosion erupted from Shadow, him right on her tail. She started to panic and muttered, "Are you kidding me?". Rainbow Dash started to panic, and because of that, she made large errors in flying. Shadow quickly took the lead and was seconds away from the finish line, he looked back, and, tears were flowing out of her eyes. Shadow abruptly stopped, and let her win.

Rainbow Dash flew over to him, with a confused look on her face. "Why did you let me win?" Shadow gave her a smile, "Your powers are not mine. You won that race; fair and square." Rainbow Dash smiled back, "Thanks, it's great to hear that." Shadow looked into her eyes, "You were going to tell me what you knew about the elements of harmony; weren't you?" Rainbow Dash jolted upwards, "Oh, uh, yeah. What do you want to know?" Shadow's expression turned serious, "Where are the elements being kept?" Rainbow Dash looked at him with ignorance. "I can't tell you that! I can't betray my friends!" Shadow's eyes pulsed a blood red, "Where are the elements being kept?" Rainbow Dash nearly collapsed under his stare. "In the town... library..." She fell to the ground, void of the brilliant colors that once thrived. Shadow knew where the elements were. Equestria was as good as his!

Chapter 2 : Treat Others Well

Chapter 6 : Endgame

Twilight! Twilight! She jolted awake to the sight of friends, tears and grief still clouding her vision. Applejack was leaning over her, roughly nudging her side. "Wake up Twilight! We need to stop Shadow!". Shadow... Oh! "Celestia!" Twilight cried. "Sugar-cube..." Applejack said, "there's nothing we can to for her except for stopping that evil colt!". Twilight looked around, she also saw the faces of Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. Twilight used her wings to help herself to her hooves. "We need to get to Canterlot!" Rarity busted out. Pinkie Pie looked at her, her head tilted to one side. "Because that's where he said he was going!"

"Exactly.". Luna! Thank goodness! "Thee shalt take thy six straight to Canterlot, however, thy be careful. Thy are dealing with a dead pony. He is as old as thee. He is a force to be reckoned with." Rainbow Dash looked confused, "Then.. how was he able to drain the life right from us? What else can he do?" Luna shuddered. "He was hurt by Discord... before he was reformed. I'm afraid that we have no time to lose!" Luna opened a large, blue tear in space and time. "Go! Before it's too late!" The six leaped through the portal to witness Shadow sitting in Celestia's throne. "Welcome to my lair, my subjects."

"Shadow! Stop please!" Twilight cried, but Shadow returned her worried cries with a chuckle. "Why should I? Equestria is doomed." Pinkie Pie ran towards him. "PINKIE! STOP!" The other five yelled, but she kept running. Shadow put himself in an offensive stance, ready to attack. But, as Pinkie got closer, Shadow's eyes widened as he recognized the pink filly. "Wait... Pinkie Pie! Do you remember me?" Pinkie stopped, with a snarl still on her face, "Yeah, I do, you're killing everypony in Ponyville!" Shadow started to have fear in his own eyes, "No, I mean at the Summer Sun Celebration!" Pinkie Pie erased the scowl from her face. "I..." Pinkie stuttered, "I-I forgot your birthday!" Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and even Fluttershy simultaneously facehoofed. Shadow giggled, "No you didn't, it's tomorrow." Pinkie Pie had a large grin on her face, and Shadow's glaring red eyes and hair flecks were turning an indifferent shade of purple. Shadow stood up from the throne, and his wings and horn were slowly disappearing as he walked towards Twilight while Pinkie was happily bouncing behind him. "I'm sorry Twilight, I should have never caused so much harm." Twilight's glare slowly shifted into a warm smile. "It's alright, Shadow. We all know it was Discord's fault."

At that moment, Shadow's purple features glowed a magnificent blue. Rainbow Dash looked unmoved, "TWILIGHT! How can you forgive him, just like that! He is a murderer." Shadow turned his gaze onto Rainbow Dash. "I know. I can fix that; stand back everypony, I've never done this before." All the other ponies cautiously followed his instruction. Everything within five feet of Shadow was a blue orb, as blue as the ocean. Violent pulses erupted from it, and slowly everything was regaining it's color, and the elements of harmony were forming around their respective owners. While Twilight marveled at the sight, the blue orb was shrinking. And when it finally came to a close Celestia was laying there. Twilight ran as fast as she could to her mentor, tears flowing. When she reached Celestia, she lay for a moment, and then jolt awake. "Twili..". Celestia shook her head. "Where is Shadow?" Everypony looked around, he was gone.

Chapter 3 : Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace

Chapter 7 : New Beginings

Dear, Princess Celestia,

Today, I learned that it is important to not give up on our fellow ponies, and that trinkets don't make friendship what it is. Pinkie Pie helped us today by forcing good memories back into Shadow's head. Seeing this, he released all of his energy to fix Equestria back to the way it was. I feel bad for his lo- he just walked in my door...

Your Most Faithful Student : Princess Twilight Sparkle

Dear, Princess Celestia,

I apologize for reeking so much havoc on Equestria, all of those murders I committed are erased, and I am starting off with a clean slate. Thank you so much for all that you have done. P.S.: Thank Twilight for letting me use her writing utensils. And to Pinkie Pie for my birthday party!

Your loyal subject : Shade Shadow

Chapter 1 : Don't be a Stranger

On a beautiful day in Ponyville, where ponies played and relished in the sunshine, Fluttershy was laying under a tree, about to drift off into sleep. Before she could, Twilight lightly pushed her awake, "What's wrong Fluttershy? You usually are a bit more active in the day.". Fluttershy stared off into the distance, and thought, "She's right, I know I am shy, but this is pushing it.". Fluttershy calmly replied, "Sorry Twilight, I didn't get much sleep with Angel fussing last night.". Twilight glanced at her, confused, "Why didn't you just use the stare?". "On my my poor Angel?" she pressed, "I could never do that to him.". Fluttershy knew that she just told a straight lie to one of her best friends, but something was very, very wrong. She just couldn't quite put her hoof on it.

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"It's just over there!" A voice said, "I can see Ponyville!" Where are we exactly? Let me introduce our character, Shade Shadow, an earth pony whom hails from Phillydelphia. For whatever reason, this pony has had a talent for, well, everything! His cutie mark resembles what looks like a question mark, this ability allowed him to "borrow" the cutie marks and abilities of other ponies, including wings and horns. Shade Shadow has dark gray fur, a long and a poorly groomed orange mane and tail with red flecks at the end of them. If there was ever any doubt, his eyes were red too. However, his goal is far more sinister than he appears, to steal the elements of harmony; by 'force'. While he is not the strongest of ponies, he is quick, agile, and very intelligent. He is a very large pony (A few inches taller than Shining Armor). No pony will ever come as close to ruler of Equestria as he will, in theory. Back on topic, and finally arriving in this... Ponyville, he headed for the closest building. The sign by the door reads as follows : 'The Carousel Boutique, come right in!' What a welcome to a first visit! Shadow gingerly stepped inside and greeted by the ring of a bell and the cry of someone saying 'a customer!'. Just then, a beautiful unicorn with finely groomed mane and tail peeked over at the door.

"Good morning!" Shadow said, for a lack of a better term for greeting. "Good morning!", she replied. Shadow walked towards the desk cautiously, " Hello, I'm new in town and I need a way to make some bits and get shelter. Can I help work in your shop for the time being?". Things looked bleak as she looked nervously around the room, and kindly replied, "I'm not sure you can help me at the moment." Shadow looked at her with determination, "Are you sure about that?" The unicorn looked towards him. "Hold on, I don't know where to begin if I do not know your name." Shadow nearly rolled his eyes at the unicorn, no unicorn can be trusted. "My name is Shade Shadow, but, most call me Shadow." She closed her eyes and put herself in a regal sort of stance to introduce herself. "My name is Rarity! The greatest fashion designer in all of Equestria! And the ele-" She cut off as soon as she realized she was mentioning personal information to a stranger. Shadow was dumbstruck. Was she going to say that she was an... element of harmony? Shadow put that note is his brain. "I assure I can help you, Rarity, my talents shine across Equestria." Rarity looked at him, puzzled. "This is a different line of work. And; not to be rude, but, looking at your mane, it seems you lack a basic sense of fashion." I've had enough of this, Shadow thought. He focused his energy to copy her talents, and a horn protruded from his head. Shadow's cutie mark went under a violent shape and color swap, making it just like Rarity's. Shadow cracked his neck and looked down at Rarity. Her eyes widened, "If you have my cutie mark, than can you-". She was cut off abruptly by Shadow, "Yes I can.".

Shadow walked over to the design room, where unfinished dresses lay all over the place, he grinned. Rarity quickly tip-hoofed over to see what he was doing, Shadow was quickly completing all of the dresses, and in record time! Every stitch, every thread, the two worked until the day was done, with a determination beyond measure. Somewhere in that time-frame Rarity had done Shadow's mane. It looked the same; just cleaner. As Shadow finish re-organizing the fabrics and tools. Rarity ran towards Shadow with a sack of bits levitating by her side. "You helped me complete all of my dresses, and exactly the way I want them!" She rushed to Shadow, "How many bits do you want? One-Hundred? Two-Hundred? One-Thousand?". Shadow hesitated. He had never really done a task for a reward. "I need a place to stay for the time being. I have no money, and no home." He said, exited to find out what that strange feeling he got when he first took her cutie mark. "So you need to stay with me for the time being? That would be spectacular if you can do that again!". Rarity was escorting him to his temporary home when Shadow dropped the question, "What do you know about the elements of harmony?". Rarity stopped in her tracks, "I know much about them, what do you need to know?" Shadow's eyes glowed a blood red, "Who else controls elements of harmony?". Rarity became hypnotized, "I.. I can't tell you that..." Shadow smashed his hoof into her face, blood running down her lip. "What element are you?" Rarity had trouble speaking through the bloody mess, "I'm the element of.... Generosity..." She fell unconscious, from the mental and physical trauma. Color drained from her coat. She was in a state of death itself, but she may recover. "Useless fool." Shadow muttered, and left her there. Alone and broken.

Chapter 7 : New Beginings

Chapter 5 : Everything has gone wrong!

Shadow walked towards the town library. He looked at the building, the lights were on. It was nearly midnight, but, somepony was still awake in there. Not good. He knocked firmly on the door, to his surprise, the door was answered by Rarity! "You! I'm not going to let you harm another pony!" Rarity swung a hoof at him, and Shadow skillfully deflected it. "Stand aside, fool, unless you want to die today." Rarity stopped, and backed away from him. The presence of the elements were very strong, it was unmistakable, they were here. He moved towards the presence and saw a purple alicorn standing in front of him. A purple blast whizzed past his face. "Stop right there! Rarity told me everything! Take another step and I'll put you out of your misery!" Shadow kept walking, and another blast struck his chest, and proceeded to bounce off and hit her flank. Shadow charged forward and beat his hoof against her shoulder, she fell over from the pain.

Shadow easily unlocked the chest containing the elements, and first draining them of their color, and then altogether. "I have to thank you for making this so easy for me." Shadow walked to the front door and it flung open, Princess Celestia was standing before him. "Ah, welcome Celestia, your subjects have already failed you. Now I will take your powers and rule this land!" Shadow stared into her eyes, and she flinched in pain. "I... resurrected you... and this... this is how you treat me?" Shadow's ignorant smile turned into a scowl, "You brought me back to hell! You lying fake!" Shadow pressed on with his stare, "I... never..." Celestia blacked out, and Shadow an alicorn, with Celestia's cutie mark. He let out a bloodcurdling laugh, and turned away from Celestia, who was slowly disintegrating. "When you are ready to amass the elements of harmony, find me in Celestia's, or should I say, my study in Canterlot." Shadow stepped over Celestia and headed out the door.

Rarity rushed over to Celestia, and she opened her eyes. "Celestia! What can we do to help!" Celestia shifted to look at Rarity, "I can't help you anymore, this is your fight..." She dozed off, Rarity shook her awake, "How can we stop Shadow?" Celestia looked up at her, with pride and trust, "Just... hold on to your friendship. Tell Twilight to write letters to my sister instead of me..." Celestia's last words merged with the wind, not another sound to be heard. But, after she died, everything started turning gray, dull, and boring. Rarity started crying, and with guilt that she let her Princess die. How was she going to explain this to... Twilight...