Know Your Limitations

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.