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.