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.