//------------------------------// // Shadowhoof 03 // Story: Secret OC Origins Compilation // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// The mayor paced nervously back and forth, occasionally glancing towards his large clock against the wall. He wanted to be outside, watching the roads and preparing for the arrival of their special guest, but he was the mayor. If everypony knew how anxious he was, they all might start panicking. Outside, the fields were now clear of snow and ice, though technically it would be a few more days before winter wrap-up. They'd started it early in preparation for their special guest. Trixie had disappeared in the middle of the night after her first show, even though she swore she'd get rid of the necromancer. When the morning came, both she and her carriage were gone. There was no doubt in his, or anypony's else mind what happened. The creature had obviously taken her life and her spirit would now haunt the woods as his undead servant. Anything powerful enough to do that was a definite threat and they could no longer just give it food and hope it wouldn't decide to feast on them. It had taken a little over a week to get everypony to agree, but a pegasus had finally been sent. They went to the princesses for help. The response had arrived soon after that a representative would be dispatched soon to help with the issue. He couldn't help but wonder who it would be. A platoon of royal guards, maybe a battalion of lunar ponies. It could even be a mix of both. Maybe even one of the princesses themselves, Luna wasn't seen very often so maybe she'd appear to vanguish this great evil. They didn't want anything to delay the force coming so they'd worked extra hard to ensure the roads were clear and the majority of winter was wrapped up. There was still one little field filled with snow they'd left for the children, but other than that there were blue skies and clear grass. He'd left orders to have somepony get him the moment anything arrived, but he'd been pacing holes in the floor and there was still no sign of their reinforcements. He was going mad and, worst, paranoid. What if the creature ambushed their reinforcements? What if they were being isolated before being torn apart by the creature's monsterous abominations? What if they were going to meet the exact same fate as Trixie had? He whimpered softly. Maybe they should have sent all the youngest away for safety. They hadn't seen the creature for a while, but it was only a matter of time. Soon the necromancer would strike and they'd all suffer for it. He shouldn't have sent that magician after it, maybe if he'd just left it be nothing bad would have happened. A sudden pounding on the door made him jump. “Who is it?” “Mayor! The... well... the ummm... the representative of Canterlot has arrived. But... just... she's... it's... ummmm...” He ran to the door and swung it open. “What?” “Well...” the pony in the door frame motioned behind himself. “That's her.” “What?” He looked past the pony and stared. A single earth pony with a pink mane and coat stood there and waved back. “Hi! Ohhhh! Are you Mayor? Or the mayor? Back home ours is called Mayor Mare, but I guess you're not a mare so you'd have to be just Mayor. Ohhhh, or the Mayornator! Kinda like the governator, now that I think about it!” She darted forward and took his hoof, shaking it as he stared in stunned silence. “I'm Pinkie Pie, I was sent here to take care of the big meany grouchy head who has been causing you all these troubles.” The mayor just stood, his mouth open in shock. One pony. They sent him one pony. She didn't even have any armor on, just a necklace with a balloon gemstone in it. That's all they warranted, a single pony? “There... must be some mistake, miss Pie. We're facing a... a necromancer. We need a warrior, not a--” “Oh, don't you worry one little bit,” Pinkie said with a little giggle. “I'll find this necromancer in no time at all and why he's being such a big boo boo head and then bring him back here and everypony can be the best of friends! We can all have a big celebration too, once it's done! I brought the confetti!” She flung her hoof and suddenly there was confetti raining down on him. He gulped softly and gave her a gentle smile. “I... I see. What... errr... exactly has... I mean. What made the princess decide to choose you of all ponies to... assist us?” Pinkie giggled again. “Oh, well, if we're going to make this necromancer one of our very best friends ever she'll need me to help calm the pony down.” She paused for a moment. “Besides, Rainbow was her second choice and you know how disasterous that would be. The poor necromancer wouldn't be able to walk for a week. Twilight was third and well, she'd probably strap the poor pony down and start poking and measuring things. You know how she can be.” The mayor just stared with the look of a pony trying to digest five minutes of information in five seconds.. “Poor... necromancer? Oh, I think not being able to walk for a week would be just what it deserved.” He took a sigh before looking at her necklace again. “Is... that at least a magical charm of some sort?” “This?” She nudged it with her hoof. “Oh, it's my element of laughter. Oh, one of the elements of harmony! I don't know if you've--” The stallion burst in quickly. “Wait, YOU'RE one of the elements of harmony? We've heard about you! You purified Nightmare Moon, dethroned Discord, even turned the evil spirit to the side of good! You mean to tell me YOU'RE one of these legendary ponies?” “Well, I wouldn't say legendary, but yep!” The mayor burst into laughter. An actual element of harmony, amazing. He thought they'd send something powerful to protect them, but this was beyond his expectations. Maybe a court mage. But one of the very protectors of their entire country? He almost felt bad for the evil abomination in the woods. Almost. “Marvelous! Simply marvelous! So you can take care of this monster, stop it from attacking us?” “Oh, yes! I'll take extra good care of it! There'll be no more problems soon enough!” She paused for a moment. “Though I kinda wonder if I should have brought Fluttershy. She might have been better at starring him down if it came to that.” “Wonderful! We'll host a feast in your honor. Everypony will be simply thrilled knowing this gastly business is behind us.” They were truly saved. Sure, the necromancer was dangerous, even deadly. But this was one of the elements of harmony. They took down an evil alicorn AND an almost all-powerful spirit of chaos. One little necromancer would be easy for her. “Ohhhh, a feast? I'd looooove to throw a party! But shouldn't we wait for me to finish, that way he can join in?” “He?” “The necromancer, obviously.” He blinked a few times. “Why would... I... don't think the necromancer will be... attending this party. There's no need for him to... any of that.” She frowned, before quickly perking up. “Ohhhh, you're right, how silly of me.” He nodded in agreement. “We can just throw a second party once he's all good and stuff!” The nod froze. “Errr, miss Pie, I don't think--” But she was already gone, galloping off in preparation of the party. He sighed and shook his head, what was he going to do? She was one of the elements, surely she knew what she was doing. Right? ------ Shadowhoof watched from the treeline, confusion etched on his face. It had started feeling warmer, a lot warmer, but he had no idea why. There was still plenty of snow in the everfree forest, so winter still had a little bit longer to go. Heck, his drinking hole was still frozen over and he'd been drinking water via ice cube for months. He'd know if it had finally thawed out. He'd been searching for some plants to help increase his dangerously low stockpile, but there was very little. But then he'd come near the village and seen the weirdest thing. Almost all the snow was gone. Most of the clouds were gone and it was all sunny. It should have still been there for a few more days at least, but almost every drop had disappeared. Even more confusing, they were setting up for a big feast outside, which he couldn't imagine why. He almost thought it was Hearths Warming Eve, but there would be snow if that was here. That and he never missed one, even though he spent it alone in the castle. There was a little pink blur running around the village, setting up balloons, streamers and all kinds of other party signs. He couldn't imagine why they'd be having a party, was there really something worth celebrating? Then all of a sudden the pink blur stopped in front of him, causing him to recoil with a shriek. She was an earth pony, but he knew he just saw her teleport. That was impossible! “Hey, you must be the necromancer! Ohhhh, you got eyes just like Nightmare Moon, are you a friend of hers? Ohhhh, I bet you're a big fan of the night, is that why you dress like that? Her eyes were green though, yours are purple silly. We're having a really big party, do you want to come join us? We were going to have a second party after I got you to come to the village, but we can mix them both together now if you're here. Oh, I'm Pinkie Pie, your new bestest best friend!” He just stared at her in shock, his mouth hanging open as he tried, and failed, to think of any response. Even his magic seemed lost, with no sounds or images breaking through to the real world. She reached out for his hood, making him recoil. He stared at her for a few more moments before turning and fleeing. Pinkie watched him before shaking her head. “Really? I guess he must be shy.” Shadowhoof galloped for his life, his entire body shaking as he ran. What kind of pony just appears in front of a necromancer and is all 'hey, join us for a party, oh, and we're best friends now!' Ponies were supposed to run off and scream, not... not invite him to parties. He was terrifying, he knew he was scary. Wasn't he? He'd been chased out of enough places that he was at least eighty-percent sure he was scary. They didn't chase just anypony out of a town. Especially not with pitch forks and torches. “I... I'm scary, right?” he asked a nearby tree once he was certain he'd made enough distance and the mare was nowhere near him. It responded by dropping a few drops of snow on him. He let out a sigh before shaking the snow off. “I know that was pure coincidence, but still. Bad tree.” He gave it a little kick with his hoof. The rest of the snow descended and buried him up to his neck. ------ Shadowhoof sighed as he looked over his meager supplies. He had less than a dozen apples, no more grass and only a hoofful of blue flowers. As cold as it was he hadn't had a chance to clean any of his robes so many of them could now stand up on their own. His blankets and cushions were in a similar state. “Maybe it's time I just start fresh,” he muttered. “Maybe I should have stolen a few bits, too.” He shook his head then. Food was one thing, he needed that to survive. Most of the bedding too. But stealing bits? That was just wrong. “I'll just find someplace that could... use a pony like me...” He tapped on the ground a few times. “Maybe just lie low until the pink pony leaves, maybe she'll just go away.” He shivered and shook his head. He couldn't make himself believe that. Even if he left, he was certain the mare would come back. He started bundling up what he had, focusing on the thickest blankets and a few cloaks. “Need a hoof?” Pinkie asked as she helped gather the apples into a little basket. “AHHHHHH!” Shadowhoof screamed as he jumped back, slamming into the wall. The spider perched up above fell on him, making him scream again before galloping around the dungeon. “Get it off, get it off, get it--” He slammed into the bars of his cell, sending the spider flying as he fell into a heap. “O-owie...” Large, hulking spiders started materializing in the room as he just whimpered, pulling his hood up. “H-how did you find me? Why are you here?” “Oh, friends always help each other pack!” Pinkie said happily as she hopped around the room. “So, where are you moving?” “I-I'm not... I'm not moving. I'm running away. And, and we're not friends.” “We're... we're not?” the pink bundle of energy asked as she turned to him. “B-but why not? I like you. Don't you like me?” “W-what? No. I like you just fine! I mean, I don't even know you, how could I dislike you?” he said with a pathetic squeak before getting to his hooves. His head throbbed and he nearly fell over, but he barely managed to keep on his hooves. “W-why are you... following me? Didn't those ponies tell you about me? I'm... I'm scary. Look!” He motioned to one of the giant spiders with thick, dripping fangs and eight beady eyes, just staring at her hungry. “Aren't you scared? I control ghosts and spirits and ghouls!” “Nope! When I was a little filly--” Shadowhoof just stared, his mouth falling open in shock. She... she was singing. She was actually singing at his illusions until they popped. He'd seen ponies try all manner of tricks to get rid of his illusions, but he'd never had a pony try singing them away. The mare was mad. She had to be. That was the only explanation. He tried, quietly, to gather his things and put them over his back. He tossed the flowers into the basket with his apples and put it around his neck. She was far, far scarier than anything he could ever dream up. He snuck towards the stairs. Then she was suddenly in front of him, blocking the exit. She advanced and he had to back away, gulping nervously as she kept singing. “He's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna...” Then she burst into full on laughter. He nervously chuckled along with her, his eyes wandering to the exit. The mare was rolling on the ground and giggling. He had a chance. He took it. He leaped over her and galloped up the stairs. She was waiting for him at the top. “So, where yah going?” He stared at her, before turning to look back down the staircase, then back at her. “That's... that's impossible. Y-you're an earth pony, you can't teleport. There's only one way up these stairs, you had to have passed me. But, but you didn't. You were at the bottom. How could you... how did you... what?” “Ohhhh, can I guess? You're all robe and stuff are... you going to a vampire convention?” “What?” “Ohhh, nightmare night store?” “Huh?” “Oh! I got it! You're going to go do a puppet show for foals!” “I... I don't have a puppet...” To his horror, the few spiders that survived the song were disappearing and now little fake pink ponies were popping up. “Ohhhhh! I got it!” She nodded. “You're going to come down to the party so everypony can get to know you!” He shook his head. “No! I'm not going anywhere! I'm just... well, I mean I am. But I'm going somewhere they... they won't find me...” he said as he tried backing down the stairs. “Why... why are you doing this? Just... just leave me alone. I don't... I don't want to bother anypony.” “Come oooon!” Pinkie said as she trotted after him. “Somethings bothering you, right? You can tell me. I'm your bestest buddy in the whole wide world. Why don't you want to be around everypony else?” He whimpered and cowered. “If... if I tell you... w-will you let me go? Away? N-not to the village. I won't... I-I'll try not to bother anypony anymore, I promise.” She frowned, but slowly nodded. “Fine. I promise.” He nodded again and sighed. He focused for a moment and the assortment of pink ponies disappeared. “I... I have a horn problem. Rumpitrcornutis. It's a... weakening in functions of the horn. It's why I can barely use telekinesis and... and why I lack control of my magic when I don't focus. That's why I can't be around other ponies.” “Ohhhhh.” She just stood there and watched him. Smiling. She had the... kindest eyes he'd ever seen. They weren't judgemental, or mean, or annoyed. They were just the kind of eyes of a pony who was listening. As if what he was saying was important, even interesting. He couldn't help it, he found more spilling out a moment later. “Since my magic is based around illusions, it makes illusions appear when... I don't focus and stop it.” He shuffled his hooves nervously as he slowly climbed back up the steps. “Especially when I... sleep. My dreams form and... I... I have a lot of nightmares. It's... it's better if I'm away from everypony. If everypony just thinks I'm a... a monster hiding in the woods. I-I didn't want to steal, really. I-I tried to grow my own food, but I don't know how earth ponies do it. I just... I kept failing and... and I thought this was better. That way I don't scare anymore ponies. Don't... don't horrify them. Please just... just tell them I fell in a well or something. Drowned in a river. Don't... please don't make me face them.” Pinkie slowly nodded. She reached forward and pushed the hood back. She then leaned in and gave him a big hug, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Fine. You don't have to face them now if you can't. But you'll need to eventually. You can't hide forever.” He blinked and stared off into space. The hug felt... the hug felt nice. He tried to contain it, but he couldn't. Something about this mare was just so... so special. So nice. So comforting. She kept talking about being his friend and he had been certain she was insane. But now he wasn't so sure. Now he felt like he really could be her friend. The emotions boiled up within him and he tried, desperately, to suppress them. But he couldn't. He started to cry. She didn't tell him to shush, push him away despite the smell or even ask what was wrong. She just hugged him and let him cry it all out. ------ “-- so we'll go down to Canterlot and find a job for him. He says as soon as he has a place of his own and a few bits he'll send them back here to pay for all he took. Anypony mind?” The mayor and an assortment of the village leaders just stared at the mare. She was taking the necromancer back to the capital of Equestria and was going to get him a job. Just who was this pony? How could one mare control such... such an evil creature? He was unable to speak and merely shook his head. “Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie said before turning and hopping away. The ponies merely watched her, wondering what powers such an almost normal looking mare could wield to be able to tame such a monster. Just over the first hill outside of the village, Shadowhoof sat and waited for her to appear. As she popped over the hill he got ready, planning to run at the first sign of danger. Fortunately, there was none. Not a single torch or pitchfork. He gave her a nervous smile as he flung the hood back. “So... I ummm... how'd it go?” “Great! They don't mind at all.” “Are... are you sure? I did take a lot of apples...” “Oh, you worry too much,” she said happily as she trotted by him. They walked in silence for a while, until he nervously glanced to her. “Ummm, are you hungry? I still have some of the food I was storing.” He offered the basket, holding it in his mouth. She took one look inside and recoiled. “You... you've been eating those flowers?” He looked down. “Mm hmm.” He moved the basket around so it dangled from his neck. “They taste sweet.” “That's poison joke!” Pinkie gasped. “So that's where those eyes come from!” She burst into another giggle fit. Shadowhoof didn't get the joke, but he couldn't hold it in. Something about this mare was just infectious and he started laughing along with her.