//------------------------------// // chapter 10 : Building the Army // Story: Shadow insecticide // by MoonshadowLuna330 //------------------------------// Redheart threw all the blankets she could find on him.”i.. i don't Know what else to do! “ She cried out, looking around frantically. shadowedmoon calmly walked over to her, and lifted her up with her magic. “Halcyon down Redheart. Thou win't maketh him better by running 'round frantically like yond.” Despite her worry, Shadowedmoon's voice was calm and soothing. Redheart shrunk away as she saw the disfigured draconequus. “W..what are you..who are you?”  her voice stammered with terror. shadowedmoon let her down, “Don't beest afraid. We may hast a temper, but Discord is our cater-cousin. And well. We hast his power inside us. We art Moonshadow's nightmare half, Shadowedmoon.” she bowed, letting Redheart get a good look at her. The nurse looked at the creature in front of her, then at Moonshadow. “How?” She asked the princess. “Sombra and  Chrysalis. Celestia got brainwashed by Sombra and is now Daybreaker.  Shadowedmoon is the result of a hybrid mixed with the Nightmare, it's a long story.” Moonshadow looked at shadowedmoon, “but you can trust her.” Her eyes flashed with confidence.  Redheart nodded curtly, as she looked at Shadowedmoon. “I don't know how to treat him. Due to his loss of power, I can't heal him.”  she shook her head in despair. The mixed draconequus thought for a second, her eyes suddenly went wide as thought of something. “Zecora! The lady may hast a herbal salve or a potion yond can at least maketh him comfortable.”Shadowedmoon snapped her claws and then ignited her horn, she suddenly vanished. “We can go down to Sea Equestria  and get some seaweed for him. That shall keep him warm with whatever body heat he has left, as well as soften his fur and scales.” Novo offered. Redheart nodded, “Anything that you can offer to help, will be accepted!” she said excited.  Fast Track got out of bed and went over the Queen and General. “I believe I am well enough to go with you, since I am a royal guard. It is my sworn duty to protect Celestia, and any of her friends and subjects. May I come with?” Fast bowed in front of the two, and then standing at attention waiting for their reply. “I believe I should come with as well, I am a guard of Luna's.” Nightrainbow stepped up next  to Fast, nodding to him and then to the general and queen. Novo and seaspray looked at each other, then nodded. “Yes, we would be honored to have you two by our side.”  The general declared. He turned on his back hooves, and led the way to the seashore. Shadowedmoon appeared in the EverFree forest, looking around, she figured out where she was in the forest and headed to Zecora's cottage.  As she got to the cottage, she made sure to not scare the zebra with her appearance. She was sudden engulfed in sickening green flames and took the form of Moonshadow. “Zecora? We needeth thou’s- I need your help. It's me, Moonshadow.” She corrected herself, as Moonshadow didn't speak in old ponish. She knocked on the door, then stepped back to see if Zecora would appear at the door.  The door was quickly unlocked and opened, Zecora stood in the doorway with Angel on top of her shoulder. “Moonshadow, my dear friend! Have you found who caused Angel's illness?” Zecora questioned, letting  her inside. “Yes I did. Sombra. He and Chrysalis have joined forces. As well as turning Celestia against us. She calls herself Daybreaker now” she stepped inside the cottage. “And well..They made me into this,”  she engulfed herself once more in the green flames. Zecora gasped as Shadowedmoon turned back into her true self again, Angel squeaked and ran for cover. Zecora walked around the miserus creature, unsure of what to make of her. “What-are-you?”  she questioned, looking confused. “we art a card of a lot of things, our base is a draconequus but we hast charm from Sombra, Chrysalis and our regular form. Nay needeth to fear us, as we art still part of Moonshadow, we art that lady’s Nightmare half.” Shadowedmoon said calmly.  The zebra looked at her, examining every inch. “Very interesting.  I see You speak in the old ponish tongue?” Zecora said, picking up Shadowedmoon's tail.  Shadowedmoon nodded, look at the Zebra. “Zecora, this is not wherefore we art. 't's Discord. The drainage of his power into us. Is.”Shadowedmoon’s  face screwed up, and tears formed at the corners of her eyes. “Is killing him.” She slumped down, defeated. Zecora went over to the cauldron, the liquid inside it, was steaming and was green.  She took a spoon ful and put it in a bowl. “Here.” She handed Shadowedmoon the bowl. “spinach, lavender, chamomile, and mint soup. Shall calm the nerves and fears.” Zecora poured  some into a bowl for herself and walked over to Shadowedmoon, sitting down she sipped on the warm liquid. “we did  bring everypony to mount Aris, the hippogriffs did get Nurse Redheart. But. The lady doesn't know what's wrong with him. He isn't healing, not even gaining power.”Shadowedmoon explained. Zecora put down her bowl, and walked over to her potion bottles. “I must come with you, if I am going to diagnose him. Discord is ancient, it would be a great feet if we can cure this patient. I must bring everything.” She began to put vials of potions, as well as empty ones in bags. As the two stepped out of the cottage, they were confronted by one of Sombra's guards.  He stood firm,the helmet on his head had no indication of a horn and he had no wings flanked at his sides. He was an Earth Pony, a sturdy build one too. “Shadowedmoon, I am here to take you back to the Lunar Empire at the command of King Sombra.” he demanded.  Shadowedmoon took a step forward, blocking his view of Zecora. “thou don't hast to doth this. Thou art not the subject of some wanna beest king. Thou art a subject of the lunar Empire, mine mother's and mine subject.” Shadowedmoon's voice was calm, but had a sting to it. “I was, now i am a subject of Sombra's and one of his royal guards.” the guard’s head twitched, as he replied to Shadowedmoon.  Zecora stepped forward, looking at him with squinted eyes. “I think i recognize this stallion.  He is from the trade at sea, I have traded him potions for ingredients of key.”  Zecora took another step forward, going around Shadowedmoon. “Do you remember this?”  she asked the guard, looking at him with hope. “I..I um..” the stallion stammers a bit, but then suddenly straightens up. “No, no i do not. I am a guard and subject of King Sombra. That is all I've ever known!” A scythe suddenly appeared at his side. “Zecora, receiveth back!” Shadowedmoon lunged at the stallion guard, taking a blow to the chest from the scythe.  Greenish-gray blood oozed out of the wound. “Don't make me do this. I don't want to hurt any of my subjects.” she huffed, holding the bleeding cut with her hoof. “Make you do what?  My lovely?” The stallion's voice went sultry at his last words. Sombra was controlling him through magic! “Sombra! Thou!” Shadowmoon gritted her teeth and stood up, flattening her ears. “ Zecora covereth thy ears anon!” Shadowedmoon took a wide stance, as she let out a Sonic echoing cry of a siren