//------------------------------// // A New Town... // Story: Heart of Shadow // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// “Onyx.” A voice caught his ears and they flicked to listen. “Onyx.” His eyes snapped open and he looked up as Twilight spoke to him. “Yes?” He was still getting used to the name they had given him. “We’re here.” She said to him. “I didn’t want to move till you were awake. Since it would mean the sun hitting you in the face.” He chuckled. “Thank you for that.” The mare jumped to the ground and regarded him as the black unicorn sat up and yawned. His tongue ran over his sharp teeth and he yelped as Twilight gripped his jaws and slammed them together. He growled at her as she smiled at him. “Sorry. Your teeth are sharp.” She explained through pursed lips. He paused and his head tilted slightly. “Not normal pony teeth.” His eyes widened as he understood. He gave a slight nod and clamped his jaws. The mare released her hold as he put his tongue to the inside of his lower lip. His tooth had sliced it when she clamped his mouth shut. She looked apologetic as he shrugged. He jumped off the chariot and stood in the shadows of a large tree as he waited for the mares to finish speaking. Onyx was patience as he waited. An impact to his flank sent him staggering forward with a yelp. He spun around and was about to lash out when a small lizard showed up. “Oh wow. Sorry. I didn’t know you were in front of the door.” The purple and green lizard remarked, scratching his head. Onyx stared at him, then looked to Twilight who giggled. He stood up and reached a hoof back to rub his smarting flank. “Onyx that is Spike. He’s my assistant.” She said to him. “Nice to meet you, Spike.” Onyx said to him. “I’m Onyx Guardian.” “Cool name.” Spike said to him. “I’m a dragon.” Onyx stared for a moment at the admission of being in the presence of a dragon. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but are you full grown?” Twilight barked a laugh. Spike looked over to her and glared before he looked back to the stallion. “I’m a baby dragon.” “I see. My apologies then.” Onyx said to him and watched as the chariots left. “Okay this is the library that I share with Spike.” Twilight explained. “There is a couple of extra bedrooms so you can pick one out.” “Are you certain you want me to stay here?” Onyx asked her. “Positive. You need to rest and recover from being pony napped.” “You were pony napped?” Spike shrilled. “I was, yes.” He glanced over to Twilight and gave her a look. Spike trotted into the building. “Kindly hold what I am to yourself. My kind are unknown for a reason.” He explained to Twilight. “Got it. Is it okay if I ask questions about your kind?” She asked him, her voice low. “So long as I am allowed my secrets, yes. I am allowed to not answer?” He replied. “Of course.” She said. She appeared affronted at the implication that he had no choice. “Thank you for that.” He said to her. The stallion followed her inside and looked around as he saw the shelves of books around him. “Onyx.” Twilight waited till he looked to her. “Follow me. I’ll show you around.” “Kitchen is in here. I’m guessing you don’t really cook?” “Not really no. I wander so much that I just forage.” He replied. “Okay, let Spike and I take care of that.” She said. “Probably a good idea, then.” He said to them. She walked ahead of him and told him the other areas of the house. “I and Spike sleep in here. If you need anything feel free to knock on the door.” He nodded and she showed him the larger of the two extra rooms. He agreed to simply take that one and make things easier. The room had a small window which was perfect for the Shadow Walker that thrived in darkness. He walked around the room and after making sure he knew the layout of the room, then left it and closed the door behind him. He walked out in to the front of the library. An item thudded down onto his back and he growled as he ran forward several steps and looked up as he spun around. Spike was standing on a ladder and looking to the black pony. “Sorry.” He looked down at the book that had hit him in the back. “Your making a habit out of attacking me.” Onyx said to the green and purple dragon, who looked horrified at the implication. “I would never attack you. The door was an accident...the book was an even bigger accident...Not helping is it?” Onyx gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. His horn was covered by shadows as he used the darkness to start to pick up the offending book. Twilight yelped and he dropped the book as she came in and pulled his mane off to the side. “Ow…Ow...Ow.” He complained as the mare yanked him into the kitchen. “You need to change the color of your aura.” She said to him. “Why?” “Ponies aura usually matches their eyes. Your aura is made up of shadows and darkness. If any pony who knows more than me sees that...” She left it opened ended for him too draw his own conclusion. He sighed. “Well, shit. Hang on.” He closed his eyes and focused his magic once more. The Shadow Alicorn pulled his magic inward and then let it ease back into it’s normal level. He inhaled and then released the breath after holding it for a moment. “There.” He lit his horn and the aura was the same cyan blue as his eyes and mane. He opened his eyes as he finished breathing and Twilight nodded. “Well done. You need to teach me some of those spells.” “I can try, but much of what I know is Shadow and Darkness. So I'm not certain if it will work.” He admitted. The mare smiled and walked back into the room. “Beware of falling literature.” He advised. Twilight stopped and a giggle escaped her as Spike came down off the ladder. “Hey, it was an accident!” He yelled to the stallion. “Maybe. Or an attempted assault that half failed.” He said as he came into the room. Spike growled as Onyx came to stand in front of him with the purple mare. He looked to the books and then looked to Twilight, who looked away from his glare. They were about myths and legends and a couple spoke of Shadow Walkers. “Really?” She looked at the books and picked them up in her aura then sat them on the table in the center of the room. “Nothing like a bit of light reading.” She said and sat down, trying to ignore the look from the stallion. Spike patted his leg, getting his attention. “She’ll crawl out from under all of those in a couple of days. In the meantime, you and I can hang out. We can do guy stuff.” “Guy stuff?” Onyx asked. “Yeah we can go get snacks and play ball and...” Spike went on but the stallion was looking to the purple mare. Twilight looked at him and shrugged. Onyx glared at her as Spike tapped him again and motioned for him to follow. “Spike.” Twilight said, earning the dragons attention. “Why don’t you show him around Ponyville? He’s never been here.” “Oh, that's perfect. Can we have dinner at Sugar Cube corner?” Spike asked the mare. She sighed and her horn pulled several bits out of her saddle bags. “Have fun, guys.” She said, her voice sign song as the stallion turned to snarl at her, as the dragon pushed his rear legs, forcing him to walk out the door. Spike walked ahead of him as Onyx cringed at the sunlight, but kept up with him. Spike told him the names of buildings and then led him deeper into town. “That's Rarity’s shop,Carousel Boutique. Have you met her?” Spike asked. “Yes. She was there when Twilight and the others found me.” “Oh yeah, I forgot.” Spike looked around before leaning into Onyx’s shoulder. “Isn’t she most beautiful mare in all Equestria?” Onyx shook his head and sighed. “She has her own appeal, but she isn’t my type. So, no worries about me pursuing her.” Spike looked astonished for a moment. “But she’s perfect.” Onyx groaned. “As I said, she has her own appeal. But not my type.” Spike still looked stunned. Onyx growled and that seemed to snap him out of it. “Anyway. Let’s head this way.” He started back down the road and Onyx followed behind him. He hadn’t used this form in a while so it was still taking some getting used to. Last time he had used this form was around a hundred years ago. He had used it to walk through a town that was being ravaged by a sickness of some kind. He had walked through it so absorb the pain and suffering of the ponies within it. That energy had lasted him months. Spike trotted ahead of him and motioned for him to follow. The black pony broke into a trot and caught up with him as they walked into a small building. “Okay here we go. Dinner time!” Spike said to him as they walked inside. A blue mare stepped out at the dragons call and smiled at him. “Well hello Spike.” She greeted him warmly. “Afternoon Mrs. Cake.” He called out to her as he sat down in a booth. Onyx followed suit. “And who is this?” She asked as she neared them. “This is Onyx Guardian. Twilight and the others brought him here today. He was pony napped and they brought him here to recover from it.” Spike explained. “Oh my.” She looked to the black pony. She scanned him and saw the healing wounds on his body. “Are you all right?” “I’ll be fine.” He said to her. “Nice to meet you.” “Well, as long as you are all right.” She appeared unconvinced but let it go. “Well what can I get you?” “Onyx has never been here, so a menu to start with.” He said to the mare. She smiled and set a menu on the table for them and left them to scan it. Onyx looked at the names of items and honestly had no idea what any of them were. He had never needed to eat pony food so he had never looked at it. Spike glanced to him and waited. Onyx sat back in his seat and looked at the baby dragon beside him. “Any recommendation?” He asked him. “They make a really good gemstone cupcake.” He replied. Onyx stared at him for a moment. “Judging from the name gemstone I assume it is tailored more toward a dragons tastes?” “Yup. It’s a really…oh. Umm, hang on.” Spike realized where Onyx was going with the question and looked back at the menu. Onyx waited as the dragon looked over the menu again. He muttered to himself a few times and then looked over to the black stallion. “Twilight usually gets a daisy sandwich on a croissant and a coffee.” “A daisy sandwich?” Onyx stared at him as the dragon nodded. “Okay…Is there anything without…plants?” He asked. He had never eaten it before and was not sure how his body would take to the unknown food. Spike looked uncertain as the mare approached the table again. “Anything jump out at you?” “I will take my usual gemstones and Onyx is not certain what to get.” Mrs. Cake looked to the newcomer and angled her body to stand closed to him and look over the menu with him. “What do you like dear?” “That’s the thing. I haven’t eaten many of these things before.” He explained. “So to avoid any problems what is the chance of just something a bit…bland?” “How bland?” She asked him. “Borderline inedible due to boring.” He replied to her. “Well. I can make up a regular sandwich for you. Do you have any preference to toppings?” “No. I’m not a great fan of plants.” He admitted. She chuckled and nodded. “I have just the thing. Be back in a few.” She said, removed the menu and trotted for the back rooms. “What do you eat normally?” Spike asked him. “Nothing with plants.” He replied. Spike shook his head and sat in silence for a few minutes. “So, why did those ponies pony nap you?” “They wanted some information that I refused to give them.” He replied. “What information?” “Not for you to know either.” Onyx replied to the baby dragon. Spike grimaced but nodded. “So, Twilight and the others saved you?” “They drove the others off and undid the bindings on me. So yes, they helped.” “That’s crazy! Why would they pony nap somepony for a bit of info?” Spike asked, his voice pitched slightly. “Someone will always want what others have. Usually they desire it to benefit themselves. Either to advance their position or for their own greed.” Onyx explained. “For this group they wanted the money that might come from what I know.” “That’s stupid.” Spike said and huffed. “That’s just stupid. I mean, if they were meant to know then you would have told them. Otherwise, it’s not their business.” Onyx chuckled. “I agree.” The pair looked up as Mrs. Cake came back to their table, a tray on her back. She set down a plate of cupcakes in front of Spike and then a second plate of sandwiches for Onyx. The black stallion glanced at the plate then to her. She smiled and pointed to the plate. “Simple jelly sandwich. No plants or anything.” Onyx nodded his thanks to her and watched as his magic picked it up and he took a small bite of it. The jelly tasted sweet, but not overpowering. He nodded to her and ate his food in silence. She walked away from them and Onyx looked to the dragon at his side as he seemed to be inhaling the food he had in front of him. When they had finished Spike walked to the front counter with the black pony and paid for their food. “And back to the library.” Spike said cheerfully. “Lead on.” Onyx said to him and followed the purple dragon out of the shop. As they walked Onyx looked around him at the surroundings. The town was quiet and seemed to have folded into silence when it became dark out. Onyx was quiet as they moved toward the tree library. He suddenly stopped as a feeling of alarm coursed through him. His skin trembled and he angled his body to look through an alleyway. “Onyx?” Spike called back to him, having stopped when he realized the other wasn’t with him. The black stallion was quiet as he watched the shadows and darkness by the building. He paused and looked back to the dragon. “I will meet you there. Let Twilight know that I will join you in a bit.” He said to the dragon and broke into a trot in the direction of the feeling. “But… Oh rats.” Spike groaned and ran for the Library. Onyx reached the end of the alley and focused his own magic. A shadow tore out from under him and then raced out, splitting into two at the end of the alley. The Shadow Walker was silent as his shadows raced through the area. Ready to alert him to anything in the area. The Alicorn was quiet as he waited. One shadow sent out an alarm and he broke into a lope to follow it, recalling the other shadow to him. As he came around the corner and ran down the street, following the other shadows alert he slowed at the sight of another Walker in the town. He stopped short and recalled the remaining shadow. The other Shadow Walker did nothing as he watched it. The others form was silent as they stood still. Onyx finally took a few steps toward the other, his form shuddered to reveal the Shadow Alicorn that was his true form. The other finally moved and looked at him, its eyes sunken in. “You’re here?” It whispered to him. “Yes. I arrived earlier in the day.” He replied as he drew up a foot or so away from the other. “Why?” It asked of him. Its voice was weak and barely a whisper. “I was brought here by a group of ponies. They came to my aid when I was captured. They brought me here to allow me to recover and try to find out why I had been captured.” “Do they know about us?” “They know base information. Though only one of them recognized what we are.” He replied. “So they captured you now?” “No. I am here of my own choice.” Onyx supplied. “But that does not explain why you are here. If I recognize you like I think I do, then you are miles away from your known territory.” The other looked to him and sighed. “I lost my territory.” It sighed and was quiet once more. “To one of our own kind?” He asked. “No. It was a pony. One of the Light.” “Any defining features?” “It was another Alicorn.” Onyx paused. He knew that he was the only Alicorn of Shadow. “There are only three other Alicorn’s known, but they are not of our kind. They are the Princesses of Equestria. We have never argued with them.” “It was the white one.” “Celestia?” “The one who commands the sun.” “That’s her. That is beyond odd.” Onyx waited as the other seemed to be weakening with time. “What happened?” “She came to the forest I was in, with her guards. They began to brighten the darkness of the forest and were able to corner me. She used the sun, or something like it, to drive me away.” “Any reason?” “She said that our kind have no place in their kingdom.” He replied. Onyx walked up to the other Walker and realized that he had been burned by the lights they used. As he looked over the Walker, it was clear that he was dying. His body had been destroyed by the light used. “That’s not a comforting thought.” He admitted and looked to the other. “I want to die, now.” He croaked out and looked to the Alicorn. Onyx nodded. “I know. Thank you for alerting me to this.” He said and turned to face the dying Shadow. Shadows began to flow off of the Alicorn’s horn and covered the dying Walker. Onyx used the shadows and darkness to smother the dying Shade and allow him to fade to nothing. His form vanished and Onyx absorbed what remained of his life force. Onyx waited till nothing remained and turned to head back for the Library. He paused and looked in the direction of Canterlot. “This could be a problem.” He began to walk forward and paused at the sound of hoof beats. He altered his form once more and walked forward. Twilight came around the corner and sighed when she saw him, slowing to a trot. “Are you okay?” She asked him as she trotted to him. “I’m fine. Just checking on something.” He replied to her and began to walk beside her. Twilight started forward with the other on her heels. “So, how was dinner?” He shook his head. “I am not even sure what I ate. I was told it was a sandwich. But since I have never eaten pony food it was a new experience.” “You’ve never eaten normal food?” “Normal for me is a walk through a dark alley or a short walk past a hospital.” He replied to her. Twilight blinked at his reply but then chuckled. “So when you go by a hospital do you just absorb the pain there or can you focus it?” “I can focus if I need to. There was a time when my kind was called upon to help ponies.” He replied to her, at her wide eyes he continued. “We were asked to stand close to ponies that were in pain. Whether it was from illness or even during the birth of a foal. Our presence eased their suffering due to our body’s absorbing it. If focused we can remove pain from a pony. Whether it’s just to ease the pain for a time or to ease their passing.” “Wow. That is never written in any of my books.” “Of course. Not if you want ponies to fear something you make it out to be evil and cruel.” He responded. “I have defended many of my kind from cruelty in my life and I have seen the worst in ponies. But other times I have seen good things from them as well. There are many towns that remember us. They call upon our aid still, even to this day. Though it is not common.” He admitted to her. “I would think that working with your kind would benefit all of us.” Twilight replied to him. “That type of thinking is not common either.” He replied. “Many of mine die from attacks by ponies who are convinced that we are the reason for their suffering. Even when the Shade is gone the suffering remains and they are left with only more questions.” Twilight grimaced. “Well at least some ponies know the truth.” “True. It’s better than none at all.” He reasoned to her. “Okay. Let’s get back to the Library.” “So you can grill me further?” “Nah. I figured I would just let you sleep.” She replied with a chuckle. Onyx chuckled. “I appreciate your restraint.” They both chuckled and twilight angled them to walk to the Library. Onyx remained quiet as he thought over what he had been told. He suddenly looked to the purple mare and reached out a hoof to tap her shoulder. She looked to him and he spoke. “Can you not tell Celestia about what I am?” “Why not?” She asked. “I prefer to keep it quiet for now. I’m not sure how she would react to me. Most nobles and others have some history of hunting my kind.” “Oh.” The mare looked thoughtful as she thought over what he said. “Okay. I’ll stay quiet. When you’re comfortable about it then I’ll say something about it. Fair?” “Yes. Thank you. I have been in the shadows all my life. Being in the sun is new to me.” He replied, relief in his voice. “It’s no problem at all. It’s your choice.” She said to him, a wide smile on her muzzle. Onyx was silent as they reached the Library and went inside, Spike greeting them when they went in. Twilight bid him good night and he huddled into the dark room that he had chosen and sat down on the bed. His mind went over what the other Shade had told him and his mind raced as he thought over the implications if he needed to move the Shades that he knew where close to towns and cities. After a few minutes he sighed and scrubbed his hooves over his face and laid back on the bed. “I can’t fix anything right now. If needed I will leave and take care of my Shades. Their safety and survival are of utmost importance.” He groaned and rolled over to huddle under the blanket and allow himself to drift to sleep.