//------------------------------// // Chapter 36: Shadow's and Secret's // Story: Chaotic Harmony // by shirotora //------------------------------// June 7, 1005, You would think after two and a half years nothing would shock me anymore right? Wrong. So very wrong. Why you ask? Because of a colt that I thought I made up staring at my slack-jawed expression. “Are you OK mister?” asked the colt. “He's fine.” Waya assured him, “Right Shiro.” he slapped me upside the head. “Huh? Yeah.” I said and got to my feet, “Are you?” “I, I think so.” he said, “Those ponies killed my escorts. They were nice to me, but they killed them.” he had tears welling up in his eyes. “Escorts?” Waya asked, “They weren't your parents?” “No. Mommy and daddy died three years ago.” said Midnight. “Do you have any other family?” I asked hoping he did. He shook his head, “No, I was living in the orphanage in Clearbrook (that's right people, not all pony towns are named with pony puns), but it burned down, so they said I should move to someplace called, um, Pony Town? Ponyburg?” “Ponyville?” I offered. “Yeah, that's it” he smiled, “Mrs. Flowers even gave me some cookies.” he looked back at one of the murdered ponies, his face full of sorrow. “It's OK.” I said pulling him into a hug, “I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner. We'll take you the rest of the way, ok. We live there any way.” he just nodded in response. As we walked back toward town, Midnight just ahead of us, Waya whispered too quiet for the colt to hear, “I've never seen you fight like that before. You've been holding back when we fight.” “Well I don't want to kill you, now do I?” I grinned. “The thing with your eyes was especially intimidating.” replied the wolf-pony. I looked at him confused, “What thing with my eyes?” “The part where you made your eyes red, and had that weird black ink spread from them. It was an excellent scare tactic... What?” he stopped when he noticed I wasn't moving, my eyes wide with fear. “Say that again.” I said. “You made your eyes red, and had that weird black ink spread from them. Is something wrong?” he asked. “We need to get to Twilight right now.” I ran forward, scooping up the kid as I passed. We ran at full sprint as the kid screamed in fear. I apologized to him but he was too scared to say anything in return. In less then a minute we reached the tree house. I burst in the door, set the kid down, grabbed Twilight and Jynx and pulled them upstairs, Waya close behind. Sweetie and Spike looked at Midnight, then up the stairs, then back to Midnight, then back up the stairs, then at each other. “What the hay just happened?!” the said in unison. “We have a problem.” I said jumping right into the matter at hand, “A huge, bloody, murderous problem.” I told them about what happened up to the conversation on the way home, “Waya tell them what you told me.” Waya looked at me confused before turning to the mares and explaining, “I just told him I liked how he made his eyes red, and had that weird black ink spread from them.” he saw a look of shear terror come over the two ponies faces, “What's going on? Why is this bad?” I took a deep breath and began, “About two years ago Discord tricked me with an illusion. He made me see him kill Jynx right in front of me. I...” it was hard to talk about this, “I snapped. The same thing you saw happened except the 'black ink' spread over my entire body. I killed ten ponies that night, one was a filly. Jynx had to restrain me with crystal magic, the same kind Dash's wing use, while Twilight and the others used the Elements of Harmony on me. I was turned to stone for four months.” Waya's face shifted from confusion to fear, “What ever that was turns you into a mindless killer?” I nodded my head, “The girls dubbed it “the Black Beast”, but I had a name for it already... Kagetora, the Shadow Tiger.” “What does this mean though?” Jynx asked, “If it was only a partial transformation, and you were aware the whole time, than does that mean it's OK?” “I don't think so.” I said, “I think it grows with my power. I was at my peak when it took over, now though... I projected my fire at one of the unicorns.” “You can project your fire?” asked Twilight, “I see where your theory is coming from. Maybe I can find a way to suppress it, or even control it's release.” “Why would I want to control it's release.” I said, “We should seal it away for good.” “You're stronger, and more resilient in that form,” said Twilight, “Trust me, I hit you hard enough to snap a hydra's back, and you kept coming. There may be times that you're alone with an enemy that's too strong for you. You could transform and kick there flank. Maybe I could find a way to regulate the amount it comes out. That way you could find a balance between power and control that suits the situation!” the egghead in her took over and pushed the common sense part to the back. “First we need to suppress it.” I said. “Ahhhhh!” a scream from downstairs preceded a blue blue shooting up and behind me. “What the heck is going on?” I asked. My answer came in the form of a pink party pony coming slowly up the stairs. “I'm sorry, little colt.” said Pinkie, “I didn't mean to scare you.” I chucked, “It's OK, Midnight, she's a friend of mine. She just wants to welcome you to Ponyville.” He looked up at me as if to say “Are you serious?”. he slowly came from around me and took a nervous step forward, “G, good m, morning, ma'am. My name is Midnight Star. I, it's a pleasure to meet you.” Pinkie shot forward and picked the terrified colt up in a crushing hug, “Oh you are so adorable.” “Pinkie...” “And you're so polite. Rarity would love you.” “Pinkie...” “I can't wait to though you a “welcome to Ponyville” party, and...” “PINKIE!” I said, “I think he' going to want to breath soon.” “Oh, sorry.” she said with her trademark smile, “I just get sooo excited when I meet new ponies. Ohmygosh! Where are my manners you introduced yourself but I didn't introduce myself. That's kind of rude of me. My name's Pinkie Pie.” He shied away from the energetic pink puff, “Nice to meet you Ms. Pie.” “Oh, just call me Pinkie.” replied the mare. “Pinkie,” I said, “can you go downstairs for a moment please.” “Okie-dokie-lokie.” she said. She bounced towards the stares and fell down with a “woah” and a crash. “When did you replace the stairs with a water slide?” Pinkie called up excitedly, as Razor's laughter could heard. I sighed, “I'll go fix it.” With a touch, the amulet returned the stairs to there natural form. We went down and made the proper introductions. Sweetie instantly recognized the colts name, but I gave her a look that old her to keep quiet about that. “Midnight, did the ponies bringing you here make arrangements for you to live some where?” asked Jynx. “No, I think we were going to take a room at the inn.” he answered. “Twilight, write a letter to Tia, I'll take him to town hall to file a missing foal report.” I told the budding alicorn. Twilight gave a mock gasp, “Sweet baby Luna! You're going to a government building? But nopony's dragging you! Are you a changeling?” “I don't think so.” I said as I headed out the door. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Did I ever mention how much I hate government buildings? After about two hours in purgatory the kid's paperwork was filed and the search for his family had begun. I agreed to take care of him for the time being. Course Jynx might be kinda ticked that I didn't talk to her about it, but they didn't have any available families in the volunteer service. “Um...” Midnight started, “You're not gonna eat me are you?” I couldn't hold back the laugh, “What? Why would I want to do that? I know I’m a predator, but I live around ponies. Heck I married one. I’m not gonna eat you kid.” “Oh, OK. I just wanted to make sure.” he said. “You OK kid.” I asked, “With everything that happened, if you want someone to talk to I’m a great listener.” “No, I'm good.” he said. I couldn't tell if he was bottling it up, or if it really didn't bother him. I couldn't imagine what the guy's been through to make him not care. Maybe he just didn't understand. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- June 14, 1005, Midnight was adjusting well, and was a remarkably adaptable colt. He was getting along well with Razor and even helping around the house with chores. He was even hanging out with the Crusaders (they dropped the 'cutie mark' part since they all found theirs), as they made it there personal missions to help him get his own cutie mark. Jynx, Midnight, Razor, and I were just siting down to breakfast when Dash busted in without knocking. She never learns, I thought to myself. “Can we help you Dash?” I asked. “Dude, you need to see this awesome trick I just made!” she said. “Dashie,” Jynx said trying to contain her anger, “We're eating dinner.” “Oh come on, that can wait.” Dash pleaded. “Dash,” I said, “come here.” She flew over beside me. Once she was in reach I gave her a pat on the back. Care to guess what happens when a guy with a magic negating amulet gives a pat on the back to a pegasus with wings made of magic energy? You got it. Dash landed with a thump on the ground. “Hay you fl... jerk” she quickly edited her speech for the children in the room. “Oops, my bad.” I said, “Well you might as well grab some food while you wait for your wings to recharge.” “Oh, sweet. Waffles!” she as she quickly grabbed a plateful. “So Shiro,” Dash started before giving Midnight a glance and switching to Neighponese, “(Are you guys going to adopt him)” I followed suit in my answer, “(We've talked about it, but we can't do anything yet anyways. Not for a month. Although I doubt anyone will show up. Remember he said he lived in an orphanage.)” “(We're going to file the paperwork as soon as we can.)” Jynx said, “(He's been such a darling little colt.)” “That's awesome.” said Dash in standard Equestrian. After we finished eating and cleaning up we all sat down in the living room to watch a bit of TV. I was introducing them to one of the greatest earth traditions... Shark Week! Unfortunately we were interrupted by a knock at the door. I got up to see who it was. “Hello, Shiro!” said the bubbly voice of everyone’s favorite mailmare. “Sup, Derpy.” I said, “We got a package?” “Um...” she scratched her chin with a hoof, “I don't think so. Actually I needed to talk to you about something... alone.” “OK,” I said and turned back inside, “I'll be right back. We're going to have a chat.” “Alright.” Jynx said transfixed on the massive great white leaping from the water. We went around to the garage. The only other things in there were my bike and a “car” (just a carriage with a kind of come-to-life spell on it). “OK so what did you need.” I asked. Derpy turned to face me with a very stern, expression, “First, I feel I need to properly introduce myself.” Her complete change in personality shocked me, but not as much as what happened next. She pulled a badge out from under her wing, “Special agent Derpana Hooves, EIA. What do you know about The Heralds of the Shadow?”