//------------------------------// // Dangerous or Not // Story: Spike of the Talismans // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// One day in Froggy Bottom Bogg, Spike and the girls were heading right over to a pond area with Fluttershy carrying a case which held a few frogs in it. When they reached the water, Fluttershy opened the case allowing the frogs to hop out and into the water. “There you all go,” she began, “You'll feel much happier here.” the frogs ribbited happily to Fluttershy before swimming along. Fluttershy turned back to the others, “Thanks for coming with me, everypony.” “No problem, Fluttershy.” Spike replied. “The last thing we needed was another possible chance of you running into a hydra.” Twilight added, recalling the memory of last time. “Well now that we successfully relocated Fluttershy's frog friends can we get going?” Rarity asked hopefully, before spraying herself with bug spray, “Not only are the insects here a problem, but the climate itself isn't doing my mane any favors.” Applejack and Rainbow rolled their eyes expecting these complaints from Rarity. “Don't worry, our work here is done.” Fluttershy assured Rarity. “Then let's go.” Twilight said, as they all started back only for Pinkie to stop. “Um, problem. I'm getting pinchy knees.” the party pony gasped which got the group alerted. “Oh, no.” Twilight said, as the group huddled together checking out all their surroundings. “See anything?” Spike asked. “Nothing yet.” Rainbow replied. “Then what's that?” Rarity gasped, while hoof motioning to something. The group looked and saw shadows on the ground coming right for them, “Moving shadows?” Fluttershy asked. Spike squinted, “Shadowkhan.” “On your guard, everypony,” Twilight warned them, “We have no idea what type of Shadowkhan we could be dealing with.” The shadow stopped before the group and they saw rising up from the shadows were another type of Shadowkhan. These ones walked on two stubby legs, and had V-shaped mouths. The group would've been incredibly worried had it not been for the fact these Shadowkhan were actually no bigger than a simple parasprite. “They're so. So...” Spike began, until Pinkie and Fluttershy squealed. “Cute!” Applejack stared at the tiny Shadowkhan in disbelief, “Ya gotta be pullin' mah leg.” The little Shadowkhan looked up at the ponies and Spike making their mouths look like they were squinting at them, before jumping right for them. Fortunately for the group the little Shadowkhan bounced right off them and landed on their backs upon hitting the ground. The ponies and Spike watched as the little Shadowkhan wobbled around trying to get back up but to no avail, “Well, that was just sad.” Rainbow said. “These Mini Khan sure don't do much.” Pinkie said. “I got this.” Spike said as he levitated the group of Mini Khan up before flicking them one by one into a tree trunk making them go poof, until he was down to one. Before Spike could flick it, Twilight stopped him, “Hold on, Spike. This could be important. We've never had the chance to study an actual Shadowkhan before.” “You wanna study this thing, Twilight?” Applejack asked in confusion. “Why not? It could help us in better understanding them.” she replied. “And let's face it there's no way we could study any of the other types of Shadowkhan.” Pinkie added. Twilight levitated a small jar out of her bag, as Spike dropped the Mini Khan into the jar with Twilight sealing it shut with the lid. “I don't get why Shendu would send such weak Shadowkhan after us?” Rarity asked curiously. “He probably ran out of all his toughest ones and is forced to rely on weaker ones.” Rainbow chuckled. “Well, we won't know for sure until we study this back at the castle. Come on.” Twilight said, as they headed off for home. As they left, they were unaware of a Ninja Khan who had been hiding in the water and watching them leave. It's vision was seen by Shendu who watched the ponies and dragon leave. He chuckled to himself, “They've taken the bait, now all that's left is to watch and see.” By the time the group returned to Ponyville, they all entered the castle, “We appreciate you letting us bunk here tonight, Twilight.” Applejack yawned. “Yes, it's been a long day.” Rarity agreed feeling just as tired. “No problem.” Twilight said, as they went into the library, and the alicorn placed the jar with the Mini Khan inside on a desk, “We'll get to studying this thing in the morning when we're all rested.” “Good for me.” Spike said, as they were ready to hit the hay. Pinkie however stayed behind to look at the Shadowkhan who was banging its small head against the glass. It didn't do any damage, as Pinkie spoke, “Sorry, little guy. You may be cute but you're not getting out of there.” The party pony started feeling hungry and reached into her mane pulling out a box of cookies. As she began eating, she heard grumbling coming from the Shadowkhan. It looked at her and jumped up and down as if pleading for a cookie. “Eh, I guess even Shadowkhan have to eat,” Pinkie said, as she carefully dropped a cookie into the jar and watched the little Shadowkhan reach down and nibble into it, “Aw, you like that?” Pinkie suddenly looked and noticed her shadow cast onto the table by the candlelight had some holes in it, “What's wrong with my shadow? It's like Swiss cheese.” Suddenly the Mini Khan's mouth started showing signs of teeth, before finally opening it's mouth and started sucking in Pinkie's shadow. “Hey, that's not...” Pinkie began only to start groaning and collapsed to the floor. Twilight and Spike came rushing in, “Pinkie, is everything ok?” Twilight asked, as the two saw Pinkie laying on the floor. “Pinkie?” Spike asked. “I guess she must've fallen asleep.” Twilight suggested. Spike looked at the desk with his eyes widening in shock, “Hey, Twilight.” Twilight looked over at the desk seeing the jar that held the captured Shadowkhan in it and saw the glass was breaking because what was inside started looking cramped. Suddenly the jar broke and the Mini Khan that was inside was suddenly about the size of an average pony. It had two additional legs, and it's mouth suddenly looked like the equivalent of a shark's mouth. The two screamed in shock, which was enough to alert the rest of the girls, “What's with the screaming?” Rainbow asked, before they saw the captured Shadowkhan was out and bigger than before. “Whoa, nelly.” Applejack gasped. The Shadowkhan lunged at the girls who screamed, but got blasted by Twilight's magic. It wasn't a direct hit but the Shadowkhan landed on the ground looking at its behind feeling singed before growling. “We got a pest situation in the castle,” Spike told the girls, before his eyes glowed red, “And I'm the exterminator.” he began blasting the Shadowkhan with his heat beam blasts. The Shadowkhan continued to scurry along the floor dodging the attack, before diving into a nearby shadow escaping. “It got away.” Spike grumbled. “Well, at least it's gone, so everything's fine.” Fluttershy said in relief. “I wouldn't be so sure of that, Fluttershy.” Twilight said while standing over the comatose Pinkie. “What's wrong with Pinkie?” Rarity asked. “And why did that little Shadowkhan suddenly triple in size?” Applejack asked. “I might know why.” Twilight said, as she looked down at Pinkie who was laying in the light. The group saw Pinkie's body was no longer casting a shadow which surprised them. Twilight eventually grabbed Lo Pei's book and read from a certain section, “According to this, shadows contain our yin; one half of our chi. And it's apparent this tribe of Shadowkhan grows stronger by feasting on ponies shadows. And without this part of our life force we're doomed to a state of limbo.” Spike thought back and it dawned on him, “It was all set up.” “Spike?” Rarity asked. “Shendu made us think this tribe was weak and allowed us to capture one knowing we'd bring it back to Ponyville where it could start stealing our shadows.” Spike gritted his teeth. Applejack frowned, “Why of all the lowdown...” “Take it easy, everypony,” Twilight calmed them, “What's done is done, and now we got to fix this.” “So what can we do?” Fluttershy inquired. “We have to find that Shadowkhan and stop it before it feasts on more shadows,” Twilight explained, “Only then can we save Pinkie.” “I don't think we have enough time too,” Rainbow spoke up, “The pegasi's forecast tomorrow is clear skies with lots of sunshine.” The ponies and Spike looked horrified knowing with sunshine there'd be shadows. And with all the ponies in town at risk, the Shadowkhan they captured would be feasting like crazy.