Shadow Storm opened his eyes. He yawned as he sat up on his bed. He was going to visit sweet apple acres today. He walked downstairs and out into the streets of Ponyville. He had absolutely no idea where sweet apple acres actually was. He decided to visit Twilight, she would probably know where it was. He started to walk towards the town library. The news of the colt who saved somepony from Changelings seemed to have set the benchmark for gossip right now. He could hear mares whispering to each other as he past them. When he reached the town library, he knocked on the door. He was surprised when a small dragon answered.
"Hello. What can I do for you?" The Dragon asked.
"I wanted to see Twilight Sparkle." Shadow Storm responded, what was a baby Dragon doing in a library? Was he some kind of pet?
"Twilight! This colt wants to see you!" The Dragon shouted.
"I'll be right down!" shouted Twilight. Shadow Storm walked inside. After a few minutes, he spotted Twilight coming downstairs.
"Oh, Shadow Storm! What can I help you with?" Twilight asked.
"I wish to know the location of sweet apple acres." Shadow Storm responded.
"Sweet apple acres? Why would you want to go there?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"I want to meet the mare Applejack, she is the only member of the mane six that I have not met yet." Shadow Storm responded.
"If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to meet all of us again?" Twilight asked.
"I have told you before, to expand my knowledge of Equestria and the princess." Shadow Storm replied.
"Yeah, but you've been at it for a couple of days now, don't you think you should take a break?" Twilight asked.
"I do not have time for breaks. I am leaving for Canterlot in a few days to go about my business." Shadow Storm said.
"Yeah, but what exactly IS your business? Are you a royal messenger or something?" Twilight asked.
"No, I merely desire to meet the princess in person. In private, if possible." Shadow Storm responded.
"Considering that you have quite a lot of reputation from saving that colt. That may be possible, but unlikely. Plus, why would you want to meet her in private? Do you have a thing for her or something?" Twilight asked. Shadow Storm was a bit surprised at the accusation.
"Certainly not! I merely want to discuss... Er... Political business with her." Shadow Storm replied.
"You hesitated, which means that you must be lying. Seriously, why do you want to meet the princess so badly?" Twilight asked, she was starting to worry about what his true intentions were.
"My true intentions are a secret that I promised to keep from anypony, it is a secret known only to my people." Shadow Storm said, he almost instantly regretted what he had just said. Not only did he raise suspicion with the words "True intentions" but he also gave away that he certainly isn't from anywhere that supports Celestia in the slightest.
"Your... People?" Twilight asked, dumbfounded at his sudden outbursts.
"My apologies, I simply overreacted. When I said that, I simply meant Canterlot." Shadow Storm said, lying through his teeth. Twilight had an odd expression, it was a mixture of suspicion and sudden curiosity.
"Well, alright. Sweet apple acres should be just to the left of your hotel. Just keep going down the road and you should see a farm in the distance." Twilight explained. Shadow Storm nodded and walked towards the door. He walked outside and started walking towards sweet apple acres.
"Spike! I need you to send a letter to the princess!" Twilight shouted. She saw Spike coming downstairs with a scroll and a quill.
Dear Princess Celestia
A couple of nights ago, I came across a colt bleeding out near the forest. He had a humongous weapon on him, I took him back to my house where I bandaged his wounds. He woke up the next day, he slept for a few more hours and then left. What interests me is that he is a Pegasus, yet he can use magic. He saved a colt yesterday from being attacked by Changelings. He went around town asking about you. He talked to me and each of my friends for information on you. When I confronted him and asked him why he wanted to know all of this. He simply told me that one day he would like to meet you in person, in private, if possible. I don't understand the colt's true intentions. But I am interested as to what this colt was. Do you know him by chance? His name is Shadow Storm, he has a very frightening voice and he has a very odd personality. I just wanted to inform you about him.
Your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle
"Is that all you want in the letter Twilight?" Spike asked.
"Yes, I hope Celestia replies soon." Twilight responded. Spike nodded and blew his signature green fire, engulfing the scroll and sending it to Celestia. Meanwhile, Shadow Storm had just spotted sweet apple acres over the horizon. After a few moments, he noticed that the farm looked significantly run-down.
"I imagined the mane six to live above-average lives, but it seems that some of them have it harder than other ponies..." Shadow Storm thought. He walked towards the entrance to the farm and spotted Big Macintosh waving at him.
"Hey there partner, glad you could make it!" Big Mac said.
"I appreciate the pleasantries, but I intend to visit Applejack and then go back to my hotel, I have some... Planning to do." Shadow Storm said. Big Mac nodded and walked inside of a run-down house, it seems that this farm had seen better days. Eventually, he spotted an Earth pony walking towards him.
"Hi there! You must be that colt who saved that other pony from them Changelings." The Earth pony said.
"Yes, that was me. I assume that you must be Applejack?" Shadow Storm said.
"Yer darn tootin'! I work on this here farm tryin' to make a livin' to support mah family!" Applejack said.
"I imagined that the mane six would live more... Leisurely lives..." Shadow Storm said as he looked around the farm.
"Not at all! Just think of us as normal ponies!" Applejack replied.
"I see. Well, it was nice meeting you Applejack, but I must be going." Shadow Storm said.
"Alright partner! ah had some work to do around the farm anyways." Applejack said before walking off. Shadow Storm had now met every member of the mane six. But none of them had any information regarding Celestia. He would simply have to plan another assassination attempt once he got to Canterlot. He began to walk back to the hotel. Meanwhile, back at Twilight's house. Twilight was studying per usual until she heard the families sound of Spike belching. She saw him running up to him with a scroll in his hand.
"Hey Twilight! Celestia's responded to your letter!" Spike said, waving the scroll around. Twilight levitated the scroll out of his hand and opened it.
"Thank you Spike." She said before she began to read the letter.
To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle
I never thought that this called for any attention, but you are the only person I can trust to keep this a secret. The colt you described matches a colt that tried to assassinate me a couple of nights ago. He managed to sneak around the castle all the way around to me and Luna's rooms. Once I confronted him and called for the guards, he immediately began to run, he had run back to the throne room where me and him fought. Taking him off guard, I managed to defeat him in the end. His wounds were serious, but he would live. I gave him a chance to escape, where he exited the castle and started running towards the Everfree forest. I believe that the colt you rescued may be the same one who tried to kill me. I would advise being extremely careful around him. But do not tell your friends about this, as it would only increase panic. If you can tell me where this colt is. I could send a few royal guards to apprehend him. Please do be careful around this colt Twilight.
Your teacher and mentor, Princess Celestia
Twilight's mouth became more agape as she read down the page. Eventually, she dropped the scroll right out of her hooves.
"H-he tried to kill Celestia?! But he seemed so nice... He even saved a colt from Changelings. But he attempted to kill the princess! What should I do? I suppose I just have to send her a reply telling her where he is..." Twilight thought, she had a thousand questions she could ask the colt tomorrow, but should she? He would probably kill her on the spot if she did... She had no choice.
"Spike, could you write another letter?" Twilight asked. Meanwhile, Shadow Storm had returned to his hotel room. He lay down on the bed and started to formulate a plan. Celestia would have increased her security, so he had to be more stealthy than last time. But it could wait, the time was late and he needed to sleep to clear his head. He got into his bed and began to doze off. He was about to fall asleep when he heard the door to the hotel open violently. He sat up on the bed to try and make out what was going on. He could make out two different voices, but only part of the conversation.
"...Is he?" He could hear one of the ponies say.
"-oom 7," He heard the receptionist say. He heard the sound of hooves coming in his direction. He quickly got out of the bed. He could hear the sounds of knocking at his door.
"Who are you?" Shadow Storm asked.
"The Equestrian royal guard, you have committed crimes against Equestria, you are to be arrested." He heard one of the guards say. Shadow Storm didn't know what to do. He couldn't kill them, it would make too much noise and would attract too much attention. He heard the sound of one of the guards trying to knock the door down. It was a split second decision, Shadow Storm opened the door and instantly rushed out. He continued to run out of the hotel until he found himself running to the library. He quickly knocked on the door and let himself in. The royal guards didn't see him go inside. Twilight walked downstairs in a hurried manner.
"Shadow Storm?! What are you doing here at this hour?" Twilight asked hastily.
"I don't know why, but the royal guard want to arrest me. Could I hide out in here for the night?" Shadow Storm asked.
"I-I don't know! Why are the royal guard chasing you?" Twilight asked, afraid that he knew about her letter.
"I... Look, I'll tell you the entire story later. Please, I just need to hide for now." Shadow Storm said, he realized that this was the first time he had ever pleaded with someone.
"Well... Alright, but just for tonight, okay?" Twilight said. Shadow Storm nodded, he was glad that he wouldn't have to shed any blood tonight. Twilight gave him a spare room to sleep in. The guards had probably returned to Canterlot to tell Celestia that he was here. He was actually afraid for his life for the first time.
"I'll sleep on it, looks like I've got to lay low for a while, I'm sure it will be all over soon." Shadow Storm thought to himself. He had trouble getting to sleep that night, it was about an hour before he finally drifted off to sleep.