//------------------------------//
// 7: Shadow Death 
// Story: Defending Equestria (Cancelled) 
// by Jack2023 
//------------------------------//


I got up at 5:30 to do research about the being last night.
I still have no idea how such an evil thing could be in this world. But, I believe Celastia now about that thing is from earth, just looking at it you can tell that only a human's evil tainted it. But why was it in the shape of a pony?
I read the book that Twilight was going to read last night. But sadly, there was nothing like the shadow, shocker actually, I had hopes on finding answers in that book. Even though my search was fruitless, I put all of the information the book had into my SPCC.


I walked out of the bedroom to see books surrounding Twilight.
“Twilight?” I said trying to get her back in reality.
She quickly looked at me, “Jack? Do you have the book from last night?”
I walked next to her and set it down on her desk.
“It was fruitless.” I sighed.

She quickly started flipping through it.
“There is nothing there like Shadow Death.” I said.
She quickly stopped to look at me.
“Shadow Death?” She said with fear in her voice.
“That's the name I gave it.” I said quickly trying to calm her down.
“Why name it that?” She quickly replied.

I didn't say any thing.
“What did it say to you last night, Jack?” She asked, I looked at her, fear was clearly in her eyes.
“I am going to kill you Reaper.” More fear went through her eyes at my words, as she begins frantically thinking.
“How can that thing exist, why does it want to kill you, what is a Reaper!?” Twilight said.
“All I know about it, is that its evil was definitely human.”
“How can you tell!”
“Because I've faced evil like that many times.”
“WHAT!?” Twilight yelled.
“Twilight! My world is pure evil! Rape, war, and mass murder are common in my world!” She didn't move.
“If we were to compare you're world and mine to each other. They would be the exact opposite!”


After a moment of silence with Twilight thinking, She finally talked.
“Please explain to me how you faced evil like this before?” I can easily see her question if I'm evil.
I sighed, “I was a member of a special task force, that only answered to the President. We where his secret weapon. We'll when the president needed someone dead right now, he would send us.”

“You... Killed?”
Twilight said after a moment of silence.
“There are good people in my world Twilight. But to do certain good deeds. You have to do evil things.” I said with silence after.

“I don't believe that.” She said with anger in her voice.
“How can you do good when you take away some ones LIFE!?” She said in anger.
“To prevent him from slaughtering innocent!” She looked at me with anger and sadness.
“Twilight?” I said trying to prevent her from hating me.
She walked over to the couch and sat down, trying comprehend what I'm saying.

“Twilight. On December, 11, 2041, A threat was made by a greatly feared terrorist. He threaten to set of a Weapon of Mass Destruction.” She looked at me surprised by what I said. I sighed.
“Members of the task force I was part of was sent to stop that from happening.”
“What happened?” She said with pure fear in her voice and eyes.

“They failed.”

Twilight was motionless. “The weapon went off. In 1 minute, 5 thousand people died.”
Twilight began crying, at this.
“Thousands of innocent people, and soldiers who where trying to protect them died. Including the 10 people who tried to stop this!”
I started to cry. “The 10 people I spent 14 years of my life with. The 10 people I considered brothers died that day!”

Twilight just sat there crying as I prevented myself from joining her. After some time she got up and left the house crying. I stood there motionless as flashbacks rushed though my mind. I felt like I'm as evil as Shadow Death.

I went into my room and took every thing I needed out of my packs. I then locked my packs and left Twilight's home.
I went to pursue the only lead I had against Shadow Death, The Ever-Free Forest.


After learning what Jack has been through. And finding some place quite, I just had to cry, its the only thing I could do. I was at the edge of the Ever-Free Forest, for about an hour. Once I finally got control of myself, I started to think correctly. I began retracing every thing that has happened after I brought Jack to this world. I don't know how to deal with whats going on. I just hope Jack does, but what he said earlier.
"He's dealt with evil like this before?"
I understand loosing his friends, but. What did he do after this. And before. That's what I need to find out. 

I look to the Ever-Free Forest entrance to get back to Ponyville, but am surprised to see Jack walking into the forest. Not thinking I run over there to stop him.

“Jack! Stop!” I said half way to him.
He didn't stop. And I ran faster to catch up.
“Jack? What are you doing?” I said to him, finally caught up.
He stopped and turned around to look at me. He was wearing things I've never seen before.
“Don't follow me Twilight.” He said starting to turn back around.
“What are you doing?” I said, fear was starting to take its grip on me.
“I'm going after Shadow Death.” He said starting to walk away again.
“Not without me!” I said not thinking. He quickly turned back around blocking my way.
“Go back home! This isn't you're fight!” He said in a tone that made me want to listen to him.

I look up into his eyes. I'm forced to take a step back. Hes looking at me with eyes if only seen one place. He turned back around going into the forest.

I didn't follow.


2 days have past. No word from Jack sense he left. Its now his birthday.
Pinkie is taking it hard because she can't throw him a party. But that doesn't worry me. I honestly think he doesn't care about his birthday. I hope hes OK.
I don't know what to do.
The others say he has his reasons for going in there. To pursue Shadow Death. I still haven’t told them what happened before he went into the forest. Its better that they don't know something like that.

Another day has past. In his world it would be, June, 29th, 2042.

I was sitting at the entrance to the Ever-Free Forest, most of my hope lost. I began to feel myself cry. After about 4 hours of me just sitting there. Loud bangs rang through the forest. I have never heard any thing like that before. I then hear a dragons roar.

I began to freak out. More bangs rang through the forest as well as its roars. And I can also start to hear the noises getting closer to me. I then see the dragon fly into the sky roaring. I got under a tree so it couldn't see me. I look closer at the green dragon to see red all over him. Blood, he was wounded, and badly. He flew away, into the forest and away from me.


I stayed still for a moment trying to regain myself. And look down onto the path way to see, Jack limping towards me. “JACK!” I said as fear of how he is took hold.
Right at the moment he heard me he quickly pointed something at me with pain in his eyes.
“Twilight?” he said lowering the object.
I quickly ran over to him, who has fallen to his knees now.
“Are you alright!?” I said as I got close to him.
“Yea... Just, need, a... A moment” I looked what Jack pointed at me.
It was something I've never seen before, It looked like it was made for a human to hold, and it had a trigger on it. I then start to smell a bad stench from it, also heat.
Jack picked it up and put it away in a pouch on his right leg.

He was covered in cuts, his clothing dirty and ripped up.
He got up to start walking again to get out of the forest. I followed closely next to him. We got out of the forest when he fell to the floor, and was unconscious.
I tried to wake him up, that’s when I see his left leg bleeding from 3rd degree burns.
He regain conscious quickly and stood back up.
“We need to get you to the hospital!” I said trying to keep his balance.
“Yea. I agree!” He said in pain.


After we got to the hospital it was simple to patch him up. He was walking around like nothing happened in 10 minutes. He signed papers and we left only 20 minutes after we got there.

He wasn't in pain any more as we walked home.
“Jack?” I quickly said while we where walking.
“Yes Twilight?”
“That dragon was after you wasn't it?”
He sighed, “Yea it was.”
I smiled a little, “You're lucky to be alive!”
He chuckled at what I said.
“It wasn't luck!” he said smiling now.
“Then what was it?” I said smiling a little more. He slowed down, and his smile was gone.
“My... Training is why I'm alive.” I slowed down to his speed.
And I remembered every thing that happened three days ago.


The last of the walk home was quite.
I opened the door to let Twilight in first. And I walked in to see the place clean of the books.
Spike was on the stairs sleeping. Twilight giggled a little.
“I'm going to go put Spike in bed okay? I'll be right back.” She lifted the baby dragon with her magic and went up stairs.


I walked into my room, throwing my gear to the floor, I then went and took a shower.
After getting myself clean and checking my wounds to see how well the hospital patched me up, I got some clean clothes on and strapped my SPCC back on after cleaning it. I look on my bed to see my handgun in its holster. I quickly cleaned it, also making sure it wasn't loaded, but still had two magazines full if I needed to use it. I strapped its holster onto my right leg and put the gun back into it, along with the two mags.


I walked out to see Twilight on the couch reading a book. She moved the book to look at me.
“How are you doing Jack?” Twilight said smiling.
“A lot better then when I was in the forest.” I said smiling back.
“Hows you're leg?”
“It will heal quickly. How are you?”
The smile went away and she started to look sad.
“I've been worrying about you the past 3 days.”
I looked away from a moment, “Twilight. I'm sorry for what I did.”
She smiled a little to hide her sadness. “Its okay, I forced you to tell me.”

“Its not okay Twilight.” I said trying to get my point.
“I said things that I never should have. And yes... I am a evil-”
“Please stop!” She interrupted me.
“We shouldn't talk about this now. You just got back from being missing. And... I don't want to...” She said the last part under breath while also stopping herself.
I walked over to Twilight and sat on the couch next to her. After some time, Twilight was able to get control of herself. We need to do something to get are minds away.
“Twilight? Do you want to go get dinner?”

She looked at me smiling a little. “Where do you want to go?”
“I think you should choose.”
“Why?” I got up and look at her, after her question.
“Simple. You're buying!” She giggled and got up to leave with me.


We left the house and went to AppleJack's. Turns out Twilight was invited to dinner tonight, so I went with her.
This was a good thing, I could announce to Ponyville that I was back in town, also get on the Apple family's good side to see if I could find work there to make some money. And I would feel bad if I made Twilight buy me dinner.

We made it to the Apple's home and Twilight knocked on the door. It was Apple Bloom who opened the door.
“Hello Twilight!” She had to look up to see my face.
“You must be Jack!” She said bouncing with excitement, literally.
I smiled, “I sure am!” I got on one knee to be at closer eye level with her. “Whats you're name!” I asked with joy seeing her so happy.
“My names Apple Bloom! Nice to meet you!”
At this point AppleJack walked by the hallway door to the front room. “Is it Twilight, Apple Bloom?”
“It sure is AppleJack! She also brought Jack!” I can hear a little squeak at the news when she quickly came back to see if I was really here.

“Well Jack, its good to see you're okay!” AppleJack said smiling, but I can still see distrust for me in her eyes, I don't blame her. “I hope its okay if Jack joins us?” Twilight asked.
“Of course!” AppleJack said happily. 


After washing up and getting comfy at the table. I was introduced to Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh. Its been so long sense I had homemade comfort food. Actually I don't remember ever having a meal like this.

“So how was it Jack? Being lost in the Ever-Free Forest?” Apple Bloom said while we continued to eat.
“Well today could have gone better.” I said smiling.
“What do you mean?” AppleJack asked.
“I got attacked by a dragon.” The four Apples where shocked at this.
“A dragon?!” Apple Bloom said with pure curiosity in her voice.
“How well did that end up?” AppleJack asked, trying to keep a smile.
“We just got out of the hospital.” Twilight said smiling.
“Are you hurt at all?” Granny Smith asked.
“I'm fine and I'm already recovering fast.” I said smiling happily.
The four Apples smiled and we continued with are meal.


After we finished, me and Twilight helped clean up.
Then I spotted Twilight and AppleJack talking quietly, but I easily made out what they where saying.
“Are you doing OK, Twilight.” AppleJack said in worry.
“Of course AppleJack, why do you ask?”
“I still don't trust him, especially after what he did.”
“I know, and... I don’t rely trust him either.” My heart sank after hearing Twilight say that. But, I did give them more then enough reasons.

As we left I asked AppleJack if I could come by some days, and do some work for profit. She happily said yes. We waved goodbye to the Apples and went home. It was dark out and I had my guard up, luckily nothing happened as we safely walked in the front door to Twilight's Home.


Spike was still asleep, do to his snoring we barely heard from the other room.
“It was good seeing AppleJack and her family.” I said trying to get a conversation with Twilight going.
“Jack?” She said with sadness in her voice as she sat on the couch.
I then walked next to her and joined her on the couch. “You want to know more about my pass?” a moment of silence followed my question.

“I'm sorry, but I want to know what happened before that.”
I began to feel myself cry. “When I was 6 years old. My parents where murdered when they where out on the town. That day I lost all my life, every thing I lived for was buried with my parents. My life didn't matter any more. 3 days later some men saying they worked for the government came to see me. They told me that they would turn me into something that surpassed humans, my life would matter and I could prevent other people from dying like my parents did. I accepted. They took me to a place along with 11 other kids, my age.” I had to stop for a moment to wipe my tears.

“Eleven other kids?” Twilight said in thought, I then continued.
“Me and and thous kids became brothers.” Twilight quickly looked at me, I can see her began crying.
“All of use where trained, are DNA altered, and machines put in us.” Twilight began to sob and she couldn't look at me.
“Me, and thous 11 kids became what everyone in my world called, Reapers.” She looked at me, still crying.
I couldn't help my self any more. I looked away and started crying. “I miss my brothers! And I regret every thing I did in my life! I wish some one could kill me so the suffering would stop!”

I felt Twilight push herself against my side.
After a moment I could tell some one else was here. I look up to see the one thing I did not want to see.

Shadow Death.

I quickly grabbed my gun and loaded it to shoot the bastard that stood before me. I took aim as he began to speak.
“I will bring you the death you wish for, Reaper!” I pulled the trigger.
A loud bang along with a flash rang through the room.

“He's gone.” I said with the barrel of the gun smoking. I looked at Twilight to see just... Pure fear in her eyes.
Silence was all that could be heard, like I just killed the very being that made sound for this world. Spike ran down the stairs screaming. “WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?”
Twilight busted out crying. I had to hold her for comfort.
Spike ran next to us. I looked at the dragon, his eyes revile that he just witness what happened moments ago.

I suddenly hear the front door bash open. I grab my gun pointing it where the noes came from. I was joyed to see Rainbow Dash and AppleJack. I quickly lowered my weapon as they ran next to us.
I continued holding Twilight.
“What just happened!?” Rainbow Dash angrily said.
“Shadow Death showed himself” Spike said as Twilight buried her face into my chest.
I could hear the two ponies gasp. Right then Luna ran in.

“Where is he!?” Luna yelled.
I looked at her. “The bastard got away!” I can see anger in her eyes.
“Damn it!” I said under my breath.


No one could sleep that night. The rest of the ponies joined us in the library. For fear of it showing him self again. Thankfully Pinkie Pie brought some sweets to lightened the mood. Its the only thing that could. Me and Twilight never left that couch, nor would she move.
We all stayed silent tell morning.

Soon after the sun raised Celastia showed up.
Luna Quickly walked to her to tell about the ordeal.
“Twilight?” Celastia said with her voice tainted by fear.

Twilight finally moved to look at the Princess, her eyes red with tears. Celastia walked close to her student
“Its alright my dear Twilight. You are safe now”
She wouldn't talk for a while. “I'm not scared for my own safety.” Twilight finally said. Everyone in the room looked at me.

I look down to see complete worry for my life in Twilight's eyes.

I looked away at the floor, and let go of Twilight and stood up.
“He can't kill me.” I said as anger began building in my self.
“But, Jack?” Twilight said.
I look back at her, “I sworn to myself to rid this world of evil from earth. Nothing will prevent that!”
I looked around, everyone smiled.


The Princess's left, me and the others finely fell asleep.
It was nice sleeping out in the sunlight, on the grass. We slept tell noon when I was the first to get up.

It was almost 12 when we all waked up. We said goodbye, and to take care and went with the day like normal.
The rest of the day, we stayed at Fluttershy's place. We helped with taking care of the animals, I was happy to see Fluttershy enjoyed having me there for the day.


It was about 5pm when we left from Fluttershy's place. We walked in the front door of home, and spotted Luna.
“Luna? What are doing back?” I said, annoyed by her intruding Twilight's home.
“I cam back to look for clues.”
Spike was sitting on the stairs annoyed. “I was suppose to clean the floors today, but Luna wouldn't let me!”
“That's a good thing right now.” I said, Spike looked more annoyed now.
“Did you find any thing Luna?”  I quickly asked.
“Yes. There's blood on the floor.”

I ran over to see 6 blood spots on the floor, each about the size of a quarter. I point at it... “That's a good thing. Look on the walls over here. try to look for any holes in the walls!”
They all looked confuse but we searched.
“Its clean Jack?” Luna asked confused.
“Right before Shadow Death disappeared I shot at him with my handgun.” I pulled out the Colt 1911 .45, to show them.
“What does this mean?” Twilight asked, unsure.
“He got shot. Shadow Death is wounded, and badly!” I smiled when I said this, but the others didn't.
“This is good! We now know we can physically hurt him, and he knows I wont hesitate to kill him.” Some fear came into Twilight’s eyes as I said this.

“So where safe for a good amount of time while he recovers.” Luna smiled when I said this.
“What will you do now?” Luna asked.
“Research! A lot of research!” I said happily.
“Where do we start Jack?” Twilight said with joy at the task I suggested.
“We spend the rest of today checking you're library. Tomorrow we go to Canterlot.” I said with joy.

“Very well, I will head back to Canterlot and tell my sister of this news.” Luna said walking out of the front door.
“Twilight! Lets look for any information this library might have!” I said, she looked at me smiling with a nod.
“Spike!” He looked at me board now. “You can clean the floors now.”
He instantly got up and sped to the mop and bucket at the bottom of the stairs and started to work.


We grabbed about 400 books that could help us.
About 4 hours in are search we went through 190 books.
“So Jack?” Twilight asked after a moment.
“Yes Twilight?” I asked still looking through books.
“That weapon you have, how does it work?” She asked after a moment.

After explaining firearms to her, she began to cry a little.
“How could such evil things be made?” She said, crying a little.
“Because humans are stupid.” I said with anger. She looked at me confused.
“Twilight? I despise being human.” We stayed silent after what I said, continuing are search.


I heard Spike fall over, and, yep, he was snoring. Twilight got up and took the dragon to bed. After they where out of sight, I pulled my gun out of it holster. I pulled the slide back a little. It had a bullet chambered.
“I will rid this world of earth's evil.”

“Jack?” Twilight said, snapping me back into reality.
“What?”
“You okay?”
“Yea.” I pulled the slide back ejecting the bullet, then catching it.
“Are you rely okay?”
“I am Twilight.”


Another hour past, nothing. Another hour past, nothing. Another hour past, nothing.
“That’s all of the books that we suspected.” I said sadly.
“Why can't we find any thing!?” Twilight quickly yelled
“Twilight?” I said, to keep her calm.
“Lets get some sleep. Canterlot's library will have answers.”
She nodded. I put my hand lightly on her shoulder.
“It'll be alright.” I said, trying to calm her down. 

She got up and left for her room. I stayed there, thinking. I laid on the floor. And focused my hearing to Twilight's room. I could hear her getting in bed. I look at the door to see light coming from it. “I don't blame her sleeping with the lights on.” I began to feel my eyes close under lack of sleep.
I fell asleep there on the floor with my hand on my gun threw the night.

I lost more of my sanity.

Thoughts of Twilight suffering flashed through my mind.
Something was wrong.