One morning Fluttershy and Twilight went to visit Shadow Smoke at his new home to ask him if he liked to go out with them and the other girls, Fluttershy would have gone even alone to invite Shadow but Twilight had thought that it was better to go with her.
“Do you think that he would like to come to the pic-nick?” Fluttershy asked to Twilight; Fluttershy thought that Shadow and the other girl had got off on the wrong foot and so she organized that event to pacify everyone.
“I don’t know.” answered Twilight “In my opinion he doesn’t look like someone who has something better to do.” she said, not too enthusiast with the idea.
As soon as they reached the house Fluttershy smiling knocked at the door, but nobody answered from the inside; the two girls waited for a couple minutes then knocked once again heavily, but there was still no answer; starting to worry they both went around the house hoping to find any sign of presence of Shadow or Nekuro; but at the end they had to give up, and Twilight exclaimed “It seems that nobody is at home.”
After a couple days Shadow and Nekuro came back to Ponyville after a business travel out of town.
“It was just a waste of time.” said Shadow bothered, remembering the last events of that travel.”
“Meow.” said quietly Nekuro.
“We didn’t find anything interesting.” Shadow kept complaining.
“So there you are!” Shadow heard someone yelled from above his head; raising his look he saw Rainbow Dash flying with her azure wings some metres over him.
With a couple of powerful wing beats Rainbow Dash landed close to Shadow yelling “Now, you ‘ll come with me!” grabbing his arm and starting to pull him.
Shadow was so surprised from this series of events that he didn’t even think to show any resistance, instead ,shocked he asked “Where are you taking me?” but Rainbow didn’t give any answer to his question while she pointed towards the centre of Ponyville.
Shadow didn’t ask any more questions since Rainbow was looking particularly irritated, for same reason; and so Shadow found out their destination only when he and Rainbow reached it: the Sugarcube Corner Pinkie Pie‘s working place.
Rainbow Dash opened the door, not without being a bit rude, and dragging Shadow inside she exclaimed “Look at who I’ve found!” showing Shadow to the other five girls that were all gathered there together.
The girls looked astonished at Shadow, who after some moments of embarrassing silence said uncomfortable “Hi, how are you doing?” greeting them with a shy gesture of the hand; while Nekuro was coming into too.
“How are you doing?!” yelled nervous Applejack “That’s all that you can say?” she said resented.
“Do you have any idea of how much were we worried about you?” Twilight said finally making it clear to Shadow the reason of such a bustle.
“Worried?” Shadow asked boggled “Just because I’ve been out of city for a couple days?” he said expressing his perplexity “Nobody ever worries for my absence.” he said more to himself than to the girls.
“It’s just normal that we get worried if you disappear.” said Rarity “Fluttershy particularly cared about you.” she said giggling mischievously.
“Stop with that Rarity!” exclaimed Fluttershy embarrassed, because she had got the insinuation of Rarity, “I was simply worried because the forest might have hurt him.” Fluttershy said trying to give a motivation to her concerns.”
“Oh, it’s that the reason?” Shadow said finally understanding the main reason of the girls’ concerns “I thought to have already told you girls that I’m not afraid of the Everfree Forest since there’s nothing there that can hurt me.” he ended with a reassuring smile that was showing a lot of self-confidence.
“Where have you been this time?” asked Pinkie Pie with the usual energy that marked her and that made her so unique, particularly to Shadow’ eyes.
“I was working.” answered quiet Shadow “But it didn’t go too well” said slightly irritated remembering his own mental speech that he was having before being taken away by Rainbow “all what I was able to find has been this.” he explained placing in plain view the ancient book that he had conserved under his shirt all this time.
“Really? A book?” asked Rainbow Dash unimpressed “Boring!” she commented extremely bored.
But, Shadow noticed that another girl had a completely opposite reaction to Rainbow’s and actually she seemed pretty excited by his recent discovery. “It is an original book of Star Swirl the Bearded, isn’t it?” Twilight, who could hardly believe her eyes, asked.
“It’s not the manuscript, but it belongs to that right period, probably it’s a first or second edition.” said Shadow showing false indifference, while, on the contrary, he was pretty happy to have caught someone’s interest.
“Oh, I must have it absolutely!” exclaimed Twilight, extremely happy for excitement.
“I guess we can find an agreement on the price of this piece of story.” Shadow said smiling, already foretasting his next, forthcoming profit.
“Eggheads.” whispered Rainbow.
After that conversation the girls let Shadow go, who was very happy to go back home with Nekuro to have a rest after his travel.
On his way back Shadow said to Nekuro “Can you believe that? They got worried so much for someone they have known just for nearly a week!” almost incredulous for what had happened.
“Meow.” answered Nekuro.
“Right, they really are some foolish girls.” confirmed Shadow, but with a smile showing happiness for the treatment received.
The next day Shadow and Nekuro went to Fluttershy’ home, but before knocking on the door Shadow looked at Nekuro.
“It’s really necessary?” asked Shadow him very nervously “I’m sure that…” he started saying, trying to assert his opinion.
“Meow!” Nekuro yelled against him, irritated from Shadow’ indecision.
“Ok, ok don’t get angry.” exclaimed Shadow raising his hands as a sign of surrender and resigning to what he wanted to do.
And so Shadow knocked on Fluttershy’s home door and when Fluttershy opened it he greeted them “Hi Shadow, hi Nekuro.”
Shadow extremely anxious said “H-hi, yes.... right....... I was wondering.....,” Shadow was feeling warmer and warmer with each word spoken “if it’s not a problem for you obviously,” for some odd reason Shadow desired that a meteorite hit him that very moment “if you like....., no...., yes........, I mean if…”
“Meow!” Nekuro shouted at him, irritated by his pathetic show.
“And wait a moment!” shouted Shadow in turn, then addressing once again to Fluttershy he said all at once “I was wondering if you are free this evening for a dinner with me!”
Fluttershy shocked and a little embarrassed by the unexpected request, and not knowing exactly what she could answer, started to say “Oh my....., I don’t know…”
“No? Good!” Shadow answered hurried, interrupting Fluttershy before she could finish and almost relieved from the way things were going “It doesn’t matter. See you soon.” He said turning back to go away forgetting the matter.
“Wait!” exclaimed Fluttershy, trying to stop Shadow, she was worried to seem rude by not answering immediately, “I don’t have any engagements,” and a little embarrassed she ended “so it won’t be a problem for me to accept your invitation.”
“Really?” asked Shadow extremely surprised, while he turned around to look at Fluttershy’s eyes to be sure that it wasn’t a joke, “I mean, good, see you later then.”
On the way home Nekuro satisfied asked Shadow “Meow?”
“It hasn’t been as bad as I had thought.” said Shadow “it was even worse.” He added with a weary expression.
And so, later that evening, Fluttershy and Shadow went to a restaurant for dinner. Nekuro decided not to accompany Shadow this time.
After they had ordered, Fluttershy decided to get rid of a curiosity that had been storming in her mind since that morning and asked “Can you tell me the reason for this invitation?”
“It has been Nekuro’s idea,” answered Shadow quickly, since he was still nervous finding himself in that situation so unfamiliar to him, “He said that after all the trouble that I caused to you and the other girls this is the least I can do.”
That answer was so unexpected to Fluttershy that she couldn’t hold a light laugh of amusement.
“What's funny about that?” asked Shadow embarrassed, thinking of having just said something stupid.
“You two are very close, aren’t you?” said Fluttershy, when she stopped laughing, happy she could say such a true thing.
“I can admit that, so far, we have known each other for all life.” said Shadow relieved, then watching behind Fluttershy said “and despite this he still treats me as a kid,” and extremely irritated said “look at him; just now he is watching what I’m doing!” pointing to the window behind Fluttershy. She turned back for a moment and saw Nekuro watching them from outside, then he fled away as soon as Fluttershy saw him.
“Why is he here around?” Fluttershy asked confused to Shadow.
“He is controlling that I don’t cause any trouble.” Shadow said irritated from the behaviour of Nekuro that in his opinion was definitely exaggerate and distracting.
“Oh well, let’s forget him.” said Shadow promising himself not to think about Nekuro for the rest of the dinner “rather, tell me about you and the other girls, I bet that it must be exciting to be one of the carrier of the Elements of the Harmony.” he said affably.
Fluttershy happy to answer to Shadow started: first she told of when Princess Celestia gave Twilight two tickets for the Grand Galloping Gala and the other girls did almost everything to be the second guest.
“I hardly believe that you girls can do such a mess for just one ticket.” giggled Shadow delighted imagining the scene.
“It was for the Grand Galloping Gala after all..” Fluttershy justified everybody with embarrassment.
Then Fluttershy told Shadow of when Trixie, a mago who performed street performances, got to Ponyville and caused a lot of problems.
“I hope that this Trixie is not the one that asked me where to find a magical artefact not long time ago.” Shadow thought not really worried for the possible consequences of that action.
At last Fluttershy told him of when Twilight led the other girls to talk with a dragon to ask him to change place to rest, on behalf of Princess Celestia.
“And so Princess Celestia sent you to challenge a dragon, alone?” asked Shadow even if he wasn’t really convinced by the whole story.
“We didn’t have to challenge him.” said Fluttershy smiling “We had just to kindly ask him to change home, and it worked.”
“Yes, sure.” Shadow, who was querying more the methods of Princess Celestia then the story of Fluttershy, thought to himself.
At the end, when it seemed that Fluttershy had finished her stories, Shadow, still interested, said “That’s all very interesting, but you still haven’t told me of when you all defeated Nightmare Moon, and freed Princess Luna from her curse.”
“If you really want to know it...” said Fluttershy without enthusiasm, but since she didn’t want to say no to Shadow she told him the entire story that she had personally lived.
“It sounds really dangerous.” commented Shadow at the end of the narration, amazed by the events described by Fluttershy.
“You have no idea of how scared I was.” confessed Fluttershy, still shivering when she thought about Nightmare Moon.
“Now, why don’t you tell me something about you?” she asked after some moments of silence, curious to know more about Shadow.
Shadow, surprised by the unexpected request, tried to minimize “There isn’t much to know; I’m just a normal person who does a boring job.”
“I can’t believe you,” said Fluttershy as she wasn’t convinced by that explanation that was too vague “come on, tell me about your job, please.” she insisted, trying to seem very interested and so to convince Shadow to speak.
“There isn’t much to talk about,” Shadow started to say slightly embarrassed by that demonstration of true desire, “I spend most of my time looking for information on possible artefacts and legends, and then I control the truthfulness of the information I gather.” he explained briefly, describing shortly the main characteristics of his job.
“It sounds pretty interesting to me.” said Fluttershy imagining all the strange and funny stories that Shadow may have heard during his numerous trips.
“It may sound like that,” confessed Shadow “but actually, most of the times they are useless trips,” he said sighing and explanting the main source of annoyances “finding reliable information is the hardest thing in the world.” he complained.
“But sometimes, you find something interesting.” Fluttershy encouraged him, thinking of having ruined his good mood.
“I suppose I can’t say that you are wrong.” Shadow said thoughtful; then as he suddenly remembered something important, with a swift movement of his right arm, done so naturally that Fluttershy thought that he probably was used to do that movement almost every day, Shadow took out from the sleeve of his shirt a small black cylinder adorned with orthogonal red lines about fifteen to twenty centimetres long and with a diameter of about three centimetres, and pretty happy, almost proud, Shadow showed it to Fluttershy saying “This is the kind of things that I look for.”
“This is... a stick.” said Fluttershy not excited at all, on the contrary she was pretty unimpressed.
“Exactly,” affirmed Shadow full of enthusiasm “but a thousands of years old stick, it probably belongs to a civilization of which there are no trace and memory left. I’ve named it Webor.” he explained the peculiarity of that object that looked so insignificant but that still was able to emotion him a lot.
Then looking with melancholy face at the stick he added “Furthermore it has a significant meaning to me.”
“Of what kind?” asked Fluttershy confused wanted to know.
“It was the first artefact discovered by me and Nekuro together.” said Shadow smiling happily remembering that event.
“I understand,” Fluttershy said smiling happily to herself “now, tell me more about you.” she requested starting to really enjoy that conversation.
“I’m sorry, but any other information about me are “reserved”.” said Shadow smiling, but with a tone of voice that let Fluttershy understand that what h ehad said was the truth.
“What do you mean?!?” exclaimed Fluttershy surprised and a bit confused.
“I’ve already told to you girls some days ago, haven’t It?” Shadow asked quietly “As a rule I make people pay for information considered as “reserved”, and most of the information about me are like this.”
“But, why?” asked Fluttershy sad and frustrated by the strange reaction of Shadow.
“Sometimes there are things which is better not to talk about, and sometimes there are others that I don’t want to talk about.” Shadow explained sad without even been able to look Fluttershy’ eyes.
“Alright,” Fluttershy said comprehensive noticing some pain in Shadow ‘eyes and trying not to change the pleasant mood of the dinner, but still asked “but at least, can I know when is your birthday?” still wishful, now more than ever, to know more about Shadow and believing that such question wouldn’t have caused any trouble.
“If you really want to know, it’s on 2 September,” said Shadow, still continuing not to understand the great interest Fluttershy had on him “this reminds me that I have still not used my discount coupon this year.” he said thoughtful.
Then noticing Fluttershy’s questioning look, Shadow explained “It is the birthday present that Nekuro gives me every year: every time he gives me this discount coupon lasting one year, this allows me to make him do whatever I ask him, without any possibility to say “no”, otherwise there wouldn’t be way to convince him to do anything!” he sighed thinking to the stubbornness of Nekuro.
When Shadow stopped talking Fluttershy looked at him for a few seconds with an expression of surprise painted on her face, then suddenly a soft laugh burst out.
To this reaction Shadow became all red for embarrassment, feeling at the same time very hot, and nervous exclaimed “ you are laughing again!” with an offended tone.
“Sorry, sorry,” apologized Fluttershy wiping away a tear and she stopped laughing, then she smiled happily and said “it’s just that I find very pleasant to see someone so bound with his animal, you have also to admit that what you have just said was pretty strange.”
After that the dinner between Fluttershy and Shadow went on without other issues, the two talked about this and that.
When she finished eating Fluttershy ,after many changes of mind said: “Tomorrow I’m going to visit the rabbits that live near my house to control if they are growing well,” and after gathering up courage she asked Shadow “so I was wondering if you’d like to come with me to help.” worrying to bore Shadow with the request.
“I thought I had already stated that,” said Shadow slowly shaking his head annoyed “I do this kind of tasks only if the employer pays me.”
“Is money really so important for you?” asked Fluttershy sad, disappointed by Shadow ‘answer that showed superficiality and insensibility.
“It’s necessary for my personal sustain and it is also essential to keep on my information network.” explained Shadow extremely quiet with an attitude that could let think that he had made that kind of conversation infinite times before.
Then, changing his expression so quickly that Fluttershy was really surprised, with a big warm smile said “That being said, I could still accept this job and consider the pleasant conversation we have just had as my reward.”
Fluttershy unsure about what to say could only look at Shadow with surprise, as a matter of fact she was convinced to have misunderstood him since what he had just said and what he had said only a few seconds before were contradictory in her opinion.
“I’ve never said that payments must be with money.” Shadow continued keeping his warm smile, he was even delighted to read astonishment in Fluttershy’ eyes, then a little embarrassed he proposed “So, if is still ok for you, I will be glad to help you tomorrow.”
“Of course it is!” Fluttershy exclaimed smiling happily back to Shadow, understanding that what Shadow had just done was nothing more than a joke.
After saying goodbye to Fluttershy at the end of their dinner, Shadow was nearly at home when he saw Nekuro in front of him who asked him “Meow?”
“A lot of valuable information but nothing crucial.” answered Shadow shrugging since he hadn’t got any information relevant enough to be shared immediately.
Then ending with a light smile Shadow said “I’m afraid that it will take a lot of time.” and even Nekuro couldn’t say if Shadow was smiling for the good challenge that was waiting for them or for the possibility to have other entertaining interactions with the Elements of the Harmony.
And so the next morning Shadow accompanied Fluttershy to a bright meadow near Fluttershy’s house; there Shadow helped Fluttershy to count and examine the health state of all the rabbits in the area; the whole task was pretty easy since the rabbits, after some moments of indecision when they saw Shadow, followed Fluttershy’ instructions
“And with this we should have ended,” said Fluttershy smiling letting go the last cup rabbit, which asked to be visited last since it was the first time for him and he was afraid, “thanks for helping me.” she said to Shadow, by whom Fluttershy was nicely impressed thanks to his professionality: he had executed exactly what she asked him and also with an incredible precision despite being the first time that Shadow had done something like that.
“Helped?” asked Shadow showing a shocked look; “I’ve already told you, this is just a mere job for me, I’ve just done what you asked me,” he said trying to be annoyed, even if he couldn’t feel that he had really done that job . After all Fluttershy did almost everything and her ability to speak with animasl was so good to impress even Shadow; “anyway, I must say that I feel a bit disappointed, I thought that also the other girls would have come here to help us.” he said looking around and slightly disappointed because he couldn’t get other information about the Elements of the Harmony.
“They didn’t have time to help me,” Fluttershy said a bit sad, but accustomed to that kind of situation. The other girls were very busy and they just didn’t have time for her; then going back to think about the present she said “instead I haven’t still seen Nekuro here around.”
“I bet that he is passing the day trying to find a female cat to importune,” joked Shadow, since he didn’t want to even think to the kind of trouble Nekuro could have put himself into, “but I’m really relieved that he decided not to come here, I was a bit afraid that with all these rabbits around he could have got hungry.”
“Hungry?” asked Fluttershy surprised, doubtful about the meaning of this affirmation, and after a moment Fluttershy realized what Shadow meant by this and worried she exclaimed “You wouldn’t mean that…”
“That he eats other animals?” Shadow slightly sad ended Fluttershy’s sentence, “Unfortunately yes, I’ve tried to convince him to stop doing so, but he keeps on hunting on his own;” Nekuro himself told Shadow that there would be no hope to change, and he was very clear about that matter, “he has had this behaviour since he was a stray.”
After a moment of awkward silence Shadow felt obliged to say something since he had the impression that the last speech had upset Fluttershy; so smiling softly he said “Anyhow I must say that this is a very lovely place, I’m not surprised that the rabbits feel so comfortable to live here.” and he really meant what he said: that meadow was so nice that was able to inspire him a sense of safeness and pleasure that hardly he had ever felt elsewhere.
Fluttershy looking at Shadow noticed his smile and she couldn’t stop herself from saying “Then, you too can make a true smile.” smiling happily herself too.
“What do you mean?!” Shadow exclaimed surprised, feeling once again an uncomfortable heat, despite being a nice day not hot at all.
“I’m not quite sure,” answered Fluttershy, recognizing that she had said spoken without really thinking, “It’s just that most of times your smiles look bit forced.” she said smiling without any bad intentions.
Shadow was so shocked by that answer that for a moment he stared at Fluttershy speechless, then embarrassed said “It’s just that I’m not comfortable where there are people around, so I feel always a bit nervous.” and saying so Shadow laid down feeling a false tiredness.
But after a while Shadow felt as something was touching his hair, not only that,..... the sensation was just that something was gently eating his hair, “What’s going on?” he exclaimed surprised and a bit worried.
“It’s their way to let you know that they like you.” said Fluttershy chuckling happy, referring to the couple of rabbits that were gnawing Shadow’s hair; which was something that rabbits usually do to each other to clean themselves, so practically it was almost as the rabbits had accepted Shadow in their community.
“It’s quite enjoyable.” said Shadow smiling and deciding not to interrupt them.
“You really love animals, don’t you?” said Fluttershy very happy for the relationship that Shadow had been able to create with the rabbits.
Shadow feeling suddenly gloomy whispered “Animals don’t hate, and we’re supposed to be better than animals.”
“What did you say?” asked Fluttershy as she saw Shadow’ lips moving but she was unable to hear a word; “I’ve not heard well.” she informed him trying to let him repeat what he had just said.
Fluttershy couldn’t do anything but stay quiet while looking at Shadow leave, feeling a strange sadness, as if she was feeling some kind of pain in Shadow that she couldn’t understand.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Shadow and then he got up with a sigh, “it's getting late, I must go and check where Nekuro is and what he is doing.” he said walking away.