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The Shadow of Equestria

Chapter 26

Repeated Events

"Dear Zhane just too mentally unstable to resist." continued the now seemingly possessed Zhane. "He was ready to believe anything that anyone put in front of him. After seeing what he would do, I took the opportunity and offered him my power. It's as easy as that!" laughed the Avalan.

"How did you survive?" asked Agliss. "I remember running you through with my sword, right before you trapped us in that damned piece of stone. How have you survived?"

"Do you forget the power that I wield? Do I need to give you a reminder?" asked Avalan as he merely pointed his hand at one of the nearby walls and brought it down as if it was nothing. "I was and will always be the greatest mind of Oasis, the most talented, the strongest. My art of the soul and shadows merely made my body nothing more than a shackle. Much more was in store for me once I left my earthly body and entered this godly form. In fact, I don't see why you aren't worshiping me as a god. I could end your life with a single twitch of my finger, a blink of my eye. Your soul will become my plaything, a puppet for me to control till the end of your..."

During Avalan's ranting Agliss and Yamato looked at each other and simply nodded. A sort of silent communication continued between the two before they disappeared in a small flash and appeared next to Avalan, Agliss in the front and Yamato behind him.

"You always talked to much." said Agliss as a large firestorm began to engulf the man in-between the two Captains.

"You think you're puny Fire Element can hurt me?" asked Avalan through the firestorm, clearly unscathed by the raging inferno. "There's a reason your magic was dying out!"

A large shockwave cleared the surrounding area and pushed both Agliss and Yamato back.

"There was a reason you only made it to Captain of the guard, Agliss!" declared Avalan. "That Elemental magic was holding you back and still is."

Avalan opened his mouth to continue his rant but closed his mouth and smiled.

"I see that I'm wasting time ranting to you. So I'll end it now and move on to the Princesses."

He pointed a finger at the two humans and began to gather magic to that one spot. Seconds later, Avalan was about to launch the spell but stopped and frowned.

"He's coming back, looks like you've been spared. However, I'm not going to leave without leaving my hosts a gift of my appreciation."

Avalan collected energy in his hand and formed a massive black fireball.

"Have fun with this!" yelled Avalan in a giddy laughter.

The man threw the ball towards Agliss and Yamato before disappearing in a black smog.

Agliss quickly turned to Celestia.

"Put up your best shield now!" he yelled as the group did their best to protect themselves from the torrent of oncoming black hell flames. The flames hit, spread, and engulfed the entire room. What felt like hours passed before the flames dispersed and several barriers emerged.

Agliss and Yamato formed a barrier over the Princess who in turn had a golden colored barrier closer to her. Phoenix stood in a small flame circle where blue and black flames began to intermix, canceling each other out. With knowledge that danger had passed, Agliss and Yamato put their barrier down followed by Celestia. The Princess then turned to the Pegasus and grabbed him with her magic. She brought him, by the scuff of his neck, face to face with herself.

"You have a lot of explaining to do!" she said sternly, almost threateningly.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down there." said Phoenix. "You gotta buy me dinner first."

"Why do I hurt all over?" I asked as I awoke outside Red's cabin.

"You went ballistic in Canterlot. You literally turned Darkwing into mush. I had to bring you back here because you collapsed after using all that magic." replied Umbra.

I stood up and looked over to the cabin with a sad frown.

"We've got some work to do." I said as I limped over to the house and walked inside.

Red was laying on the floor with his face buried in his hooves. I walked over to the red lump and placed my hand on him.

"Red, are you okay?" I asked as I shook him.

The red pony opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Yeah, I was just sleeping some of this pain off. Are you okay?" he replied.

"I'm fine Red. I want you to get yourself fixed up. I'll take care of Spectre." I said in a sad voice.

Red looked up at and with my help, got up off the floor and hobbled to the door.

"The Ponyville hospital is just down the road. I'll be back soon" he said as he exited the house.

With him gone, I looked over to the room and went to work.

About thirty minutes later, I had a shovel, a small homemade wooden coffin that I put together from pieces of wood around the house, some material to make a head stone, and a place to bury the body. With the coffin and shovel in a large sack around my back, I walked into the room where Specter had been slain. All of the blood that had been split had dried and the blood had ceased to flow from her body. Gently, I picked up her body and cradled in my arms as I turned to walk out of the house.

The spot I pick was a five minute walk from the house in a nice meadow hidden away from the main road of Ponyville. I found a shaded area and laid the body down. I grabbed the shovel from my pack and began to dig.

I decided to go for the human tradition of six feet under and finished digging about thirty minutes later. I threw the shovel down and pulled the coffin out. I gently picked up Spectre and placed her inside the coffin. Before closing the lid, I grabbed one of her wings and plucked a feather. As it sat in my hand, I couldn't help but think about the first time I meet the Pegasus. I placed the feather in my pack and slowly closed the lid. I picked up the coffin, slid it into the hole, and covered the hold with dirt. I then picked up the headstone material which was a pick of stone and secured it in the ground.

"Her real name was Daisy Meadows." said a voice from behind me. I turned to see Red approaching the grave covered in bandages. "She was always embarrassed of that name and changed it the moment she left home."

I smiled and turned back to the headstone.

"Daisy Meadows." I said to myself as I gathered magic to my finger and began to write on the headstone.

Here lies Daisy Meadows

Taken before her time by the cruel hands of death.

We will never forget the happiness and joy you brought with you

May her soul rest peacefully in the afterlife.

I finished the inscription and sat back away from the grave looking at the slab of stone in front of me.

"What now Red, what do we do?" I asked. "I killed Darkwing but I still fill empty inside. Like I failed her in some way."

"She'd only be disappointed in you if you kept acting this way. She would want you to continue on." said Red as he looked at the tombstone. "As for what's next. I might go back to Canter lot and see if I can get control of the Black Hooves. Since Darkwing was killed, they'll be looking for a new leader. I'll do my best to get them off your back and focus on other matters. What about you Zhane; what will you do?"

"I don't know." I said. "Everywhere I go, no matter where I go, I'll be hunted till I'm either captured or killed. Till then, I think it'll be best to move around."

"The house will always be open for you Zhane." replied Red.

"Thanks Red." I said as I stood and gathered all my things. "Thanks for everything." I turned and head back to the house only looking back to wave goodbye to Red.

"Where is Agliss?" asked Celestia as she and Luna trotted down the castle hallways trying to estimate that damage caused by Zhane.

Yamato, who was following them closely, simply shrugged. Agliss had just disappeared even without telling Yamato. Celestia groaned.

"I could really be using his help, especially with that bounty hunter." she said as she looked behind her watching Phoenix trot further back. Phoenix noticed this and smiled at the Princess then winked. Celestia rolled her eyes and turned forwards.

"I'm getting really tired of that."

I gathered all the things I would need. Bits, extra clothes, weapons, extra food and water, stuff like that. I didn't know how long I was going to move around and I didn't care. Losing one of my friends made me numb to all feeling. I remember that I felt like this when I killed my brothers, when I realized I was the only one left in my family. It wasn't my fault but I still feel guilt from that night.

Shaking my head, attempting to remove the thoughts of that night, I gathered my things and walked out of the door. Before I left, I decided to visit Spectre's grave one more time. Again, I felt that it was my fault that she died. I mean, I was the one Darkwing was after, why target her?

I sighed and stood up, still looking at the headstone.

"You must have really liked her to do what you did at the castle." said a voice from behind.

I turned with my sword drawn to see Agliss behind me.

"I'm not here to fight you Zhane, just to talk."

I hesitated a moment before holstering my sword, despite Umbra yelling at me to kill him.

"She was a friend." I said as I looked back at the headstone. Agliss walked over and looked down at it.

"Daisy Meadows." he said softly. "Was this that green Pegasus that helped you escape Canterlot during the Changeling invasion?"

"Yeah, her other name was Poison Spectre." I replied.

"So her death caused you to go berserk?" asked Agliss.

"I guess, I don't even remember it."

Agliss frowned.

"That's because you lost control of your body, you were being controlled."

"Now's not a time to lie to me Agliss." I said with a frown.

"Why don't you ask Umbra what his real name is because he was gracious enough to tell us at the castle earlier."

All of Umbra's yelling stopped as Agliss said this.

"Umbra." I said out loud. "Did you take control of me?"

There was no answer.

"Umbra."

No reply.

I shook my head.

"He's not talking."

"Then I'll do the talking for him." said Agliss. "He did take control but I believe it was after you killed Darkwing. His real name that he told us was Avalan."

I was silent.

"You mean the Avalan that destroyed Oasis?"

"The very same." replied Agliss. "He told us that he's using your body to attain absolute power. Just think about it Zhane, what has he had you absorb?"

"Some kind of horn and the Crystal Heart." I replied.

"And what does he want you to go after next?"

"The Elements of Harmony."

"He's using you to complete his own agenda Zhane." said Agliss.

At this point, I was conflicted. For one, I was intoxicated at what power could be afforded through Umbra's magic but on the other hand I felt a need to get him out of my body.

"How would I get him out of my body?" I asked

"You would have to force him out somehow." replied Agliss. "Now that you know all of this, I doubt that he'll give up his spot so easily. He might even fight you for control."

"You still want to save him don't you." said Umbra. Somehow, he was able to project his voice out of my body. "You should just give up Agliss, Zhane won't give in to your cheap tactics. You're just scared of how strong he's become."

"I believe that secures my point." said Agliss as he turned to walk away. "I'll give you a week Zhane. A week before I personally hunt you down and kill you. It's either up to you or me to finish this mess, you get to chose."

He walked forward and turned.

"And next time, I won't hesitate to kill you. Even if you are a human like me."

A flash blinded me as Agliss disappeared into the light. I looked out on the meadow and smiled.

"Looks like I'll be the one to finish it." I said with a smile.

I walked back to the house and settled inside, it was going to be a long week.

Now that I look back on all of my actions in Equestria, I realize that I've forgotten what my purpose was. I live to carry on the legacy of The Shadow not to became some power hungry man that murders without the right purpose. All it took was the death of a friend and a speech from the enemy to realize this. To realize that I had to end all of this myself, that I've lost my way, my purpose.

I dropped the feather from my hand and leaned back. It had taken a good four days to write my entire story down on paper but I finished it. With every page in order, I surrounded the parchment in a cloth and bound it with some string. With everything done, I took a look at the letter I wrote. I placed it with the stack of papers and waited till the cover of night to deliver them.

I waited a while for the night to really settle in, surrounding me in darkness. I left the house with the letter and stack of papers in hand and silently made my way over to the Ponyville Library. Once I got there, there was a sign on the door.

In Canterlot on important business

Will return at the end of the week

-Twilight Sparkle

I walked up to the door and attempted to open it. Surprisingly, the door was left unlock and I walked right inside.

"Wow, these ponies are way too trusting. I would at least lock my door at night." I said to myself as I looked around the library. Towards the middle was a large podium with several books on them. I closed and moved the books before placing the letter on one side and the stack of papers on the other.

I turned back to the door, walked out, and closed the door softly behind me. I didn't stop walking till I was out of Ponyville and in the meadow with the clear view of Canterlot. Tomorrow was the last day of the week and my last chance to end everything. I walked back to the house and got myself ready for bed. I would need it because tomorrow was going to be a hectic day.

Here's Chapter 26 for everpony. Enjoy!

We are closing in on the ending of this story! So stay tuned for the last few chapters .

Phoenix is an OC owned by Neo Masamune. I thank him for allowing me to use it.

See everypony Thursday!