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Chapter 6: The Sneaky Stallion

“Stay back, Shadow!” Celestia shouted, guarding the three of us like the soldiers supposedly still standing guard outside who were unaware of the events that were suddenly taking place in the library. “These young ponies have no quarrel with you!”

“My dear….” Shadow spoke in a calm, yet sinister voice as he slowly approached the majestic deity. “You should consider assigning braver fools to such a task. I’ve heard just about every little word I needed to know about the location of amulets. I’m disappointed that you chose these little ponies to stop me.”

“They would have more potential than you ever would.” Celestia kept her ground in case he had any tricks to play.

The dark stallion chuckled. “These ponies? They have no chance against me. I’ve learned much more magic than those two could control.” He motioned his left hoof to April and me. “What can they possibly do that I can’t?”

“They can do much more than just magic tricks,” Celestia replied, aggravated. “They have the courage and power to show you the light.”

“Ha, don’t make me laugh!” Shadow glanced to my eyes. “I can sense fear within them, especially the red colt. He has no magic, no courage, no knowledge of this world, and yet you chose him to accompany those two to find the Amulets of… blech… Friendship. He should’ve chose his friends more carefully if you ask me.”

I never felt so offended in my life. I wanted to kick him in the jaw so badly, but my fear held me back. I just stood their, teeth clenched.

“Now wait a minute,” April suddenly shouted, “Red is our friend, and we would do anything to show him the light of harmony. Maybe if you had just let your old friends show you the light, you wouldn’t be endangering every innocent pony in Equestria!”

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her. “You know, it’s rude to interrupt an adult conversation, little girl. Besides, my ‘friends’ would never listen to me. They never had, and they never will. Friendship is overrated.”

He turned his attention back at Celestia. “Now, if you don’t mind, I must be on my way to the ruins to claim my lost treasure. If you know what really good for your subjects, keep them out of my way. Something bad can happen to them in the woods.” Without saying another word, his body became surrounded in a glowing purple orb which exploded shortly after.

Celestia shielded us from the blast with a protection spell while we ducked behind her. We were all badly startled from Shadow’s sudden departure, thinking we’d be blown away from the blast if it hadn’t been for Celestia’s quick thinking. Once the light faded, Celestia slowly lowered the magic shield. The library, once filled with neatly-stacked books, became a mess of scrolls and open books lying everywhere.

Two guards suddenly rushed in through the doors, astonished to see the library in a bad state. “Princess Celestia, what happened?” one of them spoke. “Is everypony all right?”

“Yes, we’re all right,” Celestia assured them, “but a corrupted pony is on the loose. Tell the guards to keep an eye out in case a shady character attempts to come through!”

“Yes, princess!” they said. In a flash, they ran down the hall to spread the message to the other guards in the castle.

Celestia then turned her attention back to the young ponies. “I am sorry, young ponies. It seems I was a bit too careless while sharing with you this information. Shadow has powers that enabled him to go undetected, and he may have more tricks in store for you. The need to find the Amulets of Forgotten Friendship now seems greater than I imagined.”

I wasn’t really listening, for my attention was on April because of what she said when she stood up for me against Shadow’s insults. I was also wondering how Shadow knew I was new to this kingdom… and possibly the world….

“Then how do we catch up with him?” Jigsaw asked. “That sneaky stallion’s already gotten a head start by now! He might locate the labyrinth by the time we get to White-Tail Forest!”

“I’m sure you find a way to catch up and find the amulets before he does.” Celestia slowly leaned her head downward at an angle as she frowned. “I apologize for bringing you into this trouble, but I can think of no other ponies worthy for such a big task. I believe you all can help save Equestria from this dark force.” She then looks over to me. “Even you, our newest friend. You may not know much of yourself and this world, but this quest may unlock some of the clues you seek. And as I said before, you won’t be alone on this quest.”

It was true that this would most certainly be a dangerous task for me to accept and that I wouldn’t be taking it alone head on. Since my arrival in Ponyville, I have begun to feel more comfortable around April Bloom and Jigsaw Flyer. I sighed before I answered, “Okay, we’ll do our best to find those amulets. For Equestria!”

With my chest held high, I began to march out of the room… until I stopped and looked back at the group of ponies watching me. “One question: where exactly is White-tail Forest?” I asked.

Jigsaw slapped his hoof upon his face and shook his head. “It’s only a few miles east of Ponyville. Problem is that it’d be hard to find a hidden labyrinth in a dense forest.”

Within a moment of thinking, April then had an idea. “I think I know some ponies who can help us. Jigsaw, get out some ink and paper. We’re going to make a few letters.”

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Chapter 6: The Sneaky Stallion

“Stay back, Shadow!” Celestia shouted, guarding the three of us like the soldiers supposedly still standing guard outside who were unaware of the events that were suddenly taking place in the library. “These young ponies have no quarrel with you!”

“My dear….” Shadow spoke in a calm, yet sinister voice as he slowly approached the majestic deity. “You should consider assigning braver fools to such a task. I’ve heard just about every little word I needed to know about the location of amulets. I’m disappointed that you chose these little ponies to stop me.”

“They would have more potential than you ever would.” Celestia kept her ground in case he had any tricks to play.

The dark stallion chuckled. “These ponies? They have no chance against me. I’ve learned much more magic than those two could control.” He motioned his left hoof to April and me. “What can they possibly do that I can’t?”

“They can do much more than just magic tricks,” Celestia replied, aggravated. “They have the courage and power to show you the light.”

“Ha, don’t make me laugh!” Shadow glanced to my eyes. “I can sense fear within them, especially the red colt. He has no magic, no courage, no knowledge of this world, and yet you chose him to accompany those two to find the Amulets of… blech… Friendship. He should’ve chose his friends more carefully if you ask me.”

I never felt so offended in my life. I wanted to kick him in the jaw so badly, but my fear held me back. I just stood their, teeth clenched.

“Now wait a minute,” April suddenly shouted, “Red is our friend, and we would do anything to show him the light of harmony. Maybe if you had just let your old friends show you the light, you wouldn’t be endangering every innocent pony in Equestria!”

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her. “You know, it’s rude to interrupt an adult conversation, little girl. Besides, my ‘friends’ would never listen to me. They never had, and they never will. Friendship is overrated.”

He turned his attention back at Celestia. “Now, if you don’t mind, I must be on my way to the ruins to claim my lost treasure. If you know what really good for your subjects, keep them out of my way. Something bad can happen to them in the woods.” Without saying another word, his body became surrounded in a glowing purple orb which exploded shortly after.

Celestia shielded us from the blast with a protection spell while we ducked behind her. We were all badly startled from Shadow’s sudden departure, thinking we’d be blown away from the blast if it hadn’t been for Celestia’s quick thinking. Once the light faded, Celestia slowly lowered the magic shield. The library, once filled with neatly-stacked books, became a mess of scrolls and open books lying everywhere.

Two guards suddenly rushed in through the doors, astonished to see the library in a bad state. “Princess Celestia, what happened?” one of them spoke. “Is everypony all right?”

“Yes, we’re all right,” Celestia assured them, “but a corrupted pony is on the loose. Tell the guards to keep an eye out in case a shady character attempts to come through!”

“Yes, princess!” they said. In a flash, they ran down the hall to spread the message to the other guards in the castle.

Celestia then turned her attention back to the young ponies. “I am sorry, young ponies. It seems I was a bit too careless while sharing with you this information. Shadow has powers that enabled him to go undetected, and he may have more tricks in store for you. The need to find the Amulets of Forgotten Friendship now seems greater than I imagined.”

I wasn’t really listening, for my attention was on April because of what she said when she stood up for me against Shadow’s insults. I was also wondering how Shadow knew I was new to this kingdom… and possibly the world….

“Then how do we catch up with him?” Jigsaw asked. “That sneaky stallion’s already gotten a head start by now! He might locate the labyrinth by the time we get to White-Tail Forest!”

“I’m sure you find a way to catch up and find the amulets before he does.” Celestia slowly leaned her head downward at an angle as she frowned. “I apologize for bringing you into this trouble, but I can think of no other ponies worthy for such a big task. I believe you all can help save Equestria from this dark force.” She then looks over to me. “Even you, our newest friend. You may not know much of yourself and this world, but this quest may unlock some of the clues you seek. And as I said before, you won’t be alone on this quest.”

It was true that this would most certainly be a dangerous task for me to accept and that I wouldn’t be taking it alone head on. Since my arrival in Ponyville, I have begun to feel more comfortable around April Bloom and Jigsaw Flyer. I sighed before I answered, “Okay, we’ll do our best to find those amulets. For Equestria!”

With my chest held high, I began to march out of the room… until I stopped and looked back at the group of ponies watching me. “One question: where exactly is White-tail Forest?” I asked.

Jigsaw slapped his hoof upon his face and shook his head. “It’s only a few miles east of Ponyville. Problem is that it’d be hard to find a hidden labyrinth in a dense forest.”

Within a moment of thinking, April then had an idea. “I think I know some ponies who can help us. Jigsaw, get out some ink and paper. We’re going to make a few letters.”