"Twilight you got that cure ready?" I asked the purple pony with the chemistry set.

"Right about... now!" There was a small poof of smoke and she held a golden vile. Static and I both took a swig and changed back into our normal forms.

"Here we go!" said Static.

"This is more like it." I popped my hip in place. "Now that this is over what did you say you signed us up for Twilight?"

"The annual Running of the Leaves race! It's in Ponyville!"

"I see. Is it fun?"

"It's so much fun dude." said Static. "Their are a lot more runners this year as well. Including us good stallions."

"I really like that title. It really just sets in."

a few hours later

We were stretching at the race line. Kay couldn't run. She was a little bigger. The baby started to grow.

"Hey guys what's the point of this?"

"It's to run and have some good fun." said Forest.

"Dude we've done this like twice now. It's a lot of fun unless you end up like Applejack and Rainbow Dash and race each other all the time."

"Understood." We saw Pinkie in a blimp with a microphone.

"Hello everypony to the annual Running of the Leaves. This year will be the most interesting yet. We have more ponies including Dustin Shafer or known A.k.a as the Shadow!" Everyone cheered. The only other thing you would probably hear was me yelling "Pinkie Pie!!!"

"We also have some Griffons in this." A few griffons got in the back of the line with us and made obvious signs that they weren't here to lose. I stood out of the crowd. I was the only one with a large 'x' shaped scar on my left cheek and wearing my battle suit. I had a feeling I might need it. "Let's begin!" Many ponies took off. Especially AJ and RD. I was the last to go. I stayed back and limbered up.

"And it appears Shadow is waiting to go last." said Pinkie. I popped my neck and took off after everybody else. I quickly made my way through the large griffons who were better at flying. I was in the back with my friends just chilling.

"Hey guys." I said.

"*pant pant* Dustin? Why did you wait?" asked Sky.

"Limbering up. I'm not even running." I said with a slight chuckle. They looked down to see I was trotting. I'm just fast.

"Isn't this fun?" asked Forest.

"It really is! It's also very pretty! Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The other is Spring."

"Why?" asked Dawn. Like I said everyone was in this race. Except the kids and a lot of other people. Yeah there were only about a hundred runners... so not everyone. I jumped over a few ponies and was right behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Oh oh Applejack and Rainbow Dash had better watch out. Shadow's creeping up on them." Oh that's a good way to put it actually. They both turned to see me. I wasn't even giving it my all.

"Hi girls." I said while moving past them.

"Get him!" said a bunch off ponies behind me. I wasn't cheating. I'm wearing a 10 pound suit and have my wings tucked away. I'm giving them all an advantage.

"I'm on it." said Static using his magic to enter the 'Time Sphere.' as I remember it so clearly. He was like a blur catching up to me. The griffons took off for the air. So for reals I started running. I took off way past them. I was running this time as I knew they were after me. On Earth I was a master escape artist. I don't mean to brag.

"Get that pony!" yelled a flying griffon. I stated to hum 'Ride of the Valkyries' for no reason. When he got down I jumped on his back. "Get off - OW!" I gave him a light kick.

"Onward! Bum bum ba bum bum bum ba bum ba bum ba bum bum ba ba!" He took off in the air. Every pegasus followed the air arrows and every other pony had to take the ground path. This wasn't in the show...

"I got you now!" said Forest who was still breathing quite heavily I might add. Good god It appears my English accent has returned! Hoorah! I must say where did this come from. It's quite random that I learn to speak like everyone here than get my old voice back out of the blue. I miss bacon... :,( *sniff*

"Are you crying Dustin?" asked Sky.

"I need my goggles." I said wiping my eye. I pulled a fly out. "Eh?" it flew off. We all watched it.

"You can fly." said the griffon.

"I can but that would decrease my odds of winning when we run again. My body isn't built to switch between flight and ground quickly."

"That would be a shame." said Sky who pushed me off the griffon. "Let's leave him in the dust!" Them and all the other pegasai took off past me.

"That bloody dick bag." I decided to glide down and run with some pegasus ponies that don't like to fly (Fluttershy) and the earth ponies. "May I run with you ponies?"

"Of course Shadow." said Fluttershy. The others giggled at that.

"Guess that's my adopted pony name huh?"

"Looks like it." We were close to the finish line. There was a road on our left that would combine with this one. The flyers had to get on it. I used all the remaining energy to speed up and win this.

"No you don't!" Yelled Rainbow Dash who grabbed my tail and tried to pull me back but I dragged her with me. Applejack jumped on top of me to slow me down but that didn't stop me either.

"Your trying to take my girl!" yelled Dawn from behind who zapped at me with a magic bolt. I dogged it with ease.

"Whoa! Now hold on their friend. I'm not taking anyone. Actually you have it!" I threw Applejack on Dawn and watched Heat Blaze on my left. "I got one for you too!" I flung Rainbow Dash at him with my tail leaving me in line for first place. Static pulled up beside me, so did Sky, Forest, and Twilight? We were all tied for first. I saw the line only a meter away.

"Shadow's going to win!" said Pinkie. But they deserve it more. I shall do the good thing! We all looked at each other and I stopped running for a second and let those 4 past me. Then I won fifth. Now to come up with an excuse.

"Oh ow! I tripped on my hoof their for a second! Oh well... Fifth place sounds lovely." I said accepting the small gold medal.

"The winner is... Twilight!" Guess the guys had the same idea.

"Wow! I won first place? This is awesome!" Actually I looked at the 4 guys and they looked exhausted. I think Twilight won this on her own. Well... Except for me of course.

"Great job!" I told her. I wasn't panting at all.

"Fifth? I got that for 2 years in a row but I actually won first!"

"Enjoy it Twilight. You earned it." I walked off and gave Kay a hug.

"I saw it all Dusty. You threw that race."

"Couldn't help it." I told her getting a kiss from her. We just hugged and waited for Celestia to congratulate us. She did come but only congratulated Twilight.

"Good job my royal student!" she said. I looked back and every tree was missing their leaves. It was beautiful. Celestia walked by me and winked for me to meet her later. I nodded my head. Kay wasn't looking. She was looking at the leaves.

"Sorry you didn't get to run." I told her.

"It's more than okay sweetie. I don't want to risk the baby do I?"

"No... that's why you'll make a great mum."

"*giggles* You sound like you got your accent back."

"I did. It appeared out of the blue. Too bad we still can't eat meat huh?"

"If we could I would have some bacon."

"With some eggs and a nice muffin with a side of butter."

"English breakfast. We can do the eggs and muffin still."

"Yes... but it's not the same." She giggled again. I love that. Twilight was still hopping up and down saying 'Yes!' How precious! I looked down at my medal. Maybe I am a hero. Just in my own sick way. Then again I'm the cynical protagonist of this mature story. I have been putting the past adventures as stories in my head. So If I ever have a dream about what I think then the inside of my mind would be like a library. So not mainstream...

"Hey Dustin or... Shadow. Guess that's your adopted pony name." said Kay. "I wanted to ask you what happened to Singing Blade."

"You know what happened?"

"I heard that he attacked you at the Griffon Mountain."

"He did. Then I ended up killing him in the Dungeon." I said lowering my head. I watched a puddle of water on the ground.

"Why did you have to kill him?"

"To... to protect you... and our friends. He was making an escape attempt and I acted with the only tool I had available. A hacksaw. I rammed it into his gut and ripped up all his innards."

"But you did it for the good of us all? I know it doesn't feel good." I didn't notice most of our friends eavesdropping.

"It doesn't. He may have been a psycho but he had memories. Maybe a family and I just took that all away." I watched the puddle till a shadow rose above it. I looked up to see Celestia.

"Dustin. Shadow. You've been through a lot in the past few weeks. You have become the best spy we have ever had and also killed a madman. Your a hero." She said in Pinkie's microphone. Great... Let's let everyone know.

"Yeah!" said everyone. They still support me? Even Rainbow Dash agreed. Wow... I feel like my entire life lead up to this point... Feels good! Plain and simple. That's how I like it.

"Thank you everybody!" I said out loud. I looked around me. The kids were playing in the mud. All of my friends and Kay were enjoying a nice cup of cider. On my right was a large pony with a hood. He had a crow on his shoulder and deep red eyes. He stood their and watched me. Time seemed to slow down and I swear we talked telepathically.

"Hello there young keeper of time."

"Hello there creepy keeper of secrets."

"Hahaha... We shall meet again in a few minutes. I have a friend who wants to meet you again."

"Wait!" I said out loud. The pony disappeared with the wind gust that happened. Only a few ponies heard me and they all cave me the 'You crazy!' look. Dammit. What friend wants to meet me again? Maybe a dragon...

"Hey Dustin! Your talking to yourself again bud!" said Static offering me some cider.

"Guess I am." Let's see. He was creepy. Large. Silent. He also had the presence of death like... like... Singing Blade... Oh no!

"Dustin?" said Celestia as she saw the worried look on my face. I ran to the microphone.

"Everypony get to cover! Find a hiding place! Now!" They did as was told and spread away from me in wide spread panic. Kay shared a tent with all my friends and the princesses. I stood in the middle of the street and closed my eyes. I need to concentrate.

"Hello Shadow. Or should I say Shafer?" said a deep cold voice.

"Hello Blade. What brings you around these parts?"

"Oh I think you know what I'm shopping for." I heard a familiar sheathing noise. He's ready to kill. So am I. I opened my eyes and dodged his attack throwing him onto the stage. I kicked down one of the benches and picked up two legs. They shall act as my weapons for now.

"Not bad Shadow!" I just now got a good look at him. He was mostly their. By mostly their were plates, and bone armor. He was too evil for even Death to kill. So leave the job for me. This time I'll cut his head off!

"Stand down Blade. If you don't I will kill you again!"

"You never killed me before! I faked death so your guards would dispose off my body." Smart. But you need more than a few plates and one wing to beat me. He was still weak. He did charge at me though. Is that his favorite attack? I dashed under him and got to one of his blind sides. I then jumped on him and began beating him in the head with my sticks.

"Don't you ever give up?!" How many times did I hit him? Lost count. And he's not being affected at all. Not a good sign. He looked at me with deep red eyes and smiled. He had these Shark teeth that just... Erg! Sends shivers down your spine. I jumped off and stood my ground. The sky changed. The moon moved in front of the sun and made the sky a blood red.

"What's wrong Shadow? No technology?" I never used technology. But the scythes did help.

"What's wrong Blade?" I saw him start to walk in a non straight pattern. He was still getting use to messing his left wing. "You look a little lop sided."

"Fuck you." He tried to stab me but I moved left and dodged it. I kicked the sword out of his hand and hit him in the spot where I stabbed him with the hacksaw. He began to cough and I threw the sticks at him. I grabbed his sword and stood against him.

"Come on Blade... Your losing to a small little pegasus like me."

"Your no pony! Your that dumb fucking primate called a human!"

"Ouch. I'm hurt. I might just have to hurt you for real because of that."

"For Real?" I charged him and rammed the sword into his right hoof nailing him to the ground. I gave him a brutal uppercut and while in the air I flipped and brought my two back legs down on his head. While he was dazed I twisted my body on the ground and gave him a double hoof pound in the chest wound sending him flying back and the sword slicing his hoof in two.

"AAAAGGGGHH!!!" he screamed while on the ground. "How can someone move like that?"

"I told you to stand down Blade! You have made the past few weeks a horror because you just wont quit! Don't you see? Your not going to kill me. And as long as I live you aren't going to kill anyone else."

"*cough cough* I'll kill... you. I will rape your wife... kill your friends. Save their children till they are ready to kill! I'll make an army and dedicate it to kill people like you because I know you won't kill me. Then I'll kill everyone else hear." Every pony was scared. Even I was but I was always scared. I just never stopped to think about it. Not enough time in my schedule. I walked over and picked up the sword.

"Your going to rape my wife to be?" I asked him. He looked scared. I stood above him blocking out the sun. My silhouette was all he could see with the blood red sky. "Your going to kill my friends, kill all these innocent citizens, and raise a child army?" I held the sword against his head forcing him too look at me. The only color you could see beside the red sky was my blue eyes. "And I can't kill? Do you want to know what I had to do to survive before this?" I raised the sword in the sky.

"You c-couldn't do this! Y-your a pony and ponies don't kill."

"You said it yourself that I was a dumb primate." I dropped the sword and chopped his head off. I twisted it and planted it in his skull. "I am Dustin Mark Shafer!" I yelled for the gods to hear me. "I am a human and the protector of these ponies and you won't kill anyone else ever again!" The red sky regained it's color. It went back to it's purple shade as the sun set. This time he was dead. For real.

"You did it!" said some of the surprised ponies. I didn't move. I just got on my back knees and thought about what I did. This wasn't self defense. This was an execution. I just murdered a murderer. Fucking perfect. He's not even worth me smoking a blunt.

"Guards." I said to the two golden armor ponies who came here to check on the princess. "Take his remains and burn them. I don't want him coming back."

"Yes, sir!" They put him on a wheelbarrow and carried him to the trash disposal plant. Kay ran over to comfort me while everyone else celebrated.

"Hey! Hey! Look at me Dustin!" She said getting in front of me. I looked at her. "I know. This time you really killed him. We're all sorry."

"Sorry? Kay their celebrating me for killing a pony. Their not sorry. Not for me. Nor for him."

"Don't think that way." she said. The others quieted down. "Their just celebrating because their living. Because you saved them again!"

"I don't feel that way!" I yelled. I didn't mean to but I can't keep this all bottled up inside. "I don't feel happy about this! This is suppose to be a good day isn't it? Running of the Leaves? I just killed someone!" They all were completely quiet. "It wasn't self defense! I just executed him! I just... I just..." I let the tears fall. She pulled me in a hug. I fell forward into her chest.

"Shh shh. Hey take it easy. It's okay. You didn't execute him. You absolved him."

"Thanks Kay." I just couldn't move. Some ponies came by and patted me on the back.

"Dustin no one would ever feel good about killing. If we did we would be like Blade. Your a hero and you deserve a break." She rubbed my head. All the ponies thanked me. She was right. I just did what God needed me to do. I finished his evil ways. I saved him and any soul not at rest.

"God... I feel pretty stupid. I'm here crying for something bad that never happened."

"It is pretty stupid." She said. The smile moved back up on my face.

"I am Shadow. That's my pony name." I said for everyone to hear. "I want you all to remember me for that and not the human." Kay gave me a kiss. God I love her. She wiped my tears away.

"Come on Dustin. You never cry. If you do it's for bad things. He doesn't deserve your tears."

"Thank you Kay." I said. "When was the last time I cried?"

"3 years ago when your mom..."

"Yeah..."

"I don't think their is anyone as brave as you." she said.

"Or dumb."

"Mostly dumb."

"Hahaha... Let's go home." She pulled me in for hug and teleported us home.

"So do we continue to party?" asked Pinkie Pie to the rest of the ponies. They all though about it for a moment and yelled "Yeah!"

At the Crib

Kay and I were the only ponies in the house. Here we are making love and a few minutes ago I killed an assassin. I should get over it. I might kill more in the future.

"Just you and me." she said putting herself on top of me.

"Yeah. Wait..." I grabbed a piece of paper and began to write a letter on it. I said it out loud for Kay to hear. "Dear Celestia. Can I have the night off?" I wrapped it up and put a seal on it. It was similar to my cutie mark witch was a silver shield with steel wings coming off the side of it and a gold hourglass in the middle. Kay had the same mark except it was a golden shield and no wings with a silver hourglass in the middle.

"I'll get that." she took the letter and threw it in the fire from the fireplace. We saw the letter disappear and instantly appear in the air beside us. Kay took it and cleared her throat. "Dearest Shadow. You have been working non stop. Of course you get the day off. Enjoy your night. Tell Kay I said hello and we want the wedding to be a royal wedding here at the castle?"

"When did she learn about the wedding?" I asked her.

"It is Celestia. She probably read your mind." Oh god! That means she saw everything I saw. She probably saw me at the fashion show and she knows about the dirty thought I had about her! Oh that's messed up!

"Probably. Now we're royal."

"Isn't Static related to Celestia?"

"Oh yeah. Since I am technically a form of Static I'm related right?"

"Right... Do you want to be fancy?"

"it's not my style babe." I told her.

"Would you be fancy?"

"For you."

"That's all I needed to hear." Oh boy... She really does tickle my fancy.