Almost immediately after the words registered with the Elements they voiced their disapproval.

Shadow simply stood silent with a confident smirk on his face for several seconds before interjecting.

“Well, now that we've all calmed down and relaxed a little let us actually get this thing started. I'll take point, you want that ground or air Princess?” Shadow stated shortly before he started to walk into the Everfree.

The Elements briefly shared a look of confusion before trotting to catch up with Shadow.

While Twilight talked with Shadow the other Elements talked among themselves.

“Um, I guess ground? I'm not really sure about what the difference is but I'll make sure I read up on the subject.” She informed Shadow as she nervously rubbed the back of her head.

“Roger that, hooves planted.” Shadow replied back in a professional tone then going silent.

None of the Elements spoke to Shadow for a minute thinking he might add more but when nothing came Rainbow Dash spoke up in a harsh demanding tone pointing a hoof at him.

“What's the big deal with telling us the most important pony to keep alive is you and not Twilight!”

Shadow gave a weak shrug with both his wings before replying.

“Just trying to lighten the mood some with a little dark humor and truth.” He started with as he moved his head and eyes to look for potential threats while gasps of shock came from behind him.

“Now, before you start complaining an arguing with me about that I'll explain a little.”

“From what I've managed to piece together this is probably really the first time you've been in a life threatening situation but I'll admit that is just my guess. Next, while half or tho thirds of you my have some kind of defense training I know of, I only feel semi confident in one of you to use it properly. That leaves me as the only pony here that is fully trained.” Shadow put out in a clinical voice in manner while continuing to search for threats.

“So in conclusion, if I'm forced to change my class to corpse your already low odds of avoiding death or worse, permanent injury, become imaginary in more then one way.” He added nonchalantly while rolling his eyes once.

While the Elements thought about what they were told Shadow narrowed his own eyes in thought before blurting out a question.

“Still don't understand how adding two imaginary numbers make a real one. How does that work?” He asked more to himself than those around him as they all walked.

None of the Elements addressed the question Shadow brought up and talked among themselves. Concerning what Shadow didn't know or care as he wasn't paying attention to the Elements as he was paying attention to the Everfree.

After some time the group reached a green river running through the Everfree. As he approached the river while looking for threats Shadow began to look for a potential crossing point.

Directly in front of him he saw a series of stone that could be used to cross and stay dry.

While looking at the stones Shadow started to feel uneasy and on edge.

Shadow moved into a wider aggressive stance as he extended his wings looking closer for what was causing his current state.

The Elements picked up on the unease and moved closer together as they started to look around themselves.

“Princess I recommend crossing sooner then later. Something 'round here doesn't feel right.” Shadow flatly stated as he moved closer to Twilight.

“Ye, Yes of course.” Twilight replied as she started to lead the group to the stones.

Twilight was the first to start crossing the river using the stones as Shadow flew slightly around.

With her third step on a stone both Twilight's hoof and the rock shifted as weight was put on them.

Shadow didn't know anything was going wrong until he heard Twilight start to squeal. Looking behind him Shadow saw the rocks Twilight was standing were raising.

“Well, that's not right.” He blurted out in confusion and shock watching the rocks move higher before the stones furthest from him came out of the murky water.

Without warning the end of the rocks flicked themselves up an over resulting in Twilight sailing back over to the side of river she had been on.

As he tracked Twilight by moving his head he suddenly heard a vicious primal roar from behind him.

Snapping his head to look at the other side of the river Shadow's field of vision was suddenly filled with jagged teeth.

“FU-U-CK!” Shadow replied at the challenge as he gave several powerful flaps of his wings to get above the teeth or attempt to as Shadow was unaware what the teeth belonged to.

As he screamed himself he heard in the distance one of Elements cry out something that sounded like Rocodile.

With a quick glance to see if Twilight was out of immediate danger Shadow saw it to be true and turned his eyes to the threat below.

Seeing the massive creature Shadow failed at quickly finding a soft spot to attack while attempting to do so he heard Rarity make the reasonable call to run for their lives.

Talking a deep breath Shadow began to fly towards the creature as fast as he could in the short distance between the two.

As he beat his wings Shadow felt a twinge of pain flash through his wings. Ignoring the pain Shadow moved his body to hit the creature back hooves first letting a breath out.

Failing to see any apparent soft spot Shadow had decided to go for the creature's head.

When the creature was half way out of the river on the side with the Elements Shadow struck.

Finding the balance in flex and stiffness Shadow's hooves smashed into the rocky exterior of the Rocodile's head.

The sound drowned out the sounds of the Everfree and Elements and left a ringing in Shadow's ears and pain in his legs.

The impact barely shoved the creature away from the impact but it did shift its attention to Shadow.

In the second it took the beast to recovery and react to Shadow's attack Shadow had already kicked off from its head to put distance between them.

With its attention now fully on Shadow the Rocodile blindly snapped at where Shadow was in reply.

As Shadow flew higher to prepare for another attack the river creature used its back legs and tail to propel itself upwards.

Shadow was shocked at the height his opponent was able to reach causing him to let out a grunt as he gave a single beat of his wings to get out of its reach.

Missing its target it fell back to the riverbank jaws empty of food. Deciding that it wasn't worth the effort to try and reach the food in the sky the Rocodile turned its attention to the meat bags on the ground.

When Shadow looked back at the large critter he saw it making it way to his boss and friends he rolled his eyes and sighed as he moved to intercept.

“It's never easy.”

“And of course it goes after the boss.” Shadow remarked with snark as he dove back at the Rocodile.

As Twilight ineffectively flapped her wings and screamed Shadow landed in front of her and landed a backwards double kick to the Rocodile's chin snapping its head up and backwards.

Unfortunately as a result of his actions Shadow didn't see Applejack throwing a makeshift lasso at the creature.

As the lasso passed over the Rocodile it lunged forward to grab Shadow and Twilight in its jaws what wasn't heard was the rest of Elements gasp in surprise.

Shadow had just finished turning to face his attacker when he saw both the missed lasso and a massive maw of pointy jaggy teeth coming straight for him.

With wide eyes Shadow made a snap decision without thinking.

Beating his wings as strongly as he could Shadow fly towards the creature's face as both let out a scream of anger and frustration covering the gasp from the Elements.

With his fore hooves extended forward they smashed into the beast face just above between its eyes. After the strike Shadow coiled his body with his fore hooves on his target's skull to allow him to push off.

The Rocodile didn't move to snap at Shadow as the pegasus pushed off its head instead it move to reach Twilight with its jaws but did spare a glance at him.

Shadow turned his head enough to allow his eyes to look behind him to see the excepted attack. Not seeing the attack was odd and broke his focus for a second as he thought about why.

The break resulted in the guard not registering the object in the corner of his vision as a threat until the impact informed him.

The Rocodile's tail snapped up and caught Shadow in his torso sending him crashing into a tree next to Pinkie Pie.

Following the double crack from Shadow from the tail and the third from him hitting the tree Applejack was able to throw her makeshift lasso at Shadow attacker securing its jaw closed.

With the Elements regaining their composer they were able pick up their snares and secure the beast. While the majority of the Elements worked Twilight walked over to her friends.

For a moment Twilight and her friends had forgotten about Shadow until they heard him groans

After gasping the Elements rushed over to Shadow with questions of concern.

Groaning between coughs Shadow rolled over to get his hooves under himself ignoring the incoming questions.

Shadow steeled himself as the Elements gathered around him before taking a deep breath to be instantly rewarded with sharp pains from his chest causing him to exhale though his teeth making a hissing sound.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Are you alright Shadow?!” Pinkie asked standing next to Shadow looking him over.

“Just perfect, that nice hard tree was kind enough to catch me with it unforgiving body after that sweet little guy brushed his tail against me.” Shadow snapped off voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain as he looked over his assailant with a small smirk.

Pinkie let out a sigh of relief before she sat dawn next to Shadow looking him over again.

“That's amazing! Not a starch on you.”

“Uhm, sugar I reckon his lieing 'bout how he feels.” Applejack told Pinkie as she rubbed the back of her head with some embarrassment.

“Ya think.” Rainbow interjected as she hovered in the air. Shortly after the comment the girls gave their agreements as Shadow stood up.

“No rush I'm sure I don't have any serious injuries.” The girls snapped their mouths shut with some embarrassment on their face's.

As they did Shadow sat down with a groan before breaking into a coughing fit follow by him spitting out blood.

The Elements gasped with Rarity bringing a hoof to her forehead and falling over.

Fluttershy's gasp was accompanied with her bringing a hoof to her mouth as she point at Shadow with her other.

Shadow narrowed his eyes as he looked to see where she was pointing at. Looking at his vest Shadow found a bright red patch on it.

“Ah, dammit.” Was the simply comment Shadow made as he raised his wing to get a better look at the spot.

“That's all you have to say about that?!” Twilight asked in shock at both Shadow's injury and reaction as she pointed herself.

Shadow had a puzzled look flash across his face before he realized the others didn't know what he did.

“That's nothing to worry about, it's just a broken healing salve.” Shadow commented as he dug out some pieces of broken glass.

“Who ever decided to make these things bright red needs to kicked in the crotch, really bucking hard, seriously.” Shadow added as he dropped the pieces pulled out to the ground with a groan as he rolled his wings.

“What are ya talkin' 'bout?” Applejack asked looking between the broken pieces and Shadow.

“There used to treat surface injuries an a general ane, ana..., pain killer when drank. Which would be super useful right now.” Shadow answered as he extended his wings and flexing them with a groan.

“So you're not bleeding?” Rainbow asked?

“Oh, definitely. I bite the side of by mouth for sure, probably have broken ribs with varies tissue bruising, and more.” Shadow rattled off as he stood back up before using his wings to hover level with Rainbow.

“If that's true then how are ya still able to fly?” Applejack asked as Shadow flew a lazy circle around the group.

“Fun fact, broken ribs don't stop a pegasus from being able to fly just difficult as long as there isn't any serious muscle damage.” Shadow returned as he set down next to Twilight before spitting out more blood.

“That and somepony here with a horn growing out of their skull is going to cast some sweet delicious magic to make things bearable, but I'm not going to say any names.” He added with a not so subtle head bop to Twilight standing next to him.

“Uhm, Shadow. Is there something wrong with your neck? You didn't say anything was wrong with it earlier.” Fluttershy asked as she moved her own head to hide behind her mane.

Shadow stopped for several seconds before turning to look at Twilight who just had a blank look of confusion on her face.

Rolling his eyes as he groaned Shadow went to use a more direct method before going into a coughing fit.

After several he stopped and again spit out blood to the ground.

“Okay, now that's out of the way. Princess Twilight could you please cast some kind of feel good and or fix me up magic?” He asked rolling his shoulder and wings only to see more blank looks.

“Ah, I of course mean respectfully requesting?” He asked with a look us confusion on what Twilight was looking or waiting for.

“Um, Twilight I think he's talking about you.” Spike chimed in from the other side of Twilight from Spike.

“Oh! I'm sorry Shadow but I don't know any spells that would. I'm sorry.” Twilight finally answered as she looked both downcast and at the ground.

Shadow couldn't hide his surprised as he let out a long um before recovering.

“Well this sucks, give me... ten minutes, Fluttershy, and a horn, I think I can manage something.”

Shadow couldn't see the reaction of Fluttershy who grew a blush with Twilight and Rarity gave a small gasp since he was looking up into his head.

Before anypony replied Shadow sat back down and started to dig back into his vest. With several seconds passing he produced a roll of elastic bandage, a small bottle, and small canteen.

“Okay, now Fluttershy I'm going to need you to help find and judge the injuries before we bandage them up. Boss, or Rarity, I'm going to need your help to pull off everything in the way. I'm going to pop this top and down some small time pain pills.” Shadow rattled off as he passed the bandage to Fluttershy with one wing and used the other to help open his canteen.

For a second no pony moved before snapping into action.

With almost half the group working to patch up Shadow, everypony with an Element of Harmony was talking about how to proceed.

Five of six of the Elements agreed that Twilight should return to Ponyville or Cantorlot with the Royal sisters missing. Shadow didn't say anything as he was wanting until he was directly addressed concerning the issue.

“I have to agree with the Elements Princess Twilight. They bring up excellent points and I have to suggest that agree with them.” Shadow stated as he stood back up after having Rarity help him get everything taken off back on.

“I'll add that when the Tree is found that some kind of marker be sent up to let you know of it's general position. After that I would suggest that you return with a guard to secure the site.” He continued with firm professional voice as he stood before Twilight.

With everypony agreeing Twilight agreed with them to return to Ponyville and let her friends carry on.

As Twilight turned to head back Shadow stopped her.

“Princess before you go I'm going to need you to sign off on something.” Twilight was puzzled as she stopped but gave a nod to give the go ahead.

“Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash come over here for a second.” The two shared a look of mild fear before moving over to stand or hover in front of him.

“Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, congratulations you're drafted. Lt. Fluttershy you're in operational charge, Specialist Dash you're in tactical control.” Shadow sounded off with authority and harshness that let no room to disagree and both pegasus knew it.

The other Elements gave gasps of shock, surprise, and mild horror at what they were hearing.

“Welcome to the Guard.”

Author's Notes:

Answer 1
Answer 2

That explains were I've been with great accuracy. I'm Sorry.