The sunrise started lightening the Celestial Sea by the time I made my way nearly to Neighlem Village at the rear of a throng of tired slaves. After rescuing them and flying from the burning ruins of Libertalia still marring the beautiful sunrise with a smudge of smoke in the sky, I'd rounded up the ones who hadn't just bolted and escorted them up the shore, still feeling responsible for the weak and beaten crowd shivering in the chilly morning breeze.

I trudged along behind them to deal with any threat they faced on their journey like the Miretanks chittering up from the beaches I'd already dealt with several times, keeping a fair distance to not make them too nervous and to avoid their suspicious gazes and furtive whispers. Most of the slaves were polite and even grateful, while still viewing me with superstitious fear I could see in their eyes, though nearly all of them kept up a modicum of respect at least.

"Why don't you go away already! We're nearly there, we don't want a monster like you coming to Neighlem Shadowknight. Go away!" Almost all of them.... The pretty priestess filly I'd saved from the claws of the synth griffon in charge of Libertalia was still just as unpleasant, making me wish the others hadn't removed her gag when she turned to berate me again.

Her young pony retainer Willow Bark was extra nice trying to make up for her anyway, gasping and trotting to the rear of the crowd to get between us and jabber apologetically. "L-Lady Xiayou! Please be nice! The Shroud saved you after all, a-all of us too! He's even guarding us on our way back home! I'm sorry for my lady sir, I don't think you're a bad pony..."

"You can't see what I can Willow, he's not a pony at all! He's cursed! I really can't understand how he's able to stand there and talk to us like he's sane at all, it's actually fascinating. Curious as I am, you should still stay out of Neighlem Shadowknight, before you bring catastrophe again!" I flinched from the venom in the voice of the pigtailed zebra filly, falling back another step and grumbling.

Padding along in the rear with me, the big hellhound Clara licked the hangdog expression from my face and huffed. "Zebra bitch should be grateful to shadow-pony of legend. Me and pup are. Will do whatever shadow-pony wants, but we not welcome in Neighlem place either and we close now... We go away and meet later maybe?"

Wiping the slobber from my face, I gave a halfhearted smile to the scary hellhounds trying to cheer me up when her daughter Jewel bounded forward and copied her mother's gesture on the other cheek. Both of them were used to folks thinking they were monsters too, so I guessed we were all in the same boat. Since being reunited with her pup, Clara had been following me like a loyal puppy, her worry as we approached Neighlem the first thing she'd said against what I was doing.

Considering she had murdered one of Neighlem's guards while searching for Jewel, she had a point and I paused to address it, staring out at the sandy, snow dusted dunes leading up the rise towards town. I noticed yet another rather large crater like several we'd passed so far, growing more numerous the closer we got to town and making my skin tingle with radiation even at a fair distance. Odd, but it also gave me something to use while I thought and conferred with the voice in my head.

'...want sword... dog dig now.... go get now!...'

"I'm tired and hurt, plus you're sleepy with the sun coming up. I keep telling you, you can't run me ragged and expect to get anywhere. Just wait, there's rads around to heal with and we can give the kid time to recover after all she went through. Don't be a dick..."

'....nnnnnnn.... Fine!.... boring rest first.... for pup...'

After muttering to myself for a moment with the hellhounds waiting patiently, I rolled my eyes at the Shroud being magnanimous and cleared my throat to let her know I was actually talking to Clara now. "Ahem... er, yeah Clara, probably best if you're not around when we get there, me coming along is bad enough I'm guessing. I still have to go back to the museum and wait for my friend Zed, so you go take care of Jewel and get some rest too, I can find you later."

Clara had gotten used to my schizophrenic asides fairly quickly and didn't look bothered at least, nodding happily at the decision. "Ok shadow-pony, thank you! We go back home to Lynn Woods, you know where? Big tower in woods."

'Map Updated' blinked in the corner of my eye and I nodded, absently checking the new icon on the map as I replied. "I do now. Er... you can just call me Fast too Clara, no need for the whole shadow-pony thing. I'm glad I could help. Sorry to pester you into digging for me, but I guess I'll be coming to collect later."

"Owe shadow-pony Fast debt, is no problem! You want go to big hole, yes? Me ask others in pack, maybe have good way down there when come. We be waiting! Say goodbye Jewel, thank shadow-pony Fast!" Clara took my foreleg in her frighteningly sharp claws and nearly shook me off her hooves with a goofy grin, then shooed her pup my way to do the same.

She started digging a hole through the sandy soil on the spot as even her smaller pup made me jitter in place under her strong hoofshake, smiling bashfully as she gushed. "Thanks shadow-pony Fast! Was just like bedtime stories mama tell, being rescued by hero pony what was friend to wise Smartyfang! We happy to help back and see soon!"

I blushed and sputtered at another slobbery lick before she dove down the hole her mother had made, then watched the traveling mound of earth zip away to the northwest with 'Be Kind...' humming brightly. I could still feel 'Be Dark...' grumbling impatiently at the delay, but also sensed the pride and satisfaction flowing off the dangerous spirit. It wasn't pretty, but between the friendly hellhounds and the gaggle of slaves trudging on without me, we had done something good again. Something heroic even... I'd done it for Glitter and Jade, to be the kind of stallion they deserved again and to try to make up for some of the horrible things I'd been doing, not gratitude... but it still felt good to be thanked by somecreature who didn't think I was a....

"Hmmph, just because you helped them doesn't mean you're not a monster, don't get a big head Shadowknight..." The clipped voice of Xiayou trotting ahead snapped me out of the enjoyable thought, bringing me back to the present with a hard jolt. She eyed my wince coolly through lidded teal eyes, but did huff under her breath as she turned back to the sand strewn road leading on. "That said, Jewel was a sweet pup... I'm glad you did help her get home."

"So happy I meet your approval, you're welcome..."

My snarky reply made the zebra filly turn red and snort in frustration, speeding up to a trot to mingle in the center of the crowd of slaves and leave me behind. With Clara and Jewel gone, that left me pretty much alone at the rear of the herd, though young Willow seemed to take pity on me and kept pace with another apologetic sigh. "Sorry again, she's really not so bad. I'm really glad you saved her anyway, the elders will be too I bet Mr. Shroud.... umm... Fast."

I smiled to the pale filly trying so hard to be nice, shrugging to the zebra she worked for in some way. "Thanks Willow. So, what's so important about her anyway? Those slavers were keeping her awful close, she a big deal or something?"

"Oh yes! Lady Xiayou is a powerful shaman, apprenticing to Elder Pandora herself even! Those Venalitii slavers and Batia are gonna be in big trouble when everyone finds out they took her!" Willow nodded back firmly, giving a hard frown as she spoke about local groups and figures I knew nothing about.

"A shaman... so when she says she can see stuff on me..."

"She is speaking the truth... er... sorry. I don't think you're so bad, but if Lady Xiayou says you are spirit touched, I believe her. A-Are you? I mean... are you really him? The Shadowknight?" Willow's reply was hesitant, but she answered in a fearful whisper, carefully broaching the subject no one but Xiayou had spoken of directly.

"The Shrouded Stallion... yeah, kinda. I am just Fast Times the pony though, just... I'm sorta... possessed. My friend wanted me to come to Neighlem to ask for help with it. I'm guessing shamans like her are who he wanted to talk to, but if she's any indication, I don't know how much help they'll be."

"There is no help for you Shadowknight, you're cursed! Stupid, ignorant, crazy pony meddling with things you don't understand!" Xiayou was still listening apparently, yelling back from the middle of the crowd of slaves.

Willow kept on trying to cover for her friend and soften her insults, nice enough to keep speaking to me like I was a sane pony. "D-Don't mind her umm... Fast... Lady Xiayou is a prodigy, but she is still in training. You may be cursed and you were a little scary last night, but you seem nice enough in the light of day. Elder Pandora and the others may be able to help after all, so your friend was right to bring you."

"No he wasn't! What zebra would be fool enough to invite the Shadowknight to our home!? Again!?! Everyzebra knows what happened last time, so whoever it was is either an idiot or a traitor!" Xiayou snorted back again, but looked like I slapped her in the face when I muttered back a reply.

"Zed said he wanted me to come and he's my friend, so I came... If I'm not welcome I'll just be on my way, I don't really want to be here at all, I want to go back to my wife and daughter, but I can't until..."

"Z-Zed...? Venator Noctis Zed? He brought you? W-Where is he!? What have you done with him?!" Xiayou practically galloped back to shout right in my face, a pink blush lighting her pale face enough for me to raise an eyebrow curiously.

"He should be in town I guess. I didn't do anything to him, er... not really... he was hurt though, so I made him go ahead and get help. I'm supposed to wait for him back at the Museum of Witchcraft, but I've been... distracted. I'll go back there once you guys are all safe, then we can leave without bothering anycreature else. Happy?"

Xiayou's face screwed up in a strange, conflicted expression, turning redder as she sputtered and stuck her nose up, closing her eyes and huffing. "I-If Venator Zed brought you here, I s-suppose it would be rude to turn you away out of hoof. You needn't run off quite so soon anyway, even if it is pointless. I've never seen anycreature afflicted like you and I'm interested. I'll... I'll work with the elders and see what we can do at least."

"Umm.... Ok?"

I blinked at the sudden turnaround, pausing to scratch my mane in confusion as the strange zebra trotting back to the crowd with a spring in her step. While I was trying to figure out what just happened, her retainer Willow grinned and whispered in my ear to clear things up. "Lady Xiayou is a foalhood friend of the Venator Noctis... I think she has a crush on him."

"Oh? Ohhhhhhh! Ha!"

I snickered along with Willow as I got it, shaking my head and continuing to trudge up the road towards Neighlem with 'Awareness!' and the other Ministry Mares giggling brightly. After all the sardonic Zed's quips and dry jokes at my expense, I looked forward to teasing him mercilessly over this... She must really have a thing for him if she was suddenly willing to put up with the terrible 'Shadowknight' just because Zed said so. If nothing else, it made the rest of the trip to the borders of Neighlem a lot more tolerable.

Checking my map as we approached, I saw Neighlem Village was situated on a northern facing peninsula of rocky hills that rose from the Celestial Sea. I knew we'd reached the borders by the clearly defined rusty fence marching across the sandy dunes, a small toll booth checkpoint barred the road we were following and was clearly prewar, the faded remains of MoM posters showing a watchful Pinkie Pie still decorating the barrier.

The fence wasn't the only way to tell however, the closer we got, the more I noticed more large and radioactive craters blasted into the sand, sparkling in the morning light with sand fused into greenish glass, broken up by charred bones and rusty weapons. They were strange enough I finally had to ask before we reached the guarded border, pointing a wing out to the nearest and inquiring with my helpful little guide Willow.

"Oh those? That's where raiders or others attacked us and the Kraken destroyed them for us." Willow smiled back, her answer leaving me nonplussed and forced to ask for more detail.

"Kraken?"

"A seamonster! It's the guardian of Neighlem Village and has protected us for generations. Sometimes you can even see it out in the harbor Fast. Any big groups that have tried to attack have been blasted by balefire and driven away!" Willow replied proudly, leaving me more curious about what kind of monster could do all this damage.

Any further questions on the subject were cut short by the presence of a lot of armed zebras at the entrance to the village however. There were at least two dozen armed guards, trundling open the gates and ushering the crowd of weary slaves in. A gaggle of them remained around a smaller group of important looking zebras watching over it all however, and all of them were eyeing me like a dragon at their gates.

"Go on with the others Willow, I don't think you want to hang around me right now..." I muttered to the pale filly at my side, shooing her after her friend Xiayou already greeting the group at the gates as the crowd thinned and it became more obvious they were all focused on me.

"You couldn't just wait where you said you would, could you Fast..." I was relieved to hear Zed's gruff voice snarking from the crowd, spotting the zebra stallion tromping out from the gates to snort at me in frustration.

He was distracted from really unloading on me by Xiayou nearly running into him halfway, the thin stripes on her face standing out in stark relief under her blush. "Z-Zed! You really are home again, i-it's good to see you... So you actually did bring this creature here? Why?"

"That's what we've been trying to figure out all night apprentice, where have you been?" The annoyed voice of an older mare behind Zed cut them both off, drawing my attention to the tall and slender mare standing at the head of the crowd of important looking zebras from Neighlem.

She was middleaged and regal looking, wearing flowing green robes and golden jewelry that glimmered in the light of sunrise. Her stripes were fairly broad and straight like Zed's and her flowing mane was held back by jeweled pins and a fancy tribal mask pushed up on her brow. She sat on her haunches in the sand and held a long driftwood staff in her hooves, decorated with seashells and feathers clustered at the top which she held out threateningly to bar my path any further. Her pale golden eyes were narrowed and she looked very cross, her stare widening as it flicked up and down at me fidgeting nervously.

Xiayou didn't seem to mind how upset she looked, bowing before yelping back. "Elder Pandora! It's so good to see you again, I never thought I would! Those cursed Venalati slavers captured me and...!"

"We'll discuss it later Xiayou, one problem at a time..." The elder of Neighlem cut off her apprentice and didn't seem very happy about the gaggle of freed slaves still filtering through the gates behind her, turning a withering stare on me with a huff. "You haven't done me any favors Shadowknight, already causing trouble before you even arrived I see. Zed has spoken vehmently on your behalf, but I'm still tempted to turn the both of you away."

"Trouble!? I rescued a bunch of slaves that needed help! How the fuck is that bad!? Look, I know I haven't been all that heroic lately, but I was trying to do something good and you act like I shit on your doorstep. If you don't want me here that's fine, I've got better places to be anyway! I only came because Zed wanted me to!"

I winced at the Shroud grumbling, but noticed Elder Pandora taking a reflexive step back in time with the growl speaking in my head like she heard it too. Even her apprentice flinched and gave me a dirty look, making me wonder if the spiritualists could actually do something to help and I was cutting off my muzzle to spite my face here. Neither I or the Shroud were going to be bitched at for helping slaves though, if the zebras were upset I did so, we just weren't going to get along at all.

"I told you going after the Venalati may cause problems Fast... Just hold your tongue and let me handle it." Zed muttered to me snorting puffs of breath to the chilly air, turning back to Elder Pandora and the other important looking zebras gathered behind her and glaring at me. "Please Elder, he's a pony, he doesn't understand. Not only that, his wife is a famous opponent of slavery, he thought he was doing good and trying to please her. If you're considering joining her kingdom, that's an issue that will come up I assure you. If nothing else, his efforts prove the spirit has not completely corrupted him, as I said."

"You may not be able to sense as much as we can Zed, but you know better. That poor pony is nearly consumed by the raging monster within, it's only a matter of time before he falls to depravity completely and there's nothing we can do." My ears drooped at Pandora's harsh answer, snuffing out any hope I had for help in one short dismissal.

I wasn't really holding out a lot of hope, but I realized I had been guarding a tiny little ember that she just stomped out. No wonder the Shroud didn't balk at coming here or asking. It knew as well as they did there was nothing to be done, so it apparently had nothing to worry about.

Zed wasn't so willing to give up however, stamping a hoof on the cracked asphalt and wrapping a foreleg around my slumping shoulders supportively. "No, I refuse to accept that Elder. I may not have your abilities or experience, but I have seen with my own eyes this pony is exceptional. He's host to a spirit that should have consumed him long ago, but it hasn't! Not only that, he made friends with one of the most dangerous creatures in history!! I brought him here seeking answers, not a way to purge the creature from..."

"NO EXORCISMS!!" My mouth opened in a sudden shout that made all the gathered zebras jump, forcing me to bash my forehead and argue with myself. "No, no exorcisms dammit, he just said he wasn't looking for that crazy! Pay attention before using my mouth to do that!" That frustrated aside was followed by a petulant mutter from my muzzle in reply, "No exorcisms... No like... Us together, no try to get rid of again."

There was a moment of awkward silence and I felt them all staring at me like a madpony, but to my surprise Elder Pandora took a shaking step forward at my crooked smile and shrug, her mouth hanging open and taking a minute to get going in a stunned whisper. "You... You actually do talk to it...? You can control it?"

"Er... 'control' is debatable. More like uneasy alliance. Look, I didn't expect much and I understand how you feel about the Shroud around here, so I get it if you want me... us to go away. The most I really hoped for was some answers and you guys are the experts when it comes to spirits, so I thought I'd ask. If you can't do anything though, we'll just..." I answered with a tired sigh and took my hat off to give a polite bow, though my manners were interrupted again by the Shroud's voice taking over with a furious shout and a blackened beam from my horn. "BIRD!!"

Every zebra nearby jumped at the attack, raising assault rifles and other military hardware they'd obvious brought out special for me, while Elder Pandora held her long staff up menacingly. The hunk of driftwood only dipped back down when she watched a seagull perched on a dune nearby get vaporized in a puff of feathers and splatter of green goo.

Ignoring the pleased and proud nicker in my head, I groaned and held my hooves up in a placating gesture, scratching my mane sheepishly. "Sorry! Sorry about that everycreature! Just part of my never ending crusade to kill every synth bird I see apparently... How do you even tell for Celestia's sake?!"

"False creatures... Yon unholy abominations don't move right..."

"Yeah, well... you could let me know beforehoof, rather than just randomly blasting them when you see them. Your timing really sucks you know..."

"They're spies! They creep about when those mad miscreants behind them are interested! You don't notice whelp, be awed by mine discerning eye!"

"Yeah, yeah, you're awesome, happy? Quit using my mouth, you're freaking out the locals and I don't like putting on a comedy routine like this!"

Ending the bizarre back and forth for all the wary zebras to see, I put on a very insincere grin and shrugged to Elder Pandora's stunned look, wincing as Zed facehoofed with a long suffering sigh and broke the uncomfortable silence. "As I said... this is a unique case. Have you ever seen a creature possessed act like that Auntie? Please... at the very least you could answer how he wound up like this..."

I blinked curiously at the word 'auntie' and Elder Pandora flinching as if she'd been hit, but the withering, hard stare she turned on me cut off any questions I had on the subject. She stood straighter and huffed, narrowing her bright golden eyes as she spoke in a cool voice. "It will behave itself...? Destroying Institute spies is one thing, but I'll not have it randomly incinerating my people Zedrick. If your... friend... can control himself, we shall... see what we can see. I warn you now however Shadowknight, set one hoof out of line or think to have us share the fate of Covenant and I shall see you destroyed."

"Ha!.. Try it witch, I fear no..."

My mouth started moving with a snide sneer I immediately stuffed a hoof into, but Elder Pandora looked like she was expecting it. Instead of getting upset, she raised an eyebrow and held her funny staff aloft, the morning sun catching the glint of something metal among all the seashells and feathers as she pointed it out towards the nopony's land of radioactive craters with a fancy twirl as she stood on her hindlegs.

There was a long pause that made me wonder what the point of the weird pose was, then a distant whistle that grew louder and louder and drew my burning glare up to the skies warily. Something streaked down from the heavens, then I was scrambling to catch my hat and take cover as a large portion of the beach was engulfed in the bright green flames of balefire. A sudden, hot wind blew away from the rising miniature mushroom cloud, then rushed back the other way to fill the vacuum of displaced air, making the tails of my trenchcoat whip as I gaped and felt even the Shroud give an internal gulp. There wasn't much that the spirit considered a threat, but a display of power like that definitely got its attention...

"We understand each other Shadowknight? You are indeed powerful, but so are we... Behave yourself." Pandora's words were muffled by the ringing in my ears, but I got her point and nodded back, trotting right at Zed's spiky tail meekly, while even the Shroud answered in a grim huff.

"On my honor witch..."

At that, we made our way through the dilapidated tollbooth together, Zed breathing a sigh of relief as we took our place at the rear of the crowd and headed towards Neighlem Village. "Not exactly smoothly, but we managed to gain entry at least. Do try to keep your spirit on a tighter leash though Fast, I share Elder Pandora's reservations about all of this, but I trust you."

"Sure thing... Zedrick..."

The flat look I got for my snickering reply was worth it, brightening the giggling mote of 'Awareness!' and getting a genuine laugh from me at Zed rolling his eyes and throwing his head back with a groan. "Wonderful... thank you so much Auntie Pandora, I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I Fast..."

"Nope! Wait till I tell Glitter, Zedrick! Bwahahahah!"

Still snickering, I paused for a true, bright smile and savored the spark of warmth in my chest at the thought. I'd get to see Glitter again... share Zed's full name and get to tease him mercilessly with her, laugh and play with my daughter again... I wasn't sure how or when, but I believed it now, we'd be together again. The delays might be annoying and I wanted to rush, but they brought me one step closer to that day and would make stories I could tell her without shame.

"Zedrick... pffft!"

Neighlem Village rose up from the Celestia Sea on a rocky peninsula the waves crashed against ceaselessly, sheltering a fair sized harbor full of a variety of boats I eyed with interest as we got closer to town. I hadn't expected so many ships to still be sailing the seas considering how many wrecked and ruined examples I'd seen littering the coasts, but there were quite a few small to medium ships of all manner of makes and models crowding the piers.

They were nearly all real sailing ships too, even the ones that were once powered vessels had tattered patchwork sails added to them. Crews of ponies and zebras worked the various boats, from small two pony rowboats casting their nets out in magic or their teeth, all the way up to a rusty metal scow that had a paddlewheel crudely bolted to its stern and plodded out to sea.

One thing I noticed more and more as we started to enter the Village proper, was the variety of stripes on the different zebras. I'd gotten used to Zed and his broad and straight stripes of a deep charcoal, but now I saw what I thought of as a proper zebra like all the propaganda posters wasn't all there was. Most of the seafaring zebras coming and going from the docks for example, had wavy stripes that made me think of the actual waves they sailed, prompting me to speak up in a quiet aside to Zed.

"They're Atolli Fast, a seafaring tribe. Atolli sail the seven seas of Equestria since ancient times, even the barrier of the Commonwealth doesn't stop them from going where the wind takes them." Zed spoke proudly, piquing my interest about his people since we were among them and he felt talkative.

"There are different tribes? How many? What are you then Zed?"

"Roamani... mostly. There are 13 tribes total Fast, or the 12 plus 1. One tribe is considered cursed and is looked down on, the Starkaterri. It's my Starkaterri ancestor Yura that still stands out in my family tree, but my mother was Roamani like my aunt Pandora. We're a matriarchal society, much like you ponies, so it's the mother that determines what tribe you belong to usually." Zed answered with just a hint of shame buried in his voice, but didn't shy away from the truth, despite the mutters from our escort my ears flicked at.

"So is it normal for there to be lots of different tribes in a zebra town? How come there's so many of you here in Equestria anyway Zed? With the war and all, I didn't think there were many Equestrian Zebras period."

Zed got a pensive look for a moment, his voice tight as he gestured across the inland bay on our left to a squat, depressing, ruined fenced compound of some kind on a small island in the bay. "While Neighlem was a zebra village before the war and accounts for a good portion of our numbers today, it was mostly Mendi and Atolli. The reason there are so many different tribes in the Commonwealth today is because of that place... a Ministry of Morale internment camp. There were only a few across Equestria and they took zebra citizens who had... 'questionable loyalties' there Fast."

"Oh.... Umm... sorry Zed, I didn't mean..."

"As you've tried to tell me, you don't have to apologize for the actions of your ancestors or people Fast. The sins of the past aren't your burden to bear, it's just an unpleasant part of our history here. After the war most of the prisoners escaped and built a home here in Neighlem. The many tribes forced together eventually started splitting apart again, into smaller communities across the Commonwealth like Hexington. Those who remained here are occasionally supplemented by Atolli ships who pierce the barrier and Neighlem has remained a place where cultures mix, just as it was in the old days. That's why there are so many different tribes, not to mention the pony and zony members of the community who are equal citizens." Zed shook off his momentarily dark mood and smiled, waving out to his home proudly as we entered the village proper, giving me leave to sightsee.

The slaves had been taken on to town already, but the guards stuck right by Elder Pandora and her apprentice, forming a moving cordon around me as we entered the village proper and blocking me off from the villagers pausing in their busy morning to whisper and gape at the odd parade. I caught a lot of warding gestures and frightened whispers following me, but didn't mind so much with new information to stare right back, pointing out one unique example of zebrakind after another and asking Zed which tribe they belonged to with thoughts of telling Glitter all about it.

"What about that one? He's got a neat shop..."

Following my pointing wing to the old zebra stallion standing outside a crumbling brick shop full of lots of neat junk, Zed chuckled and identified the old buck with the horizontal stripes for me too. "Propolli Fast, you'd like them. They're a tribe of builders and inventors, most enjoy tinkering with gadgets as much as you do."

"Wooooo.... what tribe are those fillies from....?"

My pace slowed and my ears perked up as we passed a large stone building that smelled of steam and water, leering after a trio of shapely zebra mares whispering and giggling to each other on their way in to the large structure of white stone and cracked pillars with the faded sign reading 'Public Bathouse'. My wings standing up as my fangs extended and I started drifting that way only made them giggle more, bouncing their way out of sight as the Shroud's needy growl in my head hungered to go that way. I wasn't really interested of course, but realized how long I'd been alone without Jade and could appreciate the stunning sex appeal of the trio of mares with the curly stripes anyway, very interested in whatever tribe produced mares like that...

"Carnilia... Control yourself Fast, that's the last tribe the perverted spirit you host should be exposed to..." Zed smirked back, giving me a gentle nudge to snap out of my subconscious prowl away from our escort already nervously figuring out how to corral me back into line.

"Aren't you going to ask what I am Shadowknight? You're pestering poor Zed with everyzebra else, which is rude you know. Asking which tribe a zebra belongs too, really... don't you have any manners?" Xiayou huffed an interruption, inserting herself into the conversation with conflicting messages.

"Er... ok, what tribe are you from then? You've got really thin stripes that are pretty, I just figured you didn't want me asking. I do have some manners, yes..."

"Xiayou is from the Eschatik tribe Fast. They're a tribe of philosophers and thinkers, producing some of the most powerful shamans of our people. She's a bit of a rarity around here and very talented, thus her apprenticeship with my aunt." Zed's answer made the filly in question turn red right down to her hooves, smiling brightly at the praise and sticking her nose up proudly.

"And Pandora is really your aunt Zed? Is she your Grandpa Zin's?" Ignoring the frustrated snort I got from the filly for diverting the conversation away from her, I scratched my mane in thought and inquired about the curiosity of his stern relative, remembering the graying Elder Zin's broad, straight stripes that matched the two of them and guessing.

By Zed's nod, I guessed right, my zebra pal elaborating as we kept walking down the cobblestone streets. "Yes, my mother's family Fast. When grandfather retired to take over for the Elder in Hexington, he left my aunt Pandora in charge here."

"He didn't do me any favors there... If it weren't for how desperate things were in Hexington when he took over, I'd be madder at the old buck. Though I hear you have something to do with improving things there Shadowknight. He's half the reason I agreed to this, so you should thank him when you see him." To my surprise, Elder Pandora actually deigned to join the conversation and speak to me like a pony.

"Zin's here? Really? Yeah! It'll be nice to see him again, huh Zed?"

"I've already spoken to grandfather, he helped with my treatment and berated me thoroughly for ending up in such a state. Most of the Elders from across the Commonwealth are here actually Fast, you'll see them inside." Zed answered with a nod to the roughly repaired brick building we were approaching, a large town hall of traditional pony architecture, with cracked stone columns framing the doors and a dead clock tower topping the structure.

There was also a small crowd gathered before the doors that made me gulp nervously, recognizing an unruly mob when I saw one. While there were quite a few more civilian looking zebras murmuring as we arrived, it was mostly a rough looking crew of zebras, ponies and zonies, all clustered around a middle aged zebra stallion with the wavy stripes of an Atolli.

He was thin and wore nearly as much golden jewelry as Elder Pandora over his fancy looking leather armor and robes, giving the elder a perfunctory bow before snorting to rudely cut off her greeting. "Elder... I see we're inviting mass murdering, thieving criminals into our fair village now?"

"Batia... I wouldn't know anything about that. The Shadowknight arrived at our gates this morning with a gaggle of... refugees... he'd found somewhere or other. Considering terrible mistreatment they'd suffered somehow, we decided to take them in." Elder Pandora's voice was icy as she replied, turning a lidded stare down on the fuming stallion.

I recognized the name Batia from the slavers back on Libertalia and felt my fangs lengthen as he shouted back, stamping his hooves in a fit and pointing at me accusingly. "He's a monster! He killed my men and burned Libertalia down! You know damn well those 'refugees' are my property he stole from me! I want them all returned to me and this ...thing... properly punished for his crimes!"

"They were slaves! Slaves I freed from thine cruel captivity brigand! If thou art the leader of those brutish thugs I dispatched, thou has thine own reckoning coming..." The Shroud's voice boomed out of my mouth and my eyes blazed as I found myself prowling forward, lowering my head and gnashing my fangs as I stalked after the suddenly nervous slaver boss.

The guards surrounding me all turned their weapons inward and stammered warnings I ignored, but Elder Pandora cut me off by holding her staff out as a blockade, reminding the Shroud just what kind of damage she could do with that thing without saying a word. When she did speak, it was in a hard voice of restrained fury disguised as patience, raising an eyebrow at the flinching Batia. "Mr. Batia, while we tolerate your business outside of Neighlem, I'll remind you we do not accept slavery within Neighlem Village itself. However your 'property' managed to gain their freedom, they will retain it so long as they are within our walls. While we're on the subject however, imagine my surprise when I found my own apprentice had been imprisoned with them... Anything you care to explain Batia?"

The part of the crowd not obviously working for the slimy slaver muttered curiously at that, turning on Batia wincing before putting on an oily smile and replying. "A misunderstanding Elder, of course! We all know your apprentice has a bad habit of wandering outside the village on her own, her head too full of spirits to pay attention to the material plane. My men found her with dark approaching and we all know how dangerous the nights have been lately with that monster reportedly in the area, so they took her under their protection is all! It seems we were right to be cautious too, since the beast himself has shown up just as we feared. He didn't hurt you, did he dear?"

Trying to turn things around on me still growling and glaring at him almost worked, most of the crowd seemed willing to believe the worst on general principles. Batia made a mistake by giving a bow and asking Xiayou her opinion however, the furious zebra filly stamped her hooves and screeched back. "Screw you Batia! Those jerks weren't helping me! They locked me up! Your griffon lackey used me as a hostage! I heard them talking too, they were going to sell me and ship me to Zebrica! The Shadowknight might be a mad monster, but I'd take him over you any day! He saved me from your brutes!"

"How awful! I knew nothing about any of that my dear, it must have been Gabe acting on his own as I'd never allow it. One of my employees fortunate enough to escape the massacre even tells me he was a synth! I didn't want to believe it, but to act against my orders and foalnap a delicate flower like you, that must be the only explanation. Isn't that right Ash?" Batia was ready for her apparently, putting on a wounded look and waving back to one of his slavers being pushed to the fore.

The young zony they presented must have been one I missed on Libertalia... His grey and charcoal striped coat was burnt on one side and wrapped in magical bandages, his rich purple mane singed and his blue eyes were bloodshot and frantic as he was forced to testify, locked on my glowing red ones as he stammered and dug his hooves in against his fellows pushing him forward. "Yes! I saw it alright! He was a synth! J-Just keep that thing away from me! Monster! I-It's the real Shadowknight! It killed them all and laughed while it did it!"

"Well my dear, is poor Ash telling the truth? Surely you saw what happened up close since the Shadowknight saw fit to rescue you. Was Gabe a synth?" Batia grinned at the uncertain murmurs of the crowd, turning to Xiayou sputtering furiously as he backed her into a corner.

"Y-Yes but... He was still... That fucking griffon said...." Xiayou was effectively trapped by the truth, forced to admit Gabe was indeed a synth and therefore making all his actions suspect in the eyes of the villagers.

"Tsk, tsk.. terrible... What terrible times we live in when even a trusted employee can turn out to be a synth and turn on his employer like that. Allow me to apologize for your ordeal young Xiayou. It seems the Shadowknight did a good deed after all, but it doesn't change the fact he murdered scores of innocent workers to do so. I demand satisfaction Pandora, we should turn him over to the new Equestrian Army to pay for his crimes! We need to pick a side and doing so is sure to place us in the good graces of the Sun Goddess." Batia didn't miss a beat, turning on Elder Pandora and playing to the crowd, giving me my first clues about the political situation of Neighlem Village.

Pandora got a very sour look at the slimy stallion working the mob up, stamping her staff down on the cracked stone walks and calling for order. "Enough! The Shadowknight is a guest of the Venator Noctis, we'll not be turning him over to anycreature. Nor will we be involving outside parties like the Gunners in our affairs. He's the husband of the Princess of Sanctuary, betraying him not only puts the village at risk of his wrath, it takes a side in outsider squabbles. You insist on your independence to run your foul business Batia, part of that is dealing with your problems independently. The Shadowknight attacked your holdings outside the village, his crimes weren't against Neighlem so we won't be holding him to account. If you're that upset about it, you're free to deal with it yourself outside the village. I imagine the Shadowknight would be happy to oblige, isn't that so Fast?"

Blinking in surprise and the question, my muzzle split in a predatory grin and my eyes turned dragonish as I stalked forward again, purring in response. "Oh yes.... If the slaver wishes to resolve our quarrel himself, we may do so immediately...."

Batia gave a hard frown in response, but I was delighted to see the flicker of fear in his brown eyes twitching in anger as he huffed. "N-No, no. We'll settle up some other time I'm sure. I merely wish to lodge my complaint with the wise Elders of Neighlem for inviting this pony shaped catastrophe into our midst again. I do hope you know what you're doing Pandora..."

The mutters of the crowd at that dig didn't sound good and I forced myself to back off sheepishly, looking to Pandora sticking her nose up and tapping her staff for order. "We're so grateful for your concern Batia, but have it well in hoof. The Shadowknight will not be a problem and will be on his way soon enough, won't he?"

"Er... y-yes ma'am, no problems here..."

Seeing the legendary 'Shadowknight' flinch from the stern Elder like a colt caught with his hoof in the cookie jar seemed to give Pandora a boost in the eyes of the crowd. They clearly still didn't like the situation and a lot of hard stares followed me trudging into the old town hall, but I also saw a lot of pride and faith in their Elder sedately leading the way.

I only hoped that faith was well founded, since I was putting my trust in the mature zebra mare too.

The Neighlem Village town hall gave me the creeps, and that was discounting all the more recent zebra voodoo additions like tribal masks hanging from the walls and odd little fetishes of bone, feathers and Miretank parts. No, what was really disturbing was the profusion of Pinkie Pies staring down from faded posters on the walls FOREVER... The Ministry of Morale apparently ran the town during the war, keeping as close an eye on the Equestrian zebras as their prisoners in the nearby internment camp Zed told me about. I saw only pony names on the frosted glass doors of the former administrators we passed, noting the numerous portraits followed the same pattern of depicting only severe looking ponies glaring down from the walls.

Above the doors to the courtroom we eventually entered were two large portraits, though one was covered with a ratty tarp. Considering the other was an immaculate painting of Celestia, I guessed the covered one was of Luna and felt the Shroud grumble in my head. Though I wasn't particularly surprised the zebras living here now would cover over a picture of who they viewed as Nightmare Moon. I was more surprised to find it still hanging period, though judging by the perfect condition of her sister's portrait, I figured they were enchanted against vandalism and most likely immovable.

On the way, Zed filled me in a little bit about our encounter with the prick Batia outside, explaining the slave trader was rich and powerful, holding a lot of sway in Neighlem, even though he wasn't an Elder. I fumed privately about tolerating a slaver period, but Zed waved my complaints off with a tired sigh, explaining slavery didn't hold the stigma in zebra society it did for me. Actually, in Zebrica it had been tolerated and codified since ancient times, a way for the destitute to pay their debts or even voluntarily enter servitude in exchange for a legally enforced guarantee of food, shelter and pay. According to Zed, the greatest gladiators of ancient Roam were slaves, but were celebrities and lived a life of luxury for their service.

I still didn't like it, no matter what ancient zebra culture thought, slavery would always be wrong in my eyes and I could just imagine Jade sticking her nose up in a huff at the whole thing. Besides, whatever rules Batia was supposed to follow, Libertalia taught me he wasn't doing so. Unfortunately he was also crafty and had been a political thorn in Elder Pandora's side for quite some time, most recently advocating accepting the offers Gunner scouts had made to join Synthlestia's New Equestrian Empire.

I wasn't surprised the Institute was interested in taking control of the functional port, especially after seeing what they'd been up to in Dreadnot. Klein had big plans for the rest of Equestria and was squaring away routes to spread his madness beyond the borders of the Commonwealth. It seemed only my Grandpa and his barrier storms stood in his way, further confusing me as to whether he was good or bad.

Arriving in the large courtroom distracted me from mulling anything else over however. It was an ampitheatre shaped room, the far wall taken up by a raised dais with seating for several severe looking zebras glaring down at me entering. While there was seating for an audience, thankfully it was mostly empty, only a few assistants to the zebra Elders and interested spiritits scattered about, a few of which were busy drawing squiggly runes in a circle surrounding the witness stand I was meant to occupy.

Looking up to the stone faced Elders watching me slink into the courtroom, I was relieved to see at least one friendly face. Elder Zin of Hexington smiled and stood with a friendly wave, climbing down from his perch to greet his grandson and me happily. "Zed, Fast, wonderful to see you both healthy and whole again."

"Mostly healthy anyway, I'm not sure 'whole' really applies though Zin. Good to see you again too though, it's been awhile since Hex, huh? How are things there?"

Zin's warm green eyes turned worried for a moment at my crooked smile in return, but he shrugged it off and patted my back in a friendly, grandfatherly gesture that got murmurs of disapproval from his fellow Elders. "Much improved for everycreature, thanks to you and your Princess Fast. Thank you again, for everything, including honoring an old stallion's request and teaching my grandson a thing or two, hmm? He spoke on your behalf very passionately, proving he's finally found a true friend."

"Heh, yeah... me and Zedrick here are pals alright, I'm glad he came with us. He's... he's really been there for me, even after he learned I'm the big bad Shadowknight you're all afraid of."

Even kindly Elder Zin got a pensive look at my tired joke, shaking his head as he spoke in a concerned voice. "Yes... I sensed a shadow of darkness in you when we met before, but I never would have guessed you'd be host to the real Shrouded Stallion. It presents a connundrum for us, especially since you still seem to be... you... Even knowing the truth now, I still see the earnest young pony I met before, though a little worse for wear I suppose..."

I had to chuckle at Zin's understatement, looking down at myself with a sigh. Worse for wear covered it alright, I was scarred and filthy, my poor tail singed and soot from the fire of Libertalia making my dark coat even darker and grimier in spots, my fur was grown out in wild tangles matted with blood that wasn't entirely my own. The pieces of heavy armor like the shoulderplate on my bandolier were dinged and scorched, while only the repair spells imbued in it kept my Shrouded Stallion armor in decent shape. Though taking my fedora in my hooves sheepishly proved it was as dirty and singed as the rest of me.

"You are still a pony though Fast, a good one I am indebted to. I'm not sure how much we can help you, but I'll do what I can to convince the others. Hopefully I'll be able to talk under better circumstances after this. Excuse me so I can take my seat and get on with it, hmm?" Elder Zin shook my hoof before trotting off, climbing his way up to his elevated seat with the others as Elder Pandora tapped her staff for order and the murmuring in the room tapered off.

Elder Pandora waited for complete silence before proceeding, following my hesitant trudge to the witness stand and raising an eyebrow at Zed standing beside me. "Ahem, if we may begin Elders? Venator Noctis Zed, you have brought the Shadowknight here as your guest and seek aid. We're all interested to hear why you have done this and what you expect from us."

Zed didn't flinch from her intimidating stare, standing straight and proud as he dug in his packs and pulled out a shard of black mirror that elicted gasps from the crowd. "It's thanks to my friend Fast that I was able to recover this artifact of Yura's. He has assisted me in my duties and been a true and faithful comrade, one who needs help and answers. I've tried everything I know to free him from the dark spirit that clings to him, but my skills are lacking and I've been unable to exorcise the..."

"NO EXORCISMS!" The Shroud's voice boomed out of my muzzle, giving the gathered group of elders and assistants a start even as I grumbled and waved my hooves frantically. "Sorry! Sorry about that! He really doesn't like that word... I'm ok! Please, keep going, nevermind me..."

Pandora huffed and leaned over to whisper to her apprentice Xiayou waiting at her side, then waited as the filly scrambled down with a basket in her teeth and took the evil shard of mirror with a distasteful look. She dutifully brought it back to her teacher, who eyed it a moment before passing it down the row of Elders sitting with her while she spoke. "Returning one of Yura's artifacts is a great accomplishment and we congratulate you Venator, sharing the honor with this... outsider... does him credit of course. That doesn't change the fact he is host to the Shadowknight however, the catastrophe of ancient times that helped Yura herself cause so much suffering. If you were unable to exor.... cleanse the spirit's influence, I'm uncertain we could either. He's not merely possessed, he's a medium..."

Zed sucked in a breath at the unfamiliar term, giving me a worried look as I stared back blankly and spoke in a curious whisper. "Medium? What's that Zed? What's the deal?"

Pandora's ears were sharp and the acoustics of the old courtroom were in her favor, allowing her to speak over Zed in a lecturely tone. "A medium is a creature able to draw on the power of a spirit. You use the Shadowknight's power, do you not? Usually a shaman would have to work many years to develop a relationship with one totem spirit before becoming a medium. In such cases, they take on traits of the spirit they've melded with. A shaman who's focused on a wolf spirit for example, would take on lupine features and traits. I have never heard of a pony becoming one however, your people are generally blind when it comes to the world of the spirits. Forging a bond with the legendary Shadowknight of all creatures is unprecedented. Quite frankly, a spirit that powerful would consume even the most experienced shamans. How have you done such a thing?"

"I don't know! I don't even know how it got in me dammit! I was hoping you guys could tell me! All I know is my... is the Institute did something to me a long time ago, when I was a foal, but I don't know what because they screwed around with my memory! All I've gotten the Shroud to say about it was he was invited..."

There was an even louder gasp at that, followed by a lot of whispered conversation between all the elders that tried my patience and made me nervous. Eventually it was Zin who coughed for quiet and spoke, leaning over the desk to speak in a friendly if concerned tone. "You're sure of this? It was invited?"

"I just told you, I'm not sure of anything, that's just what he said when I asked. Look, I understand if you can't do the E word, but I don't get why? Just because I'm a medium thing you're saying I'm stuck with the Shroud in my head forever? You really can't do anything?"

In reply, Xiayou leaned up to whisper in Pandora's ear, going back and forth a moment before getting permission apparently. The pretty filly then excused herself as she reached out to grab a glass of water and an inkwell from the Elder's desk, trotting down to the witness stand with both and setting them before me.

She gave an exasperated look as she set up her little demonstration, setting the water on the stand and pointing to it with a snort. "This is you..."

"Ok....."

Holding the inkwell up over the cracked glass, Xiayou continued in a tone like she was explaining something simple to a very poor student. "The ink is the Shadowknight spirit, you follow?"

"Yeah...."

Once I nodded uncertainly at the simple visual aids, Xiayou poured ink into the glass of water and swirled it around, turning the clear if gritty looking water a dark grey. That done, she pointed to the now inky water with a flourish and huffed at me peering at it closely. "What you're asking is for us to take the ink back out of the water, get it? We can't, it's all blended together, there's no way for us to undo it."

My ears drooped as I got the analogy and laid my chin on the table to watch the swirling water as Xiayou trotted off. A quick internal aside confirmed what she said too, the Shroud agreeing with her simple explanation happily. He was perfectly content with how things worked out, hence his dislike of even attempting to exorcise him. We were together and he liked it just fine.

I wasn't though... I just couldn't live the rest of my life like this. I was barely hanging on to any sense of sanity, and that was mostly after finding out Glitter was alive and having my hope restored. Much as I wanted to see her and Jade again though, I couldn't have a life together with them when I was one step shy of being a raving madpony.

"Isn't there any way? Any at all!? With the right equipment or spell you could separate the ink, right? Isn't there something like that that would work?"

Pandora answered my desperate plea, shrugging with a bit of sympathy on heariing the raw edge to my voice. "It's possible. Powerful enough magic could purge the spirit. Though if it clings to you still, it's likely to destroy you as well in the process. It would have to voluntarily accept being ex- .... removed. Even then, you're talking about sorcery on the level of the Elements of Harmony or the like."

I slumped at the note of finality in her voice. As far as they were concerned, only the most powerful magic in all of pony history stood a chance of freeing me and that was that. Even with the soft voices of the Ministry Mares rising up to comfort, I still felt tears sting my eyes. They were a pale shadow of the Elements, an echo... nowhere near the kind of power it would take, even if they were obviously willing. They'd already done all they could trying to keep the Shroud sealed, now that it was free, there was little they could do but offer their sympathy.

"I'm more interested in how you wound up this way pony... You say you invited the Shadowknight in?" An elderly zebra mare with curvy stripes spoke up and interrupted my brooding, waiting until recognized by Pandora as Elder Yuan of Murkwater before continuing. "Only a pony would be so foalish as to invite a monster like the Shadowknight in, whatever state you're in now is your own fault."

"I WAS a foal dammit! Not that I freaking remember! I told you, somepony messed with my memories and now I have no idea how it even happened!"

"If you did so, there would be evidence." Zin spoke up softly, pointing again to the glass of inky water in front of me. "Taking in the Shadowknight's spirit, a portion of your own may have ...overflowed the glass so to speak Fast. It would most likely latch on to a nearby object and form a soul jar..."

I blinked in confusion for a moment, trying to take in what the kindly old stallion was saying. Zed caught on a lot faster than I did however, pointing to my saddlebag with a gasp. "Your toy Fast! The doll from your comic books!"

"It's an action figure..." I huffed back, but floated the contents of the bag in question out, setting each of the Ministry Mares I had collected on the stand until I reached my pristine Shrouded Stallion figure and held it up uncertainly. "You mean this.... This is the soul jar you said I made somehow. You're saying that's how?"

The Elders all stared at my collection in shock, eyeing each of the pretty Ministry Mares before focusing on the little toy floating up in my telekinesis and nodding collectively. Elder Pandora broke the silence, waving her hoof for me to float it her way with a soft whisper. "Yes, precisely... This toy contains a sliver of your own soul Fast, your untainted spirit from the moment you invited the Shadowknight in. It likely acts as a tether to who you used to be, perhaps keeping it close is the reason you've not fallen to depravity yet."

I let the zebras pass the toy between themselves before taking it back, eyeing the perfectly preserved figureine dubiously. I did feel ...something.... from it, a sense of innocence and light that was soothing. I had the briefest, hazy, muddled flash of the dreams I'd had after the Shroud broke free and I'd been... gone... for a week or more. Had this little toy been what kept me from disappearing completely?

Curious... but neither I nor the zebras seemed to find what they could tell me all that earthshattering. Actually I got the idea it made me look worse in their eyes, proof that at some point I had willingly invited the terrible Shadowknight in, even if I couldn't remember. Fortunately, they seemed reluctant to piss me off too, muttering back and forth between each other with a few phrases standing out;

"He's spirit touched alright, it's not good to interfere with the will of the spirits Pandora..."

"He's cursed is what he is! We can't have it back in Neighlem again, when night falls..."

"And I suppose you want to explain to the Sanctuary ponies we just threw their little prince out with the bathwater? They've been the better of two devils at our doorstep, is it wise to test their patience?"

"If it's between the Gunners and the Shadowknight, I have to wonder if Batia has a point!"

"Enough!" Pandora finally broke up the back and forth, narrowing her eyes at me as she spoke. "Whether we find it distasteful or not, he's not merely the Shadowknight of legend, he's a pony seeking help under the charge of our Venator Noctis Zed, we cannot simply turn him away entirely. He's behaved himself so far and is aware of the threat of the Kraken hanging over his head while here, so long as the sun shines overhead I'm willing to allow him to remain if it speeds his eventual departure. What is it you plan to do here Fast, since we've already offered what spiritual advice we can?"

"Er... Well..." I blanched a moment, turning to Zed and glad I knew his poker face well enough to recognize the barely noticeable tics that said to keep my muzzle shut. "I... The Shroud rather, wants to do something with that hellhound I met earlier, tonight and outside the village, so I'll leave by then I'm sure. Untill then I just needed somewhere to rest, maybe check your shops and get cleaned up before I go see my wife again..."

Another quick aside between the elders followed, this time even my hearing had to strain to pick up words, catching mainly an intense spurt of argument, followed by Pandora bowing her head and pointing her scary staff my way. "Very well... Provided Zed keeps a close eye on you and you use the local courier to write to the Princess and explain your delay."

"Wait, what? Write Jade?"

"We wish to remain uninvolved in your squabble with the Institute, but would most prefer her over the sun goddess synth. Thus we'd just as soon stay in the good graces of the Kingdom of Sanctuary. Your Princess has written every community in the area asking that we have you write her if we find you, a simple chore that would win her favor. We've relayed her message and ask you to respond on our behalf if not your own, that's not too much to ask for what we're ceding in return Shadowknight." Pandora was polite, but her tone brooked no argument, leaving me no escape from something I'd been avoiding.

"R-RIght then... I'll just write my wife..."

'Dear Jade, how's it going.....'

"No..."

'Dear Jade, long time no see, huh?'

"Nnnn... definitely not..."

'Dearest Jade, I hope this letter finds you well....'

"Nope, too formal...."

'Heya Jade! I'm still alive and....'

"No, stupid!..."

'Hark oh beautiful and kind Princess, thine royal knight bids you good morrow and counts the seconds we remain parted with bated breath. Lo for the day soon approaching I hold thine divine countenance again and we...'

"NO! I don't want your help on this! She wants to hear from me, not you!" Snorting and balling up yet another valuable piece of paper at the counter of the local Red Rocket, the poor pegasus filly at the counter took a few wary steps back at me pulling my mane and arguing with myself.

"Fast... perhaps you should calm down and think this over elsewhere. You're causing a line and a scene..." Zed cut me off from shutting the Shroud up yet again, drawing my attention to the short line of zebras keeping a healthy distance away from the counter with the madpony scribbling on it.

"Huh? Oh... h-hehe sorry folks. Right Zed, I'll just er... can I just buy some sheets of paper and work on this awhile Miss?" I blinked sheepishly at the elderly mare who'd had the courage to get in line behind me, flashing a crooked grin to her 'harumph' in my direction and gathering up several sheets of ragged wasteland paper from the Red Rocket counter.

The pegasus at the counter didn't argue, shoving more paper my way and nodding in relief. "S-Sure! Sure! Take all you want Shroud, we don't fly out till around sunset so just drop it off by then!"

Despite her forced cheer and generosity, I laid some caps out for the time and paper I'd wasted already and tried to slink away with Zed at my side, pausing and perking an ear behind me to the sky blue pegasus clerk's voice calling after me quietly. "Umm... Seriously, I'll wait and put your letter on super speedy rush delivery Mr. Shroud. G-Grampy Jets.... he was your friend, so... so I am too."

My ears drooped and I gave a soft sigh at her kindness, turning back to see her twisting her postal cap in her hooves with a genuine smile on my muzzle. "Thank you... that means a lot."

"You still have friends Fast, ponies still want to believe in the Shrouded Stallion, your Shrouded Stallion..." Zed gave a supportive nudge and led me through the cobblestone streets, continuing in a cautious tone. "The spirit Shroud still plans on going to Yura's chapel though, doesn't it?"

"Er... yeah, sorry, he's pretty insistent about it. That hellhound Clara said she had a way in and would help out, so there's no reason you have to go tonight Zed. I'll handle it and meet you back at the museum or somewhere, then we can finally go to Jade and Glitter together."

Zed shook his head firmly at the out I offered him, answering with a tired sigh. "My ancestor's evils are something I need to face as well, much as I dislike the idea of you going after the artifact she helped create. The Shadowknight's blade is as dangerous as any of her other creations like Yura's mirror, best I come along and take responsibility."

"Alright, if you're sure Zed, I don't mind the company. So how do you wanna kill time until then? I'm kinda surprised you're showing me around your hometown at all." I replied, then rolled my eyes at the crowd parting around us as we walked and lowered my voice to a whisper. "I mean... I don't think they like me very much here Zed...."

"That's why I'm escorting you around Fast, I want them to see you're a pony, not the monster of legend they're all afraid of. After my talk with grandfather last night, I'd rather Neighlem join your kingdom of Sanctuary than the New Equestrian Empire. Convincing them you're not the Shadowknight they fear will go a long way towards that outcome." Zed answered with his head held high under the heavy stares of the villagers following us, keeping pace with me and bumping flanks in a friendly gesture playing to the crowd.

"Ah... I wondered. Are things bad here then? I gathered the Gunners are poking around, but I was surprised they've heard from Jade too. You really think your aunt will pick a side?"

"I think she'll do what's best for the village, no matter what that turns out to be. We're a proud people and wish to remain independent, but the kraken will only dissuade those who attack from outside, not those who slither their way in using zebras like Batia. There may be peace now, but the whole of the Commonwealth are already growing divided between your mare and the Institute's Princess. After getting to know her so well, I know Jade is the better choice." Zed's serious reply made me pause and smile to the gruff zebra, clapping his back proudly.

"She'd be super embarassed hearing you say that Zed, but also really happy you believe in her I think. I still think expecting the crazy pony to be some kind of good will ambassador is a bad idea, but I'll try to act sane while we're here. So, what do you wanna do then?"

Jerking his muzzle down the street, Zed eyed my scruffy, bedraggled appearance and sniffed in my direction with distaste as I followed his gaze to our apparent destination, the large public bath house. "Appearances matter and you'll wish to meet Jade looking a bit less like a psychopath, so I thought to try getting you cleaned up if the spirit has no objections."

Taking a better look, I saw most of the zebras heading our direction had small woven baskets of towels, crude soaps and fresh clothes on their backs, all heading for the baths as well. The fact there were several pretty fillies among them just got instant agreement from the Shroud's voice in my head, eagerly nodding my head and growling, '...pretty!... want!... go!....'

Feeling my wings stand up, I clenched my eyes and felt my face heat up, giving an uncertain shrug to Zed just smirking at me. "Er... you really think that's a good idea? Me? In a public bath... like mixed bathing... with fillies..."

Zed chuckled and gave me a shove to keep moving, shaking his head softly as we went. "I'll arrange for one of the private baths and be right there to keep an eye on you. No offense Fast, but you reek and convincing others you're no threat is harder when you're matted in blood. It will give you time to work on your letter."

I still wasn't sure, but trusted Zed and followed along as we entered the steamy ruins of the zebra bath house. The lobby was surprisingly full for being lunchtime, crowded with zebras, zonies and ponies all lining up at the counter. They all carried those little baskets of toiletries, paying caps to the attractive zebra mare at the counter and getting a token in return for one of the numerous rusty lockers or musty wooden cubbyholes marked by zebra runes that were scattered about the entry.

Zed had to talk to the attendant for quite some time while I stood back and tried to stay out of the way, giving a crooked smile when he pointed my way, then returning to leering around the room at the various customers making their way back to the damp smelling rooms beyond. Eventually my zebra friend laid out a large bundle of caps and gave a bow to the clerk, trotting back with a token that read 'squiggly circle - wavy line - triangle' as far as I could make out and trotting to the locker that matched it.

Zed shrugged out of his leather jacket and armor on the spot, stashing them away in the locker, then stood on his hindlegs to grab a wooden bucket from a stack of several on top of the lockers. He held this out expectantly, rolling his eyes at my bloody armor. "Off Fast, all of it. I'll handle getting it cleaned up."

Pulling off my bandolier and other dinged armored plates the Shroud had been adding to my wardrobe, I paused at the buttons to my trenchcoat and blushed brightly. Zed just tapping his hoof in his bare coat with all those rippling muscles only made me feel more on the spot and awkward, sighing in defeat as I joined all the other unembarassed customers in stripping down to nothing. I felt a lot of eyes turned our way which just made it worse, but apparently it was mostly curiosity watching the dread Shadowknight stripped of his costume and revealed as nothing but a scrawny alicorn buck.

I stopped dead when Zed led me from the lobby and into the bath house itself, staring with wide eyes at the huge pool that took up most of the space in the cavernous room. It was big enough to be used in the Equestria Games, a steamy and shallow indoor lake with a couple dozen nude zebras frolicking together until we walked in. They all froze on spotting us though, or me rather... the amiable chatter of conversation dried up and all eyes turned to us, the sound of sputtering showers and a lone cough the only break to the silence.

Despite the awkward situation, I couldn't help gaping along with the Shroud at all the bath goers. For me, it was mainly the variety of different zebra stripes on prominent display that caught my eye. Curvy and straight, horizontal and vertical, broad and thin, there were zebras of number of tribes here and there weren't any clothes getting in the way of staring at the variety, a few even had their stripes dyed red!

The Shroud of course only focused on one small subset of the crowd, fillies.... There were quite a few attractive examples to ogle, the gaggle of curvy carnilia I saw entering earlier, the muscular Atolli with their wavy stripes, a mousy and petite little Propolli who squeaked and hid when my eyes roved over her. Equally interesting were the ponies and zonies mixed in the pot, providing more exotic eye candy I found myself drooling over.

"Errrgh! NO! Not what we're here for dammit! Calm down!" Cringing and bashing my head in my hooves seemed to break the spell of silence, resulting in an echoing murmur filling the room as Zed shoved me onward.

He quickly made his way around to stand between me and the view, getting a look of mixed gratitude and frustration for his trouble as he whispered in my ear. "I was afraid of that... Just relax, the private baths are this way, don't lose control Fast.."

"You're bringing it in here Zed!? Why!?" A familiar whine forced me to open my eyes after clenching them shut and trying to rush through the room, resulting in a face to face view of a naked Xiayou that only made things worse.

She might be bratty and annoying, but she was also a very shapely filly under those robes and as liberated when it came to public bathing as the other zebras, stamping a hoof and tossing her long and loose mane in our path. It wasn't until she looked away from Zed long enough to notice the way my ears were perked up and my lidded stare drank her in as I stalked forward against Zed's grip.

Figuring out the low growl I was making through a fang filled grin, the young shaman yelped and snatched a towel from her pony assistant Willlow cringing behind her, covering up and pointing an accusing hoof my way. "By the spirits, he's a pervert! His aura is going crazy Zed! You brought a monster like that in to the bath house!?!"

"I'm trying to get him cleaned up and calm, your presence isn't helping Xia...." Zed snorted back and kept trying to push me along, resulting in a long squeaking noise as my hooves dug in against the slippery tiles and slowed his progress.

Even I noticed how wounded Xiayou looked at Zed's gruff reply, though Zed himself clearly didn't. His oblivious huff brought a furious and embarassed blush to the filly's face, stamping and snorting in a snit as Zed finally brute forced me past the showers and towards a series of moldy doors leading off the main room. "F-Fine then! Spend time with a demon instead of me, see if I bother your precious bath time with your pet monster!"

I groaned sheepishly when I found my forelegs gripping the edge of the door and clinging to it for dear life as Zed kept pushing, forced to stretch my neck and keep leering the whole way as Zed finally got me out of the room without even bothering to answer the frustrated filly. I made one last desperate dive for the view when he let me go, but found myself snatched from the air and tossed back by an agile flip of Zed's hooves, then the door slammed shut and I the needy howl in my head was finally cut off from the overstimulating view.

'Dear Jade...

It's weird writing you like this, especially since I plan to see you in person as soon as I can. The zebras in Neighlem said you've been asking me to write though, so.... so I'm trying. I'm sorry I haven't before now. At first, when I woke up... I... I thought Glitter was dead and I just gave up. I did terrible things and I've been too ashamed since then to talk to you, even though I've really, really, reeeeeally wanted to. I was afraid too, I'm still not entirely me and... I didn't want to put you in danger. I'm still not sure it's a good idea, but I know the Shroud would never hurt you at least and I can't live without you either. There's still something I have to do here, but as soon as I'm done I'll head right for you and Glitter and then we can... I don't know. I hope we can all figure it out together soon...

"Nnnnn... I still don't like it. There should be a lot more grovelling, shouldn't there? Like 20% more grovelling I think..."

Zed laughed from where he soaked in the small pool with me, lifting a steaming washcloth from his grey eyes to smirk at the letter floating carefully above the water in my telekinesis. "You've rewritten it a dozen times now Fast, I think it's fine. If you ask for forgiveness the Princess is sure to grant it."

Floating the half finished letter safely away from the water of the large tub, I slumped and blew bubbles with my sighing reply. "I know Jade would, but that doesn't mean I deserve forgiveness. Your people probably have it right Zed, I'm a monster that just brings catastrophe wherever I go."

Zed sat up at my worried admission, shaking his head softly. "I don't believe that. You are possessed and dangerous of course, but it's still Fast Times in there, not the Shadowknight. Atoning for the sins the spirit has committed may feel like a heavy burden, but not one you have to face alone. Miss Jade will want to help you Fast."

"I'm scared though... That's why I haven't been that put out by the delay getting back to her I guess... If writing her is this hard, what am I gonna say when we're face to face again? What can I even say? 'Oh, hey honey, sorry I lost my mind for awhile there while you were on your own dealing with Glitter being in a coma, me disappearing and a synthetic Celestia preparing to invade the rest of Equestria. Don't worry though, I'm back and only 70% crazy now..."

Zed chuckled at my frustrated joke, stretching out languidly in the steamy water and waving my worries aside. "It could be 1000% and Miss Jade wouldn't care Fast, she loves you very much."

"I love her too, I'm just afraid she shouldn't care about me so much after what I've done. I guess you don't pick who you love or why though. Like that Xiayou filly is really ticked at you, but I bet she's still gaga over you too Zed."

"Yes, exactly like... wait, what? What are you talking about Xia for Fast?" Zed nodded sagely, then stopped with a curious blink and sat up in a rush of water.

"Er... I just meant she's crazy about you like Jade and I are for each other, so... you know, even if she's mad you brought me here and all, she probably still doesn't care because she... Really? You hadn't noticed?"

By the dumbfounded stare Zed had locked on me, I could only goggle back at his eventual admission I had figured something out about interpersonal relationships the bachelor zebra had missed. "Xia is.... she doesn't... She's like a bratty younger sister Fast! We trained together for a time, but she's always so... S-She doesn't..."

"Ha! You don't even see it!? I mean, yeah... she's bitchy alright, but she's like 20% less bitchy when you're around Zedrick... Boy, usually I'm the one who's clueless, you really had no idea? Why'd you think she was so pissed you hustled me in here and didn't even ogle her a little? I know you guys have a more liberated view of public bathing, but that show definitely wasn't for me. Not that I didn't like it..."

"Fast! I'll rack that up to the perverted spirit, but you shouldn't joke about Xia that way! She's a priestess!" To my surprise Zed blushed as he stood aghast at my waggling eyebrows, sputtering when I just piled on with a smirk.

"She's a hot priestess, I'm allowed to look... I mean, if you're not paying any attention then..."

"I pay attention! I just... she's... You really think she feels that way, about me? I'm just the Venator Noctis, I come from a cursed bloodline, why would she..." Zed stamped his hooves in response, then fell to his haunches and scratched his sodden mane in confusion, slowly working it out.

"Don't ask me, go ask her. She's not exactly subtle about it, though apparently even that's not enough for you to catch on. Go on and chat with her Zed, I'll be safe here, I need to keep thinking on how to finish this letter anyway."

Zed gave a dubious snort at my shrug, glancing between the only door out and the steamy tub I splashed in innocently. "You never stay where you're supposed to... I can't just leave you on your own to go sniff after a filly, unlike you I have some self control."

"I have self control! I haven't killed anycreature all day, have I? Just guard me from the other side of the door, she'll come to you I bet. Seriously Zed, go on. Besides, you might be fine sharing a tub, but I feel pretty inadequette here and wouldn't mind being able to enjoy the fancy bath by myself. It'll help me think."

It took shooing him away with my hooves and throwing bars of homemade soap in my telekinesis to chase him from the room reluctantly, but Zed gave a groan and gave in, scooping up the bucket with my bloody costume as he went. "Fine, I'll give you a bit of privacy and get this cleaned up, but that's the only reason I'm going outside! If I happen to run into Xia while I do that, then.... i-it doesn't mean anything!"

Seeing Zed actually get flustered lifted my mood quite a bit. I'd seen the strong and silent zebra meet fillies in the places we'd visited across the Commonwealth and he always seemed smooth and suave, it was heartening to see a foalhood friend could throw even his game off that much. Just for fun and to get into the flow of it, I had to add that little escapade to my letter to Jade, snickering as my quill pen scratched its way across the paper.

It also made me think of my own foalhood filly friend Sunset Mist back in the Stable, something I decided was probably best not to include in Jade's letter. When I left Stable 111 I was determined to find her and the others, Grizz, Mom, Dad, my baby brother Better, all of them... One thing after another had happened since then and I worried they'd be mad I hadn't done enough, especially since the only thing on my mind at the moment was getting back to Jade and Glitter. I still wanted to find and rescue my family somehow, but I had to admit they'd taken a definite back burner.

Some less than others of course... Pulling out my Shrouded Stallion action figure and perching it at the edge of the tub, I stared at the toy closely and thought of a family member who hadn't been with us in the Stable, but I was still pretty eager to find... Grandpa... he knew what happened to me, I was sure of it. He screwed with my memories, he was in charge of Project Knightfall, he had a hoof in everything but he was still hiding somewhere.

The zebras here had been able to answer one small question at least, explaining how my toy Shroud had become an indestructible soul jar, a minor mystery that was tied to all the others for sure. Without those missing memories though, I was still shooting in the dark. I needed more than just the things the shamans here could tell me about the spiritual hoodoo, I needed to remember what happened to me, how I wound up inviting the Shroud's spirit in so long ago, why Grandpa had done everything he had.

Unfortunately, there weren't many options there. Jade knew some memory magic, but not even she and her psychic sister Ivy could get through the block Mobius put in my head. I was heading for Goodneighbor to find Jade soon, there was always the possibility of going to the Memory Den and using their MoM memory recliners I supposed, though I wasn't sure how far I trusted the gadgets.

What I really needed was an expert... Somepony who was a master of memory magic, somepony even better at messing with minds than Ivy was... I gave a halfhearted snort as the answer Ivy herself had recommended came to me, rolling my eyes and shuddering with the unlikely thought. "...Virescent... yeah, right..."

The last time I'd seen that particular green alicorn, she'd been the size of a small building and very determined to catch me. I counted myself lucky to have avoided Jade's other sisters on my insane sojorn so far, but had been really glad not to find that one specifically, as her determination to have her way with me put the others all to shame.

Not that it would be an entirely horrible fate I supposed.... Sitting alone in the tub with my thoughts and picturing the raging sex crazed filly, I had to admit a certain tingle as my mane started itching and my wings stood dripping from the water. She was definitely pretty and there at the end hadn't been completely terrible, just a little nuts was all. She did say she'd try to be a better pony...

My nervous laugh echoed off the tiles of the zebra bath house and I tapped my hooves together staring up at the mosaics on the walls. Virescent! I must be more lonely than I thought. It had definitely been awhile since I'd scratched the itch making my heart speed up, but I was going to Jade in no time. Why would I think about anypony else, let alone THAT pony?

I had a weird and tingly feeling every time the image of the attractive alicorn mare popped to mind though, no matter how much I tried to shoo her away. To my surprise she didn't look or feel so cold and haughty in my head, instead it was some kind of idealized, rose tinted memory of a much warmer and kinder Virescent. The persistant image and accompanying feelings made it hard to focus on anything else as my wings flared all the way and a stupid leer spread across my muzzle. It was just an idle daydream, that was all... it didn't hurt to think...

Leaning back in the water and laying my ears back as I focused on the enticing fantasy, I nearly missed the sound of heavy galloping hooves and shouts from outside. Then I squeaked in embarassment as I realized whatever it was, it was coming my way in a hurry. I scrambled and looked around for a towel to cover up with frantically, lunging out of the tub and slipping madly around the room as the crashes and hoofsteps charged right at the door.

Without my armor or equipment, I was left with just my horn to defend myself and backed into a corner with a towel hastily wrapped around my barrel. The Shroud snorted internally at my modesty, focusing on charging a bolt of blackened lightning at my horn and tensing into a crouch as the charging creature outside hit the door. As soon as the green and maroon blur smashed through the obstacle however, the spell fizzled out as I took in the intruder.

Filling the doorway with her large green wings flared out and mostly blocking the sight of Zed and a lot of surprised zebras outside, stood a tall and gorgeous green alicorn. Bizarrely, she was wearing a Shadow Spade costume fit to her alluring proportions, the wide and rakish lavender hat perched on her flowing green and lilac mane. Her bright green eyes were wide and the whites were flashing with pink bands, while her nostrils flared with a wide grin and she lunged at me giddily.

I cringed reflexively, but this alicorn actually stopped short instead of pouncing on top of me. When I cracked an eye she had her head lowered muzzle to muzzle at my level and her rump stuck up, her long tail actually wagging and whipping back and forth merrily as she closed her eyes and smiled brightly. "I found you Fast! You were thinking of me! I am not a 'little nuts' though!"

"V-Virescent...!?"

New Perk Added!--------------------

Spiritual Medium---------
---Not the kind of help you were hoping for, but knowledge is power! Thanks to the zebra elders of Neighlem, you now know a little more about how you wound up with the Shroud's spirit possessing you and what it means. As a pony with one hoof in the realm of spirits, you now gain 20% resistance to the attacks of spirits and shaman spirit magic. You also deal increased damage to shamans and all spirit creatures, including ghosts, coltergeists, elementals, astral creatures, windigos and more. You also gain a bonus when attempting to use the Shroud's spells and skills yourself.

Faction Change!------------------

Neighlem Village = Shunned ----
---You didn't expect a warm welcome as the dreaded Shadowknight, but the torches and pitchforks haven't come out yet either at least. You're tolerated within the borders of Neighlem Village, just barely... Prices at local vendors will be poor and dialog / quest options in the zebra hamlet will be limited.