Three Days Later

Eric stared out the window in irritation. Though Canterlot glimmered in the sun, the beauty of Equestria's capital was not enough to soothe his foul mood.

"Seventy three Devil Fruits were in that army," Eric cursed, gritting his teeth. "And we were only able to get two?"

"It's not that bad, darling," Rarity said, preening as several men drooled over her; the physical effects of the Love-Love Fruit practically shining on her form. Rolling his eyes, Eric glanced at his shadows, where Cold Scales' Shadow-Shadow Fruit was thankfully kept safe.

"Don't get him even more upset," Sombra advised Rarity, settling next to Eric.

Eric barked a laugh. “Upset is an understatement,” Eric seethed, crossing his arms. “We may have won the war, but we lost the battle. We only managed to recover two out of the Seventy-Three Devil Fruits.”

“Is that why all the stallions on this train have turned into drooling zombies?” Sombra asked looking at the moronic stallions.

“Yes. We recovered Cold Scales' Shadow-Shadow and the Rank Six General's Love-Love,” Eric said as Sombra took the seat in front of the Shadow Man. “Turned out Pinkamena was right in one aspect: he Love-Love Fruit turns the user into what most stallions would perceive as a living Goddess of Beauty.” Eric nodded at the stallions fawning over Rarity. “It also has the ability to turn anypony into stone, so long as that person finds you attractive.”

“And the reason we...” Sombra waved a finger between himself and Eric, “...aren’t drooling over her is because we don’t find her attractive?”

“Somewhat," Eric admitted. "I’ll admit she is attractive, but I no longer hold any love in my heart." Eric glanced behind Sombra. “You on the other hand, seem already be attracted to somepony else.”

Sombra followed Eric's gaze to the yellow mare sitting quietly by herself. Eric turned back to the window, sparing Sombra the embarassment of blushing in front of his friend.

After an overall uneventful train ride (with the exception of having to fend off the love crazy stallions with a shadow staff), the sea train came to a stop at Canterlot station. Luna got off with Celestia in her arms; even with healing magic, the severity of the injuries and blood loss had taken a heavy toll on the princesses body.

“Come along, Tia,” Luna said, helping her sister off the train. “Let’s get you to the Royal Doctor.” Luna turned to the others before offering an apologetic smile. “I’ll see you all back at the castle.”

“Don’t worry, we understand,” Eric said to the alicorn. “Family comes first.”

Nodding in gratitude, Luna lit up her horn. And with a flash of magic, the princesses disappeared, leaving Eric and the others to make their way up to the castle. As they neared the entrance, Eric picked up the sound of yelling. Jogging ahead, Eric was met with the sight of a pink mare trying to push past the guards.

“Please I must speak to the princess,” the pony begged. “Please! It’s an emergency!”

“I told you already the princesses have yet to return from their trip to the Crystal Empire,” the guard said, shoving the pony to the ground.

Jumping to her feet, the mare body checked the guard, knocking him off balance and causing the other guard to aim his spear at the desperate mare.

"HEY!" Eric boomed. Putting himself between the guards and the mare, he caught the spear and yanked it away, kicking the guard to the ground in the process.

“You’re a guard,” Eric barked sternly, pointing the spear at its previous owner. “You protect, and you never raise your weapon to the innocent!”

The guards wisely backed off, raising their hands in submission. His glare not faltering, Eric snapped the spear in two, just as the others rounded the corner. Rarity's eyes widened.

“Aloe?” Rarity said, approaching the battered mare.

“R-Rarity!” Aloe said, turning in relief to the white mare. "Thank Celestia you're here. They won't let me in and... and..."

Rarity hushed Aloe, pulling her close and patting her head. "There, there, darling," Rarity crooned. "Tell us what's wrong."

“It's my sister, Lotus," Aloe explained, trying not to sob. "She never came home last night!"

Eric's eyes narrowed. He put a hand on the pony's shoulder. "Tell me everything."

Aloe explained: how she waited for her sister only to find Octavia at her door with a handkerchief with strands of her sister’s hair inside. Aloe barely got the handkerchief out of her pocket before Eric snatched it up, looking it over.

“Ponynapped...” Eric growled, pocketing the rag. “I’ll be back.”

The guards had tried to slink away after their first encounter with Eric. However, Eric caught the slower of the two and spun him back to face the Shadow Man.

“Have there been reports of anypony missing within the surrounding islands?” Eric ordered.

“Y-yeah," the guard stammered. "W-we’ve received several reports of Mares missing from their island." His grip on his spear tightened. “Not just ponies but every type of creature. D-donkeys, dragons... as long as it was female, it was taken."

“Stealing females," Eric growled, one of his eyes twitching. "You know what that means, right?"

"I-I guess?" the guard stammered.

But Eric had already turned away from him and left the castle, grinding his teeth.

‘Even after one thousand years, there are still black markets. Damn it all to Tartarus.’ Eric stopped, putting a hand to his chin. ‘Hmm... one thousand years ago, I found the Empire’s black market with the aid of somepony closely related to it. Shining was the Captain of Canterlot, so he would know who to talk to.'

“Eric,” Fluttershy said, drawing his gaze. “What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to find Aloe's sister,” Eric said, pulling out a silver whistle. “But I’m going to need a little information from the former Captain of Canterlot.”

Eric put the whistle to his mouth and blew into it, however no sound came from it. Fluttershy tilted her head.

“What kind of whistle is that?” Fluttershy asked. "Is it a... dog whistle, or...?"

She soon got her answer. In mere seconds, a black ball of fire appeared over the horizon. It charged into Eric, knocking him off his feet.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash barked, igniting into flames. But her flames quickly cooled, as she realized that whatever had careened into Eric wasn't malicious.

The ponies backed up as a black phoenix danced on Eric's chest, cawing in excitement as shadowy sparks jumped from his extended wings. Its head boppped and bowed, and a rare smile cropped up on the Shadow Man's face.

“It’s good to see you too, Pitch” Eric said petting the fire birds head.

“Oh... My...” Fluttershy said, stars in her eyes. “What a beautiful creature.”

"I didn't even know phoenixes could be that color!" Rarity gushed.

“He's an Ebony Phoenix," Eric explained, rising to his feet as Pitch perched himself on his shoulder. "Majestic creature in my opinion."

Of course, Pitch immediately challenged that claim by pecking angrily at the Shadow Man's head.

"Ow, hey!" Eric barked. "Pitch, stop it!"

“He’s angry,” Fluttershy said, her ears perking as she translated the phoenix's words. “He’s been alone since you vanished. He’s been flying around the world looking for you for the last thousand years.”

The anger in Eric's eyes faded, just as he noticed the sorrow behind Pitch's gaze.

“Pitch,” Eric bowed his head, causing the Phoenix to put his head against Eric’s. “I’m sorry I left you alone for so long.”

Pitch unfurled his wings and cawed again. Eric turned to Fluttershy who had a warm smile on her face

“He said he missed you so much,” Fluttershy said before Pitch squawked angrily causing Fluttershy to giggle. “He also said that if you ever vanish for a thousand years again he’s going to peck you for all eternity.”

“Don’t worry bud,” Eric smiles, using his finger to rub the Phoenix's head. “I promise never to leave you again."

Pitch warbled, closing his eyes in bliss.

“If I may, where did the two of you meet?” Fluttershy asked.

“Another time, Fluttershy” Eric said, turning the phoenix's attention to him. Reaching into his body Eric pulled out a small scroll as well as a bottle of ink and a quill, moving the fire-bird to his shoulder, he handed the ink pot to the yellow pegasus. Dipping the quill into the bottle, Eric began to write:

King Shining Armor,

Upon arriving on Canterlot we received word of females from many different species being taken. I have reason to believe that there is a black market either within Canterlot or near the island itself. Can you inform me of any individuals who could help me locate said Market?

~Reaper of the Crystal Empire

Sealing the bottle of ink, Eric absorbed both bottle and quill before rolling up the scroll.

“Take this to the Empire, Pitch” Eric ordered, lifting the scroll to Pitch. Just as Pitch grabbed the scroll, Eric stopped him from taking off. “Let me finish: give it to the current king, and come back here 'only; once he has given you a scroll to return with.”

Pitch cawed, and launched off Eric's shoulder with a blaze of ebony flames. Fluttershy watched with stars in their eyes.

“So... fast,” Fluttershy squealed in excitement.

“Pitch is faster than any bird or creature you’ll ever come across,” Eric said proudly, walking the castle path. “Where are the others?”

“Rarity and the others took Aloe into the castle,” Fluttershy explained, walking with the Shadow Man.

Eric smirked. "And you're not with them because you want to see Pitch again."

Fluttershy shrunk down. "It was that obvious?" she simpered.

“Nothing wrong with it,” Eric said with a slight chuckle. “He’s been with me ever since I saved him from a previous... abusive master."

Fluttershy's grin faded. "A-Abusive?" she asked.

Eric's grin faded as he remembered what had happened.

“A Royal arrived to meet with Sombra,” Eric said. “He brought Pitch along, but I don't think it was for sentiment. I saw him lock Pitch up in a cage, neglect to feed him... even outright harm the poor bird."

Fluttershy's ears flattened. "That's disgusting," she said, rage behind her words.

"Luckily, I freed him," Eric said. "And, well..." He paused as they both saw a ball of black fire already rocketing back towards them. "Stand back!"

Fluttershy - remembering Pitch's last landing - wisely took a step back. However, Pitch's landing was softer this time, banking in the air as he held out a scroll in his talons.

Eric took the scroll and began to read:

First and foremost, I’d prefer you use Spike to send a scroll to us. The guards are not familiar with your Phoenix, and came dangerously close to skewering him.

Now, regarding your suspicion, I’d recommend you track down an information broker by the name of Dusk Starsword. He deals in both items and information both legal and Illegal. I was never able to arrest him without any solid proof, but he has a pub in the south east end of Canterlot called Aureum Brew.

Good luck.

~King Shining Armor

Eric smiled, closing the scroll before looking up at Pitch. “Thank you for your help, my friend,” Eric said, reaching into his body and pulling out a bag of bird seed. Just before he could offer it up to the phoenix, he noticed Fluttershy gazing up at him pleadingly.

“Can... Can I feed him?” she asked.

Eric chuckled before handing the bird seed to her. “Just know he’s quite the glutton.”

“Isn’t every animal?” Fluttershy replied with a wry smile.

Chuckling, Eric left the pegasus and phoenix before disappearing into the shadows. With a quick search around, he reappeared right before Aloe.

"Oh!" Aloe yelped.

“Come with me” Eric ordered. Aloe didn't dare disobey, and followed after the Shadow Man as he went out of the castle and into the city

“Did you find my sister?” Aloe asked.

“I have a hunch,” Eric said, as he and Aloe made it to the South-east end of the city. “And right now it’s all we’ve got”

It took a few minutes of searching, but before long, Eric and Aloe found themselves in front of the Aurenum Brew. Walking through into the door rang a bell, alerting the owner.

“Welcome,” a white unicorn behind the counter greeted before turning to the pair. He held a white handkerchief with a blue embroidering on it, but upon seeing the Shadow Man, his eyes widened and he hid the handkerchief behind his back. “And what can I get the two of you?”

However, he had been too slow, and Aloe's eyes widened. She moved to speak, but Eric put his arm in front of her. He didn't need her to let him know he was in the right place.

"I'm looking for someone," Eric said in his best regal tone. "Dusk Starsword."

The white unicorn tensed, but tried to cover it with a chuckle. "Well, that's me," he replied, leaning against the counter. "And may I ask who you are?"

“Just a fellow noble looking for some Off the Market Items” Eric said.

Dusk raised an eyebrow. "Since when did the Reaper of the Crystal Empire become a noble?" he asked.

Eric was surprised at the unicorn's words. The only ones who knew of his title were the princesses, Twilight, her friends and the Empire itself.

However he kept a calm demeanor. “When you choose to ponynap this mare's sister," he replied, indicating Aloe.

“I don’t ponynap. That’s a line I don’t cross,” Dusk said firmly. “However, I was paid to help. It was a job. I have bills to pay." He grinned. "In fact, if you've got the bits, I'd be more than willing to help you get her back."

“Hows about I pay you by allowing you to live," Eric threatened, forming multiple razor tipped tendrils from his back, all aimed at the info broker.

However, Dusk laughed. "You're threatening to kill the guy you want to help you? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Peeved, Eric sent a single tendril at the unicorn, however it was stopped by a barrier spell.

Dusk lets out a low chuckle. "You must not be very smart, hurting the guy giving you intel often proves harmful to you in the end… you must not value the safety of the victim do you?"

“Probably been threatened with worse,” Eric said to himself

“You like money. Right pony?” Eric said, reaching into his coat and pulling out a large sack of bits before setting it on the counter. “All of this is yours if you give me one piece of information.”

Dusk's gazed at the Shadow Man intrigued. "Sir you just piqued my interest! You know what? For such a generous patron, I'll give you what you want to hear. So let's hear it: what Intel do you want on the Golden King?" A slight aura glowed around the bag and Dusk's hands

“None,” Eric said, grinned as the information broker's smile vanished. Eric pointed at Aloe. “I want to know where her sister is, and I want to know if she’s still on the island.”

Dusk looks apprehensive as he eyed Aloe before glancing at the gold "Now see, here's the problem. She's still on the island and when I left her she was fine. However, the auction is tonight."

“YOU’RE GOING TO SELL MY SISTER!!” Aloe screamed at a pitch that could shatter glass.

“Calm yourself," Eric said to her. "She’s still on the island which means we can still save her.” He returned his gaze to the info broker. “Where’s the Auction?”

"Hang on," Dusk looked to Aloe. "I do want you to know, I apologize for my actions. It was just a job, and nothing personal. As such, expect to receive compensation at your residence in a few days. The auction will be held soon, and I can get the location for you and bring you all as potential 'buyers.'" He grinned. "Being a supplier has its perks, after all."

Eric reached into his pocket and threw in a few more bits in the sack. “How soon?”

Dusk gave a small smile as he returned behind the counter ''Let me clean up the place, and we can be on our way." As he started cleaning up, he added over his shoulder, "It would be wise to dress up a little before we head out. You don't exactly look like a 'buyer' right now."

“Maybe,” Eric admitted as he looked over himself. “And if you know me so easily then I’ll need a proper disguise to get me into that auction.” Eric put a hand to his chin. “I could always ask Twilight for a illusion spell.”

“Wise choice,” Dusk grinned before looking towards the Earth Pony. “However I’d refrain from bringing her. She’ll blow your cover the moment she sees the state her sister might be in”

“He's right” Eric said to Aloe. “You’ll have to stay at the castle while I handle this.”

“I will not!” Aloe said, her face turning red with anger. “She’s my sister and I will not stay back while Faust knows what’s being done to her.”

With use of his Shave Technique, Eric appears behind Aloe and chops the back of her neck causing her to fall into unconsciousness. Eric stops her from falling to the floor before looking at the Info broker.

“Something tells me I’m going to need more than myself, aren’t I?” The Shadow Man asked.

Dusk gives a nervous smirk as he looks to Eric. "Well, first off really happy now you didn't decide to kill me…" He cleared his throat as Eric's eyes began to narrow. "Second off, bringing along someone as 'tribute' or 'trade' would be a good idea. It'll get you closer to the areas you want to go to. And a bit of eye candy helps to distract from your true intentions."

“Eye candy?” Eric whispered before remembering the train ride. He grinned. “I think I have a candidate in mind”

“Good. Meet me here, around midnight tonight.”

Eric began to leave with Aloe in tow before looking back at the Info broker. “Double cross us and there will not be a single place you can hide from me.”

Dusk laughed and shooed Eric away "So long as you’ve got money to give, I’ve got no reason to betray the creature who killed somepony as infamous as Toxic Dust.”

With that the Shadow Man left the bar.

The Golden Fool Arc Ch. 1

if you want your Oc in this fanfic just put this in the comments or message me
Name:
Race:
Description:
Devil Fruit:(optional)
Backstory:(Their backstory will determine whether or not if I can use them)

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