I stared gingerly at the floating contraption in front of me as the others went up to the roof of the hideout. A spotted giant red mushroom was floating just under the height of the clock tower.

“Mareio… where…” I started as I looked at Mareio dumfounded.

He turned his head to me with a great smile that would even rival Pinkie’s,
“SILLY SHADOW! You cannot tell? I MADE THE MUSHROOM!”

We were all shocked by Mareio’s answer. Except for Pinkie Pie who was too busy bouncing back and forth from the roof to the wooden observation deck on the mushroom blimp and didn’t notice Mareio’s remark.

“You… MADE THIS!?” I said astonished as Dr. Mareio nodded his head.

“What does your mushroom blimp run on?” asked Twilight who was intrigued by the design and the overall function of a mushroom vehicle.

“Same as all my other mushroom vehicles. STAR-POWER!”

Star-Power?
How could this pony get his hands on star-power?
Isn’t that stuff in the far reaches of space?

“SMALL GALAXY WE LIVE IN HUH?” I recalled Mareio saying.

Well… at least he’s on our side…

As I was probing my thoughts Dr. Mareio ignored all the questions everypony kept asking about his mushroom and “star-power”. Instead he calmly said (and by calmly said I mean shout like a maniac),
“EVERYPONY GET YOUR THINGS! GERPONY AWAITS!”

Everyone retreated down below to gather up their supplies including Dr. Mareio who went down and only a few moments later came up carrying all our tables and work equipment as we all boarded the mushroom blimp.

“DR. MAREIO WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” I shouted at him as he dropped all our worktables and etcetera in front of him.

“Gerpony is 4 days away by mushroom and we need all the help we can get or make...… CATCH!”

Dr. Mareio threw a 20 pound mahogany desk in my direction. I couldn’t risk losing the one symbol of my office so I grabbed the desk just before it hit me, I fell to the ground and the desk crushed my leg, breaking it once more.

“AAAAHHH! COME ON! WHY!” I shouted in extraordinary pain.

But that didn’t end there. The rest of our furniture and workstations were being thrown onto the blimp by Dr. Mareio himself.

In my pained state I thought,

Wow… there go Twilight’s books… and Rarity’s crafting table… Fluttershy’s plants… Rainbow’s weapons… Applejack’s miniature apple tree.... and Pinkie’s bombs……..

PINKIE’S BOMBS!?

I saw through my blurred vision Pinkie jumping and bouncing all over the blimp to catch her cupcake bombs. Ace was laughing at us… until a bird lounger chucked by Dr. Mareio hit him from behind sending him crashing to the observation desk’s wooden floor.

After 5 minutes Dr. Mareio ran out of stuff to throw and we were stuck in a pile of our stuff.

Rainbow who was stuck in a maze of swords, battleaxes and maps yelled at Dr. Mareio, “HEY! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, KILL US?”

“YOU’RE TOO SLOW!” mocked Dr. Mareio in a personality unlike himself.

After we recovered ourselves from the carnage and set everything up on the observation deck as well as the interior of the mushroom, we were ready to head off.

Except for one.

Spike was pleading with me to join us on our trip, “But Shadow… it’s going to be so boring here, can’t I come, please?”

“Look Spike, this is extremely dangerous. We are entering a war which is likely to break out, and I don’t want you to…”

Spike exploded from anger, “TWILIGHT IS GOING INTO DANGER TOO AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR HER!”

I can’t keep doing this; we’re running out of time.

“Fine Spike, you may come…BUT… you will need to listen to everything Twilight says. Everyday life is a suicide-mission and the last thing I want is a baby dragon adapting to that lifestyle. Understand?”

“YES, SIR!” Spike saluted me as he ran over to Twilight’s side.

I assembled everyone onto the observation deck with all of them wearing their assassin robes.

“Everyone! Getting to Gerpony will take 4 days so use that time to plan and make anything that can give us an edge over what we might face. ARE YOU READY!?” I shouted with charisma.

“YES WE ARE!” everyone shouted back.

“Good, let’s go-whoa!” I started to say before the pain in my leg made me trip and land face-first onto the wooden floor.

“OKIE-DOKIE-LOKIE!” shouted both Pinkie and Dr. Mareio in unison as the doctor went to the steering wheel and set the speed to max.

*BOOM*

The mushroom blimp shot into the air in the afternoon sky at an amazing speed. Though we were moving at approximately just below Rainbow Dash’s max speed I didn’t feel any wind change in the mushroom itself.

“Mareio, why isn’t there any wind trying to blow us off from the mushroom?” I asked as Rarity came over to me and helped me up from my broken leg.

“STAR-POWER MAKES GRAVITY BUBBLES!” exciting responded Dr. Mareio taking his hooves off the steering wheel.

The blimp started to tumble until Mareio regained control of it as he placed his hooves at 4 and 6.

“Doctor, don’t you have anything for this poor, poor stallion’s leg? It’s been broken for about 4 weeks now.” asked Rarity to the doctor.

“I told you,” shouted Fluttershy from across the deck.

“I might just’a have the thing you’a need,” said Dr. Mareio as he reached into his left pocket of his doctor’s uniform and pulled out a yellow mushroom.

“Great now I can finally stop feeling this pain…arg.” I commented as a pain rushed up through my leg.

“OK Shadow! But as your doctor I must warn you of the side-effects…”

“SCREW THE SIDE-EFFECTS! GIVE ME THE DAMN MUSHROOM!”

Mareio shrugged and shoved the mushroom into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed the yellow fungus. Instantly my leg filled with energy and the pain was no more.

“YOU CURED ME DOCTOR! YOU…”

I fell to the floor once more startling Rarity but the doctor was unfazed. My legs felt like jelly and I couldn’t move them at all.

I looked at Mareio as he looked down on me and cheerfully said, “Now you can’t move your legs for 3 days!”

“WHAT!? I shouted in disbelief.

I sighed and looked at Mareio straight in his blue eyes, “Any other side-effects you want to tell me?”

“Only 1….. PAINFUL URINATION!”

These 3 days are going to be so joyful.

--------------------------------------------------

Everyone was working on their projects and plans until an unpony-like shout originated from the mushroom’s latrine.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Dr. Mareio who was showing Pinkie how to fly the blimp shook his head from the shout of pain, “I’va warned him…”

I fell from the porcelain toilet onto the bathroom floor, clinging to my bladder as tears went down my cheeks.

Dear Celestia that was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.

I crawled inch by inch to a pair of arm crutches Fluttershy had made at her workstation which had fallen over further than where I left. I grasped my hooves around the handles and hauled my body up using the strength in my arms.

My bladder still boiling from the extreme pain that yellow mushroom had brought into my system ached every time I took a step with my crutches. I took a very long and grueling time to get up the stairs leading to the observations deck.

As I got up everypony looked at me with remorse as I seated myself at my mahogany desk which was bolted to the deck. I took a minute to just relax and work out the pain from my broken leg which had transferred and manifested into even more pain in my bladder.

I hunched over my desk and started to write a journal for our time to Gerpony.

Day 1: Mareio fed me a yellow mushroom which jellied my legs and gave me combustible urination problems. Apart from that everypony is working on their projects. I’ll get over to Rainbow Dash and see the layout of Gerpony.

Just then a pink head popped out underneath my quill and shouted, “HI SHADOW! WHAT’S UP!”

“AAH PINKIE!” I startled as I almost fell from my chair which was also bolted to the ground and had armrests.

I regained myself and answered to the awaiting smiling Pinkie, “I’m just starting a journal for our trip to Gerpony. What are you doing Pinkie?”

“MAREIO IS TEACHING ME HOW TO FLY!” shouted Pinkie with the utmost excitement.

“Wait if you’re here…” I said before looking to the blimp wheel not being piloted.

“CRAP!” I power-crutched as fast as I could over to the empty wheel and stabilized the mushroom before it began to dive.

“Oof!” Pinkie butted me from the wheel and took control just as Dr. Mareio appeared from the stairs from the lower deck.

“EXCELLENT JOB PINKIE!” he shouted across the observation deck.

“Ugh…” I facehoofed.

------------------------------------------------------------

I was in the middle of writing some taxation documents when Rarity and Twilight showed up carrying a hidden blade with a protective brace.

“Hey girls, what’s up?” I asked them as I stored my quill back in the ink bottle.

“I’ve been looking up on Assassin weapons and tactics and I’ve stumbled on an idea, that you can use TWO hidden blades at the same time!” Twilight excitingly said.

“And then I thought that this blade can look much more extravagant with some steel guards,” pointed in Rarity.

“Thank you so much… I remember the Observer had two hidden blades of his own. I also remember he nearly killed me the day I saw him use his blades.” I joked to them as they had shocked expressions on their faces.

I took the blade from Rarity and attached it to my right arm. I tested the blade out as it popped out instantly and retracted with ease.

“Thank you Rarity, once again your work amazes me beyond belief.” I said charmingly as Rarity blushed and returned to her station.

Twilight was beginning to go too but I stopped her, “Wait Twilight.”

“Yes Shadow?”

“I understand you want to learn more about the Assassins and my guess is you want to know about the Observer himself.”

“Yes…” she said trying to figure out where this is going.

"..."

“Well… what are you waiting for? Pull up a chair!” I said eagerly.

------------------------------------------

“And that’s the last of the Observer before we were betrayed by one of our own.” I finished my story noticing that Applejack and Rainbow Dash had joined in listening to my story as well.

“Wait so he threw you off a cliff… HOW MANY TIMES?” said an astonished Rainbow Dash.

“Did you find the good-for nothin betrayer?” asked Applejack.

“Yes…” I answered solemnly.

“Well what in tarnation happened? Did… did you…”

I never knew. No one knew. We were all so blind.

I moved my eyes down to my side not making eye-contact with anypony and more importantly to hide a tear forming in my right eye.

“Oh…”

“That must have been hard,” admitted Rainbow Dash.

“Just one more question Shadow, I noticed you mentioned a purple mushroom then skipped over it. What happened?” asked Twilight who was very intrigued.

Images flooded into my mind.

Purple mushrooms… mushponies…

Breaking down… all my fault… the suffering

“YOU CANNOT ESCAPE. WE ARE YOUR SALVATION.”

“Shadow? SHADOW!” snapped Applejack as I returned back to reality.

“Shadow what’s wrong with you? You look pale,” noted Twilight as I sat back upright in my seat.

I thought long and hard and gave them an answer.

“You ever heard of Poni Town?” I asked the three ponies listening to me.

“No?” They all said wondering about the name.

“Exactly…”

--------------------------------------------------------

I rolled into my bed below deck with all the other ponies in their respective rooms. Ace flew in and nestled up comfortably on my stomach. I petted him with my left hoof while I tested out my second hidden blade on my right arm.

I’m getting better at this. Soon I can kill two at once. I might need to change my fighting style a bit.
Maybe in the morning…

I closed my eyes and recounted the stories of my past.

---------------------------------------------------------

I woke up drenched in sweat my eyes dilating as I desperately tried to get my crutches to leave my room. I knocked Ace over who was sleeping nicely on the edge of my bed and woke up with an annoyed attitude.

*Swack*

“Sorry Ace, I’VE GOT TO GO!” I shouted rushing towards the washroom as fast as I could.

Wait.

I stopped at the door with my hoof on the handle.

It’s going to hurt like hell. I don’t think I have enough mental power to withstand that pain again.

“HEYA SHADOW!” shouted Dr. Mareio from across the hall as he started to walk towards me.

He continued on walking past me and whispered in my ear very quickly, “It’s going to hurt more the longer you wait…”

I rushed into the washroom and released my anger and pain.

-----------------------------------------------

I recovered with just as much pain in my bladder as yesterday. I weakly get up onto the observation deck and take a seat at my desk as I’ve done the day before.
I open my journal and I make a new entry.

Day 2: The second time was much worse than the first. Luckily Twilight and Rarity crafted a second hidden blade for me to use. I’m sure it will come in handy. I miss the good old days with the Observer throwing me out the window and Le Duck and I going on missions. Then again I like how my life ended up with my friends.
I just wish I won’t suffer the same pain as I did when I lost my family and the Assassins.

I finished the entry and crutched my way over to Fluttershy who was watering her plants.

“Hey Fluttershy! Do you have any fruit I can have? It feels like I haven’t eaten anything for the past 4 weeks…” I asked her as she put the watering can down.

“Hi Shadow… I’m sure I have something here…oh will this do?” she asked me as she held out an orange.

“Yes thank you Fluttershy,” taking the orange from her and starting to eat it.

Dr. Mareio came over as he noticed my orange he said, “Shadow wouldn’t you rather have one of these?” he asked holding out a red mushroom.

“NEVER AGAIN YOU CRAZY MUSHROOM DOCTOR!” I shouted in rage scaring Fluttershy who ducked under her potions table, while the doctor looked unfazed.

“Well, I though you wanted some of my breakfast… oh well.” He said taking a bite out of the mushroom.

As soon as I finished the orange Mareio smiled and said to me, “Shadow… CITRUS BURNS!”

OH SHOOT! Should have seen that coming.

An idea pooped up in my mind. I raced over to Rainbow Dash who was punching a wooden dummy.

“Yo Rainbow! Mind if I train with you?”

“Sure, I could always use a sparring partner. But aren’t you a little… jelly?” she asked me pointing towards my gelatin-like legs.

“Trust me; I know what I’m doing.”

-----4 hours later------------------------------------

*POW*

“Seriously Shadow, you COUD’VE DODGED!” Rainbow shouted at me as I tried to get myself back up to my feet after suffering yet another blow to my chest.

I was covered in sweat with every drop smelling of citrus.

Perfect step 1 is complete... now for Rainbow Dash…

“Come at me again!” I challenged her huffing from the exhaustion.

“Fine, but this isn’t going anywhere…” said Rainbow as she planted her feet and charged at me with a tired pace.

As soon as she was close I jumped from my spot using my crutches and landed firmly on her back.

“Hey! What are you doing?” she turned her head behind me and saw me lounging on her back.

“Nothin… just chilling.” I said casually looking at my blades.

Rainbow was fuming and begun to fly upwards while I still hung from her back a crutch fell down onto the observation deck below.

“Get off me!” she shouted trying to see if I was still hanging on.

“Nope.”

“ARG!” Rainbow Dash was now absolutely furious and she dashed towards the pile of map boxes she brought along for the trip.

*CRASH*

The boxes fell all over the place spilling their contents including a confused exhausted Rainbow Dash. I lightly glided down towards her still gripping a crutch to support myself.

I had jumped off the moment she charged for the boxes.

In an over-exhausted voice I huffed, “Remember Rainbow… if someone’s too strong…*huff*... then confuse and tire them before you strike. *whew* Just… just remember not to… tire… yourself…”

I fell from exhaustion onto the wooden floor and passed out.

----------------------------------------

It all went according to plan. While I was busy teaching Rainbow a lesson on fighting, I purposely let myself sweat profusely. Getting rid of the excess water may help with my bladder combustion as well as to see where my limits changed due to my broken leg.

I groggily opened my eyes with blurred vision to what I think was my room on the mushroom blimp. I looked around the room and saw Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were dozing off on a couch. Pinkie’s pink hair looked a shade of grey and Rainbow Dash’s mane was ruffled and she had bags under her eyes.

I rubbed my eyes trying to adjust my vision until I realised I didn’t have my hidden blade on.

I feel a bit naked.

I looked at my right hoof and noticed my other hidden blade was missing too. I looked at my gray furred chest and saw that I wasn’t wearing my robes.

I turned my head to the left of my room and saw my clothing which was greatly cleaned and puffed out as well as my hidden blades.
I tried to get out of my bed but as soon as I did the bed springs made a slight creak noise.

“HEY EVERYONE! SHADOW’S AWAKE!” shouted Pinkie who had bounced over the bed and landed on me giving me a great bear-hug.

“*zhonk* …huh? Shadow...? SHADOW YOUR AWAKE!” woke up Rainbow Dash who zoomed over to me and Pinkie and also gave me a bear-hug.

The door burst open and my room was filled with more ponies and a dragon all trying to hug me as hard as possible.
I couldn’t breathe so I did the next best thing, I pretended to die.

“AAH SHADOW NOOO!” shouted everypony releasing their grip on me.

As soon as everyone let go in shock I stood up and patted the dirt off myself, “Relax everyone, I’m fine.”

“Shadow…” said Applejack pointing to my legs.

I looked down at my legs which were standing upright underneath me.

I was standing.

“So that means three days passed? I was passed out for a day then… huh.” I thought while scratching my head.

I went over to my stuff and started to dress myself, but before I finished Pinkie stuck a hoof at my cutie mark, “SO THAT’S YOUR CUTIE MARK! …what is it?”

I looked down at my cutie mark; it was an angelic white Pegasus wing covered around a shadowy hole.

“Oh it means that I never give up hope even in the darkest situations. If you notice closely you can see the wing is actually floating over the darkness and it uses the darkness in order to float and give itself hope.” I said to everypony who looked confused at my metaphoric explanation.

“An example would be, I always improvise something even in the direst of times or I use anything in an environment to help give me an edge.” I said from a practical viewpoint.

I clothed myself and saw Dr. Mareio was also in the cabin. I reached out and gave him a big hug.

“Thank you for your help, Doctor.”

"It'sa nothing."

Then I noticed something. Something wasn’t right. Something was horribly wrong.

“Ummm… Mareio if you’re HERE and Pinkie’s also HERE… Who’s flying the mushroom?”

“ACE!” he excitingly shouted.

Now we’re screwed.

We ran up to the observation deck and saw Ace reading a magazine in his bird lounger. The blimp suddenly banked towards the ground at the same Rainbow Dash speed.

“EVERYONE GRAB ONTO SOMETHING!” I shouted at the top of my voice as I grabbed a railing.

*CRASH*

I crawled out of the mushroom wreckage and onto a countryside surrounded by flat grasslands and shrubs.
Minutes pass and more ponies pull themselves out of the wreckage. Spike was pulled out with a giant glob of mush-blimp stuck in his mouth. Ace climbed out of my hood, but Mareio didn’t show.

“MAREIO!” I shouted into the smoldering wreck.

"..."

*BEEP* *BEEP*

A van dove right out from the charred blimp and halted to a screech in front of us. The door opened and a happy Mareio was seen driving the van.

“My mushroom is a mess but my stock is OKAY! GET IN!” he chuckled as he motioned with his arm to get in the back of his van.

Still dizzy from the crash we clumsily got to his van with some supplies we scavenged from the blimp accident. I shut the door behind us and listened to Mareio giving us the directions, “GERPONY IS OVER THAT HILL!”

“Hey Mareio? Where are the seat belts?” asked Applejack as she failed to find any.

“NO SEATBELTS EVERYONE!” cheerfully said Mareio as he floored his van.

Day 3-4: My sweat plan worked and I can finally walk again, bad thing I was unconsious for a day or so. The blimp crashed and we’re heading to Gerpony in a mushroom storage van without any type of safety equipment…

I think my legs are going to break again…