Looking around town while I rub my head from the earlier pain, I’ve seen that Ponyville is now almost completely redecorated and ready for the Lunar Festival.

Wow, how long have I been at Pinkie’s for?

I gazed up towards the sky and saw that the sun was reaching its late afternoon peak. Bringing a hoof up to my head which immediately stopped in its tracks before it could make contact and likely give me another, worse headache than from the short while ago.

Don’t want to do that again.

Placing my hoof back down on the ground another throbbing pain in my head took place receiving an annoyed grunt from my mouth.

Guess I better find Mareio and get him to fix this damned headache.

So, I trotted in the one place I knew Dr. Mareio was likely to be at during the amount of ponies rushing to get the decorations and settings in place.

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

“MUSHROOMS FOR SALE! GIVES A YOU THAT KICK WHEN YOU NEED IT!”

Mareio was shouting from the middle of the marketplace from his mushroom cart. He flailed a brightly red mushroom around the air in his right hoof hoping to get a chance to get a curious customer to sell his wares to.

“YOU CAN EAT IT, COOK IT, CLEAN IT; I’MMA DOCTOR SO YOU KNOW IT IS A GOOD!”

As I watched from the sidelines not wanting to get roped into another mushroom-selling scheme.

Considering I don’t want to be his guinea-pig customer to “sample” his merchandise.

A small group of ponies had in minutes formed around him to hear about the wondrous healing and eating effects of the large stack of mushrooms behind him.

A small colt nervously went up to him and asked, “May I buy a mushroom good doctor?”

Mareio turned to him with his doctorate smile, kneeled down to the colt’s eye level and hoofed him a rather delicious red mushroom.

“It is on the house my dear boy!” Mareio smiled happily receiving a look of pure delight from the small customer and he playfully ruffled the colt’s mane.

“Thank you kind sir, I’ll be sure to tell all my friends about you!” the colt said to him as he took a bite from the mushroom and hurriedly trotted back to his family’s house.

Now with the space available I quickly made my way through the side of the crowd and greeted Mareio.

“Hello my friend. That was a kind thing you did just now, but you wouldn’t get any business if you give all your merchandise away for free.”

Mareio still smiling at the audience positioned his neck closer to my head and quietly whispered, “Just a you watch Shadow!”

Immediately after he finished the crowd erupted into a frenzy of wanting to buy the “limited” supply of mushrooms Dr. Mareio had.
He eagerly accepted their money and gave them the assorted mushrooms in return.

“I A KNEW THAT WOULD WORK!” he shouted back to me now with a ton of business on his hoofs to satisfy his customers.

Give the ponies what they want; a small act of kindness leads into its own large rewards.
Mareio you sly, sly businesspony.

Remembering what I came here for I waited for business to die down a bit before I request medical aid from the mushroom doctor.
The small group of customers quickly turned into an outrageously large group as time went on and more and more ponies finished their festival preparations.

This is going to be a long day…

I sat my flank onto a nearby bench, carefully dusted some cake powder off my robes from Pinkie’s fireworks before, and before I knew it my head nodded off to sleep.

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

“Shadow wake up,” a familiar voice next to me said.

“Oh Applejack, your apple pies are so amazing,” I mumbled still half-asleep.

“I’m flattered but ya’ll really should wake up now,” which I immediately recognized as Applejack’s voice.

Waking my eyes up in realization from my slumber I saw Applejack sitting on the bench next to me with my head on her shoulder, I quickly raised my head off her in realization and she laughed a bit when she saw my embarrassed expression.

“Oh Applejack, hello,” I tried to retain my composure, “I was just taking a few minutes to myself for Mareio to finish with his customers.”

“Well there’s not too many left, maybe you can talk to him now?”

Nodding to her I got up from the bench, stretched myself and headed over to Dr. Mareio as he was finishing up a transaction.

“Thank you, please a come again!” he waved to his customer then quickly deposited the bits he earned into his now empty mushroom cart.

“Heck of a business you run Mareio,” I commented from behind.

He turned around and smiled, “Always a pleasure to the Assasssinos!”

Of course with Mareio, the term “subtlety” or “incognito” doesn’t apply to him.

“Anyways I was wondering if you could do something about this headache I’ve been having for most of the day, I just took a nap right now so it’s feeling a bit groggy at the moment.”

“A headache? That’s not good. Let’s a see what I can give you,” Mareio said now rummaging through the reserve parts of his mushroom cart.

A few moments of shuffling around the compartment of his cart Mareio raises a dual red and green coloured mushroom roughly the same size as his hoof.

“Here you go, on the house! The Assassin house that is,” Mareio laughed and gave me the oddly-coloured mushroom.

“Seriously Mareio, if this mushroom messes up with my body again like that time in Gerpony; I will hunt you down to the ends of Equestria.” I gave him a stern look.

“Okie dokie!” Mareio completely oblivious to my threat just did his usual over exaggerated doctorate smile.

Taking a deep breath I began to gouge on the fungus as fast as I could trying to get as much as I can into my system.

Despite the years of mushrooms I’m getting used to, they still leave that mushroom taste.
Blech!

Fun thing was this mushroom actually tasted pretty decent as I finished it and my headache cleared, receiving a look of satisfaction from Mareio.

“Mareio I still have to ask for safety reasons, what was in that mushroom?”

“A painkiller shroom moe powerful than the usual ones I’ve given to you after a mission. You really should be more careful.”

“No promises there Mareio, you take care now,” I gave him a friendly pat and went back to Applejack who had gotten up from the bench.

“So what was that all about?” she asked me as we began to walk in a direction with her leading.

“Had to get some medication from Mareio, today has really been… interesting, but by all accounts not so much than the usual.”

“Of course there isn’t an average day with you around,” Applejack teased.

“Well we still got a few hours left till nightfall,” I checked back up at the sun, “Anything left doing around here? I noticed practically all of the preparations are done.”

“I’ve still got some extra stuff to do before the festival begins tomorrow, would you like to help?” Applejack asked me but immediately she shook her head, “What am I thinkin? You should be back at the hideout getting rest, you should…”

I raised a hoof to interrupt her, “It’s alright Applejack, I promise not to push myself more than I have to. Maybe I’ll actually have some time for this ‘rest’ everypony speaks of,” I joked.

“All righty then, just make sure you don’t push yourself too hard.”

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

We arrived at a large set of boxes, seemingly prepped with straps and harnesses to easily transport.

It just had to be heavy lifting again, always on Applejack’s to-do list.
Also I'm getting a tingly feeling in my left hoof... now in my right... sort of tickles

As I finished chuckling to myself Applejack turned to me and said, “Alrighty then, we need to move these here boxes all the way to where Princess Luna is going to land her chariot."

“But I was just there! Especially after saving Fluttershy from that fall…” I quietly whispered to myself but Applejack noticed.

“What did you say?” she asked as she tested a box to see how heavy it is.

“Um… nothing just some spare work I did there before,” I quickly half-lied.

Wouldn’t want Applejack to know I nearly broke all my bones saving Fluttershy from that roof ordeal. Should’ve been resting she’ll say, should’ve saved my assassin and my friend I would reply.
I’d rather avoid that verbal spat for now.

Applejack wasn’t too sure what I just said but she immediately dismissed it and placed a crate on my back.

“HOLY CRAP APPLEJACK THIS IS SO HEAVY!”

I nearly collapsed from the weight but straightened out my hoofs to add more support and suddenly a surge of energy began to flow into me.

With a small chuckle I said, “Don’t worry I think I can still lift this all the way there.”

It must be the painkiller mushroom Mareio gave me, that’s a good side-effect.
……. I just hope that there aren’t any other ones.

“ONWARDS APPLEJACK THE NIGHT IS ALMOST HERE SO WE MUCT GET MOVING!” I said with a heroic victorious voice as I began to gallop with around 100 pounds on my back.

Applejack face hoofed herself and quietly muttered, “Just had to be a mushroom again... Well this is going to be an interesting night…”

-----------10 minutes in---------------------------

GAH! MY BACK! Maybe running with a box of….. hey…. what am I carrying anyways?

“Hold up a second Applejack,” I said to her as she passed by me with her load.

“What is it sugercube?”

Quickly undoing the box I said back to her, “Just checking what we’re carrying, feels like bricks…”

The moment my hoofs lifted open the flaps of the cardboard my eyes fell onto the contents inside and my jaw dropped.

“THESE ARE BRICKS!” I shouted back to her lifting up a brown/orange coloured brick in my hoof.

“Probably used to build a runway or something, come on Shadow we need to get these boxes there,” she said with an annoying sigh not noticing the slight changes to my emotions.

My hoofs began to twitch, my forelegs became jittery, the world started slowing down and speeding back up, my head felt like a... cloud... a happy cloud... with determinated focus (likely from the effects of that hallucinogenic painkiller mushroom).

I AM SO FOCUSED RIGHT NOW!

Quickly grabbing Applejacks shoulders sending a small startled jump through her I started to sing with my Ponitalian accent, “Applejack my bella assassino buddy! Let us deliver these fine slabs of brick....bene… and whose that over there? I see a group of ponies from the corner of my eye and I just gotta say SALUTE!…. HEY CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS COME OVER HERE!” I shouted at the trio that just so happened to be passing through.

They quickly ran up to us and the one I recognized as Applebloom (hence what my mind is telling me that her bow is very VERY unproportional to her head like about 3 times larger), “Oh hey Shadow, hey sis. Why were you shouting at us?”

“Oh him? He’s just in a state of something I don’t even know, give me a second,” Applejack said to them just before turning to me and giving me a large slap across the face.

“WOO Applejack that’s some hoof you got there. Sorry about that, these painkillers are really messing up my head, thanks for the slap,” I casually said to her rubbing my pain-dulled cheek.

“Anytime,” she smirked.

Looking back on to the trio of fillies I quickly whisper to Applejack, “Um… why are they here?”

“I don’t know you called them.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Guess they’re my problem now.”

“Eeyup."

"You're not Big Mac."

"I'm his sister remember?"

"So you have the right then?"

"Sure thing."

"Cazzo."

"I know that was a swear."

"Sorry, my bad, trying to think..."

"They're still my problem now right?"

Applejack nodded this time not wanting to continue the conversation.

After a long sigh I crouch down to the eye level of the eager yet confused trio and say, “Hey would you 3 like to be box helpers for us, we could really use the assistance.”

“I think that would be nice,” Sweetie Bell said but was quickly shushed by Scootaloo.

“Why would we want to be box carriers? That doesn’t make any sense!”

The trio began to nod their heads and Applejack gave me a look saying, “why would you try to get kid labor from them?”

Alright time to analyze this conflict…..
………. and done!

“Well you three wouldn’t have to be box carriers, in fact we just need help with transport, apply the fundamentals and you can get science professions, there are brick in here so carpentry would work, in fact I can think of 12… no…. 23 different cutie mark possibilities you can get.”

This immediately brought a smile to their faces and I knew my plan worked.

Thank you mushroom creativity!

So with the help of 3 more ponies we finally were able to get the boxes full of bricks to the same place I was back in 5 hours or so.

Depositing my box to the landing site and receiving a thank you from the unloading coordinator I went over to a pile of grass and laid down on my back from exhaustion.

“Gee Shadow you look tired-,” Sweetie Bell began to say but I immediately jumped back to my hoofs.

“Nope never felt tired like that, lifting boxes was fun, transporting them was good, I’m so glad you three could help us, I thank you all so much, HUG TIME!” my voice sounding the same talking speed as an excited Pinkie Pie I gave them a large hug for their hard work.

“Can’t breath…”

“I’m telling you…. he’s….

“Nuts….”

I released my grip on them and Applejack quickly pulled me away, “Now that’s done with your head isn’t feeling right, I know this isn’t you Shadow. Well I mean you’re a fun yet slightly crazy pony, but that mushroom completely made you lose your sense on reality.”

“*sigh* Applejack I’m trying to fight it, maybe you’re right maybe I should go home and rest-.”

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

We both looked at each other and realized that was Applebloom’s voice we just heard. We turned back to the trio only to find that there were two of them left.

“Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, where’s mah sister?” Applejack frantically said.

“She just got grabbed by that pony over there, and he’s getting away!” Scootaloo pointed over to a light blue Pegasus carrying a screaming Applebloom.

“HELP ME!”

“Cazzo, Applejack you stay here with the kids I’ll hunt that bastard down myself,” I said with a rather disturbing anger in my voice.

“But what about that mushroom still taking effect?”

“Whatever I will deal with it!” I shouted back to them as I began my sprint toward the fleeing Pegasus.

No way I’m letting Applebloom get kidnapped, that Pegasus…. is going to pay.

Using the numbing effects from the mushroom my movement sped up faster than it would have been from a pony lifting boxes and doing festival preparation all day.

A small group of frantic decorators blocked my way as the stallion was escaping with Applebloom. I leap up into the air and land on their heads as I strategically made my way over to a few crates leading to a rooftop.

Using a bit of cover on myself I observe the stallion looking behind him to see if he’s being chased. He breaths a sigh of relief but is having a hard time holding onto the struggling pony he’s kidnapping.

“LET ME GO!” Applebloom wailed, passersby only looked in shock at what was happening.

“Shut up girl, you’re coming with me. If all goes well you’ll be back home and I will be a few thousand bits richer,” he gave a sinister smile then opened up his wings to take flight.

This is my chance.

Going back a bit from the roof’s edge I rush forward and leap from the building onto the back of the now flying stallion. He didn’t expect the surprise attack and accidentally dropped Applebloom a safe distance into my arms. Gliding back to the ground I softly place Applebloom who was whimpering from fright back onto the ground.

“Don’t worry you’re save Applebloom,” I reassured her by wiping away her tears gently with a small but careful stroke of my gray hoof.

“Thank you…”

“Now Applebloom, would you excuse me to teach that jerk a lesson?”

“GET THAT VARMIT SHADOW!” Applebloom unexpectedly burst out in anger, giving me something to smile about.

Oh ho! That guy’s going to get it now.

Looking back up into the sky I see the faint light-blue outline of the kidnapper Pegasus trying to escape, unfortunately for him painkiller mushrooms also add the bonus of having an extreme amount of focus and precision.

Aiming my hoof up to the outline, I twist the small mechanism under my blade bracer switching to the modification. With one eye closed and the other focusing on the body a small *ping* burst through my hidden blade.

It was a crossbolt.

And it hit its mark.

The Pegasus despite not being too far away but not close either made it easy for me to judge where he was going to land. I menacingly stood at a spot and sure enough he falls headfirst right in front of my hoofs, then clutches his chest

“ARG! You bastard! You shot my wing, I think I might have broke my ribs—AAH!”

He shouted out in pain as I ripped the crossbolt out from his wing.

“Oh I’m sorry, did that hurt? Here why don’t I try to make it better?” I said grabbing his wing with my hoofs and began to bend it.

*SNAP*

He bellowed out in pain from his wing being broken and gave me a curse to which I replied.

“Oops, my mistake… let me try that again.”

This time I aimed a well-placed kick to his ribs he mentioned could’ve been broken.

Well they are now…

“Please… stop…”

I picked him up with my hoofs and looked dead straight into his eyes, my red colour reflecting off his terrified black.

“You think it’s okay to go to a town and try to kidnap a filly? Doing so just to ransom her off, do you not realize the pain you've caused for her….. DO YOU!?”

“Please sir, it was an honest mistake, I was just *AAAAAHHHH*” this time receiving another kick in the ribs as I still held him up with my hoofs.

“BULLSHIT! IT’S BASTARDS LIKE YOU THAT MAKE LIVES FOR OTHERS DIFFICULT. YOUR NEED FOR GREED TO AFFECT ALL THESE WONDERFUL PONIES. AND NOW YOU LIE TO ME!? ….. You should either feel scared or glad that I’m on a powerful painkiller right now, now that things have calmed down a bit. Will you ever come back, will you ever trouble these ponies again?”

“What do you think?” he spat on my face.

I wiped the saliva from my face and calmly gave him a glare.

“I think you should find a hospital Mr. kidnapper… you want to know why?”

Grabbing onto his slightly brusied left forehoof from the fall, my hidden blade bracer placed firmly against his fur. A small hoof movement later from my part and a crossbolt fired deep into his appendage from its point blank range actually piercing it's way all the way through to the other side of flesh but still wedged inside, blood started to soak around the wound

Again another scream of pain came from him; I loaded another bolt into my firing chamber to finally rid the world of this sick bastard and from his screams of agony. Talking aim at his skull, tears now flowing down from his eyes, they shut awaiting the inevitable end that would happen.

Had it not been an orange hoof slapping my gray one away that Pegasus would’ve died, on my account instead the next shot harmlessly landed through a closed window.

“Shadow stop! He’s done, it’s over…” Applejack said as she tried to restrain me.

I let go of her grip and switched back to my hidden blade, bringing it out to the Pegasus’s head I say coldly, “You better get out of town, come back here and you will die, understand?”

My body turned away from him not wanting to see him crawl as quickly as he can away from there, only a few passersby still gawked at what had transpired but I ignored them through my hood. The three ponies I didn’t see were the CMC.

“Applejack, where’s Applebloom and the rest?”

“I’ve sent them back to their homes soon after you shot your crossbolt thing the first time. Honestly I thought that the Royal Guard ponies would’ve been here by now, I know I saw a Captain but looks like he wasn’t doing his job otherwise he would’ve been here to arrest that damn critter.”

Giving a loud and frustrated sigh I turn my weary eyes to Applejack, “That fight…. it’s… it’s not me… Maybe it’s from the stress of work but…. Applejack. Am I going insane?”

“I think ya’ll just tired, and that’s was the mushroom stuff talking not you. I know you would’ve bruised him up pretty bad and likely if I was in your same position I would have shot him dead like you were about to after what he tried to do with mah Applebloom.”

“Well at least my cover isn’t blown; guess that minor adrenaline washed most of that poison Dr. Mareio gave me from my system. I still feel a bit loopy though… but… he said it was strong... should actually still be in here but I don't know.”

Immediately I fell to my knees and broke down into anger, “DAMN IT APPLEJACK WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME!? FEELS LIKE SOMEONE’S MESSING WITH ME BUT I DON’T KNOW! THE PRESSURE IS GETTING TO ME, NOTHING I DO IS RIGHT, PONIES GET HURT, THEY DIE BECAUSE OF ME!”

“Hey Shadow get a grip! I really think you should go home and try to get some relax--.”

“Obviously I’m not relaxed Applejack! I”VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS SINCE THE MOMENT I WOKE UP FROM MY DAMN NIGHTMARE THIS MORNING, BUT NO THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GET BUCKING DONE!”

I broke away from Applejack now both of us tense.

“YOU KNOW WHAT APPLEJACK, HOW’S THIS FOR RELAXING!?”

Immediately I dropped my body down to the ground so my stomach laid flat on the grass, then I began to slide and inch my way along the ground.

“Hey Applejack look at me! I’M A SLUG YAY!”

“Shadow…. what…?”

“No pony can stop the awesome power of a Master Assassin Slug! I can slide anywhere I go, no one can do anything to stop my path!” I slid around Applejack in my high/loopy state.

Applejack just rolled her eyes realizing that all that rage and this craziness was still from the mushroom’s effects.

“Well if I can’t fight with reason, I’ll just use this!” Applejack reached from a small un-manned concession stand and grabbed a salt shaker; she began to salt me, the Ponitalian Assassino Slug!

“Noooooo! Balthazalt! My eternal enemy!” I curled around in a tight ball and pretended to shrivel up.

Of course a mother and young son just happened to be passing by this spectacle.

“Mommey look! I knew slug ponies were real!”

“DON’T LOOK AT HIM!”

Just then an alabaster unicorn walked towards us in shock (whom despite my state I recognized was Rarity from her glamor), “Applejack darling! What’s going on here?”

“Just some real bad side-effects from a mushroom Shadow got from Mareio. He should be fine in the morning, least I hope so.”

“That’s horrible! And to think I wanted to show him the completed outfit I had made for him!” she said reaching into a bag and pulling out a pair of ceremonial white assassin robes.

In my cloud-headiness state I looked up and asked, “When did you make that?”

“A few weeks ago you helped me do some slight modeling and I got this idea. It would look perfect on you for the Festival!” Rarity beamed.

Immediately grabbing the robes with my hoof I wore them right on top of my usual gray ones. The only difference with these robes is that they’re white. They still have the same red and brown parts other than the belt being scarlet red, in fact the same yellow crest I still have on the top of my hood has been replicated.

I adored this outfit and likely more so in my current thinking.

“Rarity its BENE FABULOUS! I LOVE IT!” I gave her a strong firm hug and she awkwardly returned it.

“It was my… pleasure?”

She quickly whispered to Applejack, “Those must’ve been some really strong mushrooms.”

Satisfied with my day of adventure and near-deaths I quickly said to both of them, “Sorry ladies but I must return to the hideout and rest for the festival. Arriverderci bella donnas!”

SHADOW MARK…. AWAY!

The two confused mares were left behind in a small smoke trail from me as I sprinted and parkoured faster than I ever did back to the hideout. Heck just for fun I decided to climb the outside wall again instead of taking the stairs.
Reaching the top I see Ace is sleeping soundly so I take it as the perfect time to wake him up.

“HEY ACE! MAREIO GVE ME A MUSHROOM AND NOW I’M LIKE WHOA SO GONNA SLEEP NOW, OKAY BYE!”

I descended into the hideout from the roof leaving Ace with a questioning look on what he had missed today. He ignored that feeling and tried to get back to sleep.

Actually before going to bed because I still ahd some time left before true night I figured it would be a good idea to focus on some late paperwork and deadlines I’ve been procrastinating over.

Being hyper on that shrooms can make me accomplish anything!

129 pages later now conveniently moved to my “out” bin the exhaustion had finally came up to me and I could feel myself getting back to normal.

I rubbed my head then immediately noticed my clothes.

“When did they get white…… oh right, it was after that kidnapper and the whole slug thing…”

It pained me to remember what I did to the kidnapper, but what Applejack said wasn’t the truth, how it was the mushroom adding that rage to me.

No.

All of that…. all of that what I did, placing my brace against his hoof and then his skull…. I would have done that to any Templar… to any threat…

I guess maybe it is all this stress getting to me, at least now I can put this all behind me for the festival… though I do wonder where Captain Thunderhoof left off to.. maybe back to a base or something to talk to his superiors. After all they shouldn’t really be here until tomorrow to protect the Princess as well as everypony else.

At least I hope they would take that initiative…

Noticing the amount of work that I just did in my hyper-active state I gave another sigh for the day.

Now I need to check all of those to see if I didn’t mess anything up… guess after the festival then.

I turned to my bed and laid myself on the surface in what is now my “double armor set” for the festival at least. I quickly began to close my eyes and soon a snore erupted from my mouth.

After all I was too tired to care if I would get a night mare again…

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

First everything was black but then a scene flashed before me. Fires were burning everywhere, I was standing on top of what was the highest point of that city. I could see everything.

Buildings burning, Ponies dying.

“Ah welcome Shadow, I was wondering when you’d come back!” an all too familiar voice said behind me.

“Dave… what do you want, why are you here, TELL ME NOW!” I was surprised at his apperance considering he was staying quiet for most of the weeks since we last spoke.

“Shadow. Shadow. Shadow,” he shook his head in disapproval.

“Always wanting to get to the point. I know you haven’t seen me in a while, I apologize because of some extra side stuff I needed to make sure would go right,” he gave me a smug grin.

“Dave, stop being a confusing… whatever you are… stop hiding so I can finally kill you bastardo!” I shouted angrily at him unsheathing my blade.

“I see this is where your current mindset is at…. hmm this is going to be easier than I thought. Don’t worry Shadow we’ll play soon just you wait, nothing escapes from my plans or deadlines after all,” Dave readjusts his glasses, "Ah DEADlines I always love that one."

“Also you have a nice pair of robes there…. a very nice pair indeed, I would love to wear them-.”

“ENOUGH OF YOUR CHATTER DAVE! Tell me, why are we here, why are you here!?”

“Oh… you don’t know where you are in this dream, this ‘vision’, I’m beginning to question your observational prowess. Why don’t you take a look and see where we are,” Dave opened up his hoofs to the sides of his body.

I turn my head to the fires and the screaming below… the ground was barren, the buildings were covered in smoke and flames, the only thing that seemed to be more intact was this tower I’m standing on… this… clock tower….

Realization hit my face and Dave smiled menacingly from my reaction.

“No… no it can’t be… this isn’t…”

“Yes it is Shadow, welcome to Ponyville! Or what remains of it after Balthazar’s plan is done. Shame too, I did like the colours and the mare-to-colt ratio.”

“You’re lying!” I shouted back at him.

“Really Shadow, when did I ever lie to you?” he smirked.

That is… actually true… what am I thinking! He’s a mind manipulating Templar!

“Well my only advice would be just be prepared Shadow… after all I’m sure Le Duck is doing fine at the Pondriactic sea. Heard about that nuke he had to disarm, to bad it wasn't a Pinkie nuke. Oh don’t look so surprised, it’s my job to know what is happening around Equestria.” Dave laughed.

“Especially a certain Lunar Festival to take place tomorrow. Maybe I’ll take a trip and “meet” with her royal highness along with a couple of your friends around Ponyville? I’m sure we’ll all have a splendid time Shadow!” he said that one with what appeared to be joy just as a chunk of rock split from the tower and fell to the ground below.

With me completely quiet Dave gave in and said, “Just remember Shadow, know that while you’ll try to be watching me, I’ll definately be watching you.”

He took a few steps closer to me with me standing closely to the edge of the remnants of the Assassin hideout.

“So I’m planning a little game tomorrow… I really like your outfit by the way, Rarity has a knack for artistic vision!” Dave said getting off-track he sheepishly coughed.

“Just a small game but I know you will like it Shadow, anyways I’ve got to do some last-minute adjustments to some numbers so for now I say this…”

He shoved me right over the edge.

“Bonna fortuna Shadow!”

I fell into the fires below burning Ponyville to ash. Looking up at Dave I see him with his smug expression as he casually steps away from the edge and a blinding dark light consumes him leaving nothing.

My mind… still shocked from what Dave said but this is what I’ve got.

He’s coming to Ponyville… and he’s likely going after Luna…
I don’t like what he said about his “plans” or “games” I just hope I can withstand his mind tricks compared to last time.
I need to warn the others…

Still falling I look around as the clock tower begins to completely crumble itself away.

But avoid telling them this… it’s only a dream after all…

At least I think it is.

That was my last thought before my body landed on the ground.
Immediately everything went black as the noises and sights from my dream faded into nothing.