A mere shadow

Echo Shade flies through the forest just feeling the wind through his mane and tail. Then he sees a figure sprawled on the ground.

"Who or what could that be?" He says landing a few feet away, as he walks closer he sees that it is indeed a pony and not just anypony.

"Shadow? What happened to you?" He says checking her over, she moans and starts to wake up.

"My head..." She moans and shifts onto her side.

"What happened to you Shadow?" Echo Shade asks helping her up.

"An old enemy happened... That's what." She says rubbing the side of her head. "But I have a plan to put him away once and for all."

"Can I help you with it? I'm just recently the Captain of the Royal Lunar Guard."

"How recently?"

"A couple hours recently..."

"Then why are you here?"

"I have to gather my possessions and move into my quarters at the castle."

"I see, but I can't tell you my plan yet. You can only help me when I find you."

"Wait why?"

"That doesn't matter now, I'll tell you when it does matter... Believe me."

Echo Shade sighs then answers, "Fine but at least let me help you back to your house."

"I'm sure I can manage." Shadow answers then gathers up her possessions. "I'll find you when the time comes." And she flies into the forest.

"But... What if you got hurt?" Echo Shade flies slowly back to his cave.

~~~~~

Back in her house again Shadow inspects her head wound in her little mirror. "It isn't all that bad... it just hurts."

Shadow says putting the mirror back down then sitting down on her head and relaxing. "I should go the museum first so I know the feel of the place, but as it is sunset that will have to wait until tomorrow."

She sighs looking around her room, "What if this doesn't turn out how I want it to? ...I should go tell Fluttershy that I will either pick Ebony up tomorrow or I don't know when."

Saying this Shadow repacks her saddlebags then puts on her cloak and proceeds out the door.

Shadow lands at Fluttershy's cottage and knocks on the door, a little white bunny with a frown opens the door.

"Who is it Angel bunny?" Says Fluttershy opening the door the rest of the way. "You're the pony who brought the baby panther!"

"Yes, I am and my name is Shadow... Can I come in?"

"Oh, certainly Shadow. Come in."

"Thank you." Shadow says coming into the cottage. "How is Ebony? What did she do to her paw?"

"Well... It looks like she stepped on a piece of glass or something. There wasn't any in her paw but her paw was cut..."

"But she fine now?" Fluttershy nodded then Shadow continued, "I'm glad but I can't take her home yet... I'll either come get her tomorrow sometime... Or I'm not sure when... But I know I can trust you to take good care of her and I'm confident that she will be happy here until I can come get her."

Ebony comes wandering into the room and jumps onto Shadows back and starts playing with her mane as soon as she sees her master.

"Hey there Ebony, miss me? Fluttershy will take good care of you I'm sure."

Shadow stands up placing Ebony back on the couch with Fluttershy.

"Thanks again Fluttershy, I'll hopefully come back tomorrow."

"Ok Shadow... I'll probably see you then."

Shadow left the cottage inhaling deeply, then she heads towards Ponyville for a late dinner. Picking one with outdoor seating she goes and sits down waiting for the waiter.

I really hope nothing bad comes of the whole deal with the relics... But my plan should work...

She keeps thinking and doesn't notice the waiter come to her table.

"Madame?"

Shadow starts then says, "Sorry, I was lost in thought... What did you say?"

"What is your order Madame?"

"Ah yes, I would like a daffodil sandwich and a bowl of acorn soup."

The waiter wrote down the order then asked, "And to drink?"

"Just water, thanks." She answers then keeps thinking, not noticing when a tall, skinny, black pegasus with a short straight mane with white streaks in it and a long thin tail which had a long white streak in the middle walks up to the table. Her eyes and the tips of her hooves are are a deep golden yellow.

"What is so interesting Shadow? You're usually so alert you would have seen me coming from a mile away!"

"Dawn! Sorry I have a lot on my mind... Where have you been?" Shadow says snapping out of her reverie and embracing her lifelong friend.

"I went to Manehatten following a lead about my parents."

"And?"

Dawn sighs and as she answers, "Just another dead end..."

"I'm sorry... But I know how you feel, I don't know if my parents are living..."

"I guess your right... And at least my father isn't evil and didn't beat me up in a dream." Dawn says, the light back in her eyes again.

"That was a horrible time of my life.... But then I met you!"

"Yes, you did. And I'm very glad to know somepony who understands my predicament."

The waiter comes back with Shadows dinner.

"Waiter? Can I place another for my friend here?"

"Certainly Madame." He says taking out his notepad again.

"Um... I'll just have what she's having... The daffodil sandwich and acorn soup."

"Right away Madame." He says and trots back to the building again.

"So what was the lead this time? And why didn't you tell me where you going? I had no idea where you were!"

"I thought I had a relative in Manehatten... I guess I remembered wrong... I couldn't find you and I was going to be late for my train...."

"Well... It's ok..."

"Yeah, it is. But I'm more interested in what you so deep in thought."

"That isn't safe conversation for right here... Come to my house after we eat and I'll tell you everything."

Dawn raises her eyebrows but seems to understand. Then the waiter comes back with Dawn's meal and they begin eating.

"Big case?"

"Um... I guess you could say that..."

"I see, public area and all..."

"Exactly."

While they finish there meal they talk of the weather and local news. When they finish they leave a tip on the table and go inside to pay. At least Shadow did, Dawn could hardly stand going in places like that. Shadow comes back out and Dawn joins her as they begin flying.

"Care to enlighten me on some details?"

"I'll feel safer in my house..."

"Alright."

Dawn says speeding up, Shadow chuckles as she flies easily ahead of her. Then the race starts in earnest both of them trying to get ahead just by a fraction. They land on the little balcony.

"I won!" They say at the same time then burst out laughing.

"We always do that... Every time we race." Shadow says recovering first.

"Yes, yes we do, but I would like to hear the case that you couldn't discuss in public."

"Ah yes... That... Come in and I'll tell you all about that bit of unpleasant business."

They go in and sit down on Shadow's little couch.

"You remember Aegeus?" Shadow asks Dawn.

"That creep of a unicorn that you spent so long tracking down?"

"Yeah that's the one."

"What about him? I thought he was still in jail..."

"Well apparently he got out... But I have a plan to get him locked up once and for all!" Shadow tells Dawn about earlier in the day when Aegeus had caught her and given her the ultimatum.

"And the plan is?"

"I'll steal the relics... With your help if you will.." Dawn looks skeptical but Shadow continues. "But then Echo Shade, the other stallion I told you about, and you and me would get them back! That's the base of my plan anyways..."

"It seems awful risky... What if we get caught?"

"So you will help me! And don't worry, I'm sure we won't."

"I guess I will help you... And can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course you can stay here tonight! I just only have one bed..."

"That's ok, I can sleep here on the couch if you have an extra blanket."

"Let's see if I can dig one out of somewhere..." Shadow replies and goes looking for an extra blanket in her closet. Finding one she takes it back to Dawn.

"It's plenty warm... That's why it in the closet not on my bed."

Dawn took the blanket feeling it's softness. "I love this type of blanket! But of course I won't be sleeping till midnight or later..."

"You and me both, Dawn... But we should go to bed around midnight since I plan on going to the museum tomorrow..."

"True that... Knowing the layout of the museum will make tomorrow night go smoothly..."

Then Shadow brews some tea and they talk for a while before retiring.