Guardians of light

Chapter 6

Three months passed since Shining Armor started to train me. Today was my last day in Canterlot before I had to go back to Ponyville. I had completed my training and I temporarily joined the royal guard. It was midnight and I was in the gardens with Luna. It was a full moon and the stars were shining brightly.

“So you really are leaving tomorrow,” Luna asked.

“Yes, I will have to leave,” I responded. She had a sad look on her face. She started to walk with her head and ears down.

“I will write to you though,” I said when I noticed she was getting sad. That brightened her up a lot. She looked at me and said “thank you, I will look forward to you writing to me.” I looked up at the moon and said “it’s beautiful out tonight you are doing a great job.” She turned her head to hide the blushing. ‘Why has she been blushing so much’ I thought.

“Thank you, I have been doing my best since the darkness was taken away,” she said still hiding her face. We sat outside in the gardens for hours looking at the sky and when I realized how late it was I had to go to bed. I knew what was in store for me, a big “welcome home” Pinkie Pie party. “It is getting late I have to go to bed,” I said getting up. Luna stood up too. As I started to walk away I felt something grab my foreleg. I turned to see what it was and Luna was holding onto it.

“Please don’t go yet,” she said but I couldn't really say no. We spent another hour looking at the sky and talking then I fell asleep.

It was dark and then I heard a few voices. “Oh, I can’t wait to see Shadow,” I heard Fluttershy’s voice. Then everything became clear. There was her, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie in Twilight’s library. Fluttershy was wearing the small pink bow in her mane that I sent her a month as a gift. I was glad she was wearing it.

“Yes, I can understand that you want to see him,” Rarity giggled.

“Yeah, you do want to see your coltfriend,” Rainbow Dash teased.

‘Wait, what’ I thought. “He is not my coltfriend,” she spouted in protest and turned around to hide her face.

“Rainbow Dash, stop it,” Applejack said in Fluttershy’s defense.

“Relax I was only playing,” She said then walking to Fluttershy and put her hoof on her shoulder.

“Well Pinkie, do you have everything that we need,” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I have,” she responded.

I walked over to Fluttershy and said “Don’t worry I will be here tomorrow.” I guess she heard me because she squealed and she flew up to the ceiling.

“What the, Shadow when did you get here,” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don’t know, one second I was sitting in the gardens and the next I was here,” I responded.

Fluttershy came down and looked at me and said “Did you hear anything we just said.”

“No,” I lied. “How are you here,” Twilight asked. She then started to walk around me as if fascinated. “I have no idea,” I responded.

“Hm, we will have to look into that when you get back, OK,” she said. “It is getting late, we should go to bed,” Spike said while he yawned and started for the stairs. Everypony started to leave and Fluttershy stopped and turned to me. “Please come home safely,” she said. “I will, don’t worry and go get some sleep,” I said. Suddenly everything went dark.

I awoke in the gardens and it was around eight o’ clock in the morning. I looked over and Luna was asleep by me...and hugging me. This made me feel a bit uncomfortable. “Hey, Luna wake up we fell asleep in the gardens,” I said. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around.

“So we did,” she said. Then she noticed she was hugging me, she instantly let go and said sorry.

“Its fine I need to get ready to leave,” I said. Then I got up and walked away. She got up and caught up with me and we started to talk on the way to my room. When we got there all I had to get was my bag of bits, my cloak and Gold. She was lying on the floor sleeping. “Hey Gold wake up we need get ready,” I said and she woke up.

“Where were you,” she asked. “Well, I kind of fell asleep in the gardens with Luna,” I said. “Oh well, let’s hope Fluttershy doesn't find that out,” she said. Brushing that off I gathered my thing I said “let’s go tell Princess Celestia we are leaving.” We got to the throne room and Shining Armor, Cadence, Princess Celestia, Mom, and Dad were all in waiting. They noticed me and Luna and they smiled. “Well it has been fun but seeing that I am done with the training I will need to go back home,” I said. “It was great seeing you again Shadow, have a safe trip,” Princess Celestia said. Then with that Dad, Mom, Cadence Shining Armor, Luna and I all walked to the train station together.

“Well this is it, for a while,” Cadence said. “It isn’t the last time all of you will be seeing me,” I said. Mom then hugged me and did not let me go until she felt like it, no matter how much I resisted. Dad hugged me too but he didn’t stay on me as long as Mom did.

“Remember what I taught you Shadow,” Shining Armor said. “Believe me, I won’t,” I said.

“Also write to me, Shadow, like you said,” Luna remarked. “I will,” I said. As soon as I said that Mom and Cadence looked at each other then at Luna, then at me. I ignored it and heard ‘ALL ABOARD! ’ “Here, I had this and I wanted you to have it,” Luna said. She levitated a small necklace with a small blue stone. “What is it,” I asked. “It is a moon stone, it will give you luck,” she explained. “See you next time, Shadow,” they all said. Then I got on the train and I was on my way to Ponyville but when I looked out the window I saw Luna waving to me. I waved back. Then the train started to move.

A few hours on the ride Gold fell asleep and I was staring out the window blankly. Then a mare came to my seat and asked if she could sit next to me. She was an earthpony and her coat was light green, her mane was curly and blond and her eyes were a mixture of blue and green which I found kind of cool. “Sure you can, oh and don’t mind the timberwolf she is harmless,” I said.

“OK thank you,” she said, “I’m Autumn Breeze nice to meet you.”

“Shadowfire, call me Shadow,” I responded. We talked most of the way to Ponyville and before I knew it, we were in Ponyville. We got off the train and I said, “Well I will see you around.”

“Wait, I don’t know my way around can you show me please,” she asked. “Sure, why not,” I said. We walked around and I was showing her the town. We went to Sugarcube Corner, Twilight’s library, Sweetapple Acers and then we stopped at what she said was her house. “Thank you for showing me around, will I see you again,” she asked with hope in her eyes. “Sure I’m sure we will, see you around,” I said and we parted ways.

I was making my way back to Sugarcube Corner but as soon as I got there Pinkie Pie stopped me. She gasped and said “Shadow, you’re here.”

“Yeah, what’s going on,” I asked. “Come with me,” she said dragging me against my will into Sugarcube Corner. “WELCOME HOME, SHADOW!!!” everypony yelled. By everypony, I mean everypony from town was there.

“Thanks guys,” I said. “So, how was training with my brother, did he let you stop and visit,” Twilight walked up and asked. “No, I am done with training,” I said. “What, how, it’s only been three months,” Applejack said. “I learn quickly,” I responded.

“Wow, I guess that is why you know so many spells like Twilight,” Rarity said. I looked around and I did not see Fluttershy anywhere. “Where is Fluttershy,” I asked. “She might be a little late, she was helping some birds with a little dispute,” Twilight said. Then I heard “Oh, I’m so sorry I’m…”  I turned around and saw Fluttershy, still wearing the bow....it looked great on her. “Shadow, it is great to see you,” she said while walking up to me and then bringing me in for a hug. The other girls started to giggle which I turned red at but I hugged her back. “It is great to see you again Fluttershy,” I said.

“Well enough chit chat time to PARTY!” Pinkie Pie yelled and we started to party. Rainbow Dash and I got into an hoof wrestling contest and I won. I am going to admit it I was playing dirty. She was giving it her all and she had a straight face through. So I decided to have some fun. “Don’t show emotion it is a sign of weakness,” I said with a straight and serious face. She burst into laughter, and so did everypony else, which made her loose.

After the party the ponies, except me, and the girls, and the Cakes, had left. The Cake twins were climbing on me while I was sitting on the floor. They seemed to like me a lot; Pound Cake was punching my right front leg while, Pumpkin was chewing on my ear. It kind of tickled but the punching was pretty good as well. The Cakes soon put them to bed and I said “Well that was interesting.”

“I had no idea that foals liked you so much Shadow,” Fluttershy said looking at me in amazement. “I didn’t know either,” I responded. “It is getting late we should head home,” Twilight said. “Yeah I have to get up and get to work tomorrow,” I said in agreement. “Um, excuse me, would you walk me home, Shadow, if that's alright,” Fluttershy asked shyly. “Yes, I will,” I responded.

The other five mares looked at each other and giggled.

“What,” I asked. “Oh, it is nothing, you wouldn't understand,” Rarity said patting my back. “O…K, come on Fluttershy I will walk you home,” I said and we walked out. We had a deep conversation about the animals in Canterlot for several minutes and before we knew it we were at the door step of Fluttershy’s house and I asked “Do you know what that giggling was about.”

“I’m sorry but I don’t,” she said. “OK, I will see you tomorrow then, goodnight,” I said. I started to walk away but then I heard Fluttershy say something. “Wait, Shadow,” she said. I stopped and turned around. She seemed nervous for some reason. I walked up closer to see what she wanted. "Yes,” I asked tilting my head slightly. That seemed to make things worse. “Um, wh… wh...” she said as if trying to get something out. I was a bit confused on what she was trying to ask. “Did you have a dream about me and you and Nightmare Moon after the first night we met,” she asked quickly. I stood there thinking for a minute then it hit me.

“You had that dream too,” I said. “Do you know what that voice meant,” she asked. “No, I don’t but I am sure I will soon enough OK,” I said. “OK, goodnight Shadow,” she said. “Goodnight,” I said. Then Fluttershy closed the door and I heard her voice say, “Why do i have these strange feelings when he is around?” That threw me off. What is that supposed to mean? I sighed and walked home and Gold was waiting for me by the house. “What is up Shadow you seem different,” she said. “I do,” I asked. “Yes, you seemed spaced out, what happened,” she asked. “Nothing happened,” I said and opened the door and walked in. I went to my room and went to sleep.