The Ultimate Lifeform In Equestria

Twilight heard him alright, she could see him clearly enough thanks to the moonlight bleeding in from the window. Her mind just wasn't in the mood to process it, whatever he was he could speak her language and she could tell this was a delicate situation based on how serious he looked. One slip up and she might be on the receiving end of this creature's wrath.

His eyes narrowed as he got more impatient, never once did his gaze break away from the lavender mare in front of him. Why on earth was it lavender? Why could it talk? What was with the horn? So many questions in his head that he shoved to the side, leaving the all important question of, "Where am I?"

"E-E-Equestria." Twilight managed to get out of her drying throat. "Ponyville...to be exact." His gaze never faultered as the words sunk in.

"You mean to tell me, that there's more equines?" He asked for clarity. The lavender mare simply nodded, taking a shaky breath.

"Yes, this world has various dominant species. Griffons, Dragons, and most especially Ponies." Twilight said, sweat trickling down her forehead from how unnerved she was. The creature sighed before standing up, about the same height as her, maybe an inch taller from the top of her head.

"So he's bipedal, and he has hands like a Minotaur. Five digits, stands to reason if he's this intelligent then he must have opposable thumbs. Twilight thought as she observed him. Her violet eyes scanning every inch of him, trying to figure out what he was.

"So what's with the horn?" He asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. This action being something he always did, a habit he formed. He couldn't remember how it started, he just knew he'd been doing it for as long as he could remember.

Twilight looked up to him his gaze still intimidating, yet softer than before. "I'm a unicorn, a pony that specializes in magic." She managed a smile however small it was.

He closed his eyes, thinking about what he was just told "Magic? How preposterous..." The thought rang loud in his mind. His eyes opened and he looked at the unicorn, "Anything else I should know?"

"Well, there are ponies with wings. They can fly and control the weather. They're called Pegasus ponies." She said, her smile increasing since she was happy to share this info. Not only that, but since this creature wasn't making any attempt on her life she felt slightly more comfortable. Only slightly though. "Earth Ponies don't have wings or horns and they're the masters of agriculture. Then last are the mysterious Alicorns, they have a horn and wings and vast magical energy. They're capable of utilizing all three races powers. They can grow anything, create and control storms, as well as various other things."

He took in this information, feeling it would be helpful in the long run. While it was hard for him to believe most of what she said, he knew nothing of this world so he had to take this unicorn's word for it. "What is your name?" he asked.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, personal protege to Princess Celestia."

"Is she one of these Alicorns?" he asked, Twilight nodded.

"Yes both her and her younger sister Luna are Alicorns." She answered with a happy look on her face, "So now that you know my name, I'd like to know yours."

He just arched his brow at her, noticing her eyes had a sparkle to them as she waited with bated breath for his answer. "Shadow the Hedgehog." He finally answered. Twilight did her best to not squeal loudly in delight. Not only did she learn his name, but his species too. Her horn lit up as a quill and parchment were levitated in front of her, wrapped in the glow of her horn. Her smile only growing as she prepared to take notes.

"Where do you come from? Are there more like you? How old are you? What does your diet consist of?" and various other question just flowed out of her mouth as she questioned him. Shadow eyes widened slightly. Having not expected such a reaction, or that many questions flying out seemingly at once. It was then Shadow finished an inner debate of his, thanks to the dietary question. He was fully aware equines are herbivores, and since these particular ones were capable of complex emotions, eating meat in front of them wouldn't bode well. Especially around one that had magic, magic he saw her use and knew she could probably do something to him and he wouldn't be able to stop it. He began toward the door during her flurry of questions and opened it before leaving the library and heading through the town at a leisurely pace.

"Hey! Wait up, Shadow!" she called after him before following him outside. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"Somewhere." He said casually as he kept walking. Twilight was even more confused, had she done something wrong?

"If it's about those questions" she began to say before Shadow waved a hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about that, You'll have your answers in due time." he said as he kept walking heading for the forest.

"Wait! That's the Everfree Forest!" she said, as if it were the gate to Hell itself. Shadow stopped and turned to face her, interested in why she was so panicked about it.

"What about it?"

"Dangerous creatures live there, in fact that's where we brought you from when you first arrived." she said, but upon seeing the expression on his face she realized that she said too much.

"All the more reason for me to go there, if that's where I came here then it's how I'll get out." he said walking toward the forest now. More determined than before to go in there and look for a way home.

Twilight got a serious expression before galloping past him before pivoting on her hooves and turning to face him, her expression serious. "You'll die if you go in there. I can't let you endanger yourself."

"I'll take my chances." he said before brushing past her. Something soon felt off, he could tell his muscles were getting the signal to move yet they didn't. It was then he became aware of some force that was restraining him and a soft purple glow that accompanied it. "It'd be wise to let me go." he warned.

"I can't let you get yourself killed." she said stubbornly, refusing to let him leave.

"As if that forest has anything in it that can kill me." he said, finding the whole thing laughable. She was shocked to hear him say that, her jaw hanging open from how arrogant he sounded.

"What are you talking about? The creatures in there have many strange powers!" she said, trying to dissuade him from going. Shadow then did something unexpected, he vanished in a bright flash of light and appeared a distance away in another flash.

"So do I." he said before resuming his walk. Twilight was too awestruck to even say anything to try and stop him. She sighed and hung her head low, giving up trying to stop him as he got farther and farther away.

"Fine be that way." She said in an frustrated tone. "I just hope the next time I see you that you won't be dead." She turned and headed back to her library in a huff. Sleep thankfully came quickly for her as she got into bed, the entire day having been draining. Finally it all caught up to her and she drifted into a deep sleep.