Shade was running for her life. The gash in her leg oozed blood that stained her fur a dark red. Behind her there was a mob of angry townsfolk. They carried silver blades and glares that could melt a pony. They madly shouted at her “Kill it with fire!” one shouted, “It tried to attack my foals!” another yelled, “Destroy the demons before it does us!” They picked up their speed. Shade Picked up her pace. The forest seemed to go on forever in front of her, while behind her the townsfolk, who were natural born runners being all earth ponies, seemed to be catching up on her. Shade unsheathed her leathery wings and shot off through the trees like a bullet, cutting through the air like butter. She flew up above the canopy and dashed through the night sky, like she was apart of the darkness surrounding her.
After a seemingly long time she stopped flying and looked behind her, not a torchlight in sight, she didn’t even get a chance to see what was in front of her before her eyes closed and she fell. Shade hit the ground with a THUMP and as she opened her eyes, she said “I’m never living there again...” Her head felt heavy and she passed out, leaving her mind to wonder in her dreamscape.
-_/\//\_-
Shade looked around her, she was in the forest still. She got up and looked at her leg, the wound had healed itself overnight, or a night and a day, as it was night time again. “Well, it looks like it’s time to-“ she was cut short as she was punched dead in the face. She looked up to see a great big shadow looming over her. “Time to sleep” it said as it reared up on what seemed to be nothing, and---
-_/\//\_-
Shade awoke with a start, and in the process slammed her head on something hard. She looked up to see a plank of wood looming over her, it startled her, but she got over it. ‘Wait a second’ She thought ‘wooden planks, that’s not what you find in a forest.’ She looked around and she saw animals, hay, and a bright orange earth pony walking around feeding the animals. “ugh... h-hel-hello?” Shade cautiously murmured to the pony across her.
“WOA!” The earth pony stammered and fell backwards into the pig’s mudpool. “Ugh, now ahve done it. You okay charlie?” The pony said to, strangely the pig. The pig snorted in response. “Ah guess thats a yes. Now then ah should get cleaned up.” The pony said, grabbing her cowgirl hat off the pig it landed on.
“Umm, over here.” Shade said.
“AH! ya startled me, again. Ah forgot y’all were there... Wait, your awake! ah guess granny’s bandage techniques do work.” The pony said. “Oh, Ahm sorry, mah name’s Applejack, ah found y’all last night when ah went to check on what the loud noise in the back fields was, ah found you bleeding heavily and in a small crater on the ground. Y’all musta hit the ground hard to make a noise that loud, but ah brought ya back here into the barn and had mah family fix ya up. We left you here to rest after that and now here we are.” Applejack said with a humph.
“So where am i now?” Shade asked
“Y’all are in mah barn, but more specifically Ponyville.” Applejack said motioning out of her barn door. From where she was she couldn’t see much, but it was a dirt road leading to a supposed town.
“Ponyville eh? Well, I suppose thats a start, I’ll be headed out now if you don’t mind.” Shade said starting to get up.
“OH, no sugarcube, you gotta wait till’ that leg is heal-“ Applejack was cut off completely dumbfounded, when Shade took of the bandage to reveal nothing but fur. “Where is the cut ah saw last night!? Did it heal already!?” Applejack yelled.
“Yes, i have always had the ability to heal my wounds.... rather quickly.” Shade said. “Oh and i forgot to mention, My name is Shade.” Applejack looked at Shade. She never got to really get a look at her, when she did she didn’t find much to gawk at. She was almost all black, her mane and tail being a pitch black while her coat and wings were a very dark grey, her cutimark wasn’t big either, just a cloak. But her eyes, they were a mix of red on the top fading to purple on the bottom, it was very different from anypony she had ever met, but she brushed it off as just a strange way of birth.
“Well, let me at least escort you out, it’s the least i could do, in case you accidentally get injured again.” Applejack insisted. Shade couldn’t say no.
“Alright, show me the way Applejack. I don’t know the town, so you'll just have to be the tour guide of our little expedition.” Shade said. Applejack then grabbed her by the hoof and pulled her along down the road. The trees she passed on her way out were nothing short of beautiful, they were nice and tall, each sporting red, juicy apples, she could imagine what they tasted like in her head. “How long have you lived in Ponyville? Your orchard is beautifully grown, tall and healthy trees has to take time.” Shade said, attempting to start a conversation.
“As long as ah can remember. Mah grandma, Granny Smith, practically founded the town. They have been happily living there ever since the day the princess gave them the land, from then on mah parents were born, then ah was born. Ahve got a sister, Applebloom, a brother, Big Macintosh, and mah granny, we live together on that farm, we have been our whole lives.” Applejack said.
“Wait, you said you live with your granny and siblings. what happened to your-“ Shade stopped when she noticed Applejack started to mope when she realized where she was going with the conversation. “N-never mind, it’s alright.” Shade said.
“No, it’s perfectly fine, but, it just hurts to remember them.” Applejack said, moping to herself. Most of the walk was in silence from then on, but nearing the end, where Shade could see the town approaching them, Applejacks said, “well here we are! Ponyville.” Applejack gestured to the town. It was a nice town, Shade noticed ponies of all colors, races, and genders walking among the streets. There were some talking, some sitting on benches, one green one sitting awkwardly on the bench, as if she was going to fall off, that must be uncomfortable. Others were sitting at tables, eating and drinking whilst chatting the days away. Applejack guided her through town, pointing out everything and anypony that she knew. She talked about the places to eat, said hello to the mayor and showed her through. Applejack was just about to start talking about the library when...
“GHAAAAASP” a pink blur that was one second in front of us shot behind us in a flash. I didn’t even think a normal earth pony could sprint that fast.
“Well, that was just one of mah friends Pinkie Pie, she bakes the sweets and treats at Sugarcube Corner. She isn’t normally like that, taking giant gasps at random ponies. She knows everypony in Ponyville, and whenever there is a newcomer, she always flips out and throws a big ‘welcome to Ponyville’ party for whoever that special somepony is.” Applejack explained. “Mah other friends are Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and you know Pinkie Pie. Twilight owns the town library, it’s a giant tree filled with knowledge. Rainbow Dash is the Ponyville weather pony, she is also training to join the Wonderbolts, i bet with how much she trains there is no doubt she will make it. Rarity is Ponyville’s dress maker, she is the most generous pony ever, i mean she IS the element of generosity. Actually I’ll tell y’all bout’ that later. Fluttershy is a tender, loving, and caring pony, she tends to the animals of Ponyville. As i said earlier, we are the bearers of the elements of harmony, the most powerful defense against any and all who try to attack Equestria.”
At that Shade shivered, she thought about them attacking her for what she was, but she pushed it aside, they were so kind to her, and they didn’t know what she was. “Ahm the element of honesty, ahm known to be the most honest of anypony in Equestria, and ahm not bragging or anything, if that’s what you thought... Pinkie Pie is the element of Laughter, always known to get everypony happy in an instant. Rainbow Dash is the element of loyalty, always loyal to her friends. Fluttershy is the element of kindness, she’ll make your heart melt from her voice alone. Rarity is the element of generosity, extremely generous, but can get over the top sometimes, i mean really over the top, drama queen. And lastly, the main element, Magic, donned by Twilight Sparkle, she was the one to discover the elements, and without her it is nearly impossible to use them, and now, through leadership, love, and friendship, she has become a princess. I still don’t know how it happened, but she fell from the sky in a ball of magic, and Princess Celestia herself made her a princess. She still resides here in Ponyville, and is still loved by us all.” Applejack finished.
“Wow, what a story.” Shade said. “Now, can you help me with my ‘homeless’ problem?” Shade asked.
“Oh yea, ah forgot about that. Alright sugarcube, follow me and I’ll show you to Miss Mayor’s office. You can buy a home from her.” Applejack then lead the way.
-_/\//\_-
After a long and boring time at the mayor’s office, Shade finally got the keys to her new home, a few houses away from the library. “Alright I’ll see you later AJ!” Shade shouted to Applejack.
“Okay, and don’t forget what Pinkie said!” Applejack shouted back.
“7 o’clock got it.” Shade said. This is looking up to be a nice home.
