Chapters Shadows
The Change of one
Rated PG-13 Intense Action Violence throughout
During the events of episodes princess twilight sparkle
. The plate settled down right inside the bars of the cell. The guard quickly recoiled as an evil being appeared from the corner of the cell. It was known as a changeling. The changeling snarled violently at the guard and shoved his face into the food. The guard turned around only to be met with another changeling. He screeched as a black lightning bolt fired from the changeling’s horn. The guard fell. The one changeling approached the prisoner and threw him a pair of keys.
His partner nodded unsure about their current plan. From the door leading into the mess hall they spotted five guards. Shadow opened the door slowly and carefully slipped his way to a pillar. The guards were all sitting at one table. Shadow waved at his partner to follow him. All of a sudden the guards got up and dispersed away from the table. The tables offered little cover for sneaking. Shadow shook his head and swiftly dove for the next pillar. A guard started walking to his direction. Shadow braced himself and waved for his friend to take out the guard staring at his pillar. The other three walked to the elevator leading down to the cell blocks. They passed not noticing the two escapees. The one guard was about to join them when shadow while crouching behind his pillar grabbed the guard and choked him. The guard across the way gasped ever so slightly as shadows partner grabbed his neck, ripped off his helmet and threw his forehead into the wall knocking him out. The helmet flew away and nearly clattered on the floor but instead hit a flour bag left in the room. The guards entered the elevator and slowly descended into the prison. Shadow let go of his opponent and sprinted to the door leading to the exit. They both were about to open the door when in pushed open. Shadow was kicked away by his friend as three more guards appeared in the doorway. The unsuspecting guards walked out of the doorway. Shadow and his partner scrambled behind the white stone pillars and waited. The changelings cautiously opened the door to the exit as the guards walked towards the elevator. On the other side of the door Shadow sprinted to the end of the long hallway. The changeling followed Shadow down a corridor. The two galloped silently down the thin hallway.
“You need to leave!” Shadow ordered “If they find us both…”
“Shadow…” Queen Chrysalis’s voice echoed from the Note “Our time is at hand. The changeling army is gathering once again. I grow more powerful since my defeat at the Canterlot wedding. But now we come together… The foals Twilight and all of them must be silenced… but for now Shadow you have a special mission…Meet up with the Diamond dogs in the Everfree forest. They will show you the way to Ponyville. You are to follow those ponies that ended our chance so long ago… Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are your targets. Follow and spy on them and inform me of everything. Good luck.”
Shadow walked along the dirt road and into the forest. The Everfree forest wasn’t a friendly looking place, but his contacts lay within it. The Diamond Dogs apparently had a run in with the one named Rarity. Shadow lifted up a log as his thoughts filled his head. He wished he could fly. But the brawl with the ponies made him weak. His wings permanently damaged and even his power which named him a changeling didn’t work all well. His power to change normally is hindered by a pain as well as it working for only a few hours. His horn was the only thing that seemed to function. It’s the only thing besides his look that gives him the right to call himself a changeling. He looked almost like any other changeling. The only thing separating him from the others now was he was growing a mane. He spiked it up around his horn. His wings will forever stay at his side. Shadow looked up thinking he was going to see the sky. Instead he was treated to the sight of leaves and trees which reminded him of his task at hand. Shadow looked down and continued on the path which he was told to take. Then he saw it, a stone grey castle just standing there. Shadow approached it and walked through the main door. The inside was fairly the same. It was a simple grey with flags hanging loosely. He continued his way into the library. The books were scattered on the floor. The library was nearly in ruins.
“You’re not exactly on time.” A voice said behind shadow.
“Where are my targets?” Shadow questioned.
“Thanks for your help.” Shadow said “It looks as if you’ve already have been paid.”
“Hide!” Shadow hissed.
“Wow! Look at all these ancient books!” a voice said “It’s a veritable gold mine of information! I can’t believe it! WOOHOO!”
“Um…Are you sure you need those tapestries?” another voice said. It was softer that the others. Shadow nodded and said to himself “Fluttershy.”
“Aw, crud!” Shadow whispered. He spun around and silently galloped away and into a larger room with two large tapestries. The two ponies were in the distance talking to each other. The little bunny was standing in front of Fluttershy. He quickly ran to the opposite side of the room and hid on a staircase.
He walked out into the middle of the room when he heard Spikes voice.
“Granny used to say, when night falls on the castle, that magic takes the form of… THE PONY OF SHADOWS!”
“Dang it!” Shadow exclaimed. He stumbled and tumbled down the circular stairs and all the way down to the bottom.
Some time ago… The Canterlot battle
Shadow slowly opened his eyes. A pony approached him. Shadow gulped knowing that the battle was lost.
…Present day…
He heard a loud gasp and turned around. Rainbow Dash was speeding towards him. Shadow jumped behind rubble as the pony flew by. Down the hallway he went unknowingly heading straight for four of his targets. He walked out of the hallway as Rarity, Apple Jack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash screeched out in terror.
Hours later…
A black pony with a blue and grey spiked mane walked through the streets of Ponyville. He walked to the house of Pinkie Pie. All around him other ponies walked about taking care of their own business. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. The mysterious pony swiftly picked the lock and entered the house. Shadow closed the door and transformed back into himself. Shadow walked into the main room and put the little box shaped object under a couch and walked out of the room. He turned back into his pony form and locked the front door. Shadow quickly walked out the back door and out into the alley. In the alley he marked of Pinkie Pies name and started toward Twilights house. One by one he set the devices in each of their houses. Last was Rainbow Dashes home. There was only one problem. Rainbow Dash lived in the clouds.
what my heart feels right
Shadow crept through the forest of apple trees slowly and silently. It’s been a while since shadow was at the castle. He has seen the ponies help the one named Daring Do and even the ponies getting sucked into a book. So far they haven’t caught him. Shadow was now on Apple Jacks farm, avoiding a newly formed Flutterbat. It was dark out and Shadow wasn’t able to use any of his magic to create light. He formed a pair of night vision goggles and put them on. The world turned into a green and black combination as Shadow continued his way into the apple forest. He walked calmly when he heard a loud ear shattering screech. He heard the ponies shout. Around he looked, but Flutterbat was nowhere to be found. A hiss was heard in the distance; Shadow stopped and crouched down behind the nearby brush. He peeked over and saw Fluttershy who had been transformed into a bat. She sat down munching on an apple. Shadow stared at her eat the apple viciously. Fluttershy looked up from her apple and stared at the sky. All of a sudden she took off. Shadow lost her for she was quick. He frantically searched for her spinning his head around. Shadow got up slowly and started to walk away. An apple rolled in front of him. Shadow looked up from the apple but saw nothing. Sweat flew off of shadows head as he walked the pathway back to his infiltration point. He felt like he was being watched. Shadow spun around but saw nothing but trees. The hisses of the flutterbat filled the silent air along with the screams of the ponies as Shadow waited under a bunch of fallen trees. After a while the ponies caught The Flutterbat and turned her back into Fluttershy. The ponies gave their little after lesson which he has been writing down. Shadow then swiftly exited the forest.
It was sunny the next few days. Shadow had transformed back into his cover and was sitting outside a café in Manehattan. He took a drink of his soda and stared across the street at the ponies who were looking for a taxi. Shadow saw them walk away with no luck as drops of rain started to pour down on Manehattan. The soda bottle emptied as shadow sipped his last drops of soda and threw away his cup. Shadow arrived at his hotel room and quickly checked in. As soon as he opened his door, his body burned back into his changeling state. He gasped for air as his body transformed into the changeling he was. Finally he had finished. He quickly regenerated his energy and continued on to rarities show.
“My, your collection is gorgeous!” a voice echoed through shadows headset. Shadow flew the drone into the room and landed on a desk behind a mirror.
“Oh sorry…” The Pegasus stated.
Yes, who are you?” She replied.
“That’s not important now, what is important is you knowing that statue with Suri belongs to Rarity.” Shadow stated. “I want to steal it and give it to its rightful owner”
“Well what have you got planned?” She asked.
“I'm going to create a distraction. Those security agents are my target. I’ll turn the attention to me, but you will quickly steal the trophy and get out of here.”
Coco and Shadow walked together far away from the party.
“My name is Shadow” he answered
“Why are you helping me?” She asked
“I don’t know…I felt it was wrong after seeing Rarity being generous. “Shadow replied.
“I never liked working with Suri. She isn’t a nice pony. She always treats me like garbage but I had to get a job somewhere.”
“You have to give it to them…I can’t. “ Shadow quickly retorted.
“Why?” Coco asked.
Shadow quickly sprinted away leaving Coco behind to take the trophy to Rarity…
Shadow stared at the ceiling as images of the events before he got home played through his head. He turned on his side and stared at his reflection. Shadows own eyes filled up with tears as he whimpered. He sat up and put his hooves over his blue eyes and cried. The weeping changeling fell to the floor with a flood of tears spilling out. Shadow curled up into a ball as the simple images in his mind became a short film…
….Earlier….
Shadow entered the room quickly and shut the door. His changeling skin began to seep its way through his disguise. He had just returned from his journey to Manehattan when a puff of green smoke appeared. Shadow prepared himself the best he could for the queen.
“Shadow” the queen said “what is the situation? Have you found out anything new?”
“This better be worthy enough information shadow. I'm not one to lie; your past reports haven’t exactly been fruitful of information.” explained Queen Chrysalis’s.
“Um…” Shadow stumbled with his words “Her eyes… it was like you told me in the briefing when I broke out of the prison. The rainbow flash.”
It was the morning and the ponies were about to leave. Shadow quickened his pace and from behind the building turned into his pony form. He looked for his train car and nearly started to sprint for it. He was nearly there when he felt a force knock him on his side. Shadow usually would have been pretty angry but for some reason, he looked up and said sorry automatically to the pony he bumped into. He came face to face with none other than Rainbow Dash.
“Oh my gosh, I'm sooo sorry!” She said.
“Hey! I’ve seen you before!” Rainbow Dash said
“Shadow Strike huh? That’s a cool name, where ya off to Shadow?”
The sky was clear, except for the competitors in the sky. Shadow felt a stab of jealousy overcome him as a Pegasus flew over his head. He pushed it aside and focused. He scanned the place for Rainbow Dash. Eventually he found her among her team. The one named Bulk Biceps was flying. A Fritter came out of nowhere and hit him in the face. Shadow laughed as the Giant Pegasus hit the ground. He looked over and saw where the fritter came from. Apple Jack tried to launch one into Bulk Biceps mouth. Later they tried passing batons. After failing, Shadow noticed Rainbow Dash seemed to be not doing well…
Shadow followed them to the Wonderbolts training course. He looked up and saw Soarin blazing through the course. Across the field he saw Rainbow Dash gazing at him. Shadow looked up again and saw Soarin fly through the loops. But as soon as Soarin hit his wing on the loop, a memory bashed strait into Shadows skull. The battle raced through his head as the unshakeable memory of the pain shot through his body. Shadow looked away and walked away…
“Hey Twilight Sparkle, you got a minute?” Shadow asked
“Hey Shadow,” She started “I was wondering if I could tell you tell a secret…”
Rainbow Dash then walked through what Twilight told her. She wanted to act like she was hurt so she wouldn’t have to choose. Shadow went through with the plan… He gathered the things for her and helped wrap her up.
Rainbow Dash let go “Hey listen, I gotta go…thanks for your help...”
Shadow hoped that team Ponyville would qualify. He sat down and saw Bulk Biceps and Fluttershy do the course. As she neared Rainbow Dash though, a message came through. The green smoke came out of nowhere and surely enough the voice of Queen Chrysalis came through. All of a sudden Shadow remembered who he was. However the memories of his time with the ponies changed him. His mortal enemy turned out to be his best friend. He tried to keep a serious face.
“Shadow, what is your report?” She asked.
“Oh my Queen!” Shadow started “uh. Nothing to report today…just simple pony stuff…”
“If anything changes please contact me.” And the Queen hung up.
Shadow shut his eyes and braced for the hit. Its over he thought. Just then he felt a small pulse pass through him. Shadow opened one eye then the other. He looked at his hooves. He was still in disguise.
Twilight was the first to act. She fired a stun bolt at shadow. He ducked it and Ran straight at Twilight. His body collided with hers and they both tumbled a few feet. Shadow scrambled to his feet and galloped away towards the train station. The ponies gave chase. Shadow wiped away the last of his tears. A bolt exploded next to him. He looked back and twilight was firing at him. He turned around and blew open the wall to the office. He jumped through it. He broke open the front door as Rainbow Dash tackled him from the back. Once again he felt a sharp pain in his right wing. Shadow threw her off and tried to get to the train. A strong kick from the side sent Shadow flying through the side of the train. The wall broke and he landed in a seat. The train moved forward. Shadow got up and was immediately tackled by Apple Jack. She punched his face until Shadow bucked her off into a window. The rest of the mane six jumped onto the last car as the train sped off to Fillydelphia. Shadow bucked Apple Jack away and ran off to the front of the train. The train was ten cars long and filled with passengers. Shadow was in the fifth car. Other passengers ducked under their seats as the fight raged. Twilight sparkle broke through the door and fired several shots of stun spells at Shadow. He ducked behind a seat as bolts slammed into the cover. Shadow stood up and fired an automatic stun spell at her. The spells tore through the sides of the train.
Shadow closed his eyes and fired an explosive spell at Twilight. The train exploded and parts flew in all directions. The last car was unhooked from the rest of the train. Twilight along with Pinkie Pie and Rarity focused on getting the train to stop. Fluttershy fell back to help them. Shadow turned around and went into the next car. As Shadow walked forward a thick object smashed the window and nearly hit him. Shadow peeked out the window and saw Rainbow Dash carrying Apple Jack with a bag of her Apple treats. The mountain side railroad hung off of a big drop. Snow started to appear. Shadow ducked as more of Applejacks food busted through the glass. Shadow crawled to the seventh car while being peppered with shards of glass. Shadow fired back stun spells but missed. He tackled the door to the next car and. He sprinted through it but was stopped by Apple Jack. Rainbow Dash dropped her off on the next car. Applejack galloped towards him. Shadow dove out of the side of the window. Glass shattered as he hung from the side of the train. He climbed to the top of the train and saw Rainbow Dash flying furiously towards him. Shadow ducked almost feeling Rainbow Dashes fur. Shadow got up and jumped into the next car. He was in the fifth car when he heard Apple Jack try and tackle him. Shadow spun around and felt a body pummel him to the ground. Shadow forced her aside into the wall. He got up the same time Apple Jack did. Applejack jumped up and kangaroo bucked Shadow into the door. His changeling body slammed into and broke down the door to the fourth car. From the ground he fired his magic at Applejack making her duck down. Shadow used another spell he knew and disconnected the train cars. Apple Jacks car let go and all that was left was Rainbow Dash. Shadow spotted her flying alongside the train. She however fell back to help Apple Jack. Shadow continued to the conductor’s seat. He made it to the last car when Rainbow Dash broke through a window in front of him. She lunged for Shadow. He felt her body collide into his. Shadow lay on the ground with Rainbow Dash on top of his body. He blocked a punch and pushed his enemy off of himself. Shadow fired a blast of fire at Rainbow Dash unwillingly. The fireball slammed into the train’s wall. A bright yellow explosion rocked the train as the ball made a giant hole in the side of the car. Shadow jumped up as Rainbow Dash got up. Shadow felt a hoof grab his leg. He fell onto the floor. Shadow kicked Rainbow Dashes foot away and sprinted to the door leading to the main train. The driver gasped at Shadow entered the room. Just then Rainbow Dash entered.
“I can’t believe I was friends with a Changeling!” She yelled out.
“I'm sorry!” Shadow shouted back.
“I can’t stop it!” she yelled.
…Days and episodes later…
He couldn’t stop crying. His bed became soaked with tears of this memory. He started to shout out I'm sorry, over and over again. He felt like dying at that moment. Never in Shadows life has any one given him this kind of love. The memories of Rainbow Dash filled his head. His feelings towards all of the ponies had changed. He forgot about his mission, his past, and even his queen. He was about to leave when A note appeared on the table. The note told him to go meet another changeling in Manehattan…
Shadow walked down the sidewalk. His wing had healed up but it was a pain to use. His next target was the coffee shop he used to go to when he followed Rarity. Shadow walked through the door and saw his contact. A blue and red pony sat down and sipped his coffee. Fury turned to Shadow as he sat down.
“Well” Fury began “It’s time to push our plan forward. Tirek is coming and we need to help him take the princess and everyone out. Best way to do it…”
“The ice will crash down and crush thousands of little ponies. We are working with old friends of Daring Do… the bandits…Them along with some of us are going to set up a charge on the ice and then detonating it from under the stadium. We are using the underground training and staging area… I want to know if you want some payback.” Fury sat back
Fury stared at him and spoke “Oh… I see…you became attached to them… how sweet. You’ve grown soft Shadow… You better think about what you’re going to do next... think real hard.”
The Equestria Games
…Equestria Games…
The guard let the black and red pony through the metal detector and waved for the next one to come. Shadow thanked the guard and walked through. He had one mission today. Stop the changelings from detonating the bomb and apologize to the ponies. He spawned a tactical map and navigated away from the crowds. He looked for paths leading to the underground center. The main entrances were blocked but he saw a way through the bathroom. Shadow walked into the bathrooms. The place was filled with eager ponies waiting to see the games. Shadow walked into a stall and thought of a quick disguise. Out came a maintenance pony.
“Where is the detonator?” Shadow whispered violently in the changelings face.
“Hurry up and get echo team back. The games have started and they are going to get seen.” Fury was barking out orders to the other changelings.
Shadow looked up from his knocked out prey and stared at Fury. The changelings locked eyes. Shadow saw all of the changelings charge at him. He sprinted forward firing black bolts at them. Changelings dropped in front of him as the bolts found their targets. One changeling tackled him on his back. Shadow threw him off and immediately bucked another away. He punched another changeling away. Shadow moved forward punching and kicking his way through the changeling mob. Shadow tackled the one changeling and shot him point blank. Another tried to take him down. Shadow spun around and grabbed him. He tossed him onto the ground headfirst. A Changeling bucked at him. Shadow grabbed his legs and threw him into the wall.
Fury scoffed “Yeah, you’re not in a good position to make any demands. I hold the key to the lives of almost every single pony up there.”
“What happened?” Shadow asked another pony
Shadow locked the door and put as many objects in the way as possible. The reign of Tirek had begun. The queen had already deployed her special forces. They all had one target…Shadow was needed dead. Darkness fell over Equestria and Twilight and the Mane six were too busy to notice the many changelings slip by. Shadow knew they were coming his way. He boarded up the last window and sat down… days past as news of Tireks reign spread quickly. Discord had betrayed his friends and the evil Tirek was on his way to Ponyville already. Shadow ate food and from inside his house which was the size of Fluttershys house, kept himself fit…
“Open up Shadow.”
Tirek left the scene and left a large number of changelings left. They charged up their horns and fired at the house. Bolts of black started to tear up the house. Shadow ducked as shards of his house rained on him. Shadow looked at the boarded up door. It was shattering into nothing. He took a deep breath in. Memories flowed in, the Manehattan incident, meeting Rainbow Dash.
Shadow woke up with his arms chained to a wall. The single lamp hung over shadows head. A door opened. In walked Fury alongside the queen. Shadow leaned forward and yanked at his chains. His horn was engulfed in a bubble of green. His magic didn’t work as he grunted and tried to force a fire blast out.
“Shadow, Shadow, Shadow…” the Queen repeated “I trusted you with a mission to bring your race back from the undergrounds. You betray your own kind to help these pitiful ponies. You are a disgrace. Tirek is fighting Twilight as we speak. Once he wins we will rule with Tirek as our commander. And me our rightful queen of Equestria. Fury will be the leading member in the Special Forces team I created. You however, will rot in a prison cell were you belong. You don’t belong with any of us. You’re not a pony and you’re definitely not a Changeling. This is good…”
Another changeling dressed in armor entered the room. “Tirek lost my Queen! Twilight has taken him down.
Hours later…
“Hey you!’ Shadow yelled.
“Hey!” Shadow heard behind him.
It was a long slide down. Shadow dodged the oncoming trees in his way. Just then a tree next to him exploded. He looked up and saw three changelings chasing him. Shadow Turned on his back and fired back. One bolt hit its target and he came crashing down into the trees below. The snow kicked up as the other two tried to shoot him. Shadow blasted them but they kept missing. A tree seemed to appear out of nowhere. Shadow jumped out of the cart as his ride was shattered into shards of wood. He was now sliding down the mountain. The two changelings followed. Shadow dodged the trees as well as the incoming fire from the two pursuers. He turned on his back again and fired at the other ones. One changeling was hit and went crashing into the ground. The next changeling had enough. He dove straight at him. Shadow shoved both of his hooves into the ground and slowed himself as the changeling landed right in front of him. He heard a snap and spun around to see the changeling arm bent out of shape. Shadow sighed with a relief and continued to Ponyville.
It was a beautiful sight. The castle which was now Twilights was excellent. Fury and 20 spec ops soldiers had arrived all under disguise. His plan was to storm the castle and take out Twilight and her friends…
The vendor was holding his hooves over his head. The cart began to shatter away as bolts pelted the side. Shadow stood up and fired back. One of them went face first into the ground. The other was hit in the leg and was sent down to the dirt. Shadow sprinted towards the main entrance when it began to close. Shadow saw the changelings in disguise shutting the door. He fired at them hitting both of them in the head. Shadow busted through the door and made his way to the top floor. He arrived on the top floor and saw Fury meeting with Twilight. Shadow yelled out Rainbow Dashes name and she looked at the charging Changeling. Fury grabbed Twilight while the others tried to grab the other ponies. Apple Jack bucked them away while Discord tried to protect Fluttershy. Shadow Jumped up and kicked a changeling in his face. All of a sudden everything stopped. Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Rarity were in the clutches of the changelings while the others backed away slowly. Shadow had been surrounded by multiple changelings.
“Shadow” Fury started “good you are here. Now you get to see me execute your pony friends one by one.”
“Hey Rainbow Dash.” His weak voice said.
…Days later…
Shadow awoke in a room of white. He was hooked up to all sorts of medical equipment. HE heard footsteps and turned over slowly and saw a familiar face.
“Listen I'm kinda sorry for being a mean person the first time we met.”
“You have visitors.” She said
Rarity came up and gave him a scarf “here you go love. I made it just for you!”
The end…