Memories of a God

Shadow was being transported on a hospital streatcher. A sheet was over him and the shard was still in his head. He overheard them say autospy a while back. The cart stopped, so he assumed he was there.

"Alright, this pony was killed less than an hour ago. He attacked the princesses earlier today and she killed him."

"Yes. This is still a criminal offence, so we must go with protocol. Even if it is the princess."

One of them moved the sheet away from him, and he jumped up and yelled, "Boo!"

They all jumped back violentey. He laughed at them."I got you all!" He pulled the shard out of his head and tossed it in the tray. "There's your evidance."

He ran away before they could get a word in edge-wise. He ran to the palace, remaining hidden. He made it into Celestia's room first.

"Is that you, Shadow? Yeah, white hair."

"Don't just trust the hair."

"Would you like to accompany me to the training session?"

"Who's training?"

"Our guards."

"With what?"

"Fatal combat."

"My specialty."

"I was actually thinking you could help me."

"After what I did? You really think they'll let me do that?"

"I thought about that. You'll need a disguise. I prepared a spell. It'll make you look like an earth pony."

"Will it work on me? My special properties and all."

"I'm certain it'll work. Stand still."

She used her spell on him. He felt a tingling sensation on his wing and horn, then it stopped. He reached his hoof up, but couldn't feel his horn. He reached back, nothing. "This is wierd."

"It's the only way you're getting around without notice."

"Great! Lets go."

"Shadow, you'll need a new name. Everypony knows it. Everypony."

"How about Starliner?"

"Alright. Cutie mark!"

"Oh yeah. Don't worry, I can fix that. Do you have any clothes here?"

"You can find some in the wardrobe three doors down to the left on the left."

"I'll meet you at the barraks."

"Good."

He headed to the room and grabbed clothes that covered his flank and resembled sergents from earth. 'I hate that horrible place, but they sure know how to live.'

He examined himself in the mirror. "I guess it's not too bad. Nothing to laugh at. Yeah, this works. Covers me up. Perfect."

He closed everything back up and stealthily made his way out of the castle. He walked over to the training camp. He saw Princess Celestia speaking to the guards.

"Here he is now!" she said.

"What'd you tell them?"

"I told them what they were training and that they had a new trainer." She gave him a bagde. "This signifies that you are the trainer. You are a higher rank than them just like that."

He took the badge and threw it on the ground behind him. A guard stepped forward and said, "If you disrespect our princess, you'll answer to us."

"If you disrespect me, you couldn't even move fast enough to answer to your princess. If you disrespect me, then I'll take care of you myself."

He looked at the group of guards. "There is a new threat in Equestria. More terrifying than Nightmare Moon, more insane than Discord, and more dangerous than anything else you have ever faced, and ever will. This threat is in the form of a group of ponies. They are merciless murderers. You heard me right. They will kill anything they choose. You all have families. More than likely, you have mares and fillies waiting at home. Think of them. This group, given the chance, will not hesitate to kill them all. The last thing you will see of them is at their funeral. Don't let that be your last memory of them. Today, we learn how to protect your country, yourself, and your family."

"I should go." said Celestia, starting to walk away.

"Hold on there, twinkle tail." he said, grabbing her tail.

The guards all got into fighting positions. "Good job. Quick reflexes. Celestia, you're not going anywhere. I have a task for you."

"What is it?"

He leaned in near her ear. "Use a spell on me that does nothing. It'll be my excuse for extra gravity."

"Good idea." She used the spell on him.

"Also Celestia, just stay here for a moment."

"Fine."

"Now, this art is not for the squeemish. If you have a weak stomach, step out of line. If you can't bring yourself to do this, step out of line. If you can't lay your life on the line for your family, step out of line. If you can't look a pony in the eyes and take his life away from him, then step out of line! I mean that. Nopony will think any worse of you. If you're lying, I'll make sure you pay for it. Now, move."

A few of the guards stepped out of the line. Shadow walked through the ranks. He grabbed a guard by the horn and threw him out of the group. "Anypony else?"

"No, sir!"

"The rest of you will start training immidiately."

He tripled the gravity around the remaining guards. He removed the weaker ones from the group. "All of you left are to master gravity training as a first. Weakness will not be tolerated here. Where you stand now, you will be no more than a bug to Sigma and his friends. They'll kill you like an ant. They can not and will not be reasoned with. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. Celestia, I want you to find out if Luna is available."

"Why do you need my sister?"

"I have my reasons. Also I don't need her now. Later will suffice."

"How much later?"

"Just later. Also, what happened to Shining Armor?"

"He's still resting in the hospital. Sigma did a number on him."

"Least he got better."

"Yeah. Goodbye, Starliner."

She flew off. He looked back at the guards. "Everypony, you will be subjected to a horrible training exercise. You want to get out of it? Come over here. I mean that. I have one task for you. Complete it and you'll get out of training for the day."

Most of the guards walked over by him. "The task is, defeat me in a fight. All of you at once. If you do it, you get the day off. If not, then it's off to training with you."

"You can't be serious, sir!"

"You'd end up hurt."

"And we'd be punished."

"As if they would punish you for hurting me." he said, "Besides, what grounds would they have for doing that? Some random pony just came in here and insulted you."

"You're the trainer."

"I never put on the badge. Speak to me as if I was an equal, not a supirior. If you choose to fight me, be prepared to lose."

"Alright, Starliner." one said.

"Somepony hit a bell or something." said Shadow.

A pony kicked a nearby piece of metal. Shadow disappeared and reappeared in a flash. The guards around him flew back. Some hit walls. Others bounced along the ground. A few were even thrown high into the air. They hit the ground with a thud.

"Take five, cadets. After then, we train."

One of them stood back up. "I'm not done yet." she said. She was a unicorn.

"Wow, a mare in the guard. Facinating. No, wait, yes. No. Yes. No... Yes? Yes. Yes!"

"Sorry, what?"

"Hold a minute."

He walked to a pony who didn't participate. "There's another mare in the ranks." he said to the stalion.

"Sir?"

"Yes. No. Yes? No. Yes! No... Mare? Stalion? Mare? Stalion? Sorry, stalion. Sorry for the confusion."

He walked back to the ring and said, "Sorry, never asked, what's your name, beautiful?"

"My name is Fire Lily. I'm a recruit."

"New, huh? Alright Fire Lily, you're going to continue?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good luck to you. Go!"

She ran at him. She wasn't very fast due to the gravity. Shadow dodged every blow she threw at him.

"You were well trained to be able to keep this speed with this weight." he said.

"I haven't been able to train yet." she replied.

"You're that new?"

"This is my first day."

"Wow."

"This is boring." said another guard outside the ring.

Shadow grabbed Fire Lily's hoof and threw her at him. He made sure to not injure her. She crashed into him and they both fell to the ground.

Shadow walked over to him and said, "If I was the enemy, you wouldn't be alive right now. The next time you lose attention, I'll come after you myself. That goes for all of you."

He helped Fire Lily up. "Take the day off, private. You heard right. You're a private now. Anypony have a problem with that?"

"Sir, with all due respect, you can't just promote a guard like that."

"And who's gonna stop me? You? I didn't think so. Whatever I say becomes law. Remember that. It'll save your life one day."

He felt a twinge in the back of his head. "Battle positions!" he shouted, "Sigma's back, be ready to defend! Everypony, follow me!"

He ran off, leading the guards to an empty field. A large flash of light illuminated the field, then Sigma appeared before them.

"You're training the guards. How useless. You know that more than I." said Sigma.

"The citizens need protection more than anything."

"They're all dead."

"They were dead before I came here, and I'll be damned if they can't protect themselves."

"I looked for my gang."

"And?"

"Seven out of the twelve are still alive."

"Seven out of the twelve will die." responded Shadow.

"Granted. I can't stop that. So, how have you been for the past... day and a half?"

"Did you just come here to catch up?"

"Basically."

"Good. Men, stand down."

"But sir!"

"It's safe. If he says he's not here to fight, then he won't fight."

"How can you trust him so easily?!"

"I am your commanding officer! Now either do as I say or you'll be torn to shreads before you can even blink!"

"Shall I demonstrate?" asked Sigma.

"Do it and I'll see you bled dry."

"But I can't die that way."

"Exactly."

"Oh, I get it."

"So, how 'bout a game of chess?"

"You'll just win anyways."

"Yes I will. Get your ass off of my planet. You know the rules. You can't break the rules. You're breaking the rules."

"What rules am I breaking?"

"You're regenerating much too quickly. My facts are wrong. You are lying to me."

"Ah yes. About that..." He disappeared.

"Men, training is done for today. Come back in two days. I won't be here tomarrow. I need to sort something out. Fire Lily, come with me."

"Right, sir."

She walked over by him and he said, "You are going to accompany me on a special mission."

"What will I need to do?"

"All I need you to do is follow me inside, then back out."

"Inside where?"

"You'll find out."

"What will we be doing there?"

"I need to have a one on one with their leader."

"And what about me?"

"You just need to stand there and look pretty."

"I don't follow."

"You'll be there just to be there. An appearance. Understand?"

"I guess so."

"Good. We'll leave in one hour. Be back here by then. We're going through a desert. Get your desert gear... stuff. Keep it in a bag. You'll look silly with it on in town."

"Yes, sir."

They both went seperate ways. Shadow was approached by two guards.

"I'm very busy, what do you want."

"I request permission to transfer squads." said one.

"Why? Honestly."

"I can't bring myself to trust you. I'm sorry, sir."

"You don't trust me, huh? Good, I don't even trust me. Permission denied. Your opinion has been heard and I choose to ignore it. I'm in a good mood. Go home, I'll see you in two days."

"But sir..."

"Go home. See your family. Be back in two days. You, what did you want?"

"It's about your teaching methods. They're a bit unorthadox and..."

"I don't care. What I am teaching you is the most painful art ever created. You're lucky that nopony cares about these eight enimies anymore. Any family they've ever had are long dead. They're all alone. There's nopony to mourn them."

"And promoting a recruit to private on her first day?"

"If she keeps going as she is, she'll be a general within the year. Nopony else stood up to attack me again. And besides, if a recruit goes on a top secret mission, it'll look bad for the guard."

"Mission?"

"Yeah."

ONE HOUR LATER

"I'm back, Starliner." she said.

"Good. Got your things?"

"Right here." she said, gesturing to her saddlebags.

"Alright, I got some water for us." he said, slinging his sack over his shoulder. "Follow me. I'll take you there."

"Where is it?"

"Other side of the Everfree."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"You'll be safe with me around. I know the way. Come along, Fire Lily. We're wasting time."

"Right, sir."

Shadow exited the town, then looked around in all directions. He stopped after fixating on a single direction and started walking. He walked through the edge of the Everfree Forest. She didn't hesitate in following him in.

Shadow sped up. An hour later, he reached the other edge of the Everfree. Before them lay a seemingly endless desert.

"Put your gear on and take the water." he said, "We'll stay here until we are ready."

Shadow grabbed some large leaves and tied them together. She opened her bag and got out some white clothes, then put them on. Shadow gave her his pack.

"Are you ready?" he asked. She nodded. "Good, lets go."

Shadow started to walk through the desert. He tossed her the leaf umbrella. Shadow kept a slow and steady pace. She kept up along side him.

"Are you immune to the desert heat?" she asked after about a half hour.

"Why?"

"It's just that you seem unaffected by it. You don't even have any protective clothing on."

"I'll be fine. We've barely made any progress so far."

"There's no way we're gonna make much progress at this pace."

"Right. We'll be alright. You're gonna run out of water before we get there though."

"You haven't taken a single drink since we started."

"I don't need it. Leave it at that." He moved himself under her.

"What are you doing?"

"Shush." He moved her to his back. "You need to conserve energy. Hold on to me, we need to go faster."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. He sped up to a run and ran for about an hour. "Here we are." he said after stopping.

She got off and looked around. "Where exactly are we?"

"The enterance to the Changeling kingdom."

"But there's nothing here. We're in the middle of nowhere."

"With no water or food. This way."

"Starliner, are we safe out here?"

"Yeah, follow me. Few feet."

As Shadow said, a few more feet ahead, the entire world got darker, colder, and wetter. He had entered a large cave-like area protected by a magic barrier. The surroundings were lit by glowing rocks placed around the walls.

After his eyes adjusted, he saw the city of the changelings before him. Many changelings were gathered around him. They were all staring at them. He looked up and saw a castle. He started walking, and Fire Lily followed him.

"Shadow, where are we?" she asked quietly.

Shadow turned to her and said, "Welcome to the Changeling Kingdom!"

"What exactly are we doing here?"

"Unimportant. Hey, you're the first pony to ever enter the kindom! Other than me of course."

"We're in the Kingdom of the Changelings?"

"Yes."

"And we're the only ponies here?"

"That's right."

"Do you have a death wish?"

"Well yeah, course I do, but not now."

The changelings moved out of his way as he walked to the castle. Most of them had a confused look on their faces. Some were angry.

"Who are you?" asked one of them, approaching the two of them.

"This is Fire Lily. She's from the Canterlot royal guard. Just became a private today."

"We know who that is. You're the trainer, Starliner. Who are you to be able to get to this place so easily?"

"Judging by your armor, you're the captain of the guard." said Shadow, ignoring his question, "So you must know where Queen Chrisalis is. Tell me, where?" He looked in his eyes.

"In her castle."

"Thank you for the information. Fire Lily, the castle is our destination, as I thought."

"What do you want with our queen?"

"I'm here to speak with her. We have some catching up to do. She'll be delighted to see an old friend. In more ways than one if I'm lucky. Take me to her." he said, looking in his eyes.

"Alright. This way." The captain took them to the castle.

"You're a friend of the changeling queen?" asked Fire Lily.

"Knew her for a good three thousand years. I met her before Celestia and Luna were even born."

"You must be good friends."

"Yeah."

"Wait a minute, three thousand years?"

"Leave it at that."

"Here we are, you two." said the captain.

"Thanks." said Shadow, "We're going inside."

The guard put a hoof on each of them and said, "I can't allow that."

"Get your hoofs off of her." said Shadow angrily.

"Or what? You'll beat me up? You may be the trainer, but changelings have proven that we can handle ourselves against a pony."

Shadow laughed. "I'm not a pony. Have you heard of the one named Shadow Streak?"

"He attacked the princesses, but was terminated in the process. As well as our Canterlot spy. Bless his soul."

"He's here, in the changeling kingdom. Guess who he's posing as."

"Hold on..."

Shadow removed Celestia's spell from himself. His horn and wing reappeared. Fire Lily backed away from him.

"Fire Lily, inside, now." he said. She quickly went inside. He followed her in.

"I asked not to be disturbed. Why are you here?" asked Queen Chrysalis.

"Hello, beautiful." said Shadow.

"Shadow Streak? I thought you were dead!"

"But I'm not. How are you?"

"I'm good, but..."

"That's great! Look at how big you've gotten! You were four feet tall the last time I saw you."

"Don't talk to me as if I were a child."

"Right, sorry."

He started to walk up to her, but she stopped him halfway there. She walked down to him and circled him.

"Shadow Streak, when I got word that you were still alive, I was absolutely astounded." she said.

"Why? Did I die?"

"Yes! How could you not remember?!"

"Your spies aren't in Ponyville are they?"

"No, just Canterlot. It was quite a long time until we got it right."

"I have amnesia. It's all jumbly and blank. And the last 1500 years, gone."

"That's terrible. I love that stunt you pulled at the castle all those years ago."

"Which one?"

"With Gaia. It really helped us out. You disappeared after that."

"Don't you ever say that name again." he said angrily.

"Fine, sorry."

"After that, what happened?"

"You hid for many years, then returned with twelve ponies and destroyed Equestria. Celestia and Luna put a stop to you and them. Then you were lost. Up until recently that is. I missed you, Shadow Streak. The last time we saw each other was two mellinia ago."

"We were on a date then, weren't we?"

"Who's this then? New marefriend? You go through those things like chocolate milk."

"That's a lie and you know it. No, she's a private in the guard. Showed excelant progress. If it was just me here, only the princesses would believe anything I say. Introduce yourself. Don't be afraid, she doesn't bite." She looked at him unhappily. "You got me, she bites."

"No need to bring private matters into this, Shadow." She looked at Fire Lily and said, "Chrysalis, queen of the changelings."

"F-Fire Lily, private of the royal pony guard." she said.

"Why are you so scared, Fire Lily? Really now, don't worry." He looked in her eyes. "Oh, I get it now." He took a deep breath. "Tell me yourself."

"I feel more safe with her than with you." she said.

"Can't have that. How will you get home? You can't navigate the desert. Or the forest."

"Shadow Streak, why are you here?" asked Chrysalis.

"You know exactly why I'm here. You broke your contract."

"The changelings were dying!"

"The ponies are mine!"

"You would let them die?"

"You know I wouldn't. Chrysalis, you attacked the ponies knowing that it would break the contract."

"Yes I did. Everything alive thought you were dead. I had no choice."

"You know the consequences for this mistake."

"Yes I do."

"As of now, Chrysalis, you are no longer queen. I am the sole ruler of this land."

"No."

"What did you just say?"

"I'm not going to be dethroned by a dead pony."

"Then lets settle this like the sentiant creatures we are."

"Lets."

"Fire Lily, back."

"What for?"

"If you get hurt, I'd be hunted for years to come."

They stood across from each other. Shadow had already thought of a plan to beat her. He walked forward, then appeared behind her. She turned around, but he disappeared again. He kept teleporting around her, then stopped right in front of her.

She raised her front hooves to attack him, but he jammed his hooves through the holes in her legs. Shadow jumped forword, taking Queen Chrysalis with him. He landed with her back to the ground.

Shadow was holding her down. She was unable to get free. He placed his head on hers and looked in her eyes. He smiled at her.

"Get off of me, Shadow."

"Why should I?"

"C'mon Shadow, this isn't funny."

"I'm not laughing. Give up."

"Never."

"Either you give up this pointless struggle, or I'll force you to."

"You couldn't." He looked in her eyes. "Y-you wouldn't!"

"Try me." he said.

"Shadow Streak, I'm sorry for what I did." she said.

"I know. Chrysalis, I am king now. My word is law. I hereby restore your title as queen."

"What?"

"You have earned it back. If you attack ponies again, I'll find you, and when I do, you'll be sorry."

"What?"

"I've warned you. Next time won't be as peaceful."

He planted a kiss on her lips, then got off. "Fire Lily, we're going."

Shadow left the castle and the changelings poured inside. Queen Chrysalis was still laying on the ground in shock.

"What happened to you my Queen?" asked one.

"He... He kissed me... Shadow Streak actually kissed me."

"What was that, Shadow Streak?" asked Fire Lily.

"Which part?"

"All of it! The contract, King of the Changelings, talking to her as if you were her friend, not to mention the kiss."

"I'm king of a lot of things. Once I was even King of Equestria. Before Tia and Luny of course, even their mom. Well, the land before Equestria. Story for another day. As for Chrysalis, we were indeed good friends. The contract, I made a deal with her. She stays away from ponies, she gets to be Queen. I allowed her this one chance."

"You're a strange one."

"I may have lost my memory, but I'm still a politition. And a fighter, and an ambassador, and a genius. I have too many things to do yet."

Shadow use his magic to extend the barrier around them while they walked through the desert. After they got to the forest, the desert returned to normal.

"How did you navigate through the forest? Nopony can get through the forest."

"I gave the forest it's own defense mechanism. No sane pony would try to go in. The ponies that go in are there to research and discover. The forest gives them what they want. They go home, overburdened by discovery. Also it's just plain hard to get through."

"But the Princesses..."

"Have been told to keep their big mouths shut. Lets go home."

"Who are you, Shadow Streak? You attacked the princesses, but you're too kind to do that."

"Remember that pony named Sigma?"

"Yes, who was he?"

"He looks exactly like me for a reason. We're not the same. He was the one who attacked them, not me."

"I believe you."

"Thanks. If you tell anypony about me being Shadow Streak, I'll lock you in the dungeon."

"Yes, sir."

*Random fact of the day: You shouldn't eat cyanide. Sorry about the dull ending to the last chapter. Went too fast. May or may not edit, depending on level of caring.