Memories of a God

'Who am I? Why do I exist? What do my memories hold?'

The questions repeated in his head. They were louder than before, and continuing to get louder.

'I don't know!' he shouted at them.

These questions plagued his sleep, turning it into a nightmare. He saw visions that he couldn't make out. Then all at once, they stopped.

"Wake up, Shadow Streak." said a gentle voice. He opened his eyes and saw Twilight looming over him.

"Was I screaming in my sleep?"

"No, it's just time to get up."

"Alright then." he said.

He stood up and cracked his back. "Can I get a few minutes?" he asked.

"Sure, no problem."

"Be back in a little, I promise." he said, running out the door.

He started running down the road. Rainbow Dash spotted him and flew along side him.

"Where are you headed?" she asked.

"I was just out for a run."

"A run?"

"Gotta keep in shape."

"What are you keeping in shape for?"

Shadow slowed to a stop, thought about it, and said, "I don't know, but keeping in shape is a good idea. I feel like I could run for an eternity."

He started running again and Rainbow ran alongside him. "You seem to be having fun." she said. They kept running, and eventually got to the gorge. "Wow. How far did we just run? I wasn't paying attention."

'You could get away with anything you wanted here.' said a voice in Shadow's head. 'Beautiful mare like Rainbow Dash... Nopony'd blame you.'

'Shut up.'

"Lets go back to town. I promised Twilight that I would only need a few minutes." They both ran back to Twilight's, Rainbow tailing close behind.

"Hey Twilight. What are you doing?" asked Rainbow.

"Oh, nothing important. Where'd you head off to, Shadow?"

"I just needed a run. Keep my muscles toned and my body ready. So Twilight, do you think there would be any jobs around here that I could do?"

"Well maybe, what are you qualified for?"

"Let me think... Um... Everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes. I think I have a doctorate in everything. Just can't remember it all because... no memory and all that."

"Everything?"

"Everything. Like for one, I know that Rainbow here is living happily with her pet turtle in Cloudsdale."

"But how..."

"And that the proper climate for making blue cheese is that of a cave. Just pulled that off of the top of my head."

"Well, the weather team's got an opening." said Rainbow.

"Good, anything else?"

"I think the Mayor needs somepony to fix up the city." said Twilight.

"That sounds nice, one more?"

"Vinyl Scratch told me that she needed help."

"What does she do?"

"She's putting together a concert and needs a few helpers."

"Oo! Music! I love music. Where is she?"

"Just head over to her house."

"Where is it?" She told him. "See you two later."

He walked to where he was told she lived and knocked on her door.

"Hey, who are you?" she asked.

"Name's Shadow Streak. Twilight said you needed help."

"Yeah, she said you might show up."

"So she just assumed... never mind. So, what's up first?"

"Right now, I need you to move some things to the stage. Come in here for a minute."

Shadow followed her inside and she showed him some equipment. "Grab what you can and meet me outside."

She walked back outside and left Shadow alone. 'Alone, near her things. You could steal whatever you wanted. And you could get away with it to.'

'Shut up.'

He picked up a bunch of different things, put them on his back, and walked back out.

"You picked up everything." said Vinyl.

"Is that bad?"

"Are you sure you're not Big Mac?"

"All Shadow Streak. Where do these go?"

"Just follow me."

She took Shadow to a stage area. "Here it is." she said.

"What took ya, Vinyl?"

"I thought I'd get here first."

"Who's your friend?"

"I'm Shadow Streak. What's your name, beautiful?"

"Octavia."

"Alright Shadow. Set those down on the stage."

"Sure thing."

Shadow took the equipment onto the stage, then his leg fell through the floor and he was crushed.

"Shadow, you alright?" No answer. "Shadow?"

"I think he's hurt."

"Oh yeah, I'm hurt." he said.

He set everything down and stood back up. He was wrecked. "I think I have four broken ribs, a crushed skull, and a lacerated arm."

He started healing himself and shook his head. "Stupid floor, crushing my skull like that."

"Are you alright, Shadow?"

"As I said before, injured. I'm good now though, so don't worry."

"You're good now?"

"Yeah, healed myself right up. Somepony's gonna have to fix that floor."

"You were really bleeding there."

"I was, wasn't I?"

"Yes, yes you were. How did you survive that? There's gotta be at least 600 pounds worth of equipment there, if not more." said Vinyl.

"Oh, no. I didn't survive it. Yeah, I died. Skull crushed, brains crushed, dead. Now, I am going to fix this." He used a spell and it molded back into a solid floor. "There we go, good as new. Anything else I can do?"

"Just set everything down, spread out. A big pile of equipment won't do anypony any good."

Shadow unpiled everything, then asked what next.

"No, that's it."

"That's it?"

"I really thought that it'd take longer."

"Well, that's good then, I think."

"Sure is, Shadow Streak." She tossed him a bag. "Make sure to come back for the show." she said.

"I'll try." he said. He started staring at Vinyl Scratch.

"What?"

"Your glasses. They look so familiar."

"I am pretty well known around these parts."

"No, it's not that. They just look so familiar."

He walked closer. "Where did you get those?"

"It was in the market in Fillydelphia. A pony was pushing them on me, then decided to put them in my bag after I walked away without buying them. He really wanted to..."

"Get rid of them?"

"Yeah."

He stopped a foot in front of her. He stared at the glasses.

"Stop it man, you're creeping me out." He grabbed her glasses and examined them closely. "Hey! Give those back!"

She swiped at the glasses, but Shadow jumped back. He put them on, then took them back off. Vinyl grabbed them and put them back on. "What's the big idea?"

"I swear, I've seen those before. Oh well, sorry 'bout swiping your glasses."

"What do you mean, you've seen them before?"

"That exact pair of glasses, not a replica or copy. Some time a long time ago, I saw them. I don't know when, or where, but I know I did. Oh well, see you two later."

"Bye, Shadow Streak." said Octavia.

"See ya."

After he left, Octavia walked to Vinyl and said, "He's kinda cute, isn't he?"

"Alright, I got some money." said Shadow, smiling.

He headed to Sugarcube Corner to get himself a meal. "Pinkie Pie?" he asked after seeing the peppy little pony.

"Shadow!" she said, looking at him. "Listen, about yesterday... I'm sorry for what I said."

"It's ok Pinkie Pie."

"I'm never, ever, ever, ever like that."

"I know, Pinkie."

"I mean I'm just..."

"Pinkie! Pinkie, it's alright, don't worry about it. Now, how about some cupcakes?"

"Sure thing Shadow Streak!"

She disappeared for a moment, then reappeared with a few cupcakes. "On the house, Shadow."

"That's nice of you." he said.

He grabbed a cupcake and swallowed it whole. "Needs more hot sauce." he said.

A bottle appeared on the table. Shadow grabbed it without asking questions. After dumping it on the food, he proceeded to devour them.

He noticed a dark blue filly with a notched ear staring at him. The filly looked at a watch on his hoof, then disappeared.

"Who was that?"

"I didn't see anypony." said Pinkie.

"Coulda sworn... Never mind."

"You're just seeing things. It happens sometimes. I see things all the time, but they're all real. Like that! And that! And that, and that, and that! Oo... That's not real." she said.

"I see it to, Pinkie." said Shadow.

They were both looking at a black mist where the filly was. It dissipated, then Shadow said, "Okay... That was weird."

"You're telling me."

"Well, see you later Pinkie."

He walked outside and looked around. He saw Rainbow flying around above the store. He flew up and joined her.

"Hey Shadow. How are you doing?"

"Pretty good. Are you free?"

"Yeah."

"Good. How 'bout that test?"

"Alright! First one to that mountain and back wins."

Shadow and Rainbow landed on the ground, and she started counting down. "3..."

"2-1!" they both said, flying toward the mountain.

Shadow was getting left behind. He wanted to put on more speed. He felt an odd sensation in his chest, wiggling to where his other wing would be. A ruby spike exited his side, morphed into a wing, then he flew three times as fast as he had before, quickly catching up to her.

He slowed down near her, smiled, then sped up again, rounding the mountain and heading back.

Rainbow also started flying faster. She sped up and got to him. He turned around and saw her, then simply went faster.

"Score one for Shadow Streak!" he said happily.

"I lost."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, you did good, now take a few steps to your left."

She did so, and a large piano fell where she was. She looked at it, shocked. "Derpy! Be careful!" she yelled.

"Sorry, Rainbow Dash!" she yelled back.

"How'd you know that was gonna happen?" she asked Shadow.

"I don't know."

"Well, thanks man."

"Anytime."

Shadow dropped to the ground and walked over to her. He looked in her eyes and smiled. Dash was a bit confused. Shadow looked behind Dash and saw the dark blue filly again. Again, he looked at his watch, then disappeared. Shadow decided to keep it to himself.

"Shadow, you're awfully close." said Dash.

Shadow realized that he was looking right over her shoulder, very close to her. "And it's not like you were moving."

"Shut up."

"Sorry. See ya later, Rainbow Dash."

"Bye Shadow!"

He took off again. This time, he wound up at the edge of the forest. He decided to walk in and find where he was earlier that week. He noticed some animals looking at him, but ignored them and kept going.

He found some small blood droplets on the ground. He looked down and examined them. He touched them and said, "These are fresh, still wet and warm. That means... Hey! Is anypony out there?" he yelled.

He heard a faint voice. He ran in the direction that he thought it came from. He heard it again, louder this time, but still near inaudible.

"Help me..."

He kept running to where he thought it was originating from.

"Who are you?" asked the pony, hiding in a small cave.

"That's unimportant. Are you hurt?"

"My leg... My head... They hurt."

"You were attacked by a wild animal, weren't you?" She nodded. "Hold still for a second. I'm gonna patch you up."

'Don't do that. You could say she was dead when you got here. Nopony'll be any the wiser.'

'Shut up!'

Shadow healed her, and she sat up. She started to sob, and Shadow put his arm around her.

"It's alright. You're safe now."

"But what if it comes back?"

"Then I'll take care of it. What was it? A bear? A manticore?"

"It was an ursa major."

Shadow licked his lips. "An ursa major?"

"Yeah. We should go."

"You can. If there's an ursa here, then I'm gonna stay."

"Why would you do that?"

"Personal reasons."

"Well, ok then. I'll go to town."

"Good luck."

She looked around, then ran off. Shadow stayed where he was. He raised his head and made a growling noise. He heard a return growl, then followed it to the source.

He entered a large clearing with the ursa major on the other side. It got a good look at him, then knelt down on one knee. Shadow looked at it, confused.

"I want you to stay away from these ponies. You got that?" he said to it. It nodded. "Good, I'm glad we got that straightened out." He looked at it for a few more seconds, then left.

"What was that?" asked the pony, looking at him.

"I thought you said that you wanted to go back to town."

"I was worried about you. Willingly walking through the forest with an ursa around."

"Doesn't seem like the smartest of ideas, does it?"

"No! It's a horrible idea!"

"But you're still here."

"What does that..."

"Oh, lets go back to town."

Shadow started walking back, and she followed him. "I'm Shadow Streak. What's your name, beautiful?"

"I am the Great and Powerful Trixie. Or I was, until that Twilight showed me up."

"You know Twilight?"

"You know her?"

"I think we both do."

"I think you're right."

He chuckled, then said, "So Trixie, what were you doing in the forest?"

"I was testing a new form of teleportation spell. I learned too late that it was unstable."

"A new spell, huh? That takes talent."

"Well, I don't mean to brag or anything, but I am great and powerful."

Shadow looked in her eyes. "Great, no. Powerful, yes. You were basically thrown out of Ponyville. Beaten by Twilight Sparkle. Course, that's nothing to be ashamed of, she's got a lot of hidden potential. You are a liar. A good liar, with some skills to back it up. It wasn't enough though, was it?" Trixie seemed hurt. "Sorry, please don't take that as an insult."

"No, it's not that. You're right. You're absolutely right. But, that's the reason. You're right, and I was in the wrong."

"Yes, but no matter how far you've gone down the wrong road, you can always turn around and go back."

"Thanks Shadow Streak."

They walked through the forest, eventually reaching the town.

"Well Shadow, I think I should go."

"If you want to, you can. I wish you wouldn't though."

"Goodbye, Shadow Streak."

"See ya later, Trixie."

Shadow ran into town, running because he could, and noticed that it was getting dark. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and bumped into a pony, knocking her down.

"I'm sorry." he said, holding out his hoof.

She took it and said, "Don't worry about it. I wasn't watching where I was going. What is up with your horn?"

"I don't know. Fashion statement?"

"That is no fashion statement."

"It's that bad?"

"Yes it is. Come this way, I cannot let this crime against fashion continue." she said, walking into a nearby shop.

"By the way, I'm Shadow Streak. What's your name, beautiful?"

"I'm Rarity, owner of the finest clothes store in Ponyville, Carousel Boutique."

Shadow looked around and said, "I don't doubt that. These are elegant and well made. Usually it's one or the other."

She tossed him a rag and said, "Clean that horn of yours, I'll be with you in a moment."

Shadow looked blankly at it, then slung it over his shoulder. "Oh boy, won't she be surprised?" he said to himself.

He walked around, then got attacked by Opal. He just sat there with a happy grin on his face as the cat scratched him. He reached his hooves up, grabbed the furball, then set her down.

Rarity walked out just after he did this and saw the scratches on him. "Are you alright."

"Yeah. I love cats." He healed his face, then stood back up.

"I thought I told you to clean yourself."

"About that..."

"If you won't, then I will."

She levitated the rag and tried to clean it off. "Rarity, it won't..."

"Quiet." She walked closer and tried again.

"Would ya..."

"Be quiet, Shadow."

Shadow started to move his head out of the way every time she tried to clean it.

"Stop it, Shadow."

"But..."

"No buts!"

Shadow kept moving his head. Rarity tried to use her magic to stop him, but he tapped her horn, stopping it. She tried to hold his head, but he got away from her hooves.

"No more Mrs. Nice Pony." she said.

She used her magic again, but Shadow stopped it again. She jumped at him, then he fell back.

"Hold still, Shadow!"

"Rarity would you... listen..."

Rarity was right on top of Shadow, who was looking her eyes.

'Do it Shadow, do it!'

'I said shut up!'

"Rarity, it doesn't come off."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I tried. You weren't listening."

"Sorry."

"What in Celestia's name is going on in here?" shouted Sweetie Belle, walking in.

Rarity jumped off of him, blushing, and said, "I was just trying to..."

"Hey Sweetie Belle! How was school?" asked Shadow.

"Shadow Streak? What are you doing here?"

"Rarity didn't like my horn." he said, tapping it. "Course, she didn't realize that it was natural color. She said it was out of style."

"I said it was a horrible fashion sense."

"I think it's cool."

"Cool?"

"Whatever. So, now that we got that out of the way, there's nothing keeping me here. Unless something happens. Like a..."

He heard lightning from outside. "Storm." he finished.

He walked to the window and looked outside. "Did it just start raining?"

"There was a planned storm this evening." said Rarity.

"Wish I was told. Would've been helpful information a few hours ago. Or maybe even minutes. Somehow, for some reason, it would've helped."

"How?"

"I don't know. Well, I am leaving. A storm isn't enough to keep me here."

He opened the door, was struck by lightning, and was thrown back inside. "What a rush!" he said with a crazed smile.

"Shadow!"

"Are you alright?"

"Just a bit well-done. I smell of cooked meat and I feel crispy."

He healed himself and shook his head. "I remember the last time I smelled like that. I missed the smell then to."

He tried to go outside twice more, and both times was thrown back inside by lightning. His left eye was watering severely.

"Are you alright, Shadow?" asked Rarity.

"I think the last one scored a direct hit with my eye. Sweetie Belle, close your eyes."

She did so, then Shadow opened his eye and healed it. "Oh that feels so much better! Ok Sweetie Belle, you can open them again."

Shadow blinked a few times, then smiled. "Lightning burns. I am not about to try that again."

"What was that all about?"

"I think my eyeball exploded."

"Exploded?"

"There's liquid in the eye. Boil it, and it'll pop. Anyways, I'm trapped in a house and right now, if I were you, I wouldn't leave as well. Too risky."

'Shadow, trapped, alone with just them, nopony near, nopony to hear screams...'

'Shut it! Or I'll fry myself again!'

"So what you're saying is..."

"Unless I wanna fry again, I'm staying here. I'm not saying I wanna fry again, but I am saying that I want to leave."

"You want to leave? Do you not like it here?"

"Not particularly, no."

"Where, pray tell, would you rather be?"

"I don't know."

"Huh?"

"Whatever."

Shadow walked to the window, watching the rain come down. He must've lost track of time, because when he looked back, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were both gone. "Where did they..."

'They're sleeping. They won't be able to see it coming!'

"Stop that." he said angrily.

'Maybe you do it, maybe I stop.'

"You want me to hurt somepony?"

'More then just hurt them.'

Shadow could hardly contain his anger. "Is this who I was? Was I a criminal? What kind of pony was I?"

'Oh, ho, ho... The worst kind. Do it Shadow! Give me something!'

"Not for an eternity."

'The clock is ticking Shadow. An eternity is coming sooner than you think. Sleep well, my little alicorn.'