Memories of a God

"Shadow Streak, wake up!" said Twilight. "It's an emergency Shadow!"

"Emergency?" he asked, shooting off of the floor where he slept.

"What's with all the yelling?" asked Rarity, yawning.

"We got a letter from the princess."

"Cool."

"This isn't cool. This letter was an urgent letter, sent by teleportation rather than Spike."

"So your point is?"

"Something important is happening!"

"Or will happen."

"This is no time for games!"

"Alright, what does it say?"

"I couldn't get it open. There's a powerful barrier around it."

"You can't get it open? Then why was it sent to you? Unless it wasn't for you in the first place. Give it to me."

She gave him the letter. He looked at it for a second, then his horn darkened and it popped open. "For the eyes of Shadow Streak alone." he read off, "Wanna read it?"

"What? The princess said that only you were allowed to see it."

"Then I'll just read it aloud. C'mon Twilight. How's she gonna know?"

"Ok fine."

"Shadow Streak, you have some nerve showing yourself around Equestria after what you did. What do you want this time? Money? Glory? Power? As the Princess of Equestria, I refuse to help you. You have caused us much trouble in the past. You will get nothing. Crawl back into whatever hole you dragged yourself out of and just die already!"

"What?" asked Twilight.

"I was an asshole." said Shadow sadly.

'More than that.'

He looked back at the page. There was a line under the writing and more writing, with a different style, under that.

"Shadow? I'm sorry about my sister, it's just that she... I'm sorry. With love, your Little Luny."

There was dried spots of water on the paper. Shadow put the letter down and laid on the floor.

"That doesn't seem like something the princess would say." said Rarity.

"What could I have done to make Tia so angry?" he asked unhappily. "This isn't just a string of bad days. One is normal, two is a coincidence, but three? No, something odd is going on. When I examined Pinkie, I noticed something odd. Something that isn't right, isn't normal. But what."

"You examined Pinkie? How?"

"Like this." He leaned in and looked in her eye, then smiled. "I like you. Pinkie was too sad to gauge properly, very odd, but you're having fun."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know. It's kinda like mind reading, but different. Also, it's great at manipulating."

"Mind reading?"

"Yeah. Fun skill to have. Oh no, I may have manipulated Celestia. No, she wouldn't get pissed over that, not enough to wish death on another. Something went wrong."

"Are you ok?"

"No. I need to talk to her. I want to find out what's wrong. Can you take me to Canterlot?"

"It'll take all day."

"Not fast enough. Which way is it? I can get there myself." She told him the way to Canterlot. "Thanks Twilight."

"Sure. Any time."

Shadow ran out of the house, made a side stop at a store to grab some chocolate milk, and flew to Canterlot.

"When she said it was an all day trip, she wasn't kidding. I need some more speed." He flew a little faster, but not much. "I need more speed. More, more, more!" The ruby wing protruded from his side again, and he flew faster. "This is the kind of speed I'm talking about!" he shouted happily.

He used his new wing to an advantage, moving himself to Canterlot at high speeds. Eventually, he reached the Canterlot gates and landed. His wing tuned back into a spike, then slid back into his body.

The wound closed itself, and he found himself face to face with a large barrier around Canterlot. He heard a siren, and everypony ran inside their houses.

"Wow! I haven't seen this style of barrier in ages! Whoever made this must be in a high position of power." He tapped it. "Wow, I love this style! This is well made! Somepony wants to keep somepony out of Canterlot really bad if they used this."

He channeled some magic into it, then said, "I want to talk with the creator of this barrier."

Within a few minutes, a group of guards appeared on both sides of the barrier. "I am the captain of the royal guard. Your request has been granted."

Shadow looked into his eyes. "Aren't you Shining Armor?"

"Yes I am."

"Twilight told me all about you! Your sister's cute by the way. Congratulations on the marriage. Never did like changelings."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"I'm Shadow Streak."

"That would confirm my suspicions."

The guards made a tighter circle around him. "Which would be?"

"Princess Celestia told me that you were returning to Equestria. She told me to be on alert at all times. And here you are, not even trying to be stealthy. What could you possibly hope to accomplish?" he said, becoming serious.

"I wanted to speak with Tia. I got a very threatening letter today and I don't appreciate that kind of language from her."

"You act as if you were her father."

"I'm old enough to be her father, but I'm only an old family friend."

"The way she talks about you makes it sound as if you're not a friend."

"And what does she say about me?"

"She told me to keep it from you."

"Then I respect her privacy. Now, on to the matter at hoof. The one you wish to keep out is me, correct?" He nodded. "And what if I do... this?"

Shadow raised his hoof towards the barrier, and it shattered. Shining Armor's jaw dropped. "What will you do about that?" asked Shadow.

He didn't move. He was speechless. "Hello? Shining Armor? Wake up!"

He shook his head. "You broke it... Just like that."

"Yeah. I want to get this out, it was very well made. You did a good job with that. Very, very good job. It was just a simple spell canceller I used. What strikes me as odd, is that the specific type of barrier you used is ages old. Celestia and Luna type of old. Huh... whatever. Now, let me into the city without trouble, and I won't have a reason to hurt anypony."

"Tell me what you plan to do."

"I seek an audience with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will take it myself. I have no problems with open hostilities. Also, I can do this."

He teleported around Shining Armor, creating illusions of himself around him, none looking any different. "Oo! A new skill!" they all said.

They all disappeared, leaving only the original. "That was a bit much." said Shadow. "Don't you agree? Doesn't matter. Yes or no?"

"What?"

"Will I be allowed an audience or not?"

"Stand down. He is not to be trifled with." said a bold voice.

"Luny! The last few thousand years have treated you really well! How have you been?" asked Shadow happily. He bowed his head in respect.

"Shining Armor, I told you to tell me if he showed up. I also told you not to confront him."

"I... I..."

"Oh, don't blame him." said Shadow.

"Indeed. Leave us." she said.

"Princess, are you sure?"

"Notice the frowny face? She isn't happy. She is not nice when she's happy."

"Shadow Streak..." growled Luna. She flashed a look at the guards, and they ran off.

"Listen, I..."

"Shadow Streak... Why did you come to Equestria?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you come back, after what you did?"

"Luny..."

"You will call me Princess Luna, and nothing else."

"Princess Luna, I want you to know that..."

"I don't want to hear it!" she shouted.

Shadow looked down. He wanted to know what he did.

"What you did to us was deplorable! You used to be so good! You used to be kind! You used to be..."

"Uncle Shadow."

Luna looked at him, then he looked in her eyes. "What did I do? My memory was taken."

"You can't remember what you did?" He shook his head. "You were the one who killed Queen Gaia. You killed my mother!"

"No... No, I couldn't have. That's so..."

"Horrible? Bad? Wretched?"

"Evil! Why? What would cause me to do that?"

Luna remained silent.

"I... I... Gaia... Why? I'm not the One Winged Angel. I'm not Uncle Shadow. I don't deserve to be called those." he said, hanging his head in sorrow.

"Shadow Streak. We gave you that title knowing about our mother."

"You what?"

"You are still the One Winged Angel, and you are still my Uncle Shadow." she said. He raised his head, and saw that Luna was crying. "You saved my sister and I. If it wasn't for you, she would be dead right now!"

"During the first battle with Discord, Discord attacked your sister, but an alicorn stepped in between, nearly ending his life." he said, remembering the book. "That alicorn was me, wasn't it? I was the one who fought Discord with you, wasn't I?"

She nodded. "Shadow Streak, you..."

"That doesn't excuse my crime and you know it!"

Luna looked down. "Shadow Streak, you didn't just save us. You saved all of Equestria. What you did..."

Shadow hugged Luna, surprising her. "I don't care." he said. "All I care about right now, is that you, and your sister are safe. I have done horrible things in my past. Things that I never should have forgotten. More than you know, and I don't remember any of them."

"You don't remember?"

"No. I didn't just forget, somepony sealed it from me. The past 1500 years. Everything was taken from me. What I did was horrible. I can't forgive myself."

Luna rested her head on his shoulder. "I forgive you, Uncle Shadow."

He held her closer. "You know what it means to say that, right?"

"I know what it means. I give you absolution. I'm not angry with you."

"Thank you, Luny. You don't know how much this means to me. I need to know, why?"

"Because you're my Uncle Shadow. I've loved you since I was a filly. It's true that it hurt, but... She would have wanted this. You know that better than I do. You were the one who was with us all that time."

"I know it more than you do, huh?"

Shadow looked back and saw Princess Celestia staring right at him, angrily.

"Tia!" he said. "How about you? How have you been for the past thousand or so years?"

Luna leaned in and whispered, "She's still angry."

"Get away from my sister." she commanded.

"Celestia?"

"Luny, shush." said Shadow, stepping away.

Celestia never let him out of her sight while he moved. She stared right at him. Shadow raised his head to meet her eyes, but she kept his head down with her magic.

"I'm not gonna let you do that this time!" she said.

"Princess Celestia." he said, bowing his head.

She punched him in the gut and he flew back a few feet.

"Shadow!" said Luna, shocked.

"Oh, don't worry about it Luny. Tia's just angry. She'll get over it. Nopony can hold a grudge for an eternity. Trust me, I've tried."

"Shut up!" shouted Celestia. She punched him again.

MANY, MANY HOURS LATER

"Why aren't you dead yet, Shadow?" asked Celestia angrily, continuing to attack him.

Shadow was covered in blood, bruises, and burns from the various attacks Celestia had used on him. He was also missing a few teeth, had a broken nose, and a few broken ribs. Luna had gotten bored and left. A few ponies left their houses to watch. Some even had chairs and popcorn. Pinkie Pie was among the ones in the crowd. Some ponies had even taken bets on the fight. Most had bet on Princess Celestia, but some hadn't.

Throughout the entire fight, Shadow hadn't raised his hooves once to defend himself. He took every blow, never changing the unhappy expression on his face.

Celestia was getting angrier and angrier at him. She was starting to get some cheap shots in. She punched at his eyes and kidneys. Then she turned around, reared up, and kicked him right between the legs, causing him to fall to the floor. Pinkie started to laugh uncontrollably, causing everypony else to start laughing.

"That was uncalled for and you know it." he said, getting back up.

"So you finally decide to say something."

"Like it matters."

"Why wouldn't it? I want to know why! Why did you..." She stopped herself and looked around, noticing everypony else for the first time. "Why did you do it, Shadow?"

"I don't know. I know there was a reason, and if what your sister said about me was true, it was a damn good reason."

Celestia started to attack him again, but was too tired to do any damage. She tried to hit him one last time, but Shadow ducked under her attack and held on to her.

'Kill her! Do it, Shadow! Do it!'

"Celestia, stop. You can't continue. You're going to hurt yourself. I don't want to be the cause of pain for you ever again. For what I did, you have every right to be angry at me. You can be angry tomorrow. You've done enough today. I love you too much to want to see you hurt. If you want, we can continue tomorrow."

"No."

"What?"

"No."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to continue. You were right, Shadow Streak. Nopony can hold a grudge forever. Shadow, I have had time to think. Many years to think about what you have done. After today, I have decided."

"What have you chosen?"

"I forgive you Shadow Streak, you are still my Uncle Shadow."

Shadow hugged Celestia and said, "Thank you Tia."

"Aww..."

Shadow's wounds were gone, and he had surprised everypony but Pinkie. Everypony was paying Pinkie their bits, grumbling. They quickly left after that.

"Princess Celestia. You've let go of your hatred of me." said Shadow Streak, "This means more to me than anything. I came here with the intent of apologizing and sorting out this mess. I got what I never expected. You both forgave me."

She started to sob. "Shadow..."

"It's ok, Celestia. You're safe with me. You'll always be safe with me. You, your sister, your kingdom, your citizens. I will protect them."

"You'll protect them?"

"With my life." he said.

"That's the Uncle Shadow I know and love."

"And since my life is infinite, I will protect them until the end of time."

"Your life is infinite?"

"Have I not told you? Yes, immortality. It would explain a thing or two I would assume. I can prove it if you wish."

"No! Please, don't do that."

"Thanks. Princess Celestia..."

"Please, Celestia is fine."

"What about Tia?"

"I'm not a filly anymore, Shadow."

"Fair enough. Celestia, I request permission to go back to Twilight. I want to reassure her that nothing went wrong."

"You don't need my permission to do anything Shadow." she said, "You're older, wiser, and more powerful than me."

"You are a princess of the country I reside in. It is a show of respect."

"That doesn't matter. I give you my permission to do as you please, so long as it does not break the rules of my kingdom."

"I'll try my best. See ya later, Celestia!"

"Try harder than your best. If I hear that you commit any crime, I'll lock you in the dungeons until they rot above you! Goodbye Shadow Streak."

Shadow took off and made his way back to Ponyville, taking advantage of his ruby wing again. He arrived, then headed to Twilight's house.

"Twilight! Are you here?"

"I'm right over here!" she called back.

He walked over to where she was. She was doing some reading.

"I'm back, Twilight." he said happily.

"A full day's journey and back, within one day."

"One day?"

He looked outside, it was already pretty dark out. " I think it took me maybe thirty minutes to travel there. Thirty back to."

"Then what were you doing all day?"

"Princess Celestia spent the day trying to kill me."

"She did what?"

"Don't worry. She's not mad anymore. We're ok now. In the past, I did something horrible to them, and they forgave me. They both did."

"What did you do?"

"That is for only the princesses and I to know."

"Shadow, the princess has never been that angry."

"As far as you know. As a filly, her temper got the better of her many times. Do you see that?" he asked, looking behind her.

"What?" she asked, turning around. "I don't see anything. What is it?"

"Never mind, it was nothing."

"Ok..."

"It's late."

"Yes it is."

"I'm going to bed."

"Goodnight Shadow."

"See ya tomorrow Twilight."

*On this day in history, the jimmies once thought eternally rustled have been quelled. Stand by for more rustlin'. I was having a bit of trouble with this chapter, it was difficult to display the right emotions. I still think that they're wrong-ish. Then I thought, oh well.