Memories of a God

Celestia shot out of her bed. She looked around, scared. She kept hearing the same phrase in her head, over and over, 'The - has awakened. The - has awakened.'

"The what has awakened?" she asked.

All of the sudden, it stopped, and she became calmer. "Must've just been a bad dream." she said, laying back down. She quickly fell back asleep, and wasn't bothered by the voices.

Shadow was lazily dragging himself out of his bed. He fell to the floor, then stood up. He looked around the library for a few seconds and examined a bookcase. "It's much older than it looks."

He walked outside to get a breath of fresh air. Spike and Twilight were still sleeping. Shadow walked into town and looked around. He walked around slowly, memorizing the layout of the town. After a few hours, he was approached by a mare.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm memorizing the town so I can find my way around quickly. It's not the biggest town I've been to."

"Why don't you just fly around? You have wings. A wing, I mean. Why just the one?"

"The reason will freak you out."

"Oh, just tell me. I won't freak out."

"More of a show than a tell."

"Then show me."

Shadow stood right in front of her, then the ruby wing showed up again. "This is the reason. Don't freak out."

"That is amazing!" she said happily.

"I truly didn't expect that."

"It's remarkable!"

"Well, thank you."

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

"Well, maybe."

"I know! You're the new pony in town."

"That I am, but I can't be the only one, can I?"

"We haven't got any more new ponies in town, so you're the new pony. By the way, what's your name?"

"My name's Shadow Streak. What about you, beautiful?"

"I'm the Mayor of Ponyville, Mayor Mare."

"So you're the Mayor of this here town?"

"That's right."

"Well then, Mayor, if you have any dangerous tasks around town, don't hesitate to come find me. They're my specialty."

"You're a worker?"

"Worker, contractor, manager, everything."

"Everything?"

"And well trained to."

"You might just come in handy pretty soon."

Shadow looked in her eyes. "Maybe I could mention you to Canterlot officials for your great town."

"Canterlot officials? You could do that?"

"If I haven't been pronounced officially dead, then I think so."

"What does that mean?"

"Long ago, I had a spot at the Canterlot Council. If I'm still legally alive, then I'll have kept that spot."

"Just how long are we talking here?"

"Few thousand years maybe?"

"I knew that it was too good to be true." she said, looking down.

"Aw, now you made me feel bad." said Shadow. "It's all true, but you're right, it's hard to believe. Um... I need to check the Canterlot Archives. I will see you in a few hours."

"Alright."

"And Mayor?"

"Yes?"

"Your mane's great in pink."

"You read that article to?"

"No I didn't. Haven't read an article about anything in years."

"Then how did you know..."

"See ya later!" he said happily.

"Well, goodbye Shadow Streak."

Shadow took off for Canterlot again. Thirty minutes later, he was walking to the archives. He was approached by Shining Armor.

Shadow smiled and said, "Hello, Shiny. How have you been?"

"Sorry, Shadow Streak, I'm not here to talk. I'm here on official business."

"Which would be?"

"The Princesses have told me to guard you."

"They told you to stop me from breaking laws. I don't need to be guarded, and they know it."

"I'm going to stay with you weather you like it or not, so get used to it."

"You don't want to be here, do you? You'd rather be at home with your wife."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Have the Canterlot Archives changed places recently?"

"How recent?"

"Within the last millennium or so?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Where are the Archives?"

"What is your purpose with them?"

"I want to check death records."

"Why?"

"Just personal reasons."

"Take a left."

Shadow walked down the hallway and entered the archives. "This room is much cleaner than I last remembered. Of course, the last time I was here, Canterlot was under siege and the archives were destroyed."

Shadow made quick work of finding the records and looked back about 1500 years. He looked through every record until today. He then reached for the records of citizens. He found a file on himself. "Shadow Streak. Medically strange. Age: Unknown. Birth date: Unknown. Condition: Currently alive. Martial status: Unknown. But why would it be unknown? Whatever, I have not died yet."

Shadow started looking through political records. He pulled a few out, then said, "I need to use these for a while. Can I take them?"

"What would be the reason?"

"I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it. Just hold on."

"Then you may."

"Hey Shiny, where's the council room? Never mind, I'll find it myself."

Shadow walked around for a while, then saw a large familiar door. "They managed to save the door! While it makes me smile, it also makes me want to slam my head against the wall. A door is unimportant."

"This is a piece of Canterlot history!"

"A door this size also makes for a good dramatic entrance." he said.

Shadow reared up and kicked the doors open. Everypony inside who had been discussing their various things were now looking at him.

"What is the meaning of this? Barging in here unannounced."

"Oh, stick a sock in it, old-timer." said Shadow, "I'll tell you. Shadow Streak, nineteenth president of the board, thirteenth Mayor of Fillydelphia, and second Mayor of Cloudsdale."

"Shadow Streak died hundreds of years ago." said the current president.

"I have the documentation to prove it." he said, giving him the documents. "As you can see, I never quit as president, was never forced to resign, and was never legally pronounced dead. Many little political flaws that lead up to a big total. Technically, I'm still president."

He looked over the documents, then said, "You have no proof that you are him."

"One natural wing, two colored horn, and check this out." he said, showing his ruby wing again. "Pure ruby."

The president tapped the wing, then said, "We will take a vote."

"That's fine. I want two votes. One for the legality of my case, and another to decide weather or not I should be declared president."

"Agreed."

ONE HOUR LATER

"We have come to a decision, Shadow Streak."

"Oh?"

"Your case is completely legal."

"And?"

"You are not to return to presidency."

"That's fine."

"You're ok with that?"

"Yeah, but I do have some requests."

"Which would be?"

"First and foremost, I had an agreement with the Mayor of Ponyville. Her town is the best that I've been to so far. I would like you to help her out a bit, if you catch my drift."

"Easily done."

"And my other request is that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna don't find out about this little chat we had."

"We cannot do that."

"Then omit the Ponyville part, keep that from them."

"That can be arranged."

"Then we've reached an agreement?"

"We have."

"Good. See ya later." he said, waving goodbye and walking out.

"Shadow Streak, you can't just omit things from the Princesses." said Shining Armor.

"Yes I can. Just don't tell them."

"You expect me to lie?"

"Oh yes. C'mon Shining Armor, lets go."

Shadow ran out of the building, forcing Shining Armor to run after him. When he reached the doorway, he made a sudden stop and caught Shining Armor, stopping him from exiting.

"Do you smell that?" asked Shadow.

"Smell what?"

Shadow sniffed the air again, then said, "Nothing, never mind."

Shadow walked out with a smile on his face. He walked over to the garden. He picked a rose, then smelled it. "These thorn-less roses are great. Were they removed, or were they grown like that?" he said to himself.

He looked behind him and saw a filly looking at him. He put the rose in her mane and walked away. "Shining Armor, I hadn't asked, how's your wife?"

"She's been great. Even after that wedding."

"I must admit, what I heard was weird. Then things went back to normal. Wedding lasted 30 seconds, bride and groom handled nothing, reception lasted all night. Sounds like my kind of day."

"It was pretty great. It was the best day of my life."

"Even after the changeling incident?"

"Absolutely! It was my wedding day. How couldn't it have been the best day?"

"I can easily think of a better day."

"Like what? What's better than a wedding?"

"A filly."

Shining Armor stopped walking with him for a second, then continued.

"Now, the changelings. They broke their contract."

"What contract?"

"They're all probably back in their city right now. I'm going to visit them. Not today, maybe tomorrow."

"What about you, Shadow?"

"What do you mean?"

"A wife, a filly. Do you have a family?"

Shadow thought for a minute. "I have had a wife and at least one filly. That, I know. I don't even remember their names. I know it sounds sad, but to me, it's better that way." Shadow sighed. "As for the rest of my family, if they existed of course, would be either alive like me, or dead for at least 14 billion years."

"If they existed?"

"There's no real proof that I had parents. For all I know, I could be the first living being in the universe. Course, there's nothing that says they don't exist, or even that I'm an only child. Maybe I have brothers and sisters all around this universe. Maybe on this very planet."

"You're very strange."

"That's great! If I wasn't strange, I'd be dead." he said happily. "How's some doughnuts sound?"

"That actually sounds pretty good."

Shadow walked into Pony Joe's and bought them lunch. He sat down across from Shining Armor and said, "So, can you tell me how Luny and Tia are doing?"

"Well actually, no, I can't. Not only have they told me not to tell you anything, I plain just don't know."

"So you tell me that?"

Shining Armor just realized what he had said, "Oh no, this is bad."

"No it isn't. You're just over-reacting."

"I guess."

"You seem to be having fun."

"Spending the day with you was better than I thought it would be."

"I'm going to not register that as an insult."

Shadow left and headed for Ponyville. "Catch me if you can." he said, flying off.

Shining Armor teleported alongside Shadow every few seconds and they made their way to Ponyville. Shining Armor was panting.

"How... did you... make it to... Ponyville so... quickly?" he asked.

"I just flew. Very, very quickly."

"But that was..."

"A full day's trip, I know. You're tired."

"No I'm not!"

"This way." said Shadow.

"Where are we going?"

"I was planning on heading over to your sister's place. Might want to read up on a book or two."

Shadow jogged to Twilight's house. "Something's been bugging me. What is it? Wait a minute... The bookcase!"

He ran in and pushed her out of the way and, as he had predicted, the bookcase fell right where she was standing, which was now where he was standing.

"Is everypony ok?" he asked.

"We're all fine, what about you?"

"Good, good. Say, uh, you think I could get a little help here?"

"We're on it."

He felt the weight on him lessen, then he stood back up, straightening and repairing the bookcase.

"That was heavy. How many books do you have on that?"

"A lot, to say the least."

"Alright then. It should be good for another hundred years or so."

"Thanks Shadow."

"It's what I do. Now, what books do you have on history?"

She looked at the shelf and giggled a little. "They just fell on you."

Shadow grabbed four large books of of the shelf, read them, then put them back. "Thanks Twilight." he said happily. "Hmm... I knew that would happen. Question is, how?"

"Maybe you can just sense it. Pinkie Pie has a similar ability. She gets weird twitches whenever something's gonna happen."

"Maybe. Can't be sure without testing. I'm not gonna test it either. It seems linked to pain. Testing would require a future injury."

"That would be bad. Don't worry about it though. Things always seem to happen at convenient times."

"Wouldn't that make it unconventionally convenient?"

"I guess."

"Then I have nothing to worry about."

Shadow Streak walked away without another word. He looked around a little. "Hmm... Something isn't right."

"What is it?"

"I don't know. Just... something. Whatever."

Shadow headed into town. The Mayor walked up to him. She was smiling.

"Hey Mayor! You're happy today."

"You were telling the truth."

"Yep."

"You helped out the town, Shadow Streak."

"Don't mention it."

"It's more than just a small event that you can pass off. It's important!"

"It's what I do."

"Thank you, for what you did."

"Anytime. See ya later, Mayor."

"Goodbye Shadow! I hope your day is great."

"And yours to!"

Shadow headed off again, eventually reaching his destination, which was the Sugarcube Corner. He walked inside and saw Pinkie working the counter.

"Pinkie Pie! How are you?" he asked happily.

"Great! What about you, Shadow?"

"Good."

"And you, Shining Armor?" she asked.

"I'm fine."

"Hey Pinkie, Twilight said you had a prediction ability."

"Why would she tell you about my Pinkie sense?"

"Because I have a similar ability. Mine's linked to pain."

"That's not the only thing it's linked to."

"What do you mean?"

"It isn't just linked to pain. Something else is in there."

"How do you know that?"

"Just one of my skills. Like when something's gonna fall, my tail twitches. And when my back is itchy, it means it's my lucky day."

"And when your knee gets pinchy, something scary's gonna happen, and when your entire body shakes, plot twists happen."

"Yeah! See Shadow, you predicted what I was going to say, and it didn't hurt me."

"Then it isn't only linked to pain, as you said. Something still seems off."

"I know what you mean. I've been getting a weird feeling all day. I don't know what it is."

"Well, ok Pinkie Pie. See ya later!"

"See ya, Shadow Streak."

'Shining Armor is a real pain. Go throw him off a cliff. Then you'll be alone.'

'Stop talking to me.'

'Never.'

"Getting dark out, Shadow."

"Yeah."

Shadow walked up a large hill and laid on the grass.

"Y'know Shadow, I thought today was going to be horrible. It wasn't actually that bad." he said.

"Being forced to guard me must be boring. Take a nap." said Shadow, looking in his eyes.

"Alright. Night Shadow."

"Goodnight Shining Armor."

Five minutes later, he was asleep and Shadow had ran off. He disliked his constant presence. 'Shadow, he's asleep. Tell Tia on him. That'll get him fired for sure.'

'Listen, whatever you are, I'm not going to do your evil deeds. I'm a good pony, with friends.'

'But all those years ago...'

'Don't matter.' Shadow shook his head. "I know I'm good. I have to be. Right?"

'Not if I can do this.'

Shadow tripped over his own hooves. 'What was that?'

Shadow felt himself stand up. He wasn't doing it himself.

"I forgot what this feels like." he said. "It's mine now, Shadow Streak!"

'Who are you?' asked Shadow.

"I am you."

'Give me a name!'

"My name is Sigma."

'Give me back my body!'

"No, I think I'll keep it. Maybe I'll pay a visit to Twilight. Or maybe I'll go see Rainbow Dash, or Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, those fillies! Or maybe even Luny and Tia. Oh, Shadow Streak, you've given me so many targets. Lets just see who I choose first."