The Wandering Alicorn

Shady's head rested on his pillow, his forelegs hanging off to the sides of the bed. His eyes were red and half lidded. Dried tears caked the fur of his face.

“I promise you, Shady, she’s amazing!”

Shady rolled his eyes, smiling at his exuberant friend. He had only been aware of the existence of the mare mere moments ago, when Rose told him about her. He’d been trying to set Shady up with a mare for the longest time, but none of them seemed to really click with him.

“I’m sure she’s just swell, Rose,” Shady replied. “Uh…what was her name, again?”

Rose turned back to look at his friend disbelievingly, then shook his head wearily.

“And you wonder why you have yet to find a special somepony.” Shady smirked and slugged Rose in the foreleg. Rose shrugged it off and

chuckled. “Her name is Sun Shine.”

“Sun Shine,” Shady repeated under his breath, smiling. He was stopped in his tracks when Rose blocked him with a foreleg.

“We have arrived!” Rose exclaimed, pointing out a large clearing in the forest. A large tree stood tall in the center, casting shade over the area. Below it lay a patchwork blanket, on top of which rested a picnic basket and…

Shady’s eyes widened.

His eyes shut tight, trying to block out the memory.

Her mane was a mess of orange hair that shined in the light that permeated the trees branches. Her coat was a soft butter yellow. Her

wings were folded to the side, the feathers slightly ruffled. Her head was cast down shyly, but her eyes…Shady had never seen such a bright shade of blue.

If he had to describe the mare in two words, they would be ‘natural beauty’.

Rose cleared his throat, bringing Shady out of his thoughts.  Both Shady and the mare blushed through their fur; both had been sizing each other up. Rose smiled and gestured to the mare and gave Shady a meaningful look. Shady cleared his throat and bowed his head.

“You must be gorgeous. I mean, um, Sun Shine! Sun Shine, you must be Sun Shine!” Shady blurted out, flustered beyond belief. Sun looked up, her eyes large and nervous.

“Oh, yes, I am she. A-And you’re handsome.” There was a short pause before Sun realized what she had said. “I-I mean, your name is Shady, r-right?”

Rose burst out laughing and clapped them both on the back.

“Good, you’re both idiots. You’ll get along famously.”

That had been one of the greatest afternoons in Shady’s young life. He’d been seventeen years old. Three years later, he was married to the mare of his dreams. And four years after that…

Images of Rose Garden flew through Shady at the speed of light. Meeting him at Trottingham Elementary, being defended by him from bullies, graduating with him three separate times over the span of twelve years.

…His bloody body as he begged for forgiveness. His terror filled eyes as he fell to his demise. His demise by Shady's hooves.

“S-Shady Meadows?”

“WHAT?!” Shady screamed, letting hours of grief out in a single word. The amount of pain it put his sore throat through was worth it to him. There was a profound silence. Shady leaned his head to the side, looking at who had called his name. It was another nurse; a different one. This nurse had a light blue coat and magenta eyes. Magenta eyes that were looking at Shady with not disgust and anger, but fear.  She was shaking frightfully, looking as if she was about to pass out. Shady's gaze softened.

“…I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his voice horse. “I’m Shady Meadows. What was it that you wanted?”

“C-Celestia wishes to s-see you in her c-chambers,” the nurse stuttered out. Two solar guards stepped through the infirmary doors, standing

on either side of the nurse. The nurse’s horn glowed briefly, and Shady felt the cuffs around his legs unlock and open.

He crawled out of the bed, landing on his hooves shakily. He wincing in pain as his injured body stretched, his cuts and gashes protesting from the effort. The nurse shrunk away as he approached her, and the guards crossed their spears in front of her. One of the guards backed up into the hallway, and the other stepped to the side, gesturing Shady to follow the first guard. Shady cast his eyes down and shuffled to the door. Casting one last look at the nurse, Shady flinched internally; seeing that fear he instilled in the mare did little good for his heart.

Walking slowly down the hallway, a guard in front and a guard behind, Shady cast his eyes down, his head foggy and unclear. As he walked, maids and guards watched the entourage, giving glares, fearful glances, and cutting words. Shady couldn’t distinguish any of the words from any other; all he heard was ‘murderer’.

They finally made it to the doors throne room, and the guards gestured for Shady to enter. He slowly did so, creaking the door open and walking inside.

Before him stood Celestia, looking over a scroll. Several archaic runes were drawn on the throne room floor. For what purpose, Shady could not imagine.

The doors shut suddenly behind him, the noise bringing Celestia out of her studies.

As the Princess looked upon him, Shady could not help but feel insignificant and helpless. He knew not what she had planned for him, but the foreboding runes along with her impassive gaze did nothing to staunch his worry.

In fact, the look she was giving him was the most frightening thing. He expected her to look furious, or disappointed, or stern, but no. Her face was completely clear of emotion.

“Approach, child,” Celestia ordered. Shady gulped nervously and did as she asked, flinching with every step.

“Sit,” Celestia said. Shady sat on his haunches in front of her, his eyes transfixed on her. A minute passed in which Celestia’s eyes ran over the scroll one last time before she rolled it up with her magic and tossed it off to the side. She took in a deep breath before speaking again.

“Are you aware how many murders have taken place in Equestria since its discovery?” she asked nonchalantly.

“N-No, Your Highness.” Shady shook his head.

“Three.” Celestia sat, looking over Shady’s face. “Three murders. But you…you’re different from the other murderers, Shady Meadows. You see, in the two murders that have occurred in the past, four graves were dug. Do you understand?”

“You mean…” Shady began, trying to process this information. “The m-murderers died as well?”

Celestia nodded.

“They committed suicide.” Shady felt his heart drop. “Each one occurred before their victims’ bodies were even cold. Now, this leaves you in a rather unique scenario, and us in a unique predicament. We’ve never had to punish anypony for murder, and you can decide to avoid that punishment, if you wish.” Celestia’s horn glowed, and a knife laying behind her was picked up and flung in front of Shady, startling him.

“We’ve managed to find a punishment for you, actually,” Celestia went on. “But we felt that we would give you a choice. You can take the punishment and live…or you can end your life here and now.”

Shady paled at the idea of suicide. He looked between Celestia and the knife, his eyes flicking back and forth rapidly.

“W-What’s the punishment?” Shady ventured.

“Decide.”

“What?”

“Live or die,” Celestia said, no emotion in her voice. “Those are you options. Decide.”

Suicide certainly didn’t appeal to Shady. He wanted to live on just like any pony else. But he couldn’t live on like anypony else. Not with murder hanging over his head.

….And that’s why he had to live. Shady cared not for the easy way out. To die at his own hands after murdering Rose Garden would be like spitting on his grave. He had to face some sort of retribution for his actions if he was ever to make peace with himself.

“…Live,” Shady whispered, pushing the knife away. Celestia was silent for a moment, thinking hard. Eventually she sighed deeply and stood.

“For what it’s worth…” Celestia began, her horn lighting up. “We’re sorry.” Shady Meadows was suddenly engulfed in a golden glow, rendering him unable to move. His eyes were frozen open in horror, staring straight at Celestia. He was roughly thrown into the center of the circle of runes, the glow around his entire body flowing only to his hooves, gluing him to the floor.

“What are you doing?!” Shady yelled, scared out of his mind.

“Something we hope we won’t regret,” Celestia responded cryptically. She planted all four hooves firmly on the ground, getting into a tightened stance. She blinked once, and when her eyes were visible once again, they were hot glowing orbs of pure green. Impure black magic erupted from her horn in five thin streams, each touching down on the center of all five runes. The outlines of the runes glowed pitch black. The magic slowly flowed towards Shady, the poor soul pitifully straining against his constraints. The streams of magic suddenly jumped up, curved down in the air, and penetrated Shady’s skull.

Celestia had hoped not to hear another scream akin to last nights in her life time. Unfortunately for her, her hopes were dashed rather spectacularly.

Shady had never felt such pain in his life. It was as if an entire army was filling his veins, poking the sides with a red hot poker, rupturing his body and boiling his blood.

His legs as well as his muzzle grew thinner and longer, his entire body becoming both larger and sleeker.

What felt like an explosion in his head was actually a long and thin horn growing out of his skull. What felt like hot knifes burying into his sides was actually two giant wings erupting from his body.

His mane and tail burned away, his behind leaving no clue as to a tail ever being there. The hair of his coat changed from a welcoming forest green to a dark and frightening crimson. He felt every one of his cuts expand, leaving giant pockmarks in his flesh. The holes were suddenly magically cauterized simultaneously, leaving only hairless black markings and causing Shady to nearly tear his vocal cords from screaming.

His right eye melted along with the eyelid, the resulting slop coating against the back of his eye socket, leaving a gaping black pit. The dark magic pervaded the hole, causing it to glow ominously. The whites of his left eye turned red along with his pupil, his iris turning pitch black.

Lastly, he felt a sensation that he had never felt before in his life. It was beyond pain, even beyond the term ‘sensation’. He felt a fraction of death, in a way. He didn’t die from this process, no; that would have been far too kind. But an inert part of his being was ripped from him, something he couldn’t describe.

The spell diminished, he collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. He attempted to speak, but only a shallow growl came out. Confused, he tried to string a sentence together, but found himself unable of coherent speech.

Celestia shuddered, exhausted both mentally and physically from the force that the spell required. Collecting herself, she trotted over to Shady, looking down at him.

“Well, it took quite a bit of study of the dark arts, but we seem to have managed.” Celestia idly picked up the knife with her magic. “But just to be sure…”

Shady looked up in fear at the knife, and shut his eye as it was brought down on him. He felt no pain. Confused, he lifted his head and saw Celestia swinging a knife at him with leisure, the weapon simply going straight through his body as if he was made of air.

“Quite. It seems the dimension displacement spell worked like a charm.” Celestia threw the knife behind her. “Stand.”

Shady shuddered and lowered his head, terrified and confused.

“…Very well,” Celestia stated, turning away from him and slowly walking away. “We shall explain your punishment as you lay. Now, Shady, we do not see you as a bad pony. You’ve simply made a grievous error in judgment…quite possibly the worst you could have made. But we

are willing to forgive you…if only somepony else will.”

She crossed to room to look out of the window, taking in her suns glowing warmth.

“You see, we have just granted you eternal life. Such is the biology of us alicorns. It is our curse, as well as our gift. But we have also disconnected your magical connection to not only our world, but the universe itself. You, by all intents and purposes, don’t exist. You can be seen and heard, but you cannot alter any piece of matter, nor use any magic.

You punishment is thus: you will walk the land for all of time. You will be shunned, mocked, feared, and hated. You cannot tire and you cannot hunger, nor can you rest or eat. You cannot die. You shall live with the knowledge of your transgression until this universe fades away into nothingness.

…But…the curse shall be lifted, should you conduct a simple task.”

Shady raised his head once more, stricken with the knowledge of his curse, but eager to be rid of it as soon as possible.

“If you find a single pony who can look past your misdeeds, and see the true worth of your soul…the curse shall be lifted.” Celestia turned to Shady, her eyes boring a hole in his nonexistent being. “Now go.”

With a stomp of her hoof, the runes erupted, flinging Shady through the roof and miles away from the castle, screaming all the while.

Celestia finally let her composure break into a million pieces, hanging her head and shutting her eyes. A single tear fell from her face and onto the cold stone floor.

Shady slowly raised himself from the sun baked dirt road, his new body making it difficult to get to his hooves. Seeing a puddle off to the side of the road, he stood over it, and looked upon his horrifying reflection.

The pure shock of sight made him feel the need to vomit, but nothing came out of his mouth. Not even air. He couldn’t alter any part of the universe, and therefore couldn’t take or push out air through his lungs. Not that he needed air, with his new found immortality.

Celestia’s words rang through his newly forged head.

If you find a single pony who can look past your transgressions, and see the true worth of your soul…the curse shall be lifted.

Shady had wanted nothing more than to be forgiven. Now it was his only option.

He stayed by that road for a while, just staring at his reflection. He began to feel a strange compulsion to move, as if he shouldn’t stay in one spot for this long. He wanted to just stare at himself all day, take in his new appearance, adapt, but it was all cut short by his need to move.

His need to walk the land. The need to wander.

He eventually had to tear his eyes way from the puddle, and instead set his sights on the road. He recognized this road; it was the one he had traveled a few years ago on a holiday excursion with Sunny.

Sunny...

It was then that Shady knew of the one person that could see through his harsh exterior. With a dash of hope in his ghostly heart, he ran down the road.

The sun had been lowered by the time Shady had arrived in Trottingham. The moonlight barely illuminated the night, rendering him practically invisible. Not that it mattered, with everypony having retired for the night.

Shady raced through the town desperately, only one pony on his mind.

He finally made it to his home, and looked upon it with a sorrowful eye. The blood, glass, and body had been cleared. Light leaked through the broken window of the shoddy cottage that he had once called home.

Shady approached the door, reached for the doorknob, but his burnt hoof passed right through it. Berating himself for his stupidity, he walked straight through the door. Glancing about, he felt the oddest nostalgia, despite only being gone from his home for a day and a half.

He slowly ascended the wooden staircase, making his way to the bedroom.

He cautiously walked through the bedroom door, hoping that Sunny was asleep, so he wouldn’t frighten her. Instead, he was welcome to a far more gruesome sight.

Sunny laid on the floor on her side, twitching in a pool of her own blood. A bloodied knife lay off to the side, discarded. Both of her forelegs had jagged cuts along them. She was breathing shallowly, waiting for death.

“No, no, no, nonononono!” Shady tried to scream out, but all that escaped his throat was a fearsome roar. He rushed over to her side, standing over her and looking down at her fragile frame. Even on her deathbed, she was as beautiful as the sun is bright.

Sunny heard the noise and strain fully turned her head to look up her husband. She looked startled for a moment, but then a contented smile graced her muzzle.

“Oh…hello, you…” she said pleasantly, as if she was oblivious to the fact that she was bleeding out. “I…I’ve been waiting for you.”

Shady shook his head, his whole body shuddering as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. It was all too much. He sat on all four legs and brought his head over hers, looking down at the shy face that he’d learn to love more than life itself.

“I never thought my…my meeting with Death would be like this…” Sunny said, chuckling weakly. “But here we are.”

Shady put his hooves on hers, trying desperately to staunch the bleeding, but his hooves passed straight through them.

“Sunny, no, please! You can’t leave me too! Not you…please…don’t go…” An angry growl came out of Shady’s maw, followed by a sorrowful hum.

“You’re not one for…for conversation…are you?” Sunny said jokingly, still bright as ever. She descended into a minor coughing fit, speckles of blood flying from her mouth and onto the floor.

“That isn’t going to stop me from saying my piece.” Sunny reached a hoof out weakly, brushing it through Shady’s hoof. “My best frie…friend is dead…my husband will never want to…to see my face again…with what he’s done, I’ll pro…probably never see him again anyway.”

“Sunny, I’m right here! Please, Sunny, I’ll never leave! I promise, just don’t go!”

Sunny chuckled again at the growling beast. “Restless, huh? Don’t worry…I’ll be right there. But before I go…if…if you see somepony named S-Shady Meadows…” Sunny’s voice cracked, and tears began to run down her heavenly face. “I-If you see him…tell him that I’m s-sorry…and…and tell him…”

Shady leaned in close, his muzzle and inch from hers.

“…tell h-him that…I n-never stopped loving him…and I never w-will…” Sunny’s eyes began to close, and the ghost of a smile graced her visage. Her breaths became shallower…and shallower…and weaker…and weaker…until she breathed no more.

“Sunny…Sunny…Sunny…” Shady repeated over and over sadly, his ghostly hum falling on dead ears. It was then that he felt his compulsion kick back in, his curse, his need to go elsewhere. He wanted to stay with her forever…to simply sit here and look at her so he could never forget her face, lovely even in death.

He thought back to when they moved in together, when they kissed to seal their marriage, when he proposed back in that shady meadow. When they had gone on their first date, when he had nervously asked her out…and when they first met. And from that day, he knew all that he wanted in his life. He knew what the shining light of his life would be.

And that light had just gone out.

He had to move. He had to run. He had to wander. The desire was driving him mad.

At the edge of his willpower, Shady shakily leaned down and put his muzzle to Sunny’s forehead, his lips unable to come into contact with her peaceful form. Taking one final longing look at his love, his legs moved on their own, bringing him right out the broken window and into the night, taking him away from Trottingham as fast as they could carry him.

Shady knew then that he would never be rid of his curse, for there couldn’t possibly exist a pony as special and kind as his Sunny.

And he would be right…

...for about a millennium.