Chapters Forest Shade was one of those ponies, who because you are different, others give you a hard time. She was an alicorn, but not a princess, and no family for that matter. She didn't let that bring her down, though, as she was a strong, mature pony on the verge of becoming a mare. A pegasus named Tropical Storm swooped down, just to taunt her. "You're almost a mare," she said, " and you have no family, or cutie mark. Why do you even bother living? You should just-" Forest Shade was a calm, collected pony, but she also was born with a short fuse. " Why do you bother, Trope? Shouldn't you be doing your job earning your precious bits?"
Tropical Storm huffed, and retorted, " Ew! You need hygiene. I can't stand your smell, pig, so I'm off." The other street fillies and colts gathered around her, laughing and congratulating her. "She's such a jerk!" "That'll teach her!" " Ha-ha, nicely done!"
"Guys, be respectful, but Cleanspring, you remember the paint shop?" Forest Shade playfully nudged the blue-gray colt. "Yes'm!" He saluted.
"Okay, now take this," she handed him 7 bits, and continued, " and ask for a sample of paint, and some paper." she mock saluted him back.
They spent 25 minutes practicing magic before he got back. Huffing and panting heavily, he squeaked, " H-had a-a big s-sale today. Whew!" Saved 3 bits!" As his friends hugged him, Forest Shade painted the words : LEMONADE 5 BITS! in black paint. They managed to, thanks to a young colt whose talent was repairing anything, repair a filter and use it to purify the lemon juice. Then, they purified water, and purchased some sugar and cups. All set.
The sale went swimmingly, until one black male alicorn came up. He seemed depressed, and lonely. "How much is it? It's sort of small." His gruff voice seemed familiar, but nothing too familiar. She blushed and replied, " Oh, 5 bits. Sorry, we started to run out of paint."
He shrugged, as if it was of no importance. He gulped it down speedily, but by the look on his face, she knew he liked it.
"Oh, uh, sir, that's 5 bits."
"Oh, sorry."
He took out the required bits and walked away, but then came back and added 17 more. " Think of it as more stock." He trotted merrily away, and she shrugged. "Carrot dogs for dinner, colts and fillies!" Forest announced with pride. "Hooray!" They had never eaten so much food in one day.
"Forest Shade!" Forest was called by Mayor Mare in her very official voice. " Yes, ma'am?"
"Your parents showed up at my office, and wish to have you meet them." Oh how many days had she waited for this!
She did a celebratory loop-de-loop and sat back down. "I'm coming." She waved goodbye to her friends, and trotted next to the mayor.
At her office, two alicorns stood near the doorway, and very solemn expressions they wore. Not unkind, she noted, just solemn.
" Forestia Regalia Shade, where have you been all these years? Oh, you are nearly a mare!" Forestia stared up at her mother, a pitch black mare with spiky armor. Nightmare Moon. she realized, and out of fear wanted to cry. Her father nudged her, and she smiled. It was her generous visitor from yesterday. "Hi." was all the trio said to each other.
It was very awkward, being in the chariot pulled by neon green dragons, but that was still neat and cool to her, as she had never seen a dragon. As they arrived at the Shadow Empire, Forest Shade realized it was King Sombra, and she shuddered. Villainous parents? What the hay? she had always thought they would be like everypony else, but oh well. Forestia flung herself onto the deep green bed and cried, unaware of the bright green shadows now coming from her ocean blue eyes.
What Forest Shade didn't realize was that the dark was coming for her, and she was quickly succumbing to it. She argued and hated her parent, and knew deep down what was happening and that they were causing it. Maybe Tropical Storm was right. No. No she wasn't. With a quick shake of her head she realized that all who tried to bring her down were causing this evil. Well, maybe. Just a theory.
She was practicing her flying to try to get the evil out of her heart, even though it was nearly black. She flew straight up, and plummeted down. She gasped as she saw the 7 Skipping Stone Rainboom, so she didn't notice her cutie mark appear on her deep green flank.
Sombra rushed out, and informed her the 7 Skipping Stone Rainboom was so difficult, not even Rainbow Dash, Equestria's most likely best flier could do it. 7 tiny rainbooms that went from big to small all the way down. She blushed, then gaped as she found her cutie mark. A pine tree with pegasus wings. Nightmare Moon approved of it, and they celebrated by getting carrot dogs.
She slept, but nightmares of realities haunted her. "Mom! Get the hay out of my head!" Nightmare looked in, and frowning, told her, " I am not in your head. You are going into shock, what considering all the physical and mental differences. "What, my cutie mark?"
"No, eye shadows, losing your conscience, you know, typical things for a pre-villain." "What?!" she shrieked. "How dare you take me back, just to turn me into a villain! I have waited so many years... for this?! You are both monsters, and I am not
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Acceptance and Fight for Freedom (retaliation) 5 5
Forest Shade killed seven animals on her way back home. The blood on her hooves stained the grass and her reputation. She felt bitterly sad after the murder of those animals, but she was Forestia...wait. Where in tarnation was just good ol' Forest Shade? The one who loved animals and children? The one who overcame bullies? Where in the hay was she? She stared down at her armor-clad hooves, and kicked them off. She threw off her armor and sold it to the blacksmith. With the extra bits, she bought more food for the children, and a dress for her mom. As she walked back, she saw her parents. It was obvious they had been crying. She shook her head, and ran to them, feeling loved and love. A deep green light surrounded them, and the light became intense, then faded. A princess-like blue mare, and a gray unicorn with a black mane (with sideburns) stood in their place. Ex-villains, and new parents. This was what she was hoping for. And a new start would be great.
Aunt Celestia did not preside over the coronation, but Luna, and it was touching, and a few manly, very manly tears were shed.
As the princess of the Shadowlands, she was to look after the deceased, but they would look as if they were alive, and she would help them adjust and live there. Afterwards, Luna hugged her daughter tightly, then added," You are the shadow in the darkness that no one can at first see, but then pops up and brightens their lives."
The end.
In the depths of the Forest 4 4
Forestia galloped as fast as she could back to the streets. She cried, but only a little, for her filly and colt friends were hugging tight to her. "So little, but so sweet." she murmured. One, Cleanspring, was busy finding a suitable blanket for her. Sniffling, she squeezed them, and tucked each one in. She settled next to Cleanspring, and read him a story. The next morning, she wandered by chance into the Everfree Forest, and found Zecora, a polite, rhyming zebra. Zecora understood many things, and told her, " You I cannot blame Forest Shade, but remember the promises you made."
"P-promises? Oh, I remember, the one about always being faithful to my family, even if they are villains?" She nodded. "But, they are going to make me a villain! I can't you know say to my homeland, " Sorry everypony, but my family members are villains, and me, so we will dominate you!! No. I can't." "Listen up, little pup," (Forestia giggled) " If you truly love them, return to..." She was clearly disappointed that she couldn't find fitting rhyme. " Return? Zecora, you're crazy, but I'll... I'll consider it. For you, and Equestria, anyway." She thanked her and walked out, ears drooped. As she walked through the forest, her heart was as black as night.
She didn't mind her eye shadows, as Nightmare Mom as she called her, called them, nor her evilness, not anymore.
At least the shade fitted, right? The last shred of kindness thought, trying to make a bright side, like she always did. At last, it dwindled out.
