Author's Note
By the way, the original "Lily's Shadow" I wrote and posted on here was a rough draft. That's why it wasn't very good. I have now edited it completely and I hope you like the new and improved story of "Lily's Shadow" :)
Lily's Shadow
My hoof steps echo throughout the hall. Silently, I walk, guarding the Castle’s Canterlot archives. The Equestrian moon shines in through the windows, casting patterns of light on my coat. I finally reach the end of the hallway, then circle back to end my shift. I look from side to side to make sure that everything is in order, and in the distance I can see my co-worker’s fiery mane sticking out of her dark blue helmet.
“So Lily, is there anything to report? Anything that could destroy Equstria all together?” she asks with a smirk.
I smile and shake my head, “Nope. Nothing like always, unless the moon and my shadow count, then run for your life. Also, your shift starts, right about... now.”
“Okay, well I’ll see you in ten minutes.”
“See ya, Blaze.”
I lean my head on the wall, and wait. Out of the blue, I hear rapid hoof steps approaching from the right, and instantly unsheathe my sword. A shadow runs toward me and my heart begins to beat faster and I can feel the adrenaline. As it comes closer, I swing my weapon, but hear the sword slice through nothing but air.
“What in Equestria?!” How is that even possible!! I can see a shadow but no pony is making it! What’s going on? I scream in my head.
Suddenly, when I turn around, the shadow is gone, and all I am left with is the feeling of something changing. Feeling confused, I turn around and look up at one of the stained glass windows that decorate the royal hall. Each window was installed to remind everypony of a significant event that has happened in history. The window that tells the story of Nightmare Moon. No pony knows how exactly the princess of the night turned into the demonic monster that tried to take over Equestria two times. Unknown to the knowledge of either of the two Equestria rulers, some say it was a shadow creature from the moon that took over Princess Luna’s body. Thankfully, the six bearers of the Elements of Harmony used the magical gems to separate the creature and Luna forever. But where did the creature go? I shiver just at the thought of it, and continue waiting for Blaze.
My shift is over, and I leave the castle feeling odd. As I fly through the sky, with my pink, blue, and green striped mane flowing in the wind, I think about that strange shadow in the Canterlot Castle. Oh well. I was probably just imagining things. I haven’t gotten that much sleep lately, so that’s probably why. I conclude.
The moon is lighting the clouds of Cloudsdale up like lanterns tonight, and the gorgeous stars are twinkling brilliantly in the dark sky. The Everfree Forest down below is shadowy, and full of green trees and bushes swaying in the gentle breeze. My pink, green and blue colored wings are slowly tiring from all the flying. The journey from Canterlot to Cloudsdale is a long flight, and is colder on nights like this, which is why my white coat is colder than ever.
In the distance my cloud apartment comes into view. In Cloudsdale, all buildings are made out of clouds, instead of wood like on the ground. Because of that, it isn’t very painful if somepony crashed into a wall, and I know that from experience. I slow down as I come closer to my apartment. I don’t live alone though. I share with my best friend Cherry Bookworm. She should be deep asleep by now, since it is the middle of the night, so I quietly open the door, and walk to my room. I fold my sore wings, wrap myself in my blankets, close my tired eyes, and slowly drift off to the sleep I’ve been anticipating.
As I open my eyes to my dream, I see that I am in the small town of PonyVille. The bright sun shines down into the market, and very few clouds dapple the bright, blue sky. The town is bustling, with ponies shopping for food. Some fillies are playing hide n’ seek, while others are chasing each other in circles. I walk over to a shop, and as I observe the produces, I hear somepony calling my name. I turn around and see one of my old friends, Star Sketcher.
“Star?” I call.
For some reason she doesn’t turn her head or even pay attention to me. I walk closer to her, but something covers the sun, and all goes dark. I look up to see what it is causing such darkness, but I can see not even a speck of light.
Suddenly, everything lights up once more. But when I look around, PonyVille has vanished, and it seems to me that I am now in the dream world which is the state between dreaming and living. Beneath my hooves is a path of stars clustered together to form a walkway, shining brightly in a sea of blue sky. I trot through the stars, and out of the corner of my eye, I see a shadow just like the one in the Canterlot Castle. I turn around and face it. When I look at it, the shadow doesn’t do anything, it just stares at me with its dark soulless eyes. I don’t know how to describe it. It has no features or anything. I shiver and slowly walk closer, but before I move, it disappears in an instant.
The next thing I know, I’m awake in my bed. What was that? And was it... real? I wonder. I shrug my shoulders and fall asleep once more.
The morning has come. I sit up, stretch out my wings and yawn. I walk over to my closet and grab my art saddlebags and run out of my room. As I run into the kitchen, I see Cherry sitting at the table, eating oatmeal for breakfast. I don’t have enough time to stay and eat, so I quickly say good-bye and fly out the door to get to work.
Unlike my other job as a Night Guard at the Canterlot Castle, working at Cloudsdale Animation Studios requires for me to work in the day time instead of the night. It is sometimes hard, and I don’t get as much sleep as I used to, but I like doing what I love. As I fly through the sky, I observe my surroundings to check and see if anything is new. From what I am seeing, there isn’t anything new. Pegasi are flying from place to place, and some fillies and colts are having a cloud fort building contest. Everything is peaceful.
I fly straight into the heart of Cloudsdale, and quickly stop by a local café to eat. When I walk in, I instantly pick out one particular pony from the crowd. Sorin... His dark blue mane and light sky blue coat are very recognizable. However, what really makes him stand out, are his emerald green eyes shining brightly like always. Oh Celestia! Am I seriously creepily staring at a random stallion?! Ugh! I cannot believe myself...
I quickly look away, and walk into the ordering line. I have gone on a few dates with him before, and we are sort of in a relationship, but it still feels awkward around him. Also, he isn’t alone at the table. The rest of the Wonderbolt team is here with him. I stare straight ahead, focusing on the sweet aroma of food, instead of paying any attention to them whatsoever. You know what? I’m not hungry anymore. I will just calmly walk out, and he won’t even know that I was here.
I take a deep breath, turn around, and walk toward the door. But of course, because of my black spots on my legs, ears, eyes, and neon colored wings, I will never be invisible. Thanks a lot.
“Hey Lily!”
I know that voice. I turn my head and as soon as I see Sorin and the rest of the Wonderblot team eagerly looking at me, I flash a quick smile, run out of the café and take off. I fly as fast as I can, passing building by building by building. I almost crash into the studio, but all thanks to my large wings, I can easily fly at high speeds and stop myself pretty well.
I open the door and walk up to the sign-in desk. I sign in and run up the stairs to the third floor. It seems that everypony is here, but I don’t think anypony will notice that I’m late. I open the door and walk in as quietly as I possibly can. Just stay calm and I won’t be noticed... but hopefully this time I actually won’t be noticed.
“Ha! Yeah right!”
“Huh?”
I turn around, but I don’t see anyone talking to me. Who was that? I shake my head, to clear my ears. I was probably just hearing things. I continue walking to my cubicle, but I get a strange feeling, like I’m being watched. Ignoring my crazy imagination, I sit down in my chair and begin drawing.
Four hours pass and it’s now two, nine-teen, not long after everypony left. Today is Saturday, and Saturdays are half-days, which means we go home earlier. I pack up all my stuff, setting my pencils neatly in my pocket labeled ‘Pencil Pocket’, and laying my drawing tablet in the main compartment. When my desk is completely clean, I lock up my case, stuff it into my saddlebags and walk to the stairs. As I walk, I can see my shadow following me on the wall, and it almost looks like it is staring right at me, with its glowing red eyes.
I keep walking to the door that leads to the stairwell, but the shadow won’t go away, and the red eyes continue to stare right at me. Instantly my slow trot turns to a gallop. I run down the stairs, out of the door, and feel the wind beneath my wings as I dash home. I need to get home and sleep for a while before I leave for my next guarding shift in Canterlot. Though, no matter what, I can’t help looking to my right and seeing my shadow following me on the surface of the clouds.
Why is this freaking me out so much! I’ve never found my shadow creepy or weird ever! Why is it acting so strangely now? What’s new?! I cover my eyes with my hooves and try to forget I even have a shadow. The past few days have been so unusual. Ever since I saw that shadow in the Canterlot Hall, things just haven’t been the same.
“What is happening to me?” I whisper, “Am I going mad?!”
I uncover my eyes, and look up ahead. Thank Celestia! Home. I can finally get some rest. I land on the cloud, unlock the door and walk in.
“Hey Cherry.” I say, greeting my best friend with a lazy wave of my wing.
“Hi. So did you see Sorin today? Hmm???”
“Seriously?” I roll my eyes at her. “And I did, but only for a second. Also I’ve been having a pretty exhausting day, so I don’t have enough energy to give you all the awkward details. Sorry.”
“Ooh, awkward? Sounds interesting. I’ll let you rest, but don’t think I’m not going to ask you all about it tomorrow.” She says with a sly smirk on her face.
“Whatever you say.”
I’m about to fall asleep by the time I enter my room. Copying my last routine, I curl up in my blankets, and close my eyes to a deep sleep. But hopefully this time, I won’t have an odd dream like the last one.
Still unconscious, I can faintly hear my alarm clock desperately beeping in order to wake me. I roll over, and try to turn it off by smacking it with my hoof. Yet the beeping still continues, so I move closer and closer until I feel my muzzle collide into the floor. Okay! Okay! I’m up.
As I’m flying to Canterlot, fully clothed in my guard armor, I can see the Castle becoming clearer and clearer every second. I walk into the main entrance room, and make several lefts and rights to get to my final destination. Again, I am guarding the Canterlot Archives. However, this time Blaze isn’t working alongside me, I am alone.
So far nothing interesting has happened for almost an hour, but suddenly I hear something. Somepony is speaking to me. I can’t make out what the voice is saying, but I strain my ears and try to listen.
“Come.” The voice calls out again further down the hall, and I follow the sound to see where it leads.
“This better not be one of those pranks.” I say under my breath.
I look up, and I find myself once again staring up at the Nightmare Moon stained glass window. Only this time, I can see something moving in the reflection, so I whip around wielding my sword and what I see astonishes me. A dark shadowy pony, climbs out of my shadow and looks at me from afar.
“My... shadow? The creature from the moon, was in my shadow the whole time?” Then everything began to click. “The shadow in the hall was you. The red glowing eyes I saw staring back at me from my shadow was you. It was all you!”
“Finally you got it.”
“Well it doesn’t matter, all that is important is that Equestria is safe from awful creatures like you! So leave now, or fight me and get destroyed forever!”
I unsheathe my sword, and am ready to bet all or nothing. I’ll either live a life of a hero or die suffering, but I would rather live on as a failure than die without out even trying. I charge forward, swing my sword downward, and hear the sound of it hitting the ground echo throughout the hall. I feel something cold and strange wrap around my left foreleg, and I try to cut it free but instantly my right foreleg seizes moving. What?! No! I can’t lose so quickly! I try my hardest to kick my way out, but nothing is working. My sword drops to the ground, and at that sound I realize, I lost.
This is the end. I close my eyes, and have accepted my fate. I can feel the darkness closing in on me, but I hear something. Somepony, is calling me. Is it Luna? I hear the call once more, and I can finally distinguish who it is.
“Sorin?” I whisper.
“Lily! I’m coming to get you out of there!”
What? No. He can’t if he does, I might lose him! I struggle and try to escape this cloud of darkness, but my wings and legs are covered. And finally, as the shadows engulf me, I hear the creature hiss.
“It’s over.”
I open my eyes, and I can sort of glimpse walls of a room. I carefully place one hoof in front of the other and search for a way out. Finally, I see light coming from a window. I gallop toward it, and when I try to break the glass, I realize that it isn’t a window at all. I am in somepony’s mind, and am seeing through somepony’s eyes. Whose mind am I in? I can see Sorin. He is talking. I think he’s trying to get through to me. Then it hits me like a lightning bolt. I am in my mind. The creature has taken over my body, the same way it took Princess Luna’s.
No... I can’t let it get away with this! I need to stop it from harming anypony, or harming any of my friends. I run all around the room, trying to find an exit. I bang on the walls with all of my strength. No matter how hard I try. I can’t escape. She’s right. It is over. All I can do is watch... and wait... for somepony to reach me.
Sorin is trying to talk sense into the creature, but I can tell it’s not making a difference. Suddenly, I can see the creature walking toward him. He fluffs up his wings defensively, and threatens it not to come any closer. My heart begins to beat faster as the creature picks up my sword, and is about to strike.
“How does it feel to be powerless Lily?” I can tell it’s speaking to me so I listen, “This time things will be different. I have you. The perfect host. You were easy to catch, and you are too weak to escape from my grasp!”
“No!” I cry.
Tears stream down my face as I realize I can’t stop this. I close my eyes, and cover my muzzle with my hooves. I expect to hear the gruesome sound of tearing flesh, but the only sound I hear is my sword crash to the ground. I look up and brush away my tears to see Princess Luna.
Luna growls, “You are a coward! At last, you have come out of hiding so I could defeat you once and for all!”
“Oh hush Luna. You know you have no chance against me.”
Luna runs forward and tackles the creature. They struggle. The creature grabs a hold of my sword. Luna kicks the creature away from her. It crashes into the wall, shattering the Nightmare Moon window. Glass falls everywhere, cutting my coat all over and sending ripples of sharp pain through my body. The creature charges forward, but before it causes any damage, the princess lights up her horn and blasts a vibrant bolt of sapphire light at the creature.
Suddenly, the dark room begins to turn to pure light, until I am in my own body once more. Luna’s continuously beaming the blue light, and she tries her best to keep it going.
“This is only temporary. I need you to block off any access to your mind. Don’t let the creature control you!”
I nod my head, and try to forget the creature completely, but I can feel it trying to pry its way into my thoughts.
Luna turns to Sorin, who looks completely confused, “You need to help keep her thoughts on you. Can you do that?”
“What?!”
“Sorin, her life depends on you.”
My eyes closed. My head tilted down. I try my best to fight for my life. Quiet hoofsteps indicate Sorin walking toward me, and I try to focus, but the feeling of his hoof lifting my head up distracts me. I open my eyes, as tears begin to overflow.
“Lily, I believe you can do this. You are the strongest mare I have ever met, and I know you can get through this.” He gently wipes away my tears and stares deeply into my eyes, “And... I love you.”
The words shock me. I lose my train of thought. I try to find words and finally reply, “I-I love you too.”
Luna gasps, “I have the creature, just hold on!”
She pulls her light beam up and a shadow follows it, leaving my body. I fall onto the ground, and Sorin rushes to help me up.
“This is the end! You will seize to exist and Equestria will finally be rid of you!”
Luna shoots one last explosion of light, illuminating the hall up and destroying the creature forever.
I walk out the castle gates, side by side with Sorin. We set off, and he insists on flying me home, just in case something was to happen to me.
We arrive at my home, and I tell him good-bye.
“Good night Lily.” He leans forward, kisses my cheek and flies away.
I stand there for a few moments to comprehend what just happened, then turn to walk inside. I walk into my room, and tuck myself in bed, feeling happier than I ever before. He loves me.
