A Strange But Familiar Place

"Alright, alright! I'll come back sometime and drink with you all, I promise! Now I have a date with a Princess in the middle of the night, so I can't stay any longer." I yell to the group of guard ponies having a drink at a bar near the castle.

A collective clamoring of stereotypical "OOOOOOOooooooooo's" ring out as they all begin to laugh at my suspected joke. I walk out into the moonlight, feeling a small breeze go across my face before stretching.

Man, I did not know how awesome the guards are. Just like typical guys back on Earth. Glad I got some rest earlier too since late night training isn't gonna be fun. Wonder what kind of spells I'll learn... I don't know much about what specifically dark magic can do, just that it can alter shadows and darkness itself. Ah what am I even thinking, I'm sure Luna will clarify everything for me. Just need to get to her... Better walk to conserve energy. Seeing as how learning to just control my shadow went..

On my way there I notice some shady looking characters hiding behind a wall while looking around it. I sigh and stop near them and look around the wall with them, making sure I'm slow about it. They seem to be looking at Fancy Pants, a pony whom I haven't really gotten to know but have seen around. I have only seen good things from him in the show and he seems important so I make a decision.

Wow, these two dummies haven't noticed me yet... Probably cause they're ponies and that thievery isn't really too common here I would guess.

"S...Should we go now?" the shorter one says.

"I.. Don't know? I mean, I like Fancy Pants. I think I like bits more though." the taller one explains.

"Well, why don't both of you just ask him for help?" I chime in, surprising both of them.

The two pony shaped characters are covered in hooded robe-like clothes. Unfortunately for them, their cutie marks are still showing. The shorter one had a cutie mark of a rotten apple while the larger one has one with a few bits and a white wisp backdrop.

How cliche can you get... A rotten apple and a greedy soul. Welp, guess I should see what their answer is. Speaking of that, they are stammering way too much.

I interrupt their mumbling by asking the same question again."Why don't both of you ask him for bits? If you're really that desperate and needy, as long as you have a real issue I'm sure he will help."

The large one lunges at me, as if to attack. A dagger is pulled from his cloak with his mouth and he thrusts it towards me. I simply send out one of my blades pieces to intercept the dagger, molding around it and taking it away from his grip. To his surprise, his dagger is gone and my fist strikes his face.

I only made my fist more sturdy so that I wouldn't hurt myself with that punch. Applebloom smacked me with her head once while hopping around like she does when excited. I know how much it can hurt.

He falls down instantly and starts rubbing his face with a hoof while the other one just starts to run away. I lift up some earth and wrap it around his front legs so he slams his face into the ground due to momentum.

"Alright, well if you aren't going to be nice I'm sure he won't help you. Do you really need bits that badly?" I ask, curious as to what would bring two ponies to steal so close to the capital.

"I just wanted better cider..." says the rotten apple.

"I just love money!" replies the greedy soul.

"Don't do this again. Those are horrible reasons to mug anyone at all. At least if you were desperate I could understand but damn, you two don't need to steal for those things. Work harder for the bits or get another job! Go down to your family's farm down in Ponyville, I'm sure Applejack has some cider she would be willing to share with a family member. At least... I assume you're part of the Apple family? Whatever, just don't steal for such dumb things. If I see you two again, I'll be sure to make sure you can't attempt to mug anyone ever again." I say, letting them both go.

"Well, I would say you did a fantastic job." states a very refined voice from behind me.

Ah, yes... Would be hard to NOT notice what I did I suppose.

"Hello Fancy Pants. Sorry you had to witness any of that, I'm sure you wanted a more calm night." I say while turning around and giving him a warm smile.

"Actually, it's quite the opposite. I can have parties every day and yet fall asleep whilst throwing them. That was a good show of camaraderie that you displayed! Though your attempt to dissuade them failed, at least you taught them a nice lesson, even if it was a tough one!" Fancy Pants exclaims with a smile.

"Yes, yes. I'm the epitome of good nature. I have somewhere to be however, so I will see you sometime soon." I reply, thankful for his compliments.

Oy, he's way too cheerful. Almost sickening, or maybe is that just me? I have better things to do right now anyhow. Time to learn some more! For Pinkie! And the rest I guess, hah!

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Arriving at the throne room, I yawn and stretch up a bit more while I wait. Luna, coincidentally, walks through the doors to the room itself right after I finish some light warm-ups with simple spells.

"Well hello there blue moon, how's your night going?" I say jokingly, bowing as I talk

"Blue moon? Hum... It hath been quite boring, but with such a pleasant greeting, we think it may have gotten a bit more tolerable." Luna replies with a warm tone.

I grin at her response and stand up straight before speaking."Trainee Devan, ready for well... Training!"

"Good, good.. Let's go to that room again. Obsidian should be waiting." Luna says quickly before teleporting us both there.

Appearing in the room, I quickly glance around to see Obsidian sleeping in the corner with some foliage scattered around her. She's in her true form, and glowing green somewhat. A few seconds after our arrival she yawns and stretches like a stereotypical dog before looking up at us and giving a tired smile.

"Hello Barky." I say, walking over and poking the space in between her front left 'leg' and her torso.

"Hey! Don't do that! Feels weird..." Obsidian says before slapping my hand away.

"Yeah yeah, I'm pretty sure you've done it before to keep yourself entertained." I exclaim with a smug aura, calling her out.

Obsidian just blushes and looks away with a pout. I turn around and give Luna a grin, she just covers her mouth as she snickers at Obsidians embarrassment.

And I winnnnn....

"Alright Devan, it's time to be a bit more serious. Show me that you can still control your shadow by bringing up that wolf from before." Luna requests, donning a mentor-like tone.

"Simple enough! I hope.." I say with a bit of hesitation before turning to look at my shadow.

After a moment or two of focusing my magical essence into a command and casting it out towards my shadow, it forms into the wolf it was once before.

"Good! Glad to see it wasn't just a fluke. Now, turn it into something else." Luna demands, peering at my shadow closely.

Something else? As in anything? How about something I know well...

I give it a command to turn into what i want, and surprisingly it listens well and turns into exactly what I want it to after about ten seconds of morphing.

Luna looks up and down the form I made, which happens to be just a copy of myself. "I suppose self-imposing yourself onto your shadow is pretty simple. You know the proportions of your body, as well as it's look and even feel. Shadows are a connection to the body that you can use to both defend yourself and attack others. Keep in mind you have the same vulnerability if you were to ever find another that can manipulate shadows. Now, walk around me in a circle."

I give Luna a confused look but do as she asks, after about ten seconds of walking around her, I suddenly feel something push me down. I catch myself with telekinesis and look at her plain face. Some magical essence is wrapped around her shadow and it is stretched to be next to mine.

"You pushed my shadow with yours? So it acted upon my body as well?" I say in disbelief.

"Yes, though if shadows could collide with others normally then it would be a strange world. Magical essence and a command needs to be applied to the shadow to have any affect on other shadows. Not much has been done with shadow magic besides creating intimidating figures and misdirecting others, it is a very much so underappreciated and under-researched field of magic." Luna says with a bit of sorrow before continuing. "But you did something I never dreamed of earlier! You turned shadow into physical objects, even if you were overtaken by the darkness. I've tried it myself afterwards, but I can't seem to get it right. So, I want you to try making your shadow gain a physical form, and command it to attack me."

"I wasn't in my right mind at that time though! I have no idea what it felt like, or really what to do besides give it a command to 'turn solid'." I say, nervous about delving into darker magic again.

"Trust me Devan. I will be here to watch you, but this time I'll be ready to contain you." Luna says with a smile.

"Alright, I trust you." I say, before looking again at my shadow.

Forming it again into me, I attempt to enchant the shadow and make it solid. After I feel a bit more of a drain on me, I walk forward and attempt to touch it. I place my hand on it's should and feel a cold, almost icy, smooth texture.

It reminds me of... Leather, but a lot smoother? No idea what I could even compare it to.

Luna is looking closely at the shadow version of me with wide eyes and an intense gaze. She reaches out with a hoof and touches it's hand.

"It's cold, but the texture is completely the same as.... Pure magical essence. What you've done is not made the shadow solid, but applied a small barrier along the form of the shadow! It gives it the illusion of being solid, and still does the job. Amazing, this can only be done by your combination of alignments. Controlling the energy of the barrier you put out as well as hardening it. I am so proud of you! This is an immense breakthrough for Ponykind!" Luna exclaims excitedly, inspecting my shadow from multiple angles thoroughly.

So this is what solid magical essence feels like. I'll have to remember that, though I should have noticed that my magical essence color is much more clear and full. I guess I didn't notice the difference when I made a barrier before.

"Can you easily control when the shadow is solid or not?" Luna says, still marveling at the sight of a sturdy shadow.

"I think so, I don't feel much of a drain at all when doing this." I say with confidence as I attempt to change the solidness of my shadow over and over again.

The barrier around my shadow disappears and reappears multiple times on command. Each time drains me slightly, yet doesn't make me tired. Luna's eyes watch the shadow closely, feeling her hoof fall into the shadow and get stuck in my barrier, then let go at a fast rate.

"Amazing.. You could do a lot with this I imagine, though you will have to think of the possibilities yourself." states Luna, nodding at her own words. "You have a lot of work to do, I'll be back in a few hours to see if you come up with something."

After Luna teleports out, I sit down and think.

Something I can do with my shadow... Ugh, I didn't do much imaginative thinking back on my world.. Shadows are normally phased through right? So I can make it solid temporarily whenever I want, meaning I could.. It would take a lot of timing. A few hours is all I should need though.

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I watch my shadow do as it is commanded and smile at my progress.

It's not perfect, but it will do for what she wants from me.

Coincidentally, Luna teleport into the room and gives me an expectant look. I smile and point at my shadow, who is still in my form. She tilts her head slightly, obviously confused before my shadow runs at her, attempting to punch her. She is surprised by it completely and just stands still. The shadow phases through her until it makes it half way through, where it's hand turns solid, grabbing her and tossing her across the room. Luna catches herself in the air and attempts to land before being grabbed by the shadow, she tries to blast it away with some basic magic before it wraps around her completely before turning completely solid on every surface outside of Luna.

When I was testing this on me before, I lost any ability to see and hear. Darkness surrounded me and with the barrier holding me completely in place it's as if I was paralyzed. I might not be able to affect the mind, but I can definitely affect the body. I could probably change how the barrier works too, maybe make it only collide with her and nothing else, or maybe make the barrier have some other effect like absorbing whoever it touches or explodes outward when activated...

Looking back at Luna, I realize the spell is still in effect. I panic and instantly stop it, running up to her. Scanning her body, I see a very stiff and tensed pony. She looks at me with a somewhat frightened look. After noticing that she can see and move again, Luna stands up slowly with my help.

"You definitely discovered a way to use your talents at shadow magic. You found a way to use it very.. effectively. I need to recover, and do not worry Devan, I am fine. You simply did what I asked, and meant no true harm to me. Farewell for now, a room is ready for you nearby." Luna says somewhat shakily before walking out of the room and heading towards what I assume is her bed chambers.

I didn't mean to do that to her... But I'll make sure I only do that kind of spell to someone I despise from now on. The phasing shadow is something I will continue to practice in order to not hurt anyone else like I hurt Luna. Time to sleep and think on how to improve my magic control. What I have just isn't enough.

Obsidian walks up to me and pats my back with her hoof and I jump slightly at her touch.

"Oh, I forgot you were even here.... I was so wrapped up in training and proving I could do what she asked that I ignored you. Sorry about that, thanks for watching over me." I say with a warm smile.

Obsidian smiles back before leading me out of the room and to where my bed is. I lay down and immediately feel my fatigue wash over me before promptly passing out.