Shadow was in the Golden Oak Library looking for a book that would help him on the medieval history of Equestria. He needed this book for a big project the teacher had assigned to the class which was going to be a fair chunk of his grade. So he needed to be sure that it was at least going to get him a passing grade. While he was looking through the shelves, he couldn’t help but notice the staring eyes of the new librarian that was now living there. It was the same lavender mare whom he had seen run out of the town hall just the other night when things went south. He sighed and turned to gaze at her.

“Is there something about me that you just can’t keep your eyes off me?”

She simply gave a nod as she approached him.

“I am not gonna lie. You certainly are interesting to look at. You are a pony but also a mix of something else. And the markings that are on your face and arms are quite fascinating as well. One can’t help but be curious about it.”

She said as she smiled up at him, those purple eyes searching through his to see if she could find anything else about him. He shrugged and went back to searching for his book. The mare gave a slight frown but was determined.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle. What’s yours?”

“Shadow Strike.”

Twilight gasped and bounced on her hooves a bit.

“Oooh you mean like the legendary wizard who could conjure both lightning and shadow? He is my favorite pony I have ever read about. Well...next to Star Swirl anyways. Your mother must be a big fan?”

“I suppose so.”

He said as he finally found his book that he needed. He wandered over to the table he had sat his things down at and placed the book down. He took a seat and began reading through it’s pages. His lightly blue eyes gliding along the word covered parchment that was bound to the covers. Twilight admired his studious focus as she watched him. She walked closer to him and took the seat next to him.

“So, how old are you Shadow Strike?”

“I am sixteen. Why do you ask?”

“Well, seeing as you are taller than the average adult stallion, I was merely curious. I can’t help but to want to pick your brain about your origin.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if i told you. Nor am I going to tell a complete stranger.”

He said as he took a pencil from his bag and began writing a few crucial things down that he had found in the texts he has read so far. Twilight frowned as she was denied any information about his origin and walks over to one of the shelves and pulls out a book that was also about medieval Equestria.

“Well, would you like some help? I’d be happy to lend my expert knowledge into stuff like this…”

“If you really want to.”

Twilight claps her hooves together excitedly and scoots closer to him. Both of them study for what felt like hours and hours. Twilight was definitely enjoying herself, as she was studying with someone rather than studying alone.Shadow really didn’t care one way or the other. But seeing her smile made him feel..warm on the inside. Like he has seen her smile before he even met her. He didn’t pay much mind to it though. Once he had all the info he needed for his final draft. He closes the book and leans back in the chair, stretching out his arms behind his head with a grunt, then throwing them down with a sigh.

“I got all I need. Thanks for the help. I will compile my final draft on my own at home.”

He said as he slipped the papers into his belonging into his bag. Then he got up and placed the book back where it was on the same shelf. Photographic memory is a wonderful thing. He places his bag around his shoulder. Just as he was about to leave, the door swings up as five other ponies make their way in. Of course he knew them by name, but he didn’t know them personally. Well, Pinkie sure knew him...she knows everypony in the city.

“Twilight, were are here to come and get you for our weekly picnic!”

Shouted the pink party pony who then locked her gaze onto Shadow, a big smile presence on her face as always. She bounces over to him and wraps him into a hug

“Hey there Shadow! You wanna come with us?!”

He lightly pats her on the head a few times, returning a half smile to her.

“Well, I don’t think I really would belong in your group of friends, Pinkie. But it is very generous of you to offer.”

“The more the merrier. Come on!”

She said as she pulled at his hand with her front hooves. The next one to look at him was Rarity, the local fashionista. Her eyes widen as a hoof covers her mouth when she gasps.

“Oh darling, that is most certainly too much black to be wearing during the summer. And those boots you are wearing..eeegh. You could at least add a bit of blue to your wardrobe.”

I will wear what I desire thank you, miss Rarity.”

He said with his arms crossed over his chest. He then felt of hoof lightly pat at his back.

“Aww, now don’t you go worryin’ about how you dress, sugarcube. Rarity is just bein’ persnickety as she always is. I think it suits you very nicely.”

Said Applejack who look was looking up at him with her beautiful emerald green eyes.

“Hey, Iremember you. You were the one who chased off after Nightmare Moon. We found you in the ruins when we changed her back toLuna. You got guts, kid.”

Rainbow Dash said as she lightly punched him in the arm.

“Um...this has been bothering me for quite some time now. But your name is Shadow Strike...right?”

Asked Fluttershy as she approached him timidly, hiding her face behind her mane as she lightly circles her hoof on the floor.

“Yes, that is my name. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you share the name of one of my favorite ponies that I read about in my favorite collection of books. Any you also bare a resemblance to him as well. Except he is a unicorn and his fur was grey. But, i feel like I know somepony who has the markings that you have as well. But I can’t...seem to place who.”

Twilight walks up to him and gazes up and down at his body. He did share the same facial structure as Shadow Strike from the novels that she read as well. And those marking did feel awful familiar to her as well. But she could not remember for the life of her. It was like a chunk of memory had been taken from her mind, but still left small traces here and there. She felt that it would be a good idea for him to join them on this picnic lunch.

“Would you please reconsider going with us? Shadow? We certainly wouldn’t mind having you along. Right, everypony?”

“Well, Despite his choice in clothing, he seems like a very nice young stallion. Please do come with us, dear.”

Rarity felt drawn to him as well now that she got a good look at him. She felt like she had made something for him that was very special between the two of them. A flash of a long black cloak with tribal markings that were a deep blue and a tall figure wearing that cloak flashed in her mind for a second. She places her hoof to her head as she shook it lightly.

What in the name of Celestia did i just see? I am getting this..warm feeling all the sudden…

“Uh...Rarity? Are you alright sugarcube?”

Asked Applejack with a bit of concern, lightly placing a hoof on her shoulder.

“O-oh it’s nothing. I just saw something in my mind that I can’t quite place where I saw it at. Anyways, please do come with us. We brought more than enough for everypony.”

Shadow thought about it for a moment. They seemed to really want him to go. He shrugged and nodded.

“I will go if you insist I do. I never turn down free food.”

“I knew I liked you!”

Pinkie said as she hops on his back and wraps her legs around him in a hug. The group left the library with Shadow in tow. Heading to there usual place which was on a hill that was shaded by a large tree just outside to town. They were all talking about their day and what they had all gotten done since they last saw each other like this. They then turned their attention to Shadows who was just sitting there under the tree with his legs crossed. Idly tossing his baton up and catching it over and over.

“Whatcha got there?”

Asked Rainbow as she walked over to him and looked at the item in question., her eyes wandering over it curiously. It looked so sleek.

“This is my baton. Not sure where it came from. But my parents said it belonged to me.”

“Is it some kind of weapon? Pretty small to deal some major damage don’t you think?”

Shadow grins and hits the switch on it’s side, the baton extending to it’s full length in the blink of an eye. This makes the cyan pegasus nearly fall back in surprise.

“Whoa! Okay...that is pretty awesome! Very sneaky!”

“But why do you need such a thing with you, darling? You are too young to be carrying a weapon anyway.”

“Now hold on just a moment. Rarity. Ah am sure he knows what he is doin’ with that. Otherwise I know his parents wouldn’t give it to him.”

“It’s better than carrying a sword or spear. But it is an amazing device. The way it can go from compact to ready to use when needed. A perfect weapon for self-defense. And since he uses hands, I am quite curious to see how he wields it. In fact, i’d like to learn all i can about him. But he won’t tell me anything…”

Twilight said as she gives a cute pouty face as she circled her hoof in the ground. Shadow presses the switch once more and the baton goes back into compact mode. He slides it into his pocket and looks back at Twilight.

“If you want to learn more about me, you are going to have to wait. I don’t even know much of my origin myself. So until i found out just who I am. You are going to have to wait.”

They all blink a few times and stare at him. A bit shocked that he had revealed this to them.

“What..do you mean?”

Asked twilight.

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. My parents told me I was given to them by Faust. That is all i know for now. Which explained why I am so different than all the ponies I suppose. But I still know very little.I have been getting these odd visions as of late though. I see this...figure and a pony every now and then in my mind. Whispering to me that I need to ‘wake up’ or something. These dreams have been coming to me ever since I turned sixteen. That is all I can say for now.”

He stands up and dusts his jeans off before looking down at the group.

“Thank you for inviting me. But I need to get home and finish this paper. Thanks again for the help earlier Twilight. Even though you didn’t have to, I appreciate it.”

He grabs his bag and sling it over his shoulder. Leaving the group to make his way back home. Twilight knew the real reason why he was leaving though. She had brought up wanting to know more about him when he didn’t want to share. She cursed herself mentally as she stomps her hoof.

Author's Note

Seems like he isn't the only one having displaced memories huh?

May the darkness grant you peace.