Who I Am: Shadow Fall

by Daydreamfire

Rating: everyone
Tags: King Sombra, Slice of Life, Main 6, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Rainbow Dash, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Nightmare Moon, Mystery
Length: 4667

Daughter of Sombra, Shadow Fall wants to have a normal life and explore the world. So she escapes her father's castle and becomes the awesome Rainbow Dash. Soon she and her new friends are battle villains together, including Sombra.

Siren daughter of Sombra, Shadow Fall wants to have a normal life and explore the world. So she escapes her father's castle and becomes the awesome Rainbow Dash. Soon she and her new friends are battle villains together, including Sombra.

Published 2017-10-04 23:20:12 UTC
Last updated 2017-10-21 16:20:42 UTC

Chapter 1

Shadow Fall walked through the castle, bored as usual. She never went outside the castle, never had a friend and never felt joy. And to top it off, her father is evil. She really wanted to have a normal life, a normal family and normal friends.

Shadow Fall was a small filly with abnormally large, bat wings. Her mane was black, white and grey, was short at the back and her fringe covered her eye. With a navy coat and red eyes she kinda did look like a villain. She didn't like that at all.

She was walking to the library. Even though she said libraries were for eggheads, she did like reading stories about old villains. "Where's my Nightmare Moon book?" Shadow asked no one but she did she her father behind her.

"She is nothing compared to me," Sombra boasted, annoying Shadow.

"Yeah, I know father. Your the best," Shadow mumbled with a bit of sarcasm. Then she lit up and beamed at Sombra.

"Hey father, you know, It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm turning 8. So I was wondering if we could hang out?" Shadow Fall suggested, trying to look cute so he would agree. But, he just laughed. Like always.

"Birthdays are silly things that get in our way and distract us from important tasks," Sombra stated, crushing Shadow's spirit without knowing. "Now, I need to get back to work," he finished as he walked out of the library.

"What work, all you do is play with spells that make stuff black," Shadow Fall whispered to herself.

"What was that?" Sombra questioned, glaring at Shadow.
"Oh nothing," she hissed. Sombra slammed the door before Shadow sighed letting out her anger.

"I'm sick of this," Shadow yelled, then she dashed to her room. But before she got there she found her book. "My book about Nightmare Moon, what's it doing here?" Shadow wondered. Just as she picked it up she saw a room she'd never went into. The door cracked open slightly. There was a sign that said 'DO NOT ENTER'. Shadow Fall stared up at it. It was begging to be opened. She closed her eyes, shook her head and turned around so she had her back to the door. She opened one eye. Then ran into the room.

But it wasn't a room. She fell down a hole and was tumbling down the rocks. She tried flying but rocks kept on hitting her, forcing her to stop. When she finally stopped Shadow was battered and bruised. She lifted her head causing her to groan. It was a cave with no opening. Shadow Fall was confused when she saw a wall that was a mirror. She was going to fly back but curiosity got the better of her. Shadow trotted to the mirror and didn't expected to she another filly. She struck a defensive pose as did the other filly. She stood up, so the the filly. Shadow realized she was a reflection. The only thing was it looked nothing like her.

This filly had cyan fur with a very long, rainbow mane and a fringe that bounced up in the air and fell back down like a unicorn. She had a few freckles and magenta eyes. Her wings were the same size as Shadow's but they were normal feathery wings. Shadow put her hoof on the mirror and it disappeared. She recoiled and pulled her hoof back. She tried again, putting her hoof on the mirror and her hoof was gone. She inhaled and exhaled. She stepped though the mirror and emerged as graceful as anypony would. Shadow Fall tripped and did an epic face plant. She got up then realized something. She was now the pony in the mirror. "Wow, that's so cool," Shadow exclaimed examined herself.

Shadow Fall looked around her everything was so colorful and bright, so different from the black, dull castle. She started beating her large wings and took off into the sky. Shadow was surprised by her own speed. She going faster then sound with ease. She looked back to see a rainbow trail behind her. She started doing hard and complicated tricks and flips while laughing and having great fun. "Wait, this is what joy feels like?" Shadow puzzled. She never felt anythings besides anger fear and boredom.

Shadow saw a gigantic cloud with a loud of kids on it."This must be a school," she guessed, flying towards it. "I wonder what it's like," Shadow thought out loud.

Just then she heard colts laughing. She turned around to see two colts and a filly. "Nice going Cluztershy! That'll ground you permanently," the chestnut colt snickered.

"Ha, my baby brother can fly better than you!" the light brown colt mocked and they both started laughing at her again. The filly sank down, close to tears.

Shadow Fall was so annoyed. What right had they to bully a helpless, scared filly. Shadow flew to one cloud to distract the bullies. Then she flew over them so they saw her shadow. She had their attention so she landed in front of the filly and face to face with the bullies. "Leave her alone!" Shadow demanded surprising and intimidating the bullies.

"Oh and who are you? The big brave hero? What are you going to do?" the light brown colt teased, making Shadow's blood boil.

"Keep making fun of her and find out!" Shadow snarled, her voice dangerously low.

"You think your such a big shot prove it!" the chestnut colt shouted masking his fear. Even though she had a rainbow mane and cute freckles, she seemed a bit dangerous. Shadow looked back behind her and the filly was giving her a shy and grateful smile.

She faced the bullies with a cocky smirk."What do you have in mind?" Shadow replied accepting the challenge. She was ready for a fight, she'd even fight both of these airheads at once. If it was a fight they wanted, bring it on.

* * *

OK it wasn't exactly a fight, mainly because it was a race, but she wouldn't back down from anything. "You're going down!" the light brown colt declared.

"In history maybe," Shadow argued, getting ready. She snorted as the shy filly raise the checkered flag .Then the bullies unfolded their wings and she did the same. No one noticed her gigantic wings until now. The bullies saw and looked a bit worried. Just then the shy filly waved the flag and they bolted. Shadow didn't notice the colts push the filly off the cloud as she was in the lead.

Their was a sharp turn she flew though with ease as did the light brown colt but the other crashed. Shadow was having a great time. She loved flying. The speed. The adrenaline. The wind in her mane, she loved it all. Shadow was dashing though the course then, suddenly the colt shoved her and sneered." See you later, Crash," he taunted, then flew ahead in front of her.

"Hey, watch it!" she protested darting forward, three times as fast. Shadow pulled the colt out of the way but she didn't notice. She was flying so fast tears were streaming out of her eyes. There was a cone forming around her, flecks of rainbow here and there. Shadow pushed harder and the cone became more visible. She was down at a 45 degree angle. Everypony though she was going to hit the ground.

Then, at the last second, Shadow pulled up and created a ring of rainbow colored fire. A sonic rainboom.Shadow could sworn see saw a white alicorn and a pink unicorn but only for a second.

She shot up at an astounding speed. Shadow looked back and saw mane was flowing back and sparkling like a rainbow. She flew past the racing line and everypony cheered. She saw the shy filly wasn't there. "Hey, did you see the filly with the flag?" she inquired a random pony.

"I think she fell of the cloud," the pony answered.

"What!" Shadow yelled, then she dashed down to the forest."Eh, hello? Anypony here?" she echoed, waiting for a response.

"Eh I-I'm h-here," a voice squeaked behind her. She fluttered over and saw the filly surrounded by animals.

She was butter yellow with a pink mane. Her fringe was divided into both covering part of her eyes. Even though she could barely see, Shadow saw her eyes were teal. "Are you OK? Did you really fall? Are you hurt?" Shadow queried very worried, not even noticing the mare was uncomfortable.

"Oh, I-I'm f-fine thanks" she replied. She appeared scared, awkward and shy. She didn't say anything and Shadow Fall then took the hint

"Oh no," Shadow muttered as she watched the sunset. It was so beautiful but she wouldn't be able to see it"Sorry, I would love to stay and talk to you but I gotta go," Shadow apologized, but if she didn't go soon she'd be in big trouble. But before I go,"Shadow remembered."What's your name?" Shadow questioned wanting to know a bit more about this mare. She really love to have a friend and this was the closest she'd would ever be to getting a friend.

"Oh I'm F-flutters-shy," she whispered.

"Sorry, what's that?" Shadow asked and felt a bit awkward.

"S-sorry I'm F-fluttershy" she replied. "Nice to meet you Fluttershy. I'm ..." Shadow paused. Sombra was very well known and so was Shadow Fall. She had to think of a different name.

"Rainbow dash," She finished then started flying away into Celestia's gorgeous sunset."Call me Rainbow dash."

* * *

Shadow Fall or Rainbow Dash flew back to the mirror and stopped. Similar to before, she saw a reflection. The reflection looked like Shadow Fall. "So when I step through the mirror I become the reflection?" she pondered still baffled by what had happened today.

She did a sonic rainboom.

The sonic rainboom was just an old mares tail and Shadow Fall made it happen. Or Rainbow Dash did. That was confusing too. Were they the same pony or was Rainbow Dash the only one capable of pulling off the sonic rainboom? It didn't really matter now.

But then she saw the reflection of Shadow Fall had a new accessory. A cutie mark. A grey lightning bolt emerging from a black cloud. She looked back at her own flank. It was the same but the lightning bolt was a rainbow color, the cloud was white and they were five little lightning bolts surrounding it.

"I got my cutie mark, I can't believe it," Shadow squealed bursting with joy. Then she realized her talent was flying. Sombra always hated that she was a pegasus and not a unicorn. What would happen if he found out her talent was flying? Shadow shivered.

She was a bit afraid of her father. OK maybe she was very afraid. FINE, she was terrified of Sombra, her own father. You happy now, you forced it out of me. Now back to the story and Shadow was starting to panic.

"OK, don't panic he'll understand. I like flying and he can't change that," Shadow remarked then she took a deep breath and reluctantly tiptoed in through the mirror as quiet as possible. She looked down and saw she was Shadow Fall again. She sighed. She looked back and saw Rainbow Dash giving her a sad and depressed look. She sighed again

She didn't want Sombra to find out. She'd be in big trouble. But seriously, if he didn't want her to go down there shouldn't put a 'DO NOT ENTER' sign. That's asking for trouble. She quietly fluttered up the tunnel to the door and shut the door. Suddenly she heard a booming voice.

"Shadow Fall, what are you doing? You're not supposed to be here". Busted. She had to thing of something. Wait, her book. It was right in front of her. She picked it up and shoved it in his face.

"I was eh, looking for, for my book!" Shadow lied. Yeah, she wasn't really good at lying.

"You weren't going to go in there, were you?" Sombra spat, pointing at the door and giving Shadow an uneasy look.

Shadow tried to look hurt."Excuse me, I would never disobey your orders and I'm hurt you would suggest such a thing," Shadow faked, glaring at Sombra.

Sombra looked at Shadow and narrowed his eyes. "And what is that!" he yelled, pointing at her flank and newly acquired cutie mark.

"My cutie mark. I just got it," Shadow mumbled, not making eye contact. What was he going to do to her? "I got it while flying around the castle," she admitted, ready to face the consequences.

"What?! Flying is for little fools! I should of known a weak foal like you would have such a stupid talent! If that's your destiny then your WORTHLESS to me!" Sombra roared, making Shadow scared and she cried.

"I-I'm s-so-rry, I-I did-"

"You're just a stupid, worthless foal and that's all you'll EVER be!" Sombra boomed and then stormed down the hall, leaving a crying Shadow Fall on the ground. She hated this castle. Shadow darted to her room. She felt so overwhelmed with joy when she was Rainbow Dash and flying. Now she was trapped in her own home. If you could even call it a home.

* * *

Nine years later and Shadow Fall was as lonely as ever. Her appearance didn't change much. She still had bat eyes, wings and fangs. She usually wore a face mask scarf and black and red armor. One time, she was in a fight with Sombra and now she has a large scar over her the eye that was visible.

She became angrier and started hating herself. But not even close compared to how much she hated her father. She'd only see him once a month and every time she did they fought. They loathed each other. But this was a special daddy daughter day. They were both in throne room. Sombra and Shadow were both sitting on a thrones with a table in between them.

"Finally I will escape this rotting prison and rule all of Equestria," Sombra declared, not that his daughter cared. In fact, she was heading and kicking a ball she found beyond the mirror (that was not a good day) and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that father, maybe one day you will," Shadow deadpanned, the last part was drenched with sarcasm.

"I will and I need you to escape," Sombra finished, and smiled at his daughter.

"Whoa whoa whoa, I'm not doing anything to help you. Why would I anyway?" Shadow hissed, glaring at Sombra.

"Because you will have freedom and your my daughter," Sombra pointed out. He didn't notice Shadow pretend to throw up when he said 'daughter'.

"I need three pints of blood from a siren and then we will rule Equestria," Sombra answered dramatically and laughed evilly. Shadow got angry. She hated the fact that her father was evil and she was a siren.

She sighed angrily and rolled her eyes again. "First, laughing evilly is not very original. Second, I am not giving you my blood," Shadow yelled, turning her back on her father.

"After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?" Sombra boomed, starting a fight. The same fight as usual.

"What have YOU ever done for ME?! Put me through HELL?!," Shadow snapped, turning around to see her stupid father.

"Why did I even ask you? You're worthless! And when you get a chance to be something, to rule the world you don't care!" Sombra replied.

"Maybe I don't want to rule the world! Maybe I just want a normal life and not to have a crazy, evil father!" Shadow snarled as she stormed over to her father and looked him right in the eye. She had grown more confident and rebellious over the years and she has had it. Something had to change.

"So you would prefer to be here instead of free because you don't want to lose a little blood!" Sombra shouted trying to force her to do it by saying she a coward. But something unexpected happened instead.

"You're right. I don't want to be here and I do want to be free. But you will not rule, not on my watch. And if you do escape, I will stop you," Shadow swore. She flew off to her room grabbed her saddle bags and a few things: hair brush, toothbrush, a few books and her two special necklaces.

The necklaces were given to her mother before she died. One was a gold collar with a red ruby shaped like the sun. The other was a silver locket with a picture of Shadow Fall and her mother. It was dirty, old and in black and white. Her mother was very tall and had her large wing holding Shadow like a blanket. Shadow was just a foal at the time the picture was taken.

Shadow got a few more things she needed then she flew down the hall in front of the forbidden door covered in locks and chains. She plucked one of two swords off the wall and slashed on locks until the chains fell. Then she flew through the narrow tunnel and landed perfectly.

"Nice to see you, Rainbow Dash," Shadow exclaimed, looking at the mirror which showed Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash wasn't any different besides being as tall as Shadow.

Shadow Fall sighed. Looking at the mirror she felt a mix of emotions and feels all bunched up together. She took a deep breath.

"OK, today my life begins," Shadow Fall encouraged stepping through the mirror and finally felt free.

Author's Note

First story:pinkiehappy: And it toke FOREVER:ajbemused: AND I wrote it in a hurry:twilightangry2: AND I have the flu :pinkiesick: please like this and the next chapter should be better:rainbowwild: I said should I ain't making no promises:fluttershbad:

Chapter 2

Rainbow Dash inhaled the fresh air as she flew over the forest. She couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. There was a crystal blue river flowing until it reached a towering dam ceasing the flow and a green orchard ahead dotted with ripe, red apples. It was so eye catching Rainbow Dash didn't notice she got lost. She landed in the orchard and looked around.

Dash saw a big, juicy apple in one of the tall trees. It looked so tasty. Truth be told, she never ate an apple before or any thing else. She didn't know why but for some reason she did not require food or drink, just hate. She was about to pluck the fruit from the tree but just then she heard a voice.

"And just what are you doin' in the middle of mah orchard?" a southern accent growled from behind. Dash's eyes went wide and she froze for a second.

Dash turned around to see who it was. The mare had orange fur and three green apples for a cutie mark. Her blonde mane was tied up with a green ribbon into a plait. She also had a cowboy hat and a few freckles. Dash panicked.

"Oh, I am so sorry I didn't know this was your orchard. You see I kinda got lost," Dash stuttered. Wow, she has been here about five minutes and a pony already hated her.

Nice going, Rainbow Dash.

"Sorry, Ah thought you were stealin' mah apples," the mare apologized. "And ah'm Applejack. Mah friends call me A.J." Applejack stoke out her hoof and Dash stared at it for a bit and reluctantly did the same. Applejack held her hoof and shook it.

'Weird' Dash thought put her hoof down. It must be a pony custom.

"Shad-eh Rainbow! Rainbow Dash," Dash spluttered, hoping the cowgirl hadn't noticed her little slip up.

Again, nice going, Rainbow Dash. The mare laughed at her stuttering.

"You don't sound too sure 'bout dat," A.J. giggled and then Dash joined in. Dash was relieved that Applejack was so friendly. Hopefully they could be friends. "So you said your lost?" A.J. interrupted, shaking Dash out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, so where exactly am I?" Dash quizzed, feeling stupid for asking 'where am I?'.

"You're in Ponyville and this is Sweet Apple Acres," A.J. answered, pointing to the trees around her. Applejack started to walk away and looked back to signal Dash to come. Dash took the hint and followed Applejack.

"So, this is your farm?" Dash assumed because of what Applejack had said earlier. But it was such a large amount of land and apple trees for just one pony Dash wanted to be sure.

"Well, yes and no. Me and mah big brother, Big Macintosh, took over the farm from Granny Smith. So Ah own half of the orchard," A.J. corrected. Rainbow nodded in understanding.

The two were talking among themselves and A.J. was telling Dash about Ponyville and the apple orchard until they saw a carriage with a unicorn and a dragon inside being pulled by two royal guards. Applejack and Dash were both confused by the situation. "That's probably some tourist stayin' with family ta see Princess Celestia later," Applejack piped up but Rainbow Dash was still bewildered.

"Wait, Celestia is coming to Ponyville? Why?" Dash pondered. Rainbow had a vague idea who Celestia was. Applejack looked at her weirdly.

"Because it's the Summer Sun festival today and Celestia is comin' here this year. So that's not the reason you came here?" A.J. wondered, curiously glancing at Dash.

"I was just trying to get away from home," Dash sighed. She hesitated when she fumed the word 'home'. "Is there any hotel I could stay? Just for tonight," Rainbow hoped. Although she would like to stay in Ponyville, Dash wanted to go to Cloudsdale again.

"Heh, sorry, no hotels in Ponyville, but you stay at mah place. We've a spare room," A.J offered. Rainbow Dash liked that idea but was concerned.

"Really? I wouldn't want to cause any problems," Rainbow added and Applejack chuckled at the mare.

"You'll be fine. Mah family won't mind company. And you're mah friend. Well, Ah better get back ta buckin' apples. If you're hungry town's just up dat path," Applejack walked away and Rainbow trotted up the path. Dash couldn't believe A.J. said there were friends. She was so delighted she wasn't in the stupid castle.

She walked past what appeared to be a town hall. Inside a unicorn was struggling to hang decorations. A banner was caught on a nail and she was trying to get it off with her magic without ripping the banner.

"Here, I'll help you," Rainbow called. She carefully and slowly took the banner off the nail. Thankfully, the banner wasn't ripped.

"Oh, thank you, darling," the unicorn in a posh accent. She was white with her mane in a fancy updo. Her mane was purple and it faded into a sunset orange. Her cutie mark was three orange diamonds and her eyes were the same color.

"It's no problem. If you want I could help you hang up the other banners," Rainbow offered, picking up a banner from the overflowing box.

"Yes, I would appreciate that," the mare accepted. "By the way, I'm Rarity."

"I'm Rainbow Dash," the pegasus stated. Rainbow hung up the banners and other decorations as she chatted to Rarity. Rarity was telling her about the Summer Sun traditions in Ponyville and how Princess Celestia was coming too. The two were finished half an hour later.

"Thank you. I wouldn't have finished this early without your help," Rarity praised, adding the finishing touches. "Is there anything I could do to repay you?"

"No, you don't have to repay me," Dash denied. Then Rarity walked up to her and used her magic to levitate Rainbow's hair to make it look fancy.

"Maybe I could do your mane. Not offensive darling, but your mane is terrible," Rarity suggested. Dash laughed. Her mane was very messy and dirty.

"Yeah, I don't mind, as long as it isn't fancy or anything like that," Rainbow pointed out, trying to act tough and tomboyish secretly she was excited.

* * *

Later after a bit of pain and torture, Rarity was styling Rainbow's hair. This was the ninth time the unicorn had to start over because it was too girly for Dash. Rarity was humming to herself as she styled Rainbow's mane.

"And it's done," Rarity announced. She levitated a mirror over to Rainbow Dash. Her fringe bounced up as it did before but now it look more tomboyish and a bit messy. The rest of her rugged rainbow hair was tied up in a high ponytail with a black hair tie covered in green spikes.

"Whoa, it's perfect. Thanks," Rainbow beamed, she reached for her saddle bags, which were on the floor, to get her bits she stole from her father a few years ago (but first she lifted the curse put on the bits and gemstones).

Then Rarity put her hoof on Dash's saddle bags. "Oh, you don't need to pay me. You helped me, so this is my treat," Rarity insisted.

"Really?" Rainbow assured.

"Of course darling, anything for a new friend," Rarity smiled and Dash burst with joy inside. That was the second time somepony called her their friend.

"Thanks. I'll see you later!" Rainbow called as she walked out of the boutique. She flew into the air inhaled and exhaled. Dash yelled even though nopony heard her, "I love Ponyville!"

* * *

A few minutes later, Rainbow descended to the ground in front of a strange house. The first story looked completely normal but the roof looked like colorfully decorated ginger bread and a the second story was small and circular and with the pink, frosting roof it looked like a cupcake.

Just the appearance of the house made Dash hungry. She saw ponies go in and out with pastries and goods and assumed it was a bakery. Rainbow joyfully trotted into the pastry like house and saw a pink mare running back and forth in a pink blur.

When she finally stopped rushing and started frosting a cake behind the counter, Dash noticed she was pink with a dark pink mane with three strips of pale yellow tied up in two pigtails that fell onto her shoulders. Her eyes were bright blue, matching the two balloons of her cutie mark while the other was pale yellow.

Rainbow approached the counter where the busy mare took no notice. Dash tapped the counter "Eh, excuse me." The mare glanced up. "Sorry to interrupt bu-" Rainbow was interrupted by the pink mare gasping. The pink pony zoomed passed the counter and circled Dash, making her very nervous.

Oh no, does this pony know who I am!? But nopony knows who I am and I look different! Wait a minute, my cutie mark! Maybe she recognized my cutie mark! I am so lame!

The mare circled Rainbow and then lightly pulled one of her large wings until it was unfolded. "Oooh, nice wings!" she complemented and Dash blushed. The pony zipped back to the counter and pulled out a cupcake then darted away with the cake.

Rainbow glanced at where the mare was, confused.

She's weird. I like her.

Dash left a few bits on the counter and exited the building. She continued to browse around the Ponyville, which was very busy in preparations for Princess Celestia's arrival and the Summer Sun celebration. As the sun began to set, a thought popped into Rainbow's head and she skidded to a halt.

Today was the the Summer Sun celebration, the thousandth Summer Sun, a thousand years after Nightmare Moon's defeat. What was it her book said? 'On the long day, of the thousandth year, the stars will aid her escape'. Dash needed a library. Now.

Author's Note