'Shadow Sense' decided to quit studying and to set up plans for 'her' future. So 'she' got some parchment and wrote down some ideas.

~~plans~~
Plans: Learn some sort of illusion magic for better 'disguises', freshen up my acting skills / get into character, discover powerful information then leave for Earth if possible.

Daily preparations: Read magic books, have conversations with myself (Lathran vs Shadow Sense), study my own magical body and experiment with new spells. This procedure shall be sustained till I am 'comfortable' with my skills.

After preparations: Go to Dodge Junction (Shouldn't take more than 4 hours.), get 'identification' if that exists, get money / job and then go to Canterlot. Once in Canterlot, blend in with populous and gather as much magical knowledge as I can.

Notes: I heard of some sort of forbidden section in the Canterlot library, I shall try to find and read those books if I can do so with little risk to myself.

'Shadow Sense' put the parchment down and started her training. Weeks went by and during those weeks many things have happened. Firstly, for whatever reason someone pissed off a Ursa Minor, she heard it smash through the forest. Shadow Sense also found her form more agreeable as time went on. Not only that but she discovered a spell to modulate her voice to sound more 'normal' compared to whispers. During her study of her body, she discovered that indeed, her body was magic and she could turn part of her body into a spell permanently with little drain on her part. So she administered the voice spell to her incorporeal body to make a 'voice box'. Shadow Sense also incorporated small shield spells to help her form a protective cover over her form (So things can't go through her easily). it was done in multiple thin layers, not unlike plate mail, to help her seem more solid. On the final and 5th week Shadow Sense learned everything she could on illusions. Not once has she felt drained or tired, but she finally learned how to give herself a more pony like look, she made the last of her improvements.

'That's it, I finally did it.' I now had a perfect disguise for infiltrating the equines so I could get my Intel. With the illusion spell giving me the appearance of a darker indigo coat with dark purple eyes and hair, I could finally leave. 'Here I come Equestria, let us hope you don't blow my cover lest things go south.'

-Author's note for colors, these are rough estimates of the colors I see the character as.-
[#201931 hex color for coat]
[#620B54 hex color for hair / eyes]

So Shadow Sense did exactly as she planned, she packed some gold she found in a sack and put it on her back before traveling east along the river. Along the way when she left the forest, she could see Dodge Junction, she decided that she will claim that she is a lost traveler.

While approaching the 'old fashioned' town Shadow Sense saw exactly what she was looking for, an elderly individual who probably knows their way around here. Shadow Sense approached the cherry loving mare.

"Hello."

"Why hello there, what can I do you for?" The mare asked.

"I got lost in the woods and ended up here, do you mind helping me find a job so I have enough bits to get back home?"

"Why of course, you see that tavern over yonder? It's your lucky day, it just opened a position for a new bartender."

"Thank you, I will be on my way."

Shadow Sense made her way to the worn down tavern and entered. On the inside it looked just as poor, she made her way to the current bartender and talked with them.

"I heard that there's a open position for bartender? Do you mind if I take the job for a few days?"

"Yeah sure thing partner, my name is Bitter Brew what's yours?"

"You may call me Shadow Sense, what do you want me to do?"

"Just stand right there *points hoof to his right* and refill the cups with cider when it gets busy."

"Understood."

The rest of the night was spent watching ponies drink cider and cherry juice (They did not get drunk) and having light conversations with Brew. The store closed when it got dark out.

"Have a goodnight Brew."

"Night Shadow."

After taking a payment of 25 bits I left the tavern and went silently and stealthily into the Hayseed Swamp behind Dodge Junction. I found a nice isolated patch of land and practiced spells through my fake horn. Then after an hour or two a random idea came into my head. 'If I am sentient magic with emotions and I can cast spells, can I cast sentient spells or even duplicate myself with enough magic?' I spent the next hour crafting another personality just like me but more subservient to me specifically. I then created a bubble of telekinesis magic and mentally 'cast' the personality into it.

I was actually surprised by what it did. It changed shape into another much smaller Shadow Sense and looked at me. I looked at it and said one thing.

"Jump once."

It followed my instructions to the letter. 'This is interesting, but has no use to me now, I need more magic and maybe I can make a 'sister'.

"Come here." I commanded again.

It walked to me.

"Let us merge."

So we did exactly that, I absorbed all the magic used in creating my miniature double and the personality that came with it. I stored that personality in my mind for use later. Deciding I haven't done enough physical magic, I played around with lethal blade arms in my 'humanoid' form. I then updated my form with thick shields for armor and changed the overall shape to be more solid, tall and spiky for intimidation value. All in all, it was a creative night i'm sure my new 'humanoid' form could scare these ponies shitless.

There was no sleep for Shadow Sense, there's no rest for the wicked.

Author's Note

Here's the new form, just ignore the robe and imagine the spikes being thicker and less common, like Sauron with more shorter spikes.

All credit for the art goes to DaveIgo.