It was a normal day in Clouds Dale and Shadow had finished his training at military school, well almost finished. His captain said that he needs to go back home to complete a Test to become a full night guard soldier. Well this sucks As he thought at the test. He thought it was stupid and asked his captain why he needed to do it to become a full night guard. His Captain (His mentour) said that it was the final step of becoming a full member of the Night guard and that's all. Although he found Clouds Dale his home he grew up in very boring than his time in military school. He just found his home very uninteresting. He still found the so called *Test* stupid and unessecary. I could of been done by now with my training and become a night guard but NOOOO I have to do this so called test before I become one. When his mentor announced this to the class he was sort of surprised although he wasn't that fond of surprises especially when one of the trainee's tried to jumpscare him but got a bloody noise for it.

After that incident nobody tried to jumpscare him again because they knew what would happen if they did. Even though he didn't like this *Test* he had to do he still had to do it because it was a rule and rule' are rule's even if you think they are stupid are why they are there. Unless they are made by a stupid person how thinks they are doing correctly.Thought shadow as he walked down the pathway. He also wasn't very fond of rules either expect when they come from the Captian himself those rules made sense and you had to listen to them EVERY, LAST, ONE. He can still remember the first day he arrived at Military school and meet the Captain for the first time. He was like a father to him because he would always train with him and support him when things got taugh and when he needed it. I had a father once...before he died. It all happened one day on the news. Although he never really knew his father that much and he was still a colt. It all happened when he said he had to go to the office for an ergant meeting.

After that he never came back and one of the soldiers came to them. He said he needed to talk in private with my mom and weren't for sensitive ears. When his mom went to the kitchen to talk in private shadow sneakly followed and heard that his had been killed in action. Shadow still young still didnt know what was going on but his mother came with tearful eyes and hugged him like the world was gonna end or she was gonna lose him forever. Ever since then it was different. It has just been him and his mom since then and had to move from Canterlot to Clouds Dale. His mom said it will be cheaper and more fun than being in the city.

It was fun for a while and he got bored of it. He was more a ground pony then a sky pony but he still liked flying in the sky every now again but was also part of his training at Military School. Luckly for him the test was only tomorrow and would be ready for it. Maybe I can stay at my moms house until then. It would be nice to see her again and catch up whats happening and how she is doing. I still remember the day how she re-acted when I was leaving for military school.This was true his mom nearly broke into tears and tried to stop from going once or twice. I can even remember our conversation before I left.

***

"Mom I'll be fine you don't have to worry so much" Said shadow as he started to pack and get ready to leave for military school.

"I just...don't want to lose you like your father and that was hard for me" she sighed "Im just not ready to see you go yet."

"What if you dont make it, What if you need my help but Im not there, What if you get injured, What if..." She paused as
Shadow got up and hugged his mom.

"Mom Ill be fine trust me."

"Thats what I worry about." As she embraced his hug.

"How about this I will writes lettets to if I need your help,ok?" She nodded at him

"Besides I know your worried about and everything that is going on around us ever since dad died, but you dont have THAT much"

"Just come back alive please it is already hard for me now." She said as she sighed holding back her tears.

"Dont worry I will come back and I will stay out of trouble" This was a lie. He liked trouble and danger while he was at military school. Expect that one time when he thought his mom's boss was a bad guy and nearly punched in the face but his mom stopped him and apologized for it.

"Just promise me you will"

"I promise" Shadow said as he packed the last bit of his stuff in his bag and ready to go. As he reached the front his mom gave him one final hug

"I love you shadow"

"I love you to mom" As he opened the front waved goodbye to his mom and left to Military School in Canterlot.

***

That was all three years ago and now he is back where he was when he was just a small colt. But now he was no longer a colt he was a teenager. As he continued to walk down the pathway to his mom. After some time he got to his moms house and walked up to the door. With a deep breath he lifted up his hoof and knocked on the door. He waited for his mom to open the door. He wondered how his would react to him and wondered if she will remember him. The door started to open before he could nock again and before him was a pink pegasus mare with a purple mane and a red cross for a cutie mark on her flank. This mare was his mother and as she stared at him for several seconds he decided to break the silence.

"Hi mom I'm back liked you promise"

Without another word she leaped toward him and gave him the biggest hug he ever had.

"MY BABY!!!" As she cried with tears of joy. Although this didnt last long as she was tighting her hug on him.

"Mom...your...crushing...me." As he tried to break free from his mothers grip on him.

"Oh sorry" She let go of him as he took a deep breath from his gripper.

"Oh I have so much to talk about you and your training in the military but lets go inside where its more private don't you say?"

"Agreed" As shadow started to walk in the house and have a nice discussion between them.

What seemed like minutes of talking turned out to be hours of it. They would talk about alot of things like how are things and whats happenening around them and etc.

"So hows military school?" She asked as she took a sip from her tea.

"Good actually. I am nearly done with it." He said as he waited for his mom finish sipping from her tea. "I just need to finish this test and then I am done."

His mother gave a confused and surprised look "What test?" She asked as she took another sip from her tea.

"I don't know, they just said I must finish this test first and that's all they said. I tried to ask them what is was about but they said nothing else."

His mom gave him a confused look on her face but despite this she still took a sip from her tea and asked another question.

"So do you have a girlfriend yet?"

Shadow immediately shoot up "MOOOOM!" as he screamed in embarassment.

"What just asking." As she looked at him "Why can't a mother ask her own son if he has a girlfriend or not?" As she put down her tea but still asked him the same question "So do you?"
He immediately turned his to his mother and shock his head in response.
His mom gave him a shocked look to him "What! My son doesn't have a girlfriend yet and yet it has been three years since then."

Shadow immediately protested at his mom. "Well its not that easy mom!"

"Oh really, tell me then" She replied to his protest.

"Well none of the girls in canterlot really were interesting for me or not to my liking" as he scartched the back of his head

"Some of them we to bosse, some of them were to cleanie or too royal and yea." As he put his hoof down.

His mother took a sip and looked at her son."Well then it is time for you to get one."
Shadow gave his mother a shocked and disapproval look.

"What!?"

"You heard me its time for you to get one" she replied " I cant let my little shadow live all alone."as she got from her seat and walked towards him "atleast try and get one for yourself. It is always better try to and fail then not try at all."

"But mom...." as he protested against his mom.

"No buts young man you are getting a girlfriend wether you like it or not. If not do it for me do it for yourself."

"Fine but if I dont get one I get to say 'I told you so'." as he looked at his mom competively. "Deal" She said with a detemined look on her face.

"Although I am going to be the one saying that to you."

"Your on" as they both laughed at each other.

"Oh my goodness look at the time." The sun had already set and it was nearly night time. "Time flies when your having fun." He commited to his mother

"Come let me take you to your old room you must be exhausted on your way here."
This was no lie he couldnt resist the sleep in his eyes much longer.

"Alright" as he followed his mom to his old bedroom.

"Here we are" As she showed him the door that lead to his old bedroom.

"Thanks mom." as he opened the door to his opened the door to his old bedroom. He had lots of old memories here when he was a colt. He stepped inside and walked to his bed although it is a lot bigger now since he is older than his old one.

"I was thinking in changing it to a guest room but I didnt think you would like that if I did."

"Thank you mom"

When he reached his bed he tucked himself in his bed and was ready to doze off. As he did this his mom came and kissed his forehead like he was a little colt again. She walked to the door and turned off the lights.
"Goodnight my little soldier."

"Goodnight mom" as he dozed off ready for tomorrow.

***

It was a new day in Clouds Dale as the sun started to rise and its ray shining down on it. When the sun's ray reached Shadows room it was blocked by the curtains keeping out its ray from getting in. Shadow was sleeping peacefully in his bed. He had never slept so well in his entire life and he was enjoying. That until his mom came in house and woke him up. "Rise and Shine Shadow" She walked over to the curtains to let the sun ray's to come in and spread its light all around the room. As for shadow he covered himself with his blanket tob block the sun and his mom from waking him up. His mom saw this and immdiately come up with a plan. She walked over to him and whispered in his ear. "Unless you wanna back out from our deal last night?" Shadow immediately got up and gave his mom a confident look

"Never!"

"Well than get ready you lazy bones because today is your test and you dont want to be late for that do you?" His mom did have a point there he did not want to be late for his test. "Also breakfast is down stairs so I want you ready when I see you in the kitchen" As she did this she walked towards the door and closed it.

As he got out of bed he walked to the bathroom to go brush his teeth and shower. As he walked to the bathroom he wondered what the test was and how well he was going to do. I hope its not a flying test other wise I wont do that good at it. Shadow said as he walked inside the bathroom and started to brush his teethBut its nothing I can't handle I mean I am quite good at avoiding and blocking enemys Even though he was a pegasus he still prefered the ground then the air, sure it was awesome flying in the sky without a care in the world but he still liked the ground more. Although that was his problem 'flying' was his weak point, sure he could avoid a few moving targets and obstacles here and there but he still was bad at it. Espiecally when he was at military and were having test on their flying. He did well for a while but then it was time for the manoeuvre and tight turn obstacle, thats where he failed at it. During this he crashed into a moving obstacle that he didnt see and crashed on the ground.
Luckly his fall wasnt to severe but after that incident he knew that flying tight corners and manoeuvres were his weakness. As he finished brushing his teeth he got into the shower and turned the tap on.

After five or ten minutes in the shower Shadow got out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry himself. After drying himself and got out of bathroom. Shadow went to his bedroom door and opened it to smell something delicious. Smeems like mom is making breakfast already Shadow closed his door and went down stairs to see what his mom was making. As he approched the kitchen he saw his mom making bacon and eggs for breakfast.

"Egg white hard and and yolk soft or the yolk hard as well?" She asked

"Yolk soft please mom." He replied to his mom.

"Ok then" as she continued making breakfast. "Grab a plate breakfast is nearly done."

Shadow didnt need to be told twice as he grabbed a plate from the cupboard and walked over to his mom. He walked up to his mom as she served him breakfast.

"Ready for today?" She asked as she served him breakfast.

"More than ready" He said with a confident tone

"Good then, I don't want my son to be unprepared for his test today"

"Mom when have I ever let you down."

"I know you wont just checking if you are."

After Shadow fnished his delicious breakfast he got up from the kitchen, walked to the front door and waved goodbye to his mom. I will pass my test and make my mom proud of me. He opened his wings and took off where his test was being held

***

Shadow flew for some time and arrived where the test was taking place. He landed and folded his wings. As he landed he saw what looked to be one of the judges. Maybe I can ask him what the test is about? As he started to approach what looked like the judge. "Excuss me sir is this where the test is?"

The judge gave a small glare at him "Why yes and are you a pegus?"

No shit sherlock Im a unicorn Shadow almost lased out of him but keeped calm and spoke politly. "Yes, yes I am." He spread his wings to he was telling the truth.

"Alright then, please go to the desonated area to wait." Before Shadow could ask what the test was about the judge immediately turned away from him and flew off.

"Rude" He said as he went to the area the judge showed him to wait. Im sure all the judges are like that I dont even know why I came here. While Shadow was complaining about the test and judge he did not see the pony that was in front of him.

"OOF...HEY! Watch were your..." Before he could finish his sentence he stared at the pony he walked into. The pony was a mare with white fur and a red mane and tail. She was also a pegasus and had a cutie mark that he had never seen before.

"Are you alright?" He offered a hoof to help her up.

"Yes thank you" As she accepted his hoof.

"Sorry that I bumped into you I was lost in my thoughts"

"Its ok I can understand that"

"So are you here for the test as well?"

"Yes I am actually. Im here to finish my studies as a nurse."

"Awesome" As Shadow looked at her, she was very beautiful and couldn't resist her. She was very different to the mares in Canterlot. If this happened in Canterlot the mare would of thrown a hisse fit at him for bumping her but she didnt.

Then without warning he asked her a question he sure would regret "So where do you live?"

"Excuse me?" She asked

Stupid, you dont ask a mare you just me where she lives. Why did I say that "Actually forget I said..."

"Ponyville" She replied

"Excuse me?"

"I live in ponyville" She said again

Shadow exhaled forcefuly like he dodge a bullet.

"Really?" He asked

"Well..I used to live here but then me and my parents moved to ponyville. They said it was alot quieter and nicer and their jobs were closer to them."

"I heard that place is very nice their."

"Yip" She nooded

"So...where do you live?" She asked

"Huh?"

She giggled a little as she repeated herself "Where do you stay?"

"I stay in Canterlot"

"With your parents?"

"No my mom stays here in CloudsDale."

She gave a surprise look on her face "Why do you stay in Canterlot?"

"Im training to be a Night Guard there" He replied.

"I guess thats why you have a shield for a cutie mark." As she looked over to see it

"Eeyup"

"What is yours?"

"Oh let me show you" As she turned to show him her cutie mark
Shadow gave a puzzled look when he saw this.
"What is that?"

"Its a caduceus"

"Uh what now?"

"A caduceus. A symbol of medicine"

"How did you get it?" He asked eargrly to find out.

"I got it when my dad was really sick and the medicine the doctors gave him werent working. But I noticed the docters were giving him the wrong ones. So I decided to help my dad and gave him the right ones after working with the medicine." She smiled as she said this. "Then all of a sudden my cutie mark appeared when he was all healed and all better."

"Thats amazing!"

She blushed a little as he said this "Thx. Nobody has ever said that to me before"

"Well what was I supposed to say"

"So what is your name?"

"My name?" Shadow responed

"Yea silly. What is it?"

"Oh my name is Shadow Hunter"

"Thats a nice name"

All of a sudden he blushed What is this? He asked himself why his face we turning red "Thank you"

"What is yours" He asked

"My name is Rose Heart"

"Thats a Beautiful name"

Rose blushed even harder as he said this and tried to hide it from him.

"Everyone may I have your attentiom!" Everyone heard this and went towards the judge as he called. "The test is about to begin so if you would kindly go and line up in front of the obstacle course."
Shadow and Rose heard this and knew they should get going.

"I guess we better get going"

"Agreed" As they both troted to where the obstacle course began.

***

The two of them arrived where everyone else was lined up. "This test will conduct how good are you flying skills and agility are." One of the judegs said. Wait a minute flying, agility this was a flying test. One of his weaknesses

"The rules of this test are easy, you fly to far right you fail, miss or crash into an obstacle you fail, try to back out from the test you..." The judge paused as someone yelled from the crowd.

"We get it you fail can we just get one with it." As the tried to look how it was, he cleared his throat and continued

"As I was saying those are the rules of this test. Any questions?" The judge asked when he was done making his statement.
"Good, now lets begin."

"Since you guys are older we have decided to make the coures a little more challenging" As one of the judges pulled a switch. The obstacles and rings started to move around. "Now lets begin" exclaimed the judge.
"Fly, fall, complete!" As he said to the first pony in front.

As the line got shorter and shorter Shadow got more nervous every time. Flying tight turns and manoeuvres was his weakness. Rose was in front of him although when she turned to see him she looked quite worried. "Hey shadow are you ok?"

"Yea Im fine just worried about this test thats all"

"Why?"

"Well...flying tests really arent my specialty."

"Oh well dont worry Im sure you'll do fine."

"Next!" As the judges called out to signify it was Roses turn to do the obstacle.

"Good luck" Shadow exclamined

"Thx" She replied as she stood ready

"FLY, FALL, COMPLETE!"
With those words she took off. She was actually doing well, that until it come to her landing. When she was about to land she opened her wings too late and hit the ground with a hard thud. She landed where everyone was supposed to land but falied to do so. When she tried to get up from her crash their was a crack sound in the distance. "AAAAAAH" She fell back down to the ground, one of her front legs were injured and broken. Shadow looked at her with horror She must of broke her front leg when she crashed

"FLY, FALL, COMPLETE" The jugded called out to him.
He got ready to take off as he looked at her. He couldnt help but wanting to help her. Keep calm Shadow you can do this dont get distracted. He took a deep breath in and out and took off. He dodge a few obstacle and just managed to make the tight turns and manoeuvres. As he continued to fly he saw rose struggling to get up. As he did this he did not the ring that was coming up and crashed into it.
He revored and landed. When he was done he immediately ran to rose to help her.

"Are you alright?" He asked OF COURSE SHES NOT ALRIGHT SHE HAS A BROKEN LEG DUMBASS

"Sort of, just a broken leg." She replied

"We need to get you to a Doctor, NOW!!" Shadow lifted her up and put her broken arm around his neck "Can you fly atleast?"

"Yes I can"

"Alright then lets..."

"And where do you think your going?" One of the judges spotted this.

"To a Doctor sir she needs medicial attention."

"Im afraid I cant allow that"

"Why not!?" Shadow protested

"You and her failed the test and must go to the pick up dock immediately."

"After I take her to a doctor."

The judge was getting annoyed by this "Its the rule!"

"Well the rule is stupid if you ask me"

The judge glared at him for this protest he was giving and without hestitation he lifted them both his magic and took them to the loading docks.
What the hell he's a unicorn but I thought only peguas were only to be judges "HEY PUT US DOWN!!" As Shadow tried to grab

The unicorn just ignored him and continued on.

***

When they arrived at the loading dock the judge dropped them there and one last glare at Shadow "Wait here until the transport arrives to take you both." The judge walked back to where he came from but had cast a spell to prevent from them escaping or flying off. After a while he disappered. Shadow tried to open his wings and leave the bazare place but couldnt when his wings refused to open. What has that unicorn done to me? After a few attempts of trying to open his wings he gave up when they didnt open up. He looked at Rose to see if she was still ok.

"How are you holding up rose?" Shadow asked

"Ok but thank you for trying to help me" She replied. He could not help but feel guilty for not helping her at first and only helping her when he was done.

"Sorry that I couldnt help you at first. I... just... thought when I am done I could help you." He said hanging his head low

"Its ok shadow I know how you feel" She said with a calming and forgiving voice

"Thank you Rose"

After a while of waiting the pickup had arrived. He had the same expression as the judge earlier, same galier and look in his eyes. "Get in!" He demanded

"No!" Shadow was getting tried of being bossed around by these ponies he just wanted to go home.

"Get in or I hurt you and her!" Without hestittation they both got in. The door slamed shut behind them and sat down at the floor.
It felt like hours being in that cargo box and they suddenly flet like that hey had landed. The doors opened for me and siganaling them to move. "Get out!"
They got out and trotted to what seem to be the weather factory. Why are we going to a weather factory? Shadow wondered Why would failed ponies come here? Alot of questions ran through his mind when he heard a small voice calling him.

"Hey shadow why do you think we are being brought here?" Rose asked

"I dont know but I dont like it" He replied

Just before Rose could ask the pegaus why they were being brought here he knocked on the door and a orange pegasus stepped out with a white cote. All of a sudden Shadow had a uneasy feeling seeing this pegasus and wanted to tell rose to start running but he couldnt because the unicorns spell was still working and they still couldn't fly.
"Here are two more"

"Thank you I'll take it from here" The pegasus that brought them here bowed his head and walked off.

"Come with me." They followed him to a door. But this was no ordianary door it was a metal door that looked heavy and strong to break through. As he opened the door he smiled at them.
"This way" as he pointed a hoof inside the dark room. Again shadow felt an uneasy feeling setteling in again. They stepped in the dark room and looked around it was pitch black they could hardly see one another in it. The pegasus with a wide smile grined at them.
"Enjoy the rest of your miserable lives" As he slamed the door shut.

Shadow heard this and immediately run toward the door "Hey Open Up!" as he banged against the door. he stopped after a while and glanced at there surroundings. There were pipes and chains hanging lose and a gaint machine what looked to be red paint all over it.

"Where are we?" Rose asked with a concerned look on her face.

"I don't know but I've got a bad feeling about this" Within a second the lights went on and saw red paint on the machine wasnt really red paint. It was blood and it was all over it like a massecre. They heard the door open again, two more ponies stepped in. No wait three ponies stepped in two were stallions and the other one was a mare. They were also pegasus. All of a sudden a door opened up but it came from upstairs. A blue pegasus come out with coloured hair but this was no ordinary pegasus. It was Rainbow Dash the one how made the sonic rainboom.

"What is she doing here?" Shadow asked one of the stallions that were standing next to him.

"I dont know" replied one of them "But I have heard that she lost her mind and killed her own sister for the this factory"
When he heard this he was shocked to that someone would kill their own sibling to keep their job.

Rainbow stepped on a balecony that showed the unlucky pegasus that were standing below her.
"Welcome to the Rainbow Factory Failures!"

Rainbows statement hit him like a bullet Failures, they werent failures sure, sure they failed their flying test but they werern't failures

"You have been choosen to keep the factory running due to failure." Rainbow dash said as she smiled with grin.

Shadow knew that things were about to change around here, alot of things were about to. As she stared at the failures that stood before her she gave out a psycho laugh at them, that sent chilles down their spins.

Eeyup...things are definitely about to change. As Shadow stared at rainbow that contined to laugh.

Author's Note

This is my first ever story so you might expect a few errors in it. If your wondering how old shadow is I dont know the age works in MLP so Idk but one thing for sure he is not a colt nor an adult yet (in other words his a teenager, I think)

I hope you all enjoyed this and I will be making some more but not a quickly as this one. :)