Once a Shadow

I'd like to thank Dragon'z Wrath (of fanfiction)for the idea that I'm about to go with. I'd hug you now for the idea. (A manly hug of course.) Now on with the chapter!

Well I could have slept better. Actually I couldn't, because I didn't sleep at all. All I could think about was how much I fucked up. Why would I do such a thing even if I was drunk?! Oh well, I might as well get on with my day because staying pissy won't help anything. After work I'll go do my initiation or whatever for the Fugiens Mones. Hopefully I can get Rainbow to forgive me there, even though I don't deserve her forgiveness.

I spread my wings and flew down into Ponyville. I flew over to the bar and went inside. Barry saw me and trotted over.

"Dude, what the fuck is wrong with you? You get engaged to Rainbow then you cheat on her?"

I didn't say anything. What could I say? Nothing would make up for the shit I pulled. I just trotted passed him and headed to Thunder's office. He looked up at me.

"Before you bring your attitude in here, just know that I helped you once, and I won't help again. You leave all of your personal life out of our business. Clear?"

I nodded.

"Good. I don't mean to sound like a jackass, but we can't afford any distractions. Now that aside, today is your last day of stage two training."

It looks like Spitfire was right on the money. "Okay, so what are we doing?"

"We're just going to do some simple sparring. I know you have your initiation today."

"How do you know this?"

"I have my-"

"Sources, got it." I finished for him.

"Right, well let's get started."

One sparring session later.

"I thought you would have dodged that wrench." Thunder stated.

"You didn't throw that one at me! You smacked me across the damn face with it!" I yelled holding my jaw.

"You should have dodged it if it hurts so bad then."

I really will kill him one day. "So is that everything?"

"That's it, you're done with stage two training, and can now keep up in a hoof to hoof fight with your average royal guard. I gotta say, you surprised me. I never expected you to get this far."

"Well I did, even though you did your best to stop me with those damn wrenches."

He let out a small chuckle. "Congratulations I guess, because I no longer have anything to teach you. You need to learn the rest from the Mones."

"When I finish my training, I'll be sure to pay you back for the wrenches, you crazy bastard." I said with a smirk.

"You couldn't beat me when I'm dead Shadow."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Yeah, yeah. Lets go."

I nodded and followed him back to his office.

"Well good luck at your initiation. I'll see you tomorrow for work."

"Thanks, see you later."

I went outside and took flight to Cloudsdale. After about thirty minutes I finally arrived to the city made of clouds. I located the Wonderbolts' HQ and flew down. The same receptionist as last time was there to greet me.

"Hello Mr. Shadow. The Wonderbolts who recommended you are just out back in the training area."

"Thanks." I said as I trotted back out.

I flew around the building and went to the training area. I found Blaze, Soarin, and Spitfire waiting for me in the bleachers.

"There you are Shadow. How's it going?" Spitfire said

"I've been better. Has Rainbow already been through here?"

"Yeah, she's already taking her trial, but are you ready for your's?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. What is it going to be?"

"Follow us."

I nodded and followed them. They led me back inside the building, and into what looked like their locker room. Soarin went up to one of the lockers and opened it, revealing a once hidden staircase.

"Nice." I said aloud.

"Just wait. You havn't seen anything yet." Blaze said.

I followed them down the staircase, which lead to a massive cave (of cloud) with all kinds of weird symbols and stuff. It had a large arena, a large table, a map of Equestria and surrounding lands, and a memorial of some kind.

"What is this place?"

"This is the Fugiens Mones hideout. It's hidden in the heart of Cloudsdale."

"Couldn't anypony just fly through the walls by accident?"

"Not possible. A long time ago, this place was enchanted by Princess Luna herself to prevent anypony entry except for those that take that staircase up there."

"Cool, so what now?"

"Now you take your trial."

"Which is?"

"Last five minutes in the arena with me." Blaze spoke up.

"Really? I'm not so sure about this. I'm not really comfortable with hitting kids, or ladies for that matter."

"Oh don't worry about me. It's you who you should be worrying about."

"Go ahead and get in the arena." Spitfire said.

We went into the arena, which was a round structure with a closed dome roof. It was probably thirty feet tall, and a hundred yards wide, probably to allow easy flight maneuvers. There was a gate that closed behind us.

Soarin's voice called out. "All you have to do is last five minutes without giving up, and you're one of us. BEGIN!"

I turned to Blaze. "Look, I don't wanna hurt you, so why don't we jus-" Was all I got off before Blaze delivered a hell of an uppercut, sending me flying back.

"I told you not to worry about me." she said.

"It's on now." I said before I charged her.

She smiled. "That's more like it."

I readied my hoof for a strike, but she ducked down and delivered an applebuck to my gut, knocking the wind out of me, and a little blood. I rose back up. She flew at me, and swung a hoof. I ducked at the last second, only to have her do a backflip and knock the hell out of my jaw that was already abused by a wrench earlier today.

"Easy on the jaw! I've already been hit with a wrench today by a crazy old bastard!"

She responded by flying up to me and giving me a hook right on the jaw.

"Ah, dafuq?! I said easy on the jaw!"

"You shouldn't tell an opponent any of your weaknesses."

"And you need to not be so serious!" I said as I rose.

I flew at her and went for a straight jab. She reacted quickly and caught my hoof, bringing me in close. I was ready for this, and delivered my special hard-headed headbutt. She staggered back and I took advantage by giving her an applebuck to the chest, making her fly back.

"Don't underestimate me." I said with a smirk.

"I won't from now on." Blaze said as she rose.

She flew at me we delivered a punch at the same time, cancelling each other out. We jumped back to catch a quick breath. I flew at her once more. She readied herself for an attack, but instead of striking her, I grabbed her and picked her up to slam her into the ground. Before I could, she flapped her wings furiously, lifting us into the air. I tightened my grip and flew straight for the ground. Right before we hit it, she did the unthinkable; she kneed me in my gems! I let go and fell to the ground, holding my precious parts. "That was seriously uncalled for!"

She shrugged. "Oh well, you do what you do to win."

"Thats enough! The match is over!" Soarin yelled as he and Spitfire flew down.

Spitfire flew to Blaze, and Soarin over to me.

"Don't feel bad, Spitfire did the same to me when I joined." Soarin whispered.

"Why would they do such a thing?!"

"Beats me, some things are just going too far, and they don't get that."

"I'll say." I groaned as he helped me up.

Spitfire and Blaze trotted over.

Blaze held out her hoof. "That was a good fight, maybe we can do it again sometime."

I shook her hoof. "As long as you don't pull anything like that again, sure."

"Well, it looks like you're an official member since you can last at least five minutes against one of our own." Spitfire said.

She then adopted a more serious look. "Now you need to know the last secret."

"Secret to what?"

"How we've lived so long, me and Soarin that is."

"What, is it like some kind of immortality potion?" I said with a grin.

"Pretty much." She replied.

"Shoulda known." I said with a roll of my eyes.

"Seriously though, you can't tell anypony about this. If it falls into the wrong hooves, the results would be catastrophic."

"So you're going to make me immortal?"

"Not precicely. While the potion does completely stop the aging process, you can still die by injuries."

"So the only way I'll die is if I get killed by a weapon or something in combat?"

She nodded.

"That's cool, but wouldn't that be kinda depressing? Like me outliving all of my friends?"

"That's the price of immortality. Nothing is free."

"Will it do anything besides letting me live forever?"

"It will increase your strength beyond all measure and make your bones nearly indestructable."

"Wow. But when you say those things, how much specifically would it enhance me?"

"Your strength is multiplied by a large bit, and your bones would withstand falling on concrete while in terminal velocity."

"Lemme guess, there's a catch." I said.

"Not really anything bad though. The nearly indestructable bones part is applied instantly, but the strength part not so much. When you first drink the potion, your strength will be multiplied by only ten. When you finish stage three training, that will multiply your strength by thirty. Finish stage four, and it goes up to a hundred. Somehow reach captain of the Fugiens Mones, that shoots up to two hundred times your normal strength."

"And how would I reach captain?"

"The only way to take my rank away is if I die, and it's a unanimous decision by the other members and the Princess."

"Oh, got it."

"I'll be back with the potion in a bit." Spitfire finished as she flew away.

"So what's this stuff tastes like anyways?" I asked Blaze.

"Truthfully, it tastes like ass."

"Wonderful." I said as I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, you won't taste anything worse in your immortal bucking life."

"How'd it taste for you, Soarin?" I asked

"I couldn't tell you Shadow. It's been over a thousand years."

"The way Blaze makes it out to be, you should remember something that nasty."

Spitfire flew back down with a bottle with some kind of black liquid in her mouth. She motioned for me and I held out my hoof. She let it go and I caught it.

"Drink that, and forever join our ranks."

"Come on Spitfire, there's no need for theatrics, I recommend you down it as fast as possible by the way." Blaze said.

"Well, here goes nothin'." I said as I popped the cork.

I took a small sip...and it tasted great! I immediately downed the rest and dropped the bottle.

I belched. "Immortality tastes pretty good."

Blaze was awestruck. "He's...he's not real. There's no way he liked that crap!"

Soarin laughed and patted me on the back. "Welcome to the Mones, Shadow."

"Thanks." I said as I noticed Blaze take a curious sniff of the bottle before her eyes shot wide and flew away to go barf.

We all had a good laugh before I remembered something slightly important. "Is Rainbow still here?"

Spitfire shrugged. "Maybe, if she is, then she's at the training area."

"Thanks." I said before I flew up the stairs and out of the locker room.

I flew around to the training area and saw Rainbow resting on the bleachers.

I flew down in front of her. "Before you say anything you fully have the right to say, just know I'm still sorry."

She looked down like she was trying to ignore me.

"How did your tryout go?"

"I'm in." She said in a dull tone.

"That's great Rainbow! I'm so happy for you!"

"Being a member and all, they told me what you were actually doing."

"Oh...well I know that you also have the right to be mad at me for that, but I did it so I can protect you-"

"Just shut up! I'm tired of the lies!" She calmed down a little. "I think it's best if we start seeing other ponies Shadow."

"What?! No! Rainbow, I love you!" I yelled as the tears started appearing.

"How do I know that's not a lie?!" She yelled, forming tears herself.

"Because...you're right. I can't do anything to prove how much I love you right now. I mean look at me, I've been lying to you for a long time and cheated on you too. I'm sorry Rainbow, I'll leave you alone."

I hung my head and flew away. I don't have anywhere to go except for one place. I turned east and started heading for Manehattan.

A little comedy, a little heart break. Be sure to comment/review, but don't bust a nut over what's happening just yet, because this isn't the end of the story.

Quote of the Day: "You're just jealous cuz my tits are bigger than your's." -My large friend to some bitches that were making fun of him.