Once a Shadow

I woke up on a couch that wasn't made of cloud this time. While it was comfortable, it wasn't the same. Vinyl agreed to let me stay with her as long as I needed, and promised to give me some time if we went into a relationship. I'm really thankful to her for that, because I still can't give up on Rainbow. I got off of the couch and gave a stretch and yawn.

I saw Vinyl trot out of her room rubbing her eyes. She let out a long yawn. "Morning Shadow."

"Morning."

"How ya holding up?"

"I'll be fine, I just need some time."

"It's all good Shadow, take as much time as you need."

"Thanks."

"No problem. So what are you doing for today?"

"Well I'm going to spend most of my day at work and Wonderbolts practice. What about you?"

"I've got a gig downtown. After that I'll probably go hang with Octavia."

"Alright, see you then."

We gave each other a hug, and I left the building. I spread my wings and took flight towards Ponyville. I'm really going to stay in shape if I fly long distance like this. My daily routine is almost always going to be from Manehattan to Ponyville to Cloudsdale to Manehattan again. All over Equestria, just like a said I did when I first met everypony.

I eventually arrived at the bar and instinctively went to Thunder's office.

"You know you don't have to come in my office everyday now, right?"

"Oh yeah, sorry, forcive habbit."

"How'd your tryout go?"

"I'm in, but it cost me a knee to my gems."

He laughed. "Is that what they do for initiation? If so, I can see why their numbers were always so few!"

"Laugh it up jackass. No, that wasn't the initiation. The initiation is to fight the junior member for five minutes without giving up."

"That so? Well you did good if you lasted that long."

"Thanks, I guess. I suppose I'll get to work then."

"Hop to it then."

I nodded and left the office. I picked up my broom and started sweeping around. I was almost finished when somepony tapped my back.

"Yeah, just a minute, I'm almost done."

They tapped my back again.

"I said just a minute."

They did it again.

I whirled around. "What the hell do you wa-...whoa."

I turned around to see a black pegasus stallion with equally black mane and tail, except with streaks of red in them. In a way, he looked somewhat similar to me, except the part where he had some massive ass wings that looked like the combination of a dragon's and bat's.

"Dude...that's bad ass."

"Thanks I guess. They don't freak you out?"

"Dude, I'm an immortal that recently got attacked by something that can regenerate after snapping its neck, nothing freaks me out anymore."

"I guess you have a point there. I'm actually here because Spitfire sends a message."

"Wait, so you're with the Mones?"

"Not with you specifically. I'm the captain of the Fugiens Mones' reconnaissance squad, Night Wing."

"I didn't know the Mones had multiple squads."

"You havn't been here very long then. We have the recon team, lead by me, the long range archers, led by a captain only known to the Princess, and your squad, the infiltration squad, led by Spitfire."

"So you're immortal as well?"

"In the sense that you're asking in, yes. However, only your squad, and the captains of the other two squads have the potion in their blood."

"That's cool I guess. So what was this message from Spitfire you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The message is that you leave on your first assignment in a month."

"What's the assignment?"

"You'll have to ask Spitfire for more details."

"Wait, Spitfire made you fly all the way out here when she could have told me that when I see them later today?"

"...You're going to see them later today?"

"I'm going to be seeing them every day from now until I finish my training. I think she just played you bro."

"...Crap. It's probably payback from the time I accidentally called an all clear, leading her and her team into an army."

"That seems like a pretty big fuck-up, don't you think?!"

"It wasn't really a problem for them, it just increased the mission time by a few hours. Seriously, who holds a grudge for two hundred years?"

"Don't feel bad bro, just do what I do when I'm put in a situation I don't want to be in."

"And what's that?"

"Don't think about it until you cross the bridge of confrontation.."

"...You have problems don't you?"

"A lot of problems my friend. Now I need to get back to work, and you have a long flight ahead of you."

"Sigh*, yeah, you're right. Nice meeting you Shadow."

"Later bro."

He waved and trotted out the door. He spread his-holy shit those wings are bigger than I initially thought. Anyways, he flew away.

Well that was interesting. Poor guy had to fly all the way out of here because of a prank. I had to give it to Spitfire though, it was pretty good. Right, back to work.

I picked my broom back up and finished up my sweeping. When it was lunch time, I went out to that restaurant me and Rainbow went to when I first arrived.

The same waiter as last time was there. "Ah, good evening to you sir! I was hoping you would return!"

"Why is that?"

"There are so few ponies with true class in this town, and you are one of them."

"Thanks I guess."

"You're quite welcome sir. Is it just you, or is the lovely mare from last time here as well?"

"No, it's just me..."

He saw the look on my face. "My apologies sir, I meant no offence."

"None taken, you didn't know."

"I'll show you to your table. Right this way."

I followed him to the same table me and Rainbow sat at when we last came here. It was probably an accident that he lead me here, but still. I sat down and he gave me a menu.

"I don't need a menu, thanks. I'll just have the daisy and lettuce sandwich with water." I said as I handed back the menu.

He nodded and trotted off. The nostalgia is killing me right now. I would do anything to make it up to Rainbow, but that's the thing though. I can't make up for what I did. I need to think of something so I don't lose her forever though! Ugh, I'm getting a headache. I just need to eat first, then think about it.

As if reading my thoughts, the waiter arrived with my meal. "Here you are sir, and if I may offer some advice..." He said leaning in closer.

I put my ear closer, maybe he'd have a good idea.

"Grow a moustache."

I looked at him and he smiled and nodded.

"Uhh, thanks. I'll think about it."

"Anything for you sir." He said before trotting away.

I shoulda known. Oh well, time for food. I devoured my sandwich and downed the water. I left the money on the table, plus a large tip for the waiter. He was clueless, but nice. I'm still curious on how ponies grow moustaches. Maybe I'll ask him one day.

I flew back to the bar and got back to work. Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to go to Cloudsdale. I went took the back entrance since it was closer into the dark alley behind the building.

"Hey! We saw you talking to that freak earlier! You're with it aren't you?!"

I turned around. Well if it isn't snake flank. I smiled. "Oh hey, I havn't seen you since I kicked your ass. How ya been buddy?"

"Shut up! You got lucky last time! This time nopony is here to protect you! Isn't that right boys?!"

Just then, somewhere around twelve more goons came trotting into the alley.

"Get about a hundred more, then it will be a fair fight." I said with a smirk.

"You won't be so cocky when you're begging for mercy! Get him boys!"

They all charged at me. Well at least this is a chance to test out my new powers. I cracked my neck just before the first one swung at me with a bat. It shattered off of my head, and I smiled at him. "You're going to need something stronger than that to break my hard head."

I reached out and grabbed him and another pony next to him and lifted them into the air with ease. I slammed them together and threw them behind me.

"You see?! This is what happens when you insult nice ponies!" I yelled out.

Another one of them charged me with a chain. I punched him square in the face, sending him flying back, knocking over three others. That leaves seven including snake flank.

Three of them charged me carrying knives. "At least you're getting smarter." I said wih a smile.

I readied myself for the attack, but just before they got to me, a dark figure landed in front of me, took one of the ponies, and flew away. We were all distracted by it for a moment.

"What was that?! What did you do?!" Snake flank yelled.

"Hey, I'm just as confused as you."

Just then, the dark figure reappeared and started fighting five of them at once. Two of them lunged at it with knives, and it ducked down just in time, making those two stab each other. The other three charged him head on, and it waved a huge wing over them. When he finished, they were on the ground.

"Dude, that was fucking sick! You just pulled some serious batman shit right there!"

The dark figure raised its head, revealing Night Wing's face. He smiled. "I try to please."

We both turned to snake flank, who was starting to back up. "What are you freaks?!"

Night Wing sighed. "It's always the same. Freak, animal, monster, almost everywhere I go. You really can't get more creative, can you?"

"Get away from me!" Snake flank yelled.

Night Wing was slowly advancing on him. When he finally reached him, he waved his wing. There was a scream, and Snake flank was on the ground, unconscious.

"Bad. Fucking. Ass." I said.

He let out a laugh. "Thanks, I guess."

"What are you doing here anyways? Shouldn't you have left hours ago?"

"I was, but I overheard this one talking with others about ambushing you for associating with me. I waited here the rest of the day, and struck when they attacked."

"Thanks, but I could have handled myself you know."

"Probably, but I felt like I owed you for standing up for me."

"No problem Night Wing-"

"Please, call me Ni."

"Okay, well Ni, I would stand up for any genuinely nice pony. Nopony has any reason to pick on another."

He smiled. "Thanks. You're one of the first ponies to accept my appearance."

"Why would ponies give you hell just because of the way you look anyways?"

"I don't know. Being picked on had a good bit to do with joining the Mones. They actually didn't care what I looked like. As long as I can defend Equestria, they could care less honestly."

"Wanna discuss this back on the way to HQ?"

"Nah, I've got other places to be. Goodbye Shadow."

"Take it easy."

We both took flight. I headed to Cloudsdale, and he took off in another direction. After some time, I arrived at the Wonderbolts HQ. I went to the locker room, and opened the locker with the hidden passage. I went downstairs and found only Spitfire here.

"Oh hey Shadow. Ready for your first day of stage three training?"

"I guess. By the way, what assignment are we going on in a month?"

"Wait, does this mean Night Wing actually flew all the way to Ponyville?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"Hahahahahaha! I can' t believe he'd actually do that!"

"Ahem*"

"Oh, right, sorry. Anyways, yeah, we're going to the nation of griffins next month."

"Really, what's that place like?"

"In a way, it's pretty similar to Equestria, but there are some differences though."

"Like what?"

"Well, don't expect a friendly welcome there. Most griffins aren't that friendly to ponies. Second is that there is a civil war going on there."

"Is that what the assignment is about?"

She nodded.

"What does this have to do with Equestria?"

"Tensions have always been high between us and them. The current government is trying their best to maintain their relations with us, while the rebels want to invade us after they take over."

"Why would they want to invade us?"

"For something stupid."

"Like what?"

"Our gem deposits. You see, we have the largest gem deposits in the world, and if anypony, or griffin, were to get ahold of them, then they would be very, very wealthy."

"Are they really that important?"

"They're one of our primary exports, so yes, they are."

"Well now there's a similarity." I said.

"What do you mean?"

"It was the same B S on my planet, people invading other people for something as stupid as money."

"That so?"

"Yeah, it looks like no matter where you go, you can't escape greed."

"Looks that way. Anyways, lets begin your training. Just so you know, this is going to be much more difficult than your stage two training."

I smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

She smiled. "To the arena then."

We trotted in the arena and began my training.

Skipping yet another training session.

I was on the ground in a fetal position.

"Maybe I went a little too hard on you for your first time."

"There were...so many sharp objects..."

"Yeah, guess I got carried away. That is a key difference between stage two and three though."

"You mean the key difference is going from dodging wrenches to dodging sharp objects?!"

She shrugged. "Pretty much."

"I hate you, and I hate Thunder!"

"Oh shake it off wimp."

"You didn't just have a bunch of knives thrown at you! I have a right to be freaking out!"

She didn't say anything. She just rolled her eyes and trotted off.

After shaking for about five more minutes, I got up and started for the stairs. I'm going to need therapy after that shit. I did my best to shake it off as I went outside and flew back to Manehattan. I went up to Vinyl's apartment and found her passed out on the couch. She must have had a long day. I grabbed a blanket and placed it over her and went over to a smaller couch next to her. I relaxed and went to sleep.

A big thanks to Dragon'z Wrath (of fanfiction :P) for letting me use his OC Night Wing. Go read his story: A Stranger's Love, or I'll...well I guess I can't hurt you if you don't read it because I don't know where you live. Fuck you, go read it.

Here's something different too, since I'm running out of quotes:

Chuck Norris fact of the Day: Chuck Norris can blow bubbles with beef jerky.