Once a Shadow

Today's gonna be a good day. Even though it was only a few days, it felt like an eternity since I was with Rainbow. Everything can slowly start going back to normal, well, except the part where I'm immortal. It doesn't matter though, as long as I'm protecting Rainbow, anything is worth it. I looked beside me. Rainbow was still asleep. I snuck out of the bed to get a pen and sheet of paper. I left her a note saying where I'd be and went outside.

I jumped off of the cloud and did a flip before spreading my wings and heading towards Manehattan. I wonder what Spitfire wants with my costume tomorrow when I go to Fillydelphia. I guess I'll find out when I see her again.

When I finally arrived in Manehattan, I went up to Vinyl's apartment and knocked.

"Who is it?" Came a call in a voice that wasn't Vinyl's behind the door.

"Uhh, it's Shadow Flash. I'm a friend of Vinyl Scratch."

I heard the door unlock before the door opened, revealing the grey earth pony Octavia.

"Hi, is Vinyl here?"

"I'm afraid not. She just went somewhere for a moment. She'll be right back though. You can come on in if you want, I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"Okay, thanks."

I trotted in and Octavia closed the door. I headed over to a couch and she took the one adjacent to me.

"So you're the famous cello player huh?" I asked.

"That's correct, although I wouldn't say famous."

"That's the same way I am, or going to be anyways."

"Why's that? Are you famous?"

"I guess I'm about to be. I just joined the Wonderbolts."

"Impressive. So how do you know Vinyl?"

"It's a little complicated. The best way I could put it is that we're close friends. What about you? How do you know her?"

"Well we have a long history together. I first met Vinyl at one of my concerts."

"What was she doing at a classical music concert?"

"Supposedly, somepony told her there was going to be free nachos."

"I'd go if that were the case. Nachos rule."

"I suppose they do. Anyways..."

We are going back in time once more, your vision is getting blurry, and everything I say is echoed. Oh, and this is 1st person (pony?) from Octavia's Point of view.

After my concert, I went backstage and just sat down in my room. I picked up my cello again and started playing a melody I was making up as I went along based on the emotions I was feeling. I lost myself for a moment, but came to when there was a knock at the door.

"Yes? Who is it?"

"I'm here for the nachos?"

"What?"

"Somepony told me there were nachos if I came here."

You must be joking. "Sigh*, I'll be right there."

I put my cello down and trotted over to the door. I opened it, revealing a white coated unicorn mare, with cobalt blue hair, and brilliant cyan stripes, and a pair of expensive looking custom shades. She also had a smirk I don't think I'll ever forget.

"Is this where I can get the nachos?" She asked.

"I'm afraid you came to the wrong place if you want nachos miss...?

"Vinyl Scratch. So there aren't any nachos?" She asked in a disappointed tone.

"I don't know where you heard that there are nachos here, sorry, there aren't."

"Oh, well thanks anyways. What's you're name?"

"My name is Octavia, it's a pleasure."

"Ya know, you talk funny." She said with that grin.

I know I should be irritated by that question, but for some reason I can't be.

"Oh yeah, you were the pony playing that big violin thing."

"That would be a cello."

"Yeah, that''s it! Hey, is that it in there?" She said trotting passed me.

"Hey! You know it's rude to enter other pony's rooms without permission, right?"

"This instrument is huge! How do you play it?" She said. I wasn't sure if she ignored me, or didn't here me.

"It's easier than it looks, let me show you." I said before closing the door and taking my cello.

I got on my hind legs and held my cello close. I closed my eyes and started playing what I was earlier. I relaxed and let my emotions control what I was doing. When I opened my eyes, I saw a worried look on Vinyl Scratch's face.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Yes why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you're crying?"

She's right! I didn't notice it when I was playing, but I was crying. Why would I cry though? Was it because that was a slightly depressing melody? Or was it something else?

"Yes...I'm fine, thank you."

She raised her shades, showing me her cerise eyes. They had worry on them.

"Are you sure? Because you don't look fine."

I figured it out now. This was the first pony to not judge me right off the bat. She's not like the other high-society ponies, that judge my every move.

"Yes...I'm sure."

"Heyy, I think somepony needs a hug." She replied with a grin.

"I think I'm fine."

"Not from what I can tell. Now com'ere."

She wrapped her hooves around me and pulled me in for a hug. That did it. I broke down there. I had never had a pony sincerely care about me before, with the exception of my sister whom I havn't seen since she moved to Ponyville.

We broke the hug and I stopped crying.

"Better?" Vinyl asked.

"Yes...thank you."

"Hey, anytime. I gotta go now. Maybe I'll see you later." She said, heading to the door.

"Wait!"

She turned around. "Yeah?"

"How about I pay you back with some nachos?"

She smiled. "Now you're talking."

Blurry vision, echos, and shit.

"And that's how I met her." Octavia finished.

"That's quite the story."

"Yes, I suppose it is."

There was a noise at the door, and we turned our heads to see Vinyl trotting in.

"Oh hey there Shadow."

"Hey Vinyl."

"You look like you have some bad news. Wanna tell me?"

"Well, it's just that me and Rainbow got back together, and-"

"Hey, it's all good. I understand."

"You do?"

"Of course. She's the one you love, and I get that."

"Vinyl, you never told me you were in a relationship." Octavia said.

"I didn't? Huh, I must have been drunk."

"Yeah, that was the main reason I came here. Thank you for being so understanding Vinyl."

"Eh don't mention it."

"It was nice meeting you too, Octavia."

"Yes, you too."

"Goodbye Vinyl, and thanks for everything."

"Take care Shadow."

I gave one final wave before leaving Vinyl for good.

I guess my next stop is Twilight's library. Rainbow said she was almost done with her Daring Do book and wanted to get the next one. I took flight back towards Ponyville.

My flight was going pretty smoothly. I was almost there when something landed on my back. I flipped out and did all kinds of crazy maneuvers and said probably every swear in the book, and maybe a few the book didn't even have.

"Whoa, calm down Shadow, it's just me."

"Night Wing? What the fuck?! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

He laughed. "Sorry, sneaking up on you was just too irresistable."

"...Dick."

He laughed even harder. "So where are you headed Shadow?"

"I'm going to the Ponyville library for a book. Wanna come with?"

"I suppose. I don't have any other duties to perform today."

"Alright, cool. By the way, how did you get above me anyways? We're probably somewhere over fifteen thousand feet off the ground!"

"That's because I normally fly at fifty thousand feet."

"How the hell can you do that? You shouldn't even be able to breathe that high up!"

He shrugged. "That's just my normal flight altitude. It helps me stay away from other eyes, and it's also very handy on recon missions."

"I guess, but still. Anywho, we need to start reducing altitude, we're almost at Ponyville."

He nodded and we started descending. We landed outside of Twilight's door. I was just about to open it before I thought of something. I told Pinkie to throw me a surprise party. Everypony is probably behind this door, waiting to make my heart stop. Oh no, not again. This is also a good chance to get payback on Ni.

I opened the door, and let him enter first. I went in behind him and prepared myself.

"SURPRIIIISEEEE!" Everypony yelled just as I predicted.

What I didn't predict was Ni getting freaked out so bad, that he would extend his big ass wings the fucking speed of light, and send my flying outside.

Well, I might as well take advantage of this once in a lifetime moment. "It looks like Shadow Flash is blasting off again!" I yelled as I was flying back (without my wings) into the middle of town. I landed in a fountain, except hit the part made of solid stone before landing in the water itself.

"Fuuuuuck..." I groaned.

I'm never going to say that I'm going to have a good day ever again. I wonder if I'll get in trouble if I pass out in a public fountain. Only one way to find out.

I woke up on Twilight's couch. "Huh, this is familiar."

"It would be, if my library was destroyed again. How are you feeling?" Twilight replied.

"Been better, been worse. What happened to Ni? I need to kick his ass..."

"Your friend brought you back from the town's fountain, he left."

"Where'd he go?"

"I don't know, but he did say he was sorry before he left. He also answered a few questions about his wings, he seemed pretty happy about them."

"I probably know why. Anyways, where is everypony?"

"They all left after Ni did. Rainbow said she'd meet you back at her place."

"Okay, thanks Twilight."

"You're welcome."

I rose up and started trotting to the door. "Oh wait, I almost forgot. Rainbow said she was almost done with the Daring Do book she's reading, and was wondering if she could get the next one."

"Sure, here you go." Twilight said as she levitated the book to me.

"Thanks, see you later."

"Bye Shadow."

I trotted outside and took flight to Rainbow's. When I arrived, I walked inside just as Rainbow was trotting downstairs.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked.

"Meh, I've had worse. Here's your book."

"Oh thanks, I've been meaning to get that from Twilight."

"No problem."

"So our first Wonderbolts performance is tomorrow, you excited?"

"You better believe it! I can finally show Equestria I'm the best it has to offer!"

"Don't forget second to me."

"Yeah, you wish. Nopony is faster than me."

"We'll see tomorrow then, won't we?"

"You bet we will."

"How about we make a little wager out of who gets the loudest cheers?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking if you lost, you have to admit that I'm more awesome than you."

"And if I win?"

"I don't know, take your pick."

"How about if I win, you have to tell me TRUTHFULLY whatever I want to know from you."

"Deal, now let's go to bed, I've had a long day."

"Yeah, okay."

I went upstairs with Rainbow and got in bed.

Today was a shitty day...

I normally have something to say here, but I don't this time. Oh well. You know what to do, review/comment or I'll (insert graphic death threat here) to you.

Chuck Norris fact of the day: Chuck Norris's nicknames for his testicles are the good, the bad, and the ugly.