Once a Shadow

I like fun time. It's nice and...fun really. Everyone and everypony likes fun time. I probably have a bigger smile than Pinkie Pie herself right now. That's right, I'm that happy. Too bad that I need to do a few things today, so I can't continue with Rainbow.

I looked over at Rainbow. She had her eyes closed, but she was smiling too. "Hey Rainbow?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to go do a few things right now. I'll see you when I get back, okay?"

"Alright, thats fine. I'll see you later, and don't do anything stupid please."

"Now you're just asking me to not be myself." I replied with a grin.

"Shadow..."

"Ugh, fine. I won't do anything too stupid, but that's all I can promise."

"I guess that will have to do."

"Okay then, I'll see you later."

"Later."

I trotted downstairs and grabbed an apple before heading out the door. I spread my wings and took flight in the direction of Cloudsdale. I feel a lot better than I did earlier. I guess it's the bacon potion. How the hell could Blaze not like it? Maybe it's because ponies are herbivores, but I mean really, how can you not like bacon? Even if you are a pony?

Sometime during my thought process about bacon, I arrived at Cloudsdale. I had also accidentally flown past the Wonderbolts HQ. I groaned and turned around to go back to my destination. I got back to the HQ, and took the secret passage downstairs. I was taken back a little by what I saw. Princess Luna herself was here! Also present were Soarin, Blaze, Spitfire, Ni, and a few other ponies I havn't seen.

Princess Luna turned to me. "Ah, hello there young Shadow. Give us just a moment, we are discussing some important matters."

I gave a bow. "Yes your majesty, I'll wait upstairs if you prefer." Something I learned growing up, always show respect to a superior, or get your ass handed to you.

"That's quite alright. You are a member now. Please, take a seat so we may continue."

I nodded and found an empty seat between Ni and Blaze. Luna sat at the head of the table, with Spitfire and Soarin sitting at her sides.

Ni leaned in and whispered to me. "I thought this was against your 'guy code.'"

"Not now smartass." I whispered back.

Princess Luna cleared her throat before proceeding. "Yes, as we were saying, your next mission is coming close. Your objective is to end the griffin's rebellion as soon as possible while minimizing casualties on both sides. I do not want there to be bloodshed if at all possible. Captain Night Wing?"

"Yes your highness?" he answered

"You and your team will be departing a week before the assassins, the medics, and the archers so you can scout ahead for them."

"Yes Princess Luna."

I leaned in and whispered to Ni. "I thought you said there were only three groups of the Mones?"

"Did I? Huh, must have slipped my mind. There are actually four, my bad."

"No big deal I guess."

I sat back in my chair to continue listening to the princess. "I will now allow Spitfire to explain her squad's objective."

Spitfire rose. "Thank you, your majesty. Now for my squad, a week after Captain Night Wing's squad departs, we will make our way to the land of griffins as well. Once there, we will report to an envoy personally assigned to us by the head general of the griffin's loyalists. After he gives us our briefing, we will depart for our objective. If needed, we will have support from the archery squad. Any questions?"

We shook our heads. "Good. Captain Night Wing, you have the floor." Spitfire said as she took her seat.

Ni rose up and looked at a few of the ponies in the room. "My squad, our objective for this mission is to give recon for the area before any other teams proceed. We will attempt to gather what information we can on the rebels, and look for any weak points in their defenses. In order to do that, myself, and the captain of the medic squad will be posing as mercenaries in the rebel army. Once we have the information we need, we will report to the loyalist envoy, and give him whatever information we have. While me and the captain of the medics are behind enemy lines, I want the rest of you to blend in with the local populace and gather what information you can on the enemy. How about it, can I count on you squad?"

"Yes sir!"

Wow, Ni actually sounds like a real military guy when he's serious. Then again, I stop being sarcastic when I get serious. (obviously.)

Ni sat down and the princess rose up once more. "Our business here is concluded everypony. You may take your leave now!"

Everypony rose up and bowed, then trotted to the exit. I started doing the same until the princess called me.

"Shadow Flash, we would speak with you."

I turned around and trotted back to the princess. "Yes, your highness?"

"Walk with us, so we may discuss a few things."

I nodded and started walking beside the princess around the massive hidden temple.

"Captain Spitfire says that you handled yourself very well when fighting those regenerans bestia while only training on the third level."

"I wouldn't say I did that great actually. I barely managed to survive two of them and killed only one. If it weren't for Blaze, I probably would have died."

"You give yourself too little credit Shadow Flash. While you barely survived destroying one of those monsters, we strongly believe you wouldn't leave this world so easily, especially without a fight. It is our belief that you would go to great lengths to protect others, and that is just an understatement."

"Thank you, Princess Luna, but I'm really not comfortable with all the compliments."

"I am merely stating the facts Shadow Flash. A compliment would be saying that you have the potential to surpass your captain and become the strongest fighter in history."

"I apologize beforehand Princess, but do you mind if I speak my mind?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. Now did you really mean what you said about me being the strongest fighter? Or were you just saying that?"

"We cannot be sure. You have potential Shadow Flash. You very well may surpass Captain Spitfire one day, and so long as you continue your devotion to protecting Equestria and your training, I have no doubt you will."

"And how do you know this?"

"It is in our best judgement you will."

"And do you think I'll survive the next potion? Or even the captain's potion if it came to that? Spitfire said I would have about a 50/50 shot on the next one, and a twenty five percent chance of living on the captain's potion."

"Is that what she told you?"

"You mean I'll live if I take any of them?"

"That is not what we are saying. The chance of death is very real on these potions. But something your captain left out is that your chances of survival also depend on your will to live."

"My will to live?"

She nodded. "For example, if you were to drink one of these potions without the will to live, you would die. On the other hoof, if you took it with a strong will to live, you would most likely live. Even on the second potion where your basic chances are ten percent death, and you have no more will to live, you would most certainly die."

"And how do you know these things?"

"Because we helped create this potion."

"You did? Along with who?"

"Maybe some other time we will tell you."

"Oh, okay. Do you mind if I ask you a question Princess?"

"What is it?"

"Does Princess Celestia know about all of this?"

"...No, she does not."

"I see. And what would happen if she found out?"

"She will not."

"Okay then."

"You must understand, it is not that we like keeping secrets from her, it's just for the better. We let her believe that the problems this world has always solve themselves-"

"But in reality, the Fugiens Mones are fixing them. You are also doing this for your sister aren't you?...Sorry."

"No... it is quite alright. And it is as you say. We help fix this world's problems for Equestria's sake...and for Tia's."

"And who do you do this more for? Equestria, or Princess Celestia?"

Just then, her eyes started glowing white, and she started shouting in her royal Canterlot voice."WE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS THAT HARASS US! HOW DA-..." She cut herself off, and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, they were normal. "We...apologize Shadow Flash."

"No, I'm sorry for pushing you like that. But do you mind if I ask one or two more questions?"

"As long as they don't pertain to the previous conversation, yes you may."

"They don't. I'm just curious, why weren't the captains of the other two squads at the meeting?"

"They were off doing other things I had assigned them with."

"Oh, okay. Do you mind if I ask who they are?"

"The captain of the medics you most likely know, but the seclusive archery captain you might not."

"I might know the captain of the medics and the captain of the archers?"

"You might not. There is a very slim chance you do, but it is quite possible. Now for the archery captain, nopony but myself and his squad know who he is. Although he has been captain for a short amount of time, he is one of the strongest ponies in Equestria. You should have an interesting time meeting him if you haven't actually already."

"And why is that?"

"He is...different from most of the ponies you will ever meet."

"Is he that mysterious?"

"That is one way of putting it, we suppose."

Wow, this guy must be like a hardass or something. Maybe he's one of those guys that is the strong and silent type but really kick ass in a fight. "Okay, when do I get to meet them?"

"Well if nothing unpredictable happens, such as you just bumping into each other, you should get acquainted sometime during your mission."

"Okay then. Is that all Princess?"

"That is all we have to say for now, yes."

"I'll be on my way then. It was nice talking with you." I said as I turned to the exit.

"It was...interesting. Take care Shadow Flash. We hope to see you again soon." The princess then turned to the memorial structure in silence, lost in thought.

I continued on my way upstairs, leaving the princess to stare at the memorial thing behind the table. I wonder what that's all about.

I left the Wonderbolts HQ building, and saw Ni waiting for me outside.

"Hey Ni, what's up?"

"I guess your feeling better now, huh?"

I motioned up and took flight. He did the same and flew next to me. Next to me being a good distance away so he didn't smack the hell out of me with his wings.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better, what of it?"

"Nothing, just glad to hear it."

"Yeah, that potion helped me out pretty nicely. All it took was a few rounds of sex to kick in."

"Something I didn't need to hear, but good to know."

I laughed. "Sorry, I can't help it."

"I'm really not doing anything tomorrow, did you want to spend some time together?"

"What? Like hang out?"

"Exactly."

"I don't know, I might be busy with Rainbow. Don't you have a marefriend or something?"

"Well...not really."

"Oh that's cool. How about I help you get one tomorrow?"

"That's okay, I don't really-"

"When's the last time you got laid Ni?"

He mumbled something I couldn't make out.

"What was that? I didn't hear you."

"...never.."

"One more time dude."

"Never! I've never been laid!"

"Oh shit! For real?!"

"...Yeah."

"Hey, nothin' to be ashamed about Ni, because your best bud Shadow is going to get you laid tomorrow!"

"Shadow, really, I'm fine."

"Oh hell no you're not! I'm not taking no for an answer! Me, Soarin, and Barry will help you out tomorrow! You can count on that!"

"..."

"No need for a thank you Ni, just be at the sanctuary tomorrow at noon and I'll get Barry and Soarin there as well! You'll see dude, tomorrow, you will be a virgin no more!" With that, I branched off and flew home. I walked in it looked like Rainbow wasn't home, or she just wasn't in the living room.

"Rainbow, you here?"

No response. Eh, she's probably hanging out with Twilight or one of the other elements. I'm pretty tired so I guess I'll go to bed.

I trotted upstairs and got myself comfortable on the bed. Tomorrow I'm going to do my duty as a friend and get another friend laid.

So how about it? :P. Tell me your thoughts on the conversation with Luna, and the chat with Ni by leaving a review/comment. Next chapter will make you laugh. Sorry for the long wait for this chapter by the way, I was just lazy.

Chuck Norris fact of the day: Rainbows are what happens when Chuck Norris roundhouse kicks Richard Simmons.