Once A Shadow - From the other side

I woke up with my mind full of questions.why were there two of them? and how did they know each other? And how many others will show up? Gaagh, too many thoughts. I need to just focus and do my job. I hauled myself out of bed and headed out. if I’m right, today should a good day to have a chat with mr Flash. I was about to see if he was working today when I saw him walking out of the bar. a few seconds later he accidentally bumped into Applebloom.

_"I'm sorry mister, I didn't see ya there."

"Don't worry about it, it was my fault for not paying attention."

Her eyes darted towards my flank, and her eyes went wide. "How come you don't have a cutie mark?"

"That's just because I never found my talent."

"You should come with me! I was just on ma way to a CMC meetin'!"

"CMC? What's that?" I asked, playing dumb.

"It means Cutie Mark Crusaders! There's only three of us so far, but if you came with me, you could be our newest member!" Oh boy...well, I don't have anything better to do.

"Why not?" I said with a smile. This should be good. Besides, how could I resist this epic level of cuteness?

"Alright! Right this way mister!" she said as she trotted in the direction of what I assumed was the CMC clubhouse._ -chapter 5-

As I watched the two walk away, I knew he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. I thought about helping him out of the situation, but then I thought it would be funnier if I just watched. An hour later, I saw Shadow bolt out the door and fly away towards the library. by the time I reached the library, he was gone. I went up to Spike and asked him if he knew where he went.

“I think I saw him head over to Rainbow’s place, why?”

“I wanted to talk to him about something.” I replied sternly.

“Oh, ok. Well, see you!”

“See ya around Spike.” Well, so much for that, I missed him again.Oh well, he’s not going anywhere, might as well have a little patience. I decided I would head over to Rainbow’s place, and have chat with him there. I wasn’t in a hurry, so it took me about half an hour to get there, and when I got there, the place was silent. I knocked on the door and after a minute, Shadow opened it with a lazy look on his face.

“It’s very late, and I’m tired. What do you want?” he said with an upset tone.

I replied with a serious face “I need to talk to you.”

“Wait a minute, I know you, I saw you at the bar yesterday. If this is about that fight take it up with someone else.”

“This isn’t about that, this is about you and your friend, Barry.”

“What about him and me?”

“I overheard your conversation and I know who your are, Landon.”

Just then, Shadow’s face went from lazy to alert in an instant.

“You know who we are?”

“Eeyup, and I’m happy to tell you that I’m one of you.”

He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed himself.

Shadow then asked the most obvious question; “Who are you?”

“My name is Cpt. Daniel Walters of the United States Air Force, A.K.A Hornet.”

“Really, where are you from?”

“Born and raised in Las Vegas, learned a few tricks from my folks who worked at one of the casinos. Ended up dying during a flying accident in Nevada. I was testing out the experimental F-18 Super Hornet at the time, which is how I got the nickname cus I was rather good at flying it. But I’m guessing it was years ago. Anyway, I woke up in the penthouse in one of the casinos in Las Pegas, With a slight hangover; indicating that I was probably drunk beforehand, With a safe with about 20,000 Bits in it with a note saying ‘These are your winnings from the night’s hot streak, nice going at the tables!’ About a week later, I enlisted in the Equestrian Guard, just to keep that army side of me. A little while later, the Wonderbolts showed up, looking for some fresh talent, and they signed me up.”

“Wait a minute, wait a minute, you’re a Wonderbolt?” Shadow said in disbelief.

“Yea, but I’m only a reserve member. I’m also the handyman, but sometimes it feels more like being a babysitter.”

“Hey, me and Rainbow Dash are planning on entering the young flyers competition in a day or two to try and get into the Wonderbolts, think you could put in a good word for us?”

It depends on whether you’re good enough for a recommendation, but who knows? Maybe if you’re good enough I might put in a good word...”

“Gee, thanks.” He said with a flattered voice.

“Anytime.”

Shadow stifled a yawn and said “Look, it’s late, how about we talk about this some other time?”

“Okay, see ya around. Oh, and if you make it into the Wonderbolts, the first round’s on me!” I said as I walked off into the distance. What he had failed to notice was a syringe in my hoof that I had injected him with as he turned around, of which had a serum that gave of a sort of amnesia affect, so he won't remember anything that he shouldn't. Looking at the syringe, I noticed how much I had actually pumped into him. "shit, little too much there." I said to myself. Well that went well, I better get some rest, I’ll need it. I have to report for the Young Flyers Competition for preparations. As I headed back to the Wonderbolts HQ, I felt strangely at ease, probably because I didn’t have to hide my true identity to another pony, at least a few of them anyway. I get to the HQ and Spitfire’s there to meet me, as if she knew I was coming.

She got straight to business. “Your report?”

I replied grimly “Yes sir, the situation has, how do you say, escalated.”

“Don’t tell me, it was a changeling.”

I chuckled. “Nope, it wasn’t.”

“Then what was it?” She sounded like she was running out of patience.

“Either the reports were off, or something happened because there’s TWO of them, not one.”

“Two? Well, that complicates things, but no matter. You did your job, and I’m glad nothing bad happened. Now that’s out of the way, I want you to help out with the preparations for the Young Flyers Competition. Oh and Hornet?”

“Yes?” I said cautiously.

“Good job.” She said and then passionately kissed me on the mouth. “Pass the initiation, and you’ll get more than just than that. But I never said I would make it easy..." She then walked away and let off a slight giggle.

I just stood there, with my mouth gaping wide open, thinking what the fuck just happened? As I walked into the HQ,
Soarin came up to me and said:

"What the matter with you? You look like you just saw a ghost or something."

I finally snapped out of my trance and replied smugly "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Being who he is, he replied with a cocky grin "Really? Try me."

"Spitfire kissed me."

His Jaw dropped. "Seriously?"

"Yea, on the mouth too."

"You are one lucky son of a gun, you know that?"

"Don't I. Listen, I have to stay here for the night and then help with setting up for the Flyers Competition, and I'm ashamed to say I left my room key at home. You don't mind if I bunk with you?"

"Not at all Hornet, not at all. Right now, you're the luckiest guy alive."