Once A Shadow - From the other side

Today's the big day, the Young Flyers Competition. While I'm not participating in the competition, If Shadow and/or Rainbow get a good place (or win), they'll get some good points towards becoming wonderbolts and finally, I might have some new guys to pick on. Just joking bout that bit, but it'll still be nice to have someone new around. I got up, no time for breakfast, walked out and found that everyone else had left already. Jerks. I flew out to the Cloudiseum, and when I got there surprisingly, there weren't that many entries. The spectators line however, was longer than a pinkie party conga line. Oh boy, this should take a while. But then I remembered that I was a wonderbolt, and gave myself a facehoof. I was about to head on in when I saw some familiar faces.

_ "Hey guys. Shadow, are you heading to the sign-up area?"

"Yeah, I'm just about to."

"Rainbow, besides you, who are the judges for this year?" Twilight asked

"Besides me, the judges are going to be Spitfire and Blaze."

"I'll see you guys after the show, I need to go sign up." I said as I flew off.

"Alright, good luck Shadow! We're rooting for you!" Rarity said.

I nodded, and flew up to the sign up area. There were only about twenty other ponies here. There were two booths, one for single entries, and another for pairs. Huh, I didn't know this thing could use pairs. Oh well. I trotted up to the single entry booth, before a certain unwanted pony called my name.

"Landon! Over here boy!" My dad called

"Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? Go away!"

"Okay now look, I'm sorry about that drama with your...mare friend. I have come to terms with that. I'm sorry I never paid you as much attention as I should have on our world. I want to make it up to you, so I signed us up for a pair team!" He finished with a smile.

"You, you WHAT?"

"I thought this would help make us become closer."

"...I hate you."

"You say that now Landon. Come now, you might have fun with your old man! I even took time to learn how to fly."

"Wait, how did you even know about this place?"

"When you saw that one episode of your show on the television, you couldn't stop talking about it. When I died, I asked to be in the world you went to, so I ended up here. I asked around, and I found out about this competition, and that it had a pair entry. So I took it upon myself to learn how to fly. When the time came, I signed us up."

I collapsed on the ground. I was about to enjoy myself! Now this guy is going to drag me down, and prevent me from winning! And the worst part is, I can't do shit about it!

"Oh get up Landon. The competition is starting. Let's head over to the starting area and watch the other contestants."

I groaned and got up to follow him. We were the last ones on the list. That bothered me because it meant I had to spend more time with this jackass.

"So, what's her name boy?"

"What?"

"Your mare friend, what's her name?"

"What do you care?"

"Well, I was wondering when I get to formally meet my son's love."

"It's Rainbow Dash, happy?"

"No need to be so hostile."

"Are you kidding me? You never once tried to act like a dad, now you expect me to just act like you didn't ignore me for eighteen years, and suddenly accept you? Go to hell."

"I know I never tried before Landon, but I'm trying now. I didn't realize how important you were to me until you were taken away in that car accident."

"Funny how it took my death to see that."

He didn't respond. We just sat there in silence as it got closer to our turn. Eventually, the pegasus in front of us was called. We were after her.

"When we go out there, stay out of my way. I can do this on my own."

"We are a pair for a reason. We are going to have to work together if we want to win."

"Number twenty!" The mare with a clipboard called.

That was us.

"Lets go boy."_ -Chapter 9-

Well what do you know? He actually took my advice, maybe I should give advice more often. I walked up to the security guard and showed my I.D card. He nodded and let me past. Just before the competition started, I found the rest of the wonderbolts, making last minute checks.

"There you guys are. Thanks for leaving me behind." I said with a disgruntled voice.

Soarin replied. "It's your fault for sleeping in, so don't blame us."

"Oh, fuck. Never mind then. You all set here or is there something almost pointless you want me to do?"

"Yea, sit down and watch. With any luck, We'll have a new recruit or two."

I complied and sat down to watch.

_ We arrived to the starting area. I looked around at all of the pegasi, I saw my friends in the distance. I looked around some more, and I saw Rainbow and the other two judges. I also saw Princess Celestia.

"Begin!"

We flew out. My dad tried to chase me. I was managing to stay away from him. Looking back, I was flying so fast, I was leaving a trail of black outlined with crimson. When my dad flew threw, it turned the streak into a black, crimson, and white stripe. I guess it was cool, because the crowd was cheering. I was flying in all kinds of directions, but the old bastard was still following me! How the hell was he this fast?

Time to lose him for good. I stopped in mid-air and started flying straight at him. He barreled away at the last moment, and he got right back to following me.

"Go away!" I yelled, audible only to him over the screaming crowd.

Over to Barry, Twilight, and Friends.

"What are they doing?" Applejack asked.

"Is this part of the performance?" Twilight added

"I don't think so, it looks like he's trying to keep away from him. The crowd doesn't seem to know that though. I honestly don't think Landon planned on being in the competition with his father." Barry said._

What the fuck are those two doing? It looked impressive but I didn't think it was part of their routine. If anything, it looks like Shadow's trying to get as far away as possible from his dad, unsuccessfully. It seemed that Shadow was trying to lose him in high altitudes, when suddenly he does an unexpected drop, hurtling at high velocity when BOOM! An explosion of black and crimson starts spreading through the skies. I think he just did a sonic rainboom!

"Hey, Soarin, ever seen anything likethat before?" I asked.

"No, never in my life have I seen something like this." He replied.

"Bet ya 5 bits he calls it a shadow-something." I joke.

"You're on. We'll probably have to have a word with him after this, maybe at the Gala."

"I reckon so, Spitfire! aren't you going to go congrateulate the two of them?" I said, braking her out of a daze from watching that finale.

She stammered "Huh? Oh, right, right."

_"SHADOW!"

I look up to see a rainbow blur flying at me. It tackled me to the ground.

"That was incredible Shadow! You did a sonic rainboom!" Rainbow said

"I wouldn't call it a sonic rainboom, since it wasn't a rainbow."

"What would you say it was then? You get to name it since you did it."

"How about a shadow pulse?"_

"Told ya, pay up." I whispered to Soarin.

_"That's an awesome name, I love it!"

Just then, Spitfire, Blaze, and Princess Celestia trotted over.

"Congratulations to you and your father Shadow, I name the both of you this year's champions!" the Princess said.

I bowed. "Thank you Princess Celestia." I said as she placed the trophy on my head.

"You're welcome. I must go now, but I look forward to seeing you all at the Gala in two days. Congratulations again." Then she flew away escorted by two of her royal guards.

Spitfire trotted up to me. "Congratulations Shadow Flash."

I blushed and looked away. There is a difference between royalty, and a star. Royalty demands to be looked at. A star makes you stammer like a moron looking for the right words. "Uhh, thanks. I appreciate it."

She turned to Rainbow. "I see you two are together. I'll tell you what. Since both of you are now among the fastest fliers in Equestria, I'll give you two V.I.P. Passes for the Gala. That way, we have more time to hang out."

Rainbow fainted, and I just stood there.

Spitfire laughed. "Right, I'll take that as an 'I accept'. I'll see you two at the Gala!" She finished as she flew away._

"Right, I don't know about you guys, but watching that spectacle has made me thirsty. Let's hit the local bar for a drink, so everybody can get rehydrated from all that drooling you were doing." I said with a smirk. I was replied with a hit on the head.

"Okay, lets go everybody. First round's on me!" I spent the rest of the day drinking and trying not to get a hangover, with mild success.