The Strange Life story of Shadow Dash

by xRadiantXFrostx

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Queen Chrysalis, Other, Romance, Fluttershy, Adventure, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Dark
Length: 2033

She is sent as a spy, but will emerge as something else.

Lightning Dash has a great life. But the Changeling threat still rings in everypony's ears. After being sent to spy on them for her unique talent, She figures out some tough choices need to be made.

Published 2012-10-29 02:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-29 02:20:01 UTC

Chapter One

“Will Lightning Dash be brought to Princess Celestia’s private chambers?”

Following the Royal Guard, down the corridor, caused her to shake from nervousness. Why does the princess want to see ME, she thought. As the doors opened, she knew that in moments, all of her questions would be answered.

“Princess Luna,” said Celestia. “Why are you here?”

(Point of view change- Lightning Dash)
I transformed back to myself. Princess Celestia managed a smile, but I saw she just wanted to get right to business. “Hello,” said the princess. “I’d come with formalities, but we need to get to business. Now, you are aware of the recent attack of the changelings?”

I nodded, shuffling my hooves.
Princess Celestia began. “I am well aware of your power of imitation. Please show me your skill. Would you turn into...a Changeling?”
I turned into what could be described as a changeling; I could only turn into what I had seen before, and a fleeting glance was all I saw.

“Very good. Now here is a map I found on a changeling, and pretend you’re one of them. Would you like some tea?”
I couldn’t understand. Princess Celestia was patient, gentle, kind. Other than the offer of tea, she was completely out of character. “Can I say goodbye to my friends?” I asked. Princess Celestia gave me permission, telling me to embark on my quest right after. “What’s the point of this long and dangerous quest, anyway?” Seriously, I wondered.

“We need to destroy them from the source, or we will surely be plagued again. Just give me an update every month, kill Chrysalis, and you can come back. Then you can rejoin civilization. Thank you. Please leave.”

So I wouldn't even know what I had to do if I didn't ask. What the hell, princess?

I went back to Cloudsdale to say goodbye to Cloud Blossom. She practiced Oriental fighting arts for a living. I went to Ponyville to say goodbye to Rainbow Dash, who became a weather pony, and to Fluttershy, who was shaping up to be a real hippie pushover who talked to angry bunnies. Or a quiet peace-loving soul who cared for nature. Potato, Putatoh. I also said goodbye to Applejack, as we grew close after Rainbow and Fluttershy moved down here, to Pinkie Pie, and those I was just acquainted with, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. No, I don’t have anything against unicorns, if you're wondering. That was goodbye, And the I had to leave. I bolted up to the sky, with white wings of heaven. I could not be a shadow of wind, however cool that might have looked, because I never did a Sonic Rainboom. I just pretended.

Chapter Two

Lightning Dash was flying. The wind in her main, the smell of heather. She flew and flew. Checking her map, she realized she was close to the changeling realm, so she transformed into a changeling. It wasn’t as fast as white wings, but she was starting to get the feel. She saw the castle in the overhead. Looks pretty scary. Kinda cool.
...
Look, another changeling!
She smells funny.
Hey, wake up! WAKE IT!
(Point of view change- Lightning Dash)
I woke up. “What’s your name?” a little one asked. “Hush,” said his mother. “We don’t know what happened to this changeling. Then it hit me- There were families to destroy. We saw but the army during the attack. I was sent to destroy families, ruin lives. I have to stay strong to do this.
Did the princess really know about the changelings, anyway? They attack, yay, let's take a normal civilian and send her on a quest to hurt people. Why? The army is what mattered. sweep in, bomb the place, I'm done! These are lives, lives that matter to someone. In fact, this even might aggravate them more. Is there a secret motive?

(Point of view change- Queen Chrysalis)
I saw the little creature. “I did not give birth to this one!” I cried. “Do not kill it! Be wary!” I was fairly worried of this wayward changeling. It was...different somehow... I would learn more of it soon. I would take it as my apprentice and teach it our ways... It knew little so far. “Come with me,” I told it. We headed to my chambers. I asked if it had a name. I shouldn’t say, thought Lightning Dash. My name is not like theirs, is it? “I don’t know,” it said. I told her, “From now on, you are Shadow’s Depth. You will be my apprentice, and I will reteach you in our ways.” The others were born with my memories. She would be interesting.
(Point of view change-Lightning Dash/Shadow’s Depths)
I liked my new name. I would, sadly, have to kill her soon. I could do it now, before I got to know her well. But the day was almost done... I would do it tomorrow.

I woke up to Queen Chrysalis’ loud and kind voice. It was reminiscent of a quieter version of Princess Luna’s royal voice. “Today I will begin getting you up to date, Shadow’s Depths, with everything here, starting with the history of our kind.
(Narrator here- read it. You technically don’t have to read the whole thing, but read most of it.)
Once, long ago, there was one equine race, Alicorns. Some had the power of shapeshifting, some could walk on clouds, and some had stronger magic. They evolved into four peaceful races, Changelings, Earth ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi, though some Alicorns remained. The Changelings were ridiculed for their ragged dark features, their strange abilities. As shapeshifting was bred out of the other races, many forgot the Changelings were perfectly benevolent and saw nothing but shady appearances. It wasn't bred out of me! And so, Emperor Helione and Empress Selesnia, Sun and Moon respectively, banished the whole race of Changeling to calm the other races. They died shortly after bearing children, one of which was the Heaven King. “We know it was of guilt, and we bear nothing against those rulers, who made a very hard decision.” Queen Chrysalis wistfully smiled. She was reading over Shadow’s’ shoulder. “Go on.”
Queen Solar and the Heaven King were not so caring, but soon make sure that the threat is gone. There was no threat. One changeling tried coming back to Equestria, but was stopped by guards and made an example of. Trying to keep the peace, the changeling refused to fight back. When he was killed, the Changelings attacked. The Alicorn Panel, the ever-shrinking group of 76 Alicorns, devised spells to fight back. The strong spells landed all changelings back to their own realm. The first ruler, Queen Starlight, kept peace, but the second queen, known as the queen of Blight, led many revolts. After that, the Changelings fell back for millennia.

“Now,” said Queen Chrysalis. ”this book hasn’t been updated for recent events. I nearly succeeded at speaking to the princess about readmission into society. I got into the kingdom, and into her chambers. But she rejected me before I said anything! So I decided to get revenge. Our people have been ridiculed long enough, and this needed to happen. We will need to wait for a new leader of Equestria to negotiate peace a different way. Honestly, I feel a bit guilty. Maybe I should have just left a note. Nevertheless, revenge helped our kind feel better... until Cadence came back. Then we were once again expelled.

For months, Shadow’s Depths shared good times with the changelings. For months, she sent reports back to Princess Celestia.
“Here are the notes,” said Lightning Dash. “Thank you,” said Princess Celestia. Lightning Dash cringed, feeling guilty as she flew back.

Prologue

Prologue

Lightning Dash had her cutie mark. She was a very special filly.

“Hey Rainbow,” she said. “I know you’ll win the race!” Lightning Dash had three good friends- Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and a pegasus named Cloud Blossom. If you want to know about Cloud Blossom, I’ll say she’s a cream-colored pony with a light pink mane and tail, a red stripe and is one of the only non-guard ponies in Equestria that can fight. Her cutie mark was a sword. By the way, Lightning Dash is a black pony with a yellow and white mane and tail.

“This is so uncool! I’m like, the only pegasus at this camp without a cutie mark!”
Fluttershy gave Rainbow Dash a caring look. “I don’t have my cutie mark,” said Fluttershy “Plenty of fillies don’t have them.” Cloud Blossom chimed in. “You only hang around here anyway, so it’s no wonder that you haven’t seen any others.”

“Still...” said Rainbow. “By the way, where did Lightning go?”
The race...

“On your starting lines...” said Fluttershy. “Three...” She coughed. “Three, two, one... Go!” The pegasi had started so fast, Fluttershy fell of her cloud! Still, Lightning Dash was nowhere to be seen. And then, SONIC RAINBOOM TIME! Rainbow Dash had it! She won the race! Her shadow congratulated her. “L-lightning? Did you shadow me?”

“Yes I did,” responded the smiling shadow. “Yes I did.”

She got her cutie mark by shadowing lightning. It was a dark design that rested on her flank. But she could do more. Much, much more.

Chapter Three

Two years had passed. Shadow’s Depths knew everything she had, but she still lived at the castle Why haven’t I killed her yet? She knew she would have to. It’s the only way to get home. I’ll do it tonight.

That night, she quietly entered the Queen’s chambers. I have to do this I have to do this I have to do this...
She crept up to the sleeping queen, who had a smile on her face. She burst out crying, waking the queen. “What is wrong, child?” she asked. Shadow’s Depths spilled everything out. “I’m not a changeling. I’m a shapeshifting pegasus who was sent by Princess Celestia to spy on you and kill you. I’ve been spying on you for years. It’s killing me. I almost killed you. I’m sorry!” She sobbed harder.

Queen Chrysalis’ eyes flared before she calmed down. “Sleep here with me. We will discuss this in the morning.” Shadow’s Depths, still crying, nuzzled down. Queen Chrysalis crooned a lullaby. They fell asleep.

“I call a meeting for all of the Royal City! I, Queen Chrysalis, have an announcement!”
(Point of view change- Lightning Dash/Shadow’s Depths)
The announcement was my 7-year exile “I’m sorry,” Queen Chrysalis told me. “I love you like my own, but you must know the consequences of your actions. You may return to Equestria, providing you say nothing more of us. Goodbye, Shadow’s Depths.”

I returned to the castle in Equestria, unused to the bright colors. In a little while, I was to return to Celestia.

I returned to the castle in Equestria, unused to the bright colors. In a little while, I was to return to Celestia.
“I suppose you have killed queen Chrysalis,” said the princess. I quickly lied, saying I did. Princess Celestia’s smile disappeared. “You lie. Why, Lightning Dash?” “I can’t,” I replied. I remembered our bonds, and felt Celestia's disappointment for not killing someone I loved, for not endangering an entire race. I got mad. “She’s more of a leader than you ever were. I spat at her hooves and stalked off. I said goodbye to my friends again, because I knew what would happen next. “Don’t be silly,” said Applejack. “ The Princess is kinder ‘en that. You can give ’er some credit.” She was wrong.
The next day, it was announced. I was exiled from Equestria forever under the premise of ‘Endangering the nation.’ Yeah, okay Celestia. Not too harsh or anything. 7 years in the middle of nowhere. Where was the princess that let people off easy? Maybe it was because Changelings were never liked. I feel the rising emotions of the Changelings. It was an inexplicable rage.I’ll be the one to kill that b****. Showing no respect for us. No kindness from that realm for the last half a million years. I am a changeling. And I don’t think it’s too harsh.