Chapter 1-Emerging from the Shadows
“Shadow! Wake up!” I rolled over, trying to block the knocking on the door. “Shadow! Get up!” I slowly opened my eyes, blinking hard to wake myself up.
“Come on in!” I said, sleepily. Princess Luna walked inside my room, flanked by two guards.
“Ahh, you're awake.” she said. “Good. Celestia wishes to see you when you are fully awake.”
“Thanks, Princess.” She nodded and left the room. I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth and polished my horn.
Oh, I guess you want to know some things about me? Fair enough. My name is Shadow. I'm a young mare with a blue coat and mane. My tail was green though.
Princess Celestia had found me as a orphan and had decided to “adopt” me as her personal assistant. I was very grateful for the home and the job wasn't bad either. I am a unicorn and was well trained in magic. Celestia herself had said I was as strong as the Element of Magic, her student Twilight Sparkle. I had heard many things about the Elements of Harmony, and had seen all 6 ponies that had them when the changelings almost took over Canterlot.
I never really left the castle, having spent almost my whole life there. Celestia had preferred to have me close to her as much as possible, so I never asked. But I was hoping that could change soon.
I dashed down the hallway to Celesta’s library, where I had sensed the princess was. Bursting in, I yelled, “Sorry I'm late Princess!”
Celestia turned and smiled at the sight of me, all disheveled. “Your mane is in a mess, but I see that you still remembered to polish your horn.”
“Oh!” I gasped. My horn flashed and my mane instead of becoming straight, decided to puff up like a cloud. “Rats!” I grumbled, struggling with the spell.
Celestia laughed, something she liked to do a lot and used a spell to straighten my mane. “Come over here, Shadow.” I walked up next to the princess, taking a glance at the book she was reading.
“What do you think this is?” Celestia asked.
I took a glance at the book. “This is a spell book, right?”
“Correct.” I was told. Then I knew why I had been summoned. Everyday either of the princesses would have me test out a spell to help sharpen my magic. Today was no exception.
“Shadow, I have a surprise for you today, but you can't have it unless you can preform this spell correctly.” the white alicorn told me. I read the spell. “Advanced Teleportation? I already know how to teleport, Princess.”
Celestia gave me a smirk, the one she gave when she knew something I didn't. “But did you know that certain ponies can teleport things to them?” She pointed at a flower in a jar that was over by the door. In a flash of her horn, the flower was in front of us.
“Wow!” I said, impressed. Nothing either of the princesses showed me ceased to impress me. Luna never did much with me, not hating me but not really liking me either. Maybe I should ask Celestia.....
Whoop, going off topic there. I spaced back in as Celestia asked, “Are you ready to try this spell?”
“Sure! What am I bringing here?” I happily asked.
Suddenly, a picture appeared in front of me. I looked at the lavender colored mare then gasped. “Is the the Element of Magic I saw at the wedding? Twilight Sparkle?”
Celestia nodded. “She is waiting at her house to come here. Shadow, your test for today is to locate her with your magic and bring her here.”
My mind raced, thinking of a million different problems. But there was one thing I never did. I never questioned the tests. I didn't want to appear weak in front of the princess. She must have sensed my nervousness when she asked. “Are you feeling alright, Shadow? If you like, I will save this test for lat..”
“No! I can do this!” I yelled. I looked over the book then stepped back away from the princess. Taking a deep breath, I began to cast the spell. A black beam of light came from my horn and hit the ground. Moving my head, I was able to create a circle on the ground. I then slowly lifted my head, creating sort of a magic cylinder. I closed the top, then I shot another beam at the inside. A brilliant flash occurred, then the magic cylinder disappeared, leaving a sitting lavender pony with a book there.
I shuddered, then sat as well. “Wonderful, though I don't know why you used a magic seal.” Celestia said.
“Because it was a living creature and my first time,” I started to explain, “I wanted to make sure the magic wouldn't override and send her somewhere else.” Strangely, as Celestia nodded and smiled, I felt better.
“Twilight Sparkle, please meet Shadow.” Celestia said. We nodded and shook hooves.
“So, why did you want me to bring her here?” I asked.
“Well, I thought it was time for you to get out and see some more of Equestria, so I asked Twilight if she could let you stay with her for a while.”
“And I said yes!” Twilight said, excited. “I can show you all around Ponyville!”
“Are you sure about this Princess?” I asked. “What if you need me to help you with something?”
“If it's very important I will send you a letter.” Celestia said with a smirk. “Now you two head on back to Ponyville. Shadow, do you want to try?”
I shook my head. “I should probably only do one major spell every day.” Celestia smiled, pointed her horn at us and everything disappeared.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a library, sort of the one in Canterlot but smaller. “This is a really nice library.” I told the unicorn.
“Thanks.” Twilight said. “I tried to fill it with as many books as I could.”
I nodded, then yawned. “That kind of magic rather takes it out of me. Anyway we could meet everypony a little bit later?”
“Well, I guess.” Twilight said, thoughtfully. “Besides, Ponyville is a little more active in the evening.”
Yawning, I laid down on the rug on her floor. “Yeah, usually I have a little more stamina.”
“You rest, Shadow.” Twilight said. “I have some work to do anyway. We'll meet everypony as soon as you wake up!” Nodding, I laid down to rest.
…
Celestia walked to her balcony. She sighed and looked over Canterlot. “Feeling a little tired sister?” Luna said, walking up next to her sister.
Celestia spoke softly, “Yes Luna. I guess you could say I am.”
Luna put her hoof on her sister. “You know that she needs to know soon. It's slowly killing you.”
Celestia stubbornly shook her head. “Her being away for a while. It'll help me regain my strength.”
Luna turned to walk away, then she turned her head to look at Celestia. “Sister, if you get any weaker when she returns, I will be forced to reveal. And then you know what has to happen after that.”
As Luna walked away, Celestia sighed again looking at the stars. “Yes, I do know what has to happen. I refuse to let that occur.”
Chapter 2-Meeting the Future
I yawned, opening my eyes to see a scaly face. “Umm, hello?” I said. The face jerked away from me.
“Whaaa! Sorry!” I sat up and saw that it was a purple baby dragon with green scales.
“Hey, it's okay.” I said, making sure to speak calmly. “My name is Shadow, what's yours?”
The young dragon seemed to relax at my calm tone. “Spike.”
Suddenly, we both heard a rattling upstairs. “Spike? Shadoe? Is everything okay?” She walked down the stairs levitating about 6 books. “Sorry Spike. I forgot you were helping Rarity and I didn't tell you Shadow was coming and...” Not paying attention to where she was walking, she stepped on a book and stumbled.
Not thinking, I leapt up toward her. I lit up my horn toward the books that she dropped and whipped my head backwards, sending the books toward the table. I landed in front of the purple unicorn and she fell on me. “Oof.” I winced.
“Oh, Shadow! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?” Twilight asked, worried. She quickly rolled off of me.
“Yeah, I'll be fine.” I groaned. “Isn't as bad as when I accidentally blew up three of Princess Celestia's spell books.”
Twilight giggled. “How did that occur?” she asked, sorting though the books that landed on the table.
“She told me to pop some popcorn, I ended up popping the books.” I said with a smile. “She make me find every page. Without magic.”
“Kinda harsh?” Twilight said.
“Nah. She just wants to me to be the best I can be at magic.” I thought about that for a second. “For being her assistant, she really works with me a lot.”
Twilight finished sorting though her books. “Maybe she sees something in you.” She took a look at the clock and gasped. “Oh no! If we don't leave now, we won't be able to see everypony! Spike, please put these books away for me?”
The baby dragon nodded. “Sure thing Twi.”
Twilight nudged me. “Ready, Shadow? Time for a little teleporting.” She put her hoof on my flank and we disappeared.
…
We materialized in a apple field. “This is a nice field.” I said. Understatement of the year. This field was huge, and I mean huge. Apple trees were everywhere. As we started walking toward a barn in the distance, I couldn't stop marveling at the expanse of the field.
“This is Sweet Apple Acres, Shadow. It's one of the oldest apple orchards in Equestria.” Twilight told me.
“It's beautiful.” Understatement of the year again, I know. But I was truly lost for words.
We came across a yellow-orange earth pony fiercely bucking a tree with her hind legs, knocking the apples off the tree into a cart. “Howdy there.” she said, looking at us. She kicked the tree one last time and walked over to us. “Who's your friend Twilight?”
“This is Shadow.” Twilight told her.
The mare walked up and shook my hoof. “Name's Applejack. You new around here?”
“I guess you could say that.” I said. “I've been living in Canterlot my whole life.”
Applejack walked over the the cart and put the strap around her so she could pull it. “Well, Ah sure am glad to meet you. Sorry to be rushing off like this, but Ah need to get these apples inside before dark. See you later!” She trotted off with the cart.
“She's the Element of Honesty, correct?” I said to Twilight.
She nodded. “Yep, come on. We still have more ponies to meet.” She put her hoof on me and we disappeared.
…
We reappeared in the middle of Ponyville in front of a rather colorful building. “Carousel Boutique.” I said, reading the sign hanging over the door.
“Yeah. My friend Rarity works here. She makes great clothing.” Twilight glanced at me. “Maybe she could make you something for you.” She walked up and knocked on the door.
A white unicorn filly answered the door. “Oh hello Twilight!”
“Hi Sweetie Belle. Is Rarity here?”
The filly nodded. “Yeah, but she's REALLY busy. I'm sure she can take a break though. You and your friend can come in. She's in her art room.”
We thanked Sweetie Belle and went inside. Sweetie Belle shut the door behind us and went into a different room. When we reached the room, we saw that the room was covered in fabric. On the walls, all over the floor and draped over tables. A white unicorn, similar to Sweetie Belle was hunched over a sewing machine.
“Rarity! What's going on?” Twilight asked, as confused as I was.
Rarity didn't seem to hear her as she dashed back and forth around the room. Twilight's horn lit up and she stopped Rarity by lifting her into the air.
“Oh Twilight dear, I didn't see you there.” she said, finally seeing us. Twilight gently put her down. “What brings you here now? And who is this nice mare with you?”
I started blushing and mumbled my name as started tapping at the ground with my hoof. Twilight mercifully stepped in and said. “Her name is Shade and she's going to be around Ponyville for a while.”
“Is she staying with you?” Rarity asked. As Twilight nodded, she said, “Well, that's pretty lucky for you, isn't it dear?”
Now even Twilight started blushing. Clearing her throat she said, “What's going on here, Rarity? You normally aren't this busy at this time.”
Rarity put her hoof to her forehead dramatic and said. “I suddenly received a dress order from Princess Luna HERSELF! So I've been sewing non-stop for hours!” She started to rummage though the fabric on the ground. “I simply must finish this in time! I don't want to look bad in front of the princess!”
Twilight walked forward and poked Rarity. “If you want, I can help you sort though this.”
“Oh thanks, but I wouldn't want to impose. Besides, I don't think Shadow wants to poke though all this clothing.” Rarity said.
I smiled and shook my head. “It's okay Twi. If you want, you could send me to the next pony you wanted me to meet.”
Twilight thought for a second then her horn lit up as she smiled. “Okay! You'll have fun here. See you in a bit!” A purple glow surrounded me and everything disappeared.
…
Twilight and Rarity proceeded to clean up the art room after Shade left. “Twilight dear, is something wrong?”
“What makes you think that?” Twilight asked, folding some fabric.
“Well, ever since you sent Shadow away, you've been awful quiet.” Rarity pointed out.
Twilight sighed. “It's Shadow. Not that I don't like her, but there's something off about her.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Rarity asked.
“When we returned from Canterlot, she took a nap because he was tired. About an hour after she fell asleep, I accident bumped into her and her coat seemed to....shimmer.”
“Maybe the light was on it at a certain angle?” Rarity thought as she put the folded fabric in a drawer.
“I don't think so, because I cast a magic seeking spell.” Twilight said. Somepony cast an enchantment spell on her, probably when she was very young.” She started to sweep the room. “I can't tell what it is unless I remove the spell.”
“Well, it wouldn't be very proper to ask her if you can start casting spells on her.” Rarity said.
Twilight nodded. “It's probably nothing. Are you good here?”
“Oh yes darling. Thank you for helping me.” the white unicorn said. “I'll try to finish one more dress tonight.”
“Don't overwork yourself. See you later.” Twilight lit her horn and disappeared.
…
Back in Canterlot, the only time I saw any ponies other then the princesses show a lot of emotions was at the meetings Celestia took me too with the nobles of other parts of the country. There might be some yelling or anger and laughing. Celestia told me once that any meeting with out at least one laugh was a failure. I enjoyed a good chuckle myself.
But remind me to kill Twilight for sending me to where the Element of Laughter was BY MYSELF.
Pinkie Pie was a hyperactive pink pony and she lived up to being the Element of Laughter. Besides the fact she talked at 1 million words a minute. As soon as I arrived at Sugercube Corner, I was pelted with questions.
“Hiiiiiiiiiiii, I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name. Oh, I like your mane! And your tail! And your coat! Are you good with magic? Well, of course you are, you came here from nowhere! Do you know Twilight? And Rarity? And....” She asked all that in 15 flat. No joke.
I answered her questions as best as I could whenever I could squeeze a word in. Suddenly Twilight appeared next to me and Pinkie shot forward to hug her. “Hi Twilight! Your friend is really quiet!”
“Did you give her a chance to talk?” Twilight asked with a smile. As she sat next to me, she started grinning as I glared at her. She knew what she was doing when she sent me here.
Pinkie popped out from behind the counter. “You two hungry for anything? I got cupcakes!” She held out a try of strawberry cupcakes.
“Thanks Pinkie.” Twilight said. “Sorry we can't stay, but it's getting late and we still have two more stops tonight.”
“Okie dokie!” Pinkie said. Twilight and I both took a cupcake and bit into it.
“Wow!” I said. “This is a amazing cupcake!”
Pinkie giggled. “Thanks! New recipe. Some very special ponies helped me with it! Hopefully I can find more ponies to help!”
“I'm sure you can Pinkie.” Twilight said. “We'll see you later.” We disappeared form the cake store.
…
Twilight and I reappeared under a rather huge cloud foundation. “Alright, let me cast this cloud walking spell on us.” she said. She lit her horn and a faint white glow covered us for a split second.
“If we're going on the clouds, this gives me a opportunity to test out a spell.” I said. “Don't tell Celestia I tried this.” I stepped back and my horn started to glow purple. Twilight watched in amazement as I started rising in the air. I felt a sharp pain on my back. It hurt worse and worse until.......
In a flash of magical light, two blue wings appeared on my back. I landed and stretched them out. “Well, not doing that for a while.” I looked at Twi. “Twilight, close your mouth.”
“I didn't even know ponies could do that! I mean, you changed what you are!” Twilight gasped. “You have wings!!!”
“It's a temporary spell.” I said. “Shouldn't we get moving before nightfall? It's almost here, look.” In the distance, Celestia's sun was going down. Twilight nodded and we teleported away.
We reappeared at a race track in the sky. “Umm, Twilight? Were you trying to take us to Cloudsdale? Because you missed if you were.”
Twilight gave me a smirk. “We were going to meet Rainbow Dash here anyway. I thought that now you have wings.....” she trailed off. Suddenly my throat went dry. I knew what her plan was. Suddenly the cyan pegasus she was talking about landed in front of us.
“Hey Twi. I got your message. What did you need?” she asked.
“Rainbow Dash, meet my friend Shadow.” As we shook hooves, she dropped the bomb. “She heard about how you won the Best Young Fliers Contest and wanted to challenge you in a race.”
Okay, so I didn't know what her plan was. Buck. Rainbow looked at me. “This guy? Okay, you're on!”
Double buck. I sighed and stepped up to the starting line. Twilight stood a little off to the side and counted down. “3...2...1..Go!”
We both took off. Considering this wasn't my very FIRST time using the temporary flying spell I wasn’t doing to bad. But I was a unicorn and Rainbow has been a pegasus her whole life. I didn't even attempt to kid myself that I was going to beat her. But that didn't stop me from trying. We flew down a straight path, went in a loop, flew down, came back up. I was on her tail for the most part. But when we were nearing the finish line, my wings turned white and disappeared. “Oh, nooooooooo!” I fell and biffed it into the clouds. I came to a stop right in front of the finish line.
Rainbow Dash flew over the line, then turned and walked back up to me. “You know, for those not being real wings, you did pretty good. If you plan to keep using that spell, I'll teach ya how to really fly.”
I got up and shook the clouds off. “Thanks.”
Twilight looked at the sky. “Sorry Dash but we need to head back. And thanks for the show.”
Dash just grinned and flew off as Twilight teleported us back to her house.
When we returned, we saw that everything was put away and dusted. “Aw, Spike must have cleaned the whole house for me while we were gone. He's so sweet.” Twilight said. She yawned, “Sorry we couldn't see everypony, but Fluttershy is probably asleep by now. We'll visit her tomorrow.”
I spread myself on the rug. “Sure thing. Night, Twi.”
She went upstairs saying back, “Good night Shadow.”
…
Outside Twilight's house, a black and green mare was watching the house. “I'm running out of time, but I can't approach her directly. Too much risk.” She started pacing. “I'll befriend her. Make him think that I only want the best for her. And while I'm at it, it won't hurt to split apart the Elements either. Hahaha!!” The mare shimmered and disappeared.
