Dreams Do Come True:Side Story:Always Been At Your Side

“Twilight, I’m so so sorry” Shadow heard himself saying, nearly crying it.

“You can never be forgiven for what you did to me” Twilight’s voice snapped back, dark, menacing, and accusing.

“Twilight, I didn’t know! I didn’t know…. “Shadow heard himself whimper

“You will never see your children, or me, ever again! you distrustful, unfaith, rockheaded stallion!” Twilight screeched back.

“No, please, no!!” Shadow shouted.

And then all was black again.

***

“Son, you alright?” Shadow heard a voice, distant and unclear. Was he dreaming? Was he even still alive? He didn’t know. He did know that he wasn’t inside, and felt something cold, wet, and thick around him

Shadow ignored the voice. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to death himself.

“Hey son, wake up, now. you need to get out of my cattle trough.” the voice continued to pester him.

He felt a sharp stab in his ribs. something pointy and rough.

“Quit it, voice. let me die,” Shadow grumbled.

“I don’t know who this “voice” is, but I ain’t him, and you need to get up!” he felt a harder, more menacing jab, which made Shadow jump.

“And you sure as hell ain’t dyin’ on my farm.” Shadow finally looked at the source of the voice. He was an Earth pony, with a Dark chestnut coat, and a mane so brown it was almost black.

”Where am I, sir?” Shadow asked the old farmer, unaware how he’d even gotten there.
“Well son, You’re about ten miles outside of any civilization, in the middle of nowhere, laying in a puddle of who knows what.”

“How did I get here?” Shadow asked, hoping the old stallion knew more than he did at that moment.

“Well, I can’t rightly say. I heard a crash last night while I was tryin’ ta sleep, figured I’d investigate it in the morning when the sky was light. Found you laying in my cattle trough, whimpering about Twilight”. Whoever or whatever that is.”Then it all came to Shadow in a blur of of light and voice. He had hit Twilight so hard, he knocked her out. In front of the boys no less. He would never forgive himself, and partly hoped Twilight wouldn’t either.

“Son, snap out of it!” The old farmer knocked his beating stick against Shadow’s skull, hard enough to be felt, but not doing any real damage.

“I don’t know who you are, or where you came from. Hell, I don’t even know if you know who you are. But I can see that you need someplace to lay low for a while. You have the look of a haunted Stallion. I used to have that same look. Then I started this here farm.”

“There’s an old shed out back, mostly used for storing tools and whatnot. If you’re willing to make it livable, it’s all yours. All I ask is that you help me out around here. Been a long time since the powers that be took my wife and cast my son to the winds. It’s awful hard running this place alone.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it”

“Let me have your name, Son.”

“”Shadow, sir, ShadowFoot.”

“Peculiar name for a pony, but what do I care? And enough with the “sir” crap. I ain’t rich, and I ain’t military. Just call me Walnut. Black Walnut.”

“Black Walnut it is.” Shadow said, offering his hoof, which was taken in kind and shook.

“Supper’s roundabout sundown. Cook it yourself or eat what I make. Up to you.”

“Thank you, Walnut, for everything. I’d like to start on that shed.”

“Follow the cow path about 200 yards or so. you’ll see it, high and proud on one of the hills back there. You hit the forest, you’ve gone too far.”

With a wave, Shadow departed. Keeping himself busy for a while was sure to take his mind off things. He would stay out here for a week or so, until he felt he could return to ponyville with a mostly clear conscience. Once he found out which way ponyville was.

***

-Twelve hours previous-

“Twilight, hey, wake up.” Spike shook his mother figure gently, trying to wake her. A large bruise had formed on her cheek. Spike was unsure what to make of what had happened just a few moments ago. He never, ever saw Twilight and Shadow come to blows like that, and had only seen Twilight’s magic activate so badly when they were in immediate danger. But maybe, they were in danger at that moment in time.

“Star! I need your help!“ Spike shouted for his buddy who was crouched in a corner, on the verge of tears.

Star sniffled, unsure of what to do. He had never seen anypony hit anypony. He thought Ponyville was too peaceful for that. Nor had he ever seen Twilight and Shadow, who was his hero, argue so badly.

“Star! I can’t move her on my own! come on!” Spike shouted again, almost in tears himself.

“Oh..ok…” Star mumbled. He knew Twilight was hurt. He didn’t like seeing ponies getting hurt.

With a concentrated effort, the boys lifted Twilight’s prone form onto the reading couch Shadow and Twilight often shared. Usually when they were reading happily together. The thought of the pure happiness, and now pure hurt, almost sent the boys both into gasping sobs.

“Spike, Shadow didn’t mean to hurt Twilight, right?” Star asked the young dragon at his side.

“No, I don’t think he did, Star. He would Never. his heart is as pure as anypony’s. He would never hurt Twilight on purpose.” With this, Star leaned in to Spike’s side, and Spike felt wetness on his scales.

“It’s ok Star. It’ll be ok…” He said, holding him close. Star was younger than Spike, and didn’t need to see these kinds of things. Even Spike knew that.

“Star, I need you to do something really, really important for me.” Spike asked him, holding up Star’s chin and wiping away his tears with a gentle claw.

“What is it, Spike?” Star asked him, putting on his bravest face.

“Sit here with Twilight, and get her an ice pack for her cheek. Just sit with her and if she wakes up, let her know we’re ok. I’m gonna go get Fluttershy and AJ. They’ll be able to help us. Can you do that for me, Star?”

“Yeah Spike, I can do it, What about the twins?”

“They’ll be ok. Twilight whipped up a special brew for them to sleep through the night. I heard her talking about Her and Shadow ‘having the night to themselves.’

“OK Spike, but hurry please. I don’t like being alone.”

“You’ll be ok. Owloysius has got your back.” At this, the owl hoo’ed confidently, saluting with one feathery wing.

Spike hurried out the door, running first for Fluttershy’s cottage. She could fly to the acres faster than Spike could ever run, and she would understand the urgency, especially since Spike never ventured outside the property at night, especially on his own, when he knew Twilight would not be happy with him.

***

Spike ran as fast as his legs would carry him, and knocked, hard and loud, on the heavy door of the cottage. He heard all of her pets raise a ruckus, and knew for sure it would get her attention.

“Oh dear. Spike? is that you?” Fluttershy asked, half asleep. Her animals had scared her awake, and after calming them, noticed there was a rapid, frenzied knocking on her door. Next thing she knew, Spike was attached to her leg and sobbing.

“Spike! are you ok? What’s wrong my strong little dragon?” Fluttershy cooed to him, holding him closer.

“Twilight...hurt...Shadow gone….Need you, Applejack…” Spike was sobbing uncontrollably now, shaking with each drawn breath.

“Spike, slow down, it’s ok...tell me what happened..”Fluttershy consoled him. She’d never seen Spike without a goofy smile or quip. This worried her, seeing him in such condition.

Spike composed himself, barely, and told Fluttershy what he remembered.

“And it’s only me and Star to watch the foals and each other...And I”m really scared, Fluttershy. Twilight’s...she’s probably still out cold...I can’t do it alone.”

“It’s ok Spike.” Fluttershy nuzzled him like a mother would a child. “You did the right thing, coming to see me first. Let’s go get Applejack...Then we’ll take care if everything as soon as we get to the house.”

“OK…” Spike sniffled, wiping his tears.

“Climb on, please be gentle. I’m not used to carrying something your size, but I promise we’ll go as fast as safely possible.”

After a couple minutes, they landed at Applejack’s doorstep, Spike jumping off before they even touched the ground, and knocked hard on the door. Thankfully, Applejack was already awake and ready to go. They explained the entire situation on the way back to the Ranch, and had arrived just as Shooting Star was falling asleep beside Twilight.

***

“Why that dirty, no good, snake of a pony!” Applejack said through gritted teeth. She’d seen, and been in her share of fights over the years, and knew that a mark like the one on Twilight’s cheek was not a gentle hit. She’d seen marks like that on full grown stallions who tried to pick fights with Big Mac.

Fluttershy gasped, raising her forehooves to her muzzle in a silent scream of horror. How could anypony leave a mark like that on his wife, much less the mother of his children. She was honestly scared of the always gentle and good natured pony she’d come to like, and the one pony who made Twilight happier than ever,

“Fluttershy, take the boys to bed and check on the foals. I’m gonna see what I can do for Twi.” Applejack said sternly, and Fluttershy, wanting to be away from the horror before her eyes, gladly did so.

Applejack, after bandaging her poor friend’s cheek, sent the owl to the rest of their friends. If Shadow came back, he would not be allowed anywhere near Twilight until the five of them were good and ready to let him do so, if at all.

***

Shadow heard a bell ringing in the distance, and assumed it was the dinner alert. He really was quite hungry, and hadn’t eaten anything in hours. His stomach was too knotted to even think about eating.

“I’ve never seen a pony work so hard on a project in my life, son,” Walnut said to Shadow over a chunky, hearty vegetable stew. You had that shed cleaned out, pretty, and livable, in just under eight hours. That’s remarkable.”
“I’m a bit of a do-it-yourselfer back home. Always have been. I use my hooves more than this horn.”

“Really?” Where do you come from, my boy?” Walnut asked, trying to make conversation. He was never really good at that sort of thing.

“Ponyville. I lived there with my wife and her friends.” Shadow said nonchalantly, hoping Walnut would not press the matter, and assume he was divorced or something. That was better than the truth in his opinion.

Walnut coughed, choked, and then laughed. “You sure about that, son? Ponyville is who knows...15 miles or better away from here. Only reason I know it is because of those...elements of happy or something like that. Don’t get a lot of news out here. Usually when I do, it’s important.

“What are you gonna tell me next, Shadow? You’re married to one of those elementy-ponies?” Black Walnut laughed even more at his own joke, but when he saw Shadow’s face, knew he said something wrong.

“Aww gee, Shadow, I’m sorry. The old muzzle gets ahead of the old brain sometimes. I’m only having a yank at your chain.”

“It’s...fine, Walnut. Thank you for supper. I’m tired. I think I’ll turn in for the night.”

“OK. I’m sorry again. I really don’t mean nothing by it. I”ll be up for a little bit longer, if’n ya need an ear to chew off.

“I’ll remember that. Thank you.” Shadow slunk off, head low, to his shed on the hill.

Shadow was still awake a couple hours later, Thinking things over. He dearly missed Twilight, and the rest of his adopted family, and was on the verge of tears, thinking about them. Especially his two beautiful foals. Their beautiful foals… Shadow nodded off, the faces of Twilight and his children in his mind’s eye. That Night, Shadow dreamt for once.

+++

Here Shadow sits, new to Ponyville and Equestria, the faces of the people from earth running a marathon inside his mind. He thinks of his sisters, his mother, and Damian.

Then he sees her. The most beautiful mare in ponyville. Lavender coat, tri-toned mane, a young dragon trotting along beside her.

Time flashes forward, like a tape in high speed.

He’s sitting with this beautiful mare, enjoying a lunch. He finally asked her out, and they are having an honestly great time, her laugh and scent lighting up his senses. He wants to say “I Love You.” but does not. He’s an outcast among ponykind, freakish coat, magical ability less than that of a five-year old unicorn. But somehow, his life feels complete within her presence

Time zooms forward again, to their wedding day. The outcasted Shadowfoot is marrying the one element of harmony that makes the others work. But he’s in love with her, not her element.

A flash, then the mental image of Her and their children, Smiling joyfully, nothing can go wrong on this day. The once outcasted Shadowfoot is now a father. And he couldn’t be happier. He grins, beams, at his young wife and children, hugs them all, nuzzling them. A picture is taken, and then later, mounted in their bedroom on the wall above their bed.

Another flash,

The last nail is put into the last hinge of their home, Now built with the help of Applejack, her brother, and anypony else willing. A picture is taken, again, and mounted right next to the birthday and wedding pictures.

Then, a sudden flash of red lightning, and the smell of a familiar shampoo fills the air, then a slap is heard, echoing against the walls of Shadow’s memories, The slap repeats, turning into a thundering echo.

***

-crack boom!!!- The thunderclap had woken Shadow up, eliciting an involuntary scream of terror from Shadow’s muzzle, which sounded suspiciously like the name “Twilight”. Shadow was panting heavily and sweating, even though it was relatively cool inside the 12x12 shed he was sleeping in.

Shadow, now wide awake, sat up on the cot, burying his face in his hooves. He was crying. not loudly, but silently. The type of cry you cry when something torments your innermost feelings. He needed to apologize to Twilight, even if she never forgave him.

He needed to see her smile, hear her laugh. He needed her. And if He could not have her, He would never be sane again. Shadow acknowledged to himself he was probably going squirrel-poop nutty, but he at least needed one last kiss.

He still needed to wait a while. Twilight’s friends were going to be furious, and he was lucky if he’d make it into ponyville without them catching him first. He would continue helping Black Walnut on his little farm, and when he finally worked up the courage to talk to Walnut about how he ended up here, he would say his farewells, and hopefully, never have to return except on a more leisurely visit.

***

Twilight woke up finally, and an audible sigh of relief was heard all around the room.

“Girls? what happened? you look like you’ve been at a funeral.” Twilight asked, feeling a sudden pain in her cheek that she had no idea how was there until now.

“Twilight! you’re ok!” The girls crowded around their friend, fearing, for a while, that Shadow may have done a lot more damage than they thought.

Oddly enough, Rarity was a bit standoffish, which was highly unlike her. She looked more tormented than the rest of them.

“Rarity, come here! give Twi a big old hug!” Pinkie squealed, grabbing Rarity by the hoof and dragging her across the wide room.

“Twi, do you remember anything that happened in the past few hours? Anything at all?“
Applejack asked.

“Certainly! I re-organized the entire study while Shadow was out, and…Where’s Shadow? He should be around here somewhere.”

“No, he isn’t Twilight. you don’t remember anything at all? about him locking himself in the study, or leaving, or seeming a bit...odd?” Fluttershy asked.

“Now that you mention it, he was locked in the study since late this morning, doing some research. He wouldn’t tell me about what, but he’s usually not doing much of anything but napping in here. It’s not hard to pop open a lock.”

Twilight chuckled, recalling the countless times she’d found him snoring away, some random book over his eyes and muzzle in the cutest way imaginable.

“Twilight, Shadow’s gone. You had a magical meltdown, he slapped you, and left, from what we can gather between Spike, Star, and the owl.” Applejack chimed in.

“What, why would he…” Then Twilight smelled the shampoo again. The smell she last remembered before blacking out.

“Rarity...you slept with...my husband’’ Twilight asked, flabbergasted.This was news to the rest of them, and the room immediately went quiet, the amount of tension perking up everyone’s coats.

“Twilight, I…” Rarity said, beyond deflated.

“My husband? my foals’ father?” Twilight said, tears forming in her eyes.

“Twilight, he wasn’t acting like himself. He was in some sort of trance. I would never do something like that. You know that.” Rarity said softly.

“Then why did you..” Twilight trailed off, not being able to make herself finish the sentence.

“Because I lost control of myself, Twilight. I’ve always had a thing for him, and he was just so, out of it, I didn’t actually expect anything to happen. I don’t remember anything happening..”

“Rarity. You need to leave. Please. I want to figure this out for myself.” Twilight said flatly, her usually cheerful and chirpy speech flat and robotic.

“Twilight, please, I don’t want to…”

“Rarity….”

At this, Rarity burst into flat out tears, and ran all the way to her boutique, sobbing.

***

++++++
Southpaw’s Corner. featuring your favorite, jealousy-driven Author, me!
There’s a lot happening here. Shadow’s having nightmares, Twilight’s KTFO, and there’s a possible funeral going on. What I would like you all to take from this, is Shadow feels like his life in equestria is over just as it’s gotten started. He’s also greatly

tormented by the events (which I feel I probably exaggerated a bit) and is having flashbacks as well. However, he finds solace in the pure seclusion of Black Walnut’s spit of land, and hopes to regain his bearings. Will he stallion up and face his problems head on? Will he be forgiven for what he did? Or will he remain in servitude to the uninformed, rustic Earth Pony?

only time will tell. This chapter is actually a smaller part of a massive chunk that came out at just under 11,200 words, which is probably a new personal record for me, and took three days to get that far, and is still 1k words short of total finishing. Hope I didn’t drag this out too long, but I dearly missed you guys.