Shadow Mark

Following the general in flight for the last hour to see where the site was. He focused then on how it actually felt to fly. The wind, the sun or moon shining on his wings, there were too many variables to describe it.

Shadow was glad when Tenebrae finally landed on a small cliff above an entirely flat plain; this was where the site was. It was well into night now and difficult to see so Shadow said “I am assuming that we begin work tomorrow.”

Shaking his mane Tenebrae said “No we have already begun, look down at the plains. But you see you and me are the overseers we don’t have to do work at all.”

“Wow they really work during the night. Well I can’t stay still for too long so I will actually work with the others.” Shadow said jumping off the embankment and gliding down to the digging site.

Putting on the gloves designed to use for tools. It was a simple design really just a glove to put on the forehoofs and had a leather circle extending out one slightly larger than the other. He undid the small one and hooked it to the base of the pick, then the larger one around the center so it could slide up and down to put more force in the swing.

Flying over to the entrance to the mine he almost regretted his choice to help. It was dark and had foul stench it had wooden pillars to hold up the ceiling every four meters or so.

Confused on where to start he walked up to the nearest pony and asked “Where is the mining most needed?”

The pony quickly bowed and said “General Shadow Mark sir.”

Sighing Shadow said “First off I am Captain not general I will be promoted to general next year. Second I’m here to work not give orders.”

Slightly confused the pony said “Well follow this path and you will reach the opening and that’s where the mining is needed most.”

Nodding his thanks Shadow sort of hovered down the tunnel until he hit the opening the pony spoke of. It was a large room and there was a fore(stallion? Pony? Screw it I will use pony) giving orders.

Deciding that at the moment it was too hindering to walk with the pick he undid the straps and hung it on his saddle. Then cantering over to the forepony. “Hello, do you need help in a specific area of the mine?”

Before turning around the forepony shouted at him “WHY SHOULD YOU EVEN ASK I’VE ALREADY ASGINED EVERYPONY!  JUST GO SOME...oh general Shadow Mark what are you doing here?”

“CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN! Why does EVERYPONY get that wrong? It’s not hard just one word instead of another.” Shadow said agitated

“Sorry CAPTAIN Shadow Mark. What are you doing here?”

“To work. I was wondering what needed to be done.”

“The other stallions will show you where to mine. Currently just over there. By the way, isn’t that a rather fancy robe for mining?”

“Oh right your correct.” Taking off the cloak and storing it in his saddle bags Shadow put on the pickaxe and began working.

The rock broke slowly and took much effort. The room was planned to be about, twenty meters by twenty meters and five meters tall. It had a low ceiling now which Shadow had to near crouch in due to the natural height of alicorns. It was also only about eight meters x seven meters. And it was found as a seven by five meter cave. This was going to be a lot of work.

Working through the night and most of the day the ponies made little progress. Shadow however did make progress of a sort. He had gained even more respect; they were surprised that a warrior a captain no less would stop from training to actually do work.

Tenebrae came down into the cave once and said that they needed to speed up. The first day they only brought the cave to an even 9x9 meters. After the strenuous work Shadow fell asleep on the floor.

The rest of the miners laughed and joked “I’m surprised he even made it this far.” Or “He isn’t like most. Most wouldn’t have fallen asleep there or even worked at all.” Laughing they dragged him out not wanting him to wake with a start and crack his head.

This process repeated for the next week. For the first few days they all were surprised that Shadow returned. Some of them even made bets on whether he would or would not.

He made some bits off it as well. On the last night when it was all done they revealed and cheered. Drinking and singing and the drunken attempt at dancing. When Tenebrae and the forepony walked in, they facehoofed at Shadow dancing on a table top singing. He then fell over and laughed.

“Shadow. HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU NOT TO BE DRUNK ON THE JOB?! THIS IS THE…one, two, three,….seventh time SEVENTH TIME! THIS MONTH! Well you have only been here one month. BUT THAT’S BESIDE THE POINT!”

“Well I just worked more then you have in a month I think I deserve a drink.”

“Not if it drives you to dance on tables.” Tenebrae said still facehoofing

“Oh I would have done that sober, I just wouldn’t have fallen off. Now are you sure you do not want a beverage. You’ll forget all your worries.”

“No I don’t now come with me.”

“Make me.” Shadow said then drank from his goblet whole still lying on the ground

The forepony and Tenebrae simply trotted over to him and dragged him out without a word. Even against Shadows complaint, they both knew he would never enforce them anyway.

“Shadow no more beer.” Tenebrae said then through Shadow in his tent and trotted off knowing Shadow would not be sober enough to unzip the tent.

“Hey let me…” He was asleep before he could finish.

The next morning he stumbled out with a headache. “Ergh. I hate hangovers.”

“You’re gonna have a hay of a time flying home today.” Tenebrae said while packing his things.

Using his magic to start to pack his Shadow said “You know I question why we built this place. It’s irrational seeing how the leader of the guild is going to be spending most of his time with the princess.”

“Well you know the other five could always manage things when you’re gone. And you should probably admit new members sometime soon.”

“Ok let’s go home I am so tired.”

“Ok but if you crash it’s not my fault.”

He laughed it off and closed his saddle bag then took off.

“The castle is in view shouldn’t be long now. Eh Shadow.”

Absent mindedly nodding his acknowadgemt his thoughts drifted. He began falling slowly and gain speed. He then fell asleep completely during mid-fall.

Then he crashed into a tree the branches pierced his wings. The initial crash broke them anyway. As well as him remaining hanging there held by the branches.

Tenebrae flew down and landed next to him. “Damn it Shadow you crashed. Didn’t I warn you? Wait are you still sleeping? HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!? YOU JUST CRASHED! AND YOU ARE STILL SLEEPING!”

Shadows only acknowledgment was a loud snore. “I’m going to have to fly you aren’t i?”

More snoring, sighing Tenebrae picked up his sleeping body a flew hindered to the castle.

It only took Tenebrae a few moments before he realized Shadow sleep talked. “Someday we will all be flying on chocolate devices. Colored like rainbows.”

“The bu…”

“Mmmm chocolate.”

“And THIS is who Luna loves? Celestia save us.” Tenebrae facehoofed repeatedly as he wondered what the hay was going on in his friends mind then facehoofed again when he thought about was going on.

“Why does the chocolate taste like blood?” Shadow asked himself

Tenebrae looked over his shoulder to see the blood from his wings pouring into his mouth. “Ok need to hurry.”

Ten minutes later Tenebrae landed and broke down in tears. The doctor walked up to him and asked “Why are you crying your friend will be fine.”

“No you got it wrong. HES DRIVING ME INSANE! HE GOES ON AND ON ABOUT SOME SORT OF FLYING CHOCOLATE RAINBOW! HE NEVER SHUTS UP!” Tenebrae said pounding his head against the floor

“Ok well I must attend to his surgery. The twigs from the tree have also gotten into his chest luckily it missed all vital organs. Although one punctured his kidney. Goodbye sir.”

Then stopping his pounding of his own head only to see Luna staring down at him. “Are you going to be alright?” She asked worried

“Have you heard that Shadows in the hospital, again?”

“That’s why I’m here but currently I’m more worried about you. It is not healthy to pound ones head against marble flooring. Especially not for a general of the army.”

“His voice though. It is so obnoxious; ten minutes nearly drove me insane. And he was asleep.”

“I have heard his sleep talking before…it’s slightly…disturbing.”

“Well Luna I have business to attend to.”

Luna glanced back as he walked away. Then continued inside remembering Shadow was hurt…again.

Trotting in to the room she saw Shadow was still asleep yet talking to the doctor who was also pounding his head into a cabinet.

Trotting over to Shadows side she lay next to him. Then came to the conclusion he must be partially aware of what was going on because he flung his arms around her.

“MOMMY!” Shadow shouted in pure glee. Ok so maybe not completely aware.

About ten minutes after that Shadow was still hugging Luna and then woke up. He noticed what he was doing then asked. “What’s going on?”

“You can let go now.”

“Nah. That wouldn’t be fun. Why can’t I move my wings? Or use magic.”

Sighing Luna answered although had trouble breathing. “Simple you crashed into a tree and broke your wings. The doctors cut off your magic flow because last time you healed yourself you made it better yet worse.”

“Worse how? And how did I end up hugging you?” He said still not letting go

He is like a five year old who missed his mother during school. She thought then remembered his parents died before he was even five. “Well you weakened your overall bone structure. And you were sleep talking and called me your mom and started snuggling against me.”

“Oh.” He let go yet still lay against her.

“Shadow. Why do you keep getting injured? It worries me. I don’t want to lose you.”

Shadow said sullenly “I don’t know why I get injured but I know if what you say about me is true. Then you must lose me, and I you.” He began to tear up.

“Don’t cry, it is far from time when that will happen.”

“But I love you. I do not want to lose you. Ever.”

Now Luna began to cry and she then brought him closer. She cried on his shoulder and said to him “I won’t leave you if you don’t leave me.”

He kissed her then not exactly a peck but not long either. He remained silent unless she spoke first.

They remained this way for hours. Until finally Luna fell asleep on Shadows shoulder. He smiled at her beauty he lay his head on hers and felt her mane moving without anything touching it. He fell asleep, silent, happy and grieving sleep.

Shadow’s Dream

Looking down at himself he noticed he was in a suit a tuxedo actually. Looking around he noticed he was in a cathedral, the large doors opened to reveal Luna in a wedding dress. White and beautiful with a long train.

The priest married them and he kissed her long and hard.

It then went to another scene of Luna and Shadow with a foal. Smiling and playing. Shadow smiled and kissed Luna on the cheek.

Then went to the scene of the foal all grown up and doing homework on a desk with Shadow helping him.

Then went to a gloomy scene, clouds and rain. He was in a graveyard thinking of why he would be there he looked before him and wept. It said Here lies Princess Luna. 200-5236. Cause of death: Murder. Killed by her own husband Shadow Mark.

He woke up then and noticed Luna there still sleeping. He sighed in relief and smiled. This is my best hopes come true. Just spending time with the one I love. Then he lye back down and slept.