It has been four years since Shadow was found on the outskirts of Ponyville. He was hospitalized from his wounds he recived from battle with the changlings. He was struck with amnesia. After his wounds were healed enough for him to leave the hospital, Fluttershy took him in and took care of him untill he could go on his own. Aftre he was healed completly he returned to Canterlot to see Princess Celestia and Luna, there he regained his memories. He then asked if he could take some leave from active duty to repay his dept.
One year later, after his return to Ponyville, he helped all he could. Soon all the citizens befriended him. The following year the black fured pegusas repaid his friends and fellow citizens of Ponyville, in return for his help, the citizens hosted a celebration in his honor. That day he was formally a member of Ponyville.
Now, Shadow spends his days in Ponyville helping his friends in anyway he can. They had become more than just friends, but his family that helped him in return. Whenever the citizens of Ponyville needed help, they always called to him; and he always gave his all to help.
Today, Apple Jack has asked him to help pick apples at Sweet Apple Achers. He showed up early, as he always did. He waited thirty minutes for Apple Jack, he passed the time by playing his ocerin. He played the melody that his father taught him when he was just a colt.
Apple Jack emerged from her home, listening to the happy melody played by Shadow's ocerina. "I am mitghty sorry wor keeping you waiting." She said staring at the ground.
"It is no problem, I didn't wake you with my playing did I ?" Shadow asked worriedly.
"Nah you didn't, I like that melody you were playing." she said smiling, "what is it called?'
"It is called The Forest's Call," Shadow said with a smile. "My father taught it to me when I was seven."
Apple Jack smiled," Your cutie mark should have been an ocarina, cuz you play it amazingly,"
Shadow blushed," Thanks AJ, but that would mean i wouldn't be much help around here."
"Yeah, but you are always a great help when we need it." She said smiling.
"What section of the orchard are we working on today?" Shadow asked smiling.
"The west side today," she replied and walked to the barn to get the baskets they needed.
Shadow followed close behind her. She gave him a stack of ten buckets and he took to the sky hovering a ten feet above the ground, waiting on her. She came out of the barn with a stack of her own and they headed to the west side of the orchard.
They reached teh west side orchard in a ten minutes, they laid their buckets on the ground around the apple trees they planned on picking. Shadow took flieght with one of the buckets in hoof, flying around his first tree picking apples with great speed. Apple Jack bucked her fist tree with her powerful hind legs, causing a lot of apples to fall from the tree. Her precise laid baskets caught all falling apples.
After picking three more trees, all the baskets were filled with sweet apples. At this time Big Mac came by pulling a cart with empty basket. Apple Jack and Shadow replaced their baskets with the empty ones and Mac pulled the cart back to the barn.
Author's Note
This is my first fic, so please give me feedback.
Apple Jack and I finished the west side of the orchard one cart load at a time. Apple Jack took off her hat and wipped the sweat off here brow. I finished his last tree, his basket filling up fast as he flew around the top of the tree. Apple Jack placed her baskets of apples on the cart as I grabbed his last apple and placed it in the basket and flew over to the cart.
"Good job today Shadow," Apple Jack said smiling as Bic Mac pulled the cart back to the barn.
"Thanks, I am always happy to help out a friend in need," I said smiling.
"Lets head back to the barn," she said happily and started heading in the direction of the barn.
I followed close behind her while wipping the sweat from his brow with his hoof. After a few minutes of walking we reached the barn. Big Mac had just finished unloading the baskets of apples into the barn and began to seperate them into piles.
Apple Jack reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a pouch of bits, " Here is your pay for all your hard work today."
"I couldn't accept this," I said shaking his head slowly.
"Now Shadow I insist, here takek it and have an apple or two," she said handing him the pouch of bits.
"If you insist," I said taking the pouch and placing it into his saddle bag.
"Thanks again for the help today," she said smiling.
"Your welcome AJ, if you need any more help just ask me," I said happily.
"I will Shadow," she said as she went into the barn. She returned with an apple in the hand, "here take this as well."
"Thanks AJ," I said catching the apple and taking a bite out of it.
I smiled as he left Sweet Apple Acres and headed in the direction of town. After a few minutes of walking I reached my destination. I looked at the town clock, it read 3:00 p.m. The town was busy as it always was, ponies going to their jobs or buying goods from the venders and shops.
I looked down at my clothes, they were drenched in sweat from my hardwork. "I need a shower," I thought to myself as I took to the sky, heading towards my house at high speeds. As I was flying through the clouds I saw many pegasi clearing the skies of clouds.
~~~
After a twenty minutes of flying at high speeds I finally reached my house. It was a large two-story house, with fileds to my left and right sides of the yard, and a pond int he back yard. It was built two years ago by the citizens of Ponyville for his good deeds to the town, I touchdown a few yards from the front door and walked over to open the door.
I entered my home and dropped off my saddle bags on the floor in the living room. The room was large and had a fireplace, two couches, a small table, and a small bookshelf. On the other side of the room was a door leading to the kitchen, a door leading to basement, and stairs leading to the top floor.
I walked upstairs and entered my bedroom, it was a big room with a cloudbed that was a gift from Princess Luna, a small table next to the bed with a small lamp on it, a clock that was hung on the wall. On the other side of the room was a door leading to the bathroom, a big closet with all my clothes, and a large bookself on the opposit wall.
I walked into the bathroom and started the water for the shower. I took off my dirty shirt and pants and got in the shower. A few minutes later, I got out and dried off. I walked out of the room and into my closet and got a red shirt and red pants, then put them on.
I checked the clock before walking downstairs, the clock read 3:45 p.m. I put on my saddle bags and headed for the door. I walked outside of my house and took flight for Ponyville. As I was flying my stomach growled. "Lookes like i need a bite to eat," I thought to myslef as I landed by the fountain in the main square. I walked down the street until i found my favorite donut shop.
I steped inside and saw the shop was not crowded as usual. I sat down in a bench and waited for Mr. Donut to take my order.
"What would you like today Shadow?" He asked me smiling.
"Five vinilla donuts please," I said as he took my order.
"I'll have you order in a minute," he said and left.
He returned with a small plate with five donuts and a cup of water. "Here you are Shadow, that will be 15 bits," he said putting my order on the table.
I reached into my saddle bag for the pouch Apple Jack gave me. I pulled it out and placed 15 bits in his hand. He smiled and walked away to his storeage box. I began eating and i heard the door open, I turned and saw a white unicorn walk in and sit in the table behind me.
Mr. Donut saw her walk in and went over to her. "What would you like miss?" he asked with a smile.
"I would like five jelly-filled donuts please," she said lowly.
"Coming right up miss," he said and left and came back with a plate with five donuts, he placed them on the table.
"That will be 10 bits miss," he said slowly.
She gave him the bits and began to eat her donuts. She looked over at me and looked at the floor She was waring a black shirt and pants. Her mane is black with a streak of purple, she wore a big blue bow in her mane. She looked back up at me and smiled. She had green eyes.
"Hello, my name is Shadow," I said friendly.
"Hi, I'm Dusty," she said shyly.
"Is this your first time in Ponyville? I don't think we have met before," I asked smiling.
"No, I live in White Tale Wood. Where do you live?" she asked smiling.
"A half mile west of Ponyville," I replied.
She got up and levitated her plate with her magic to my table and set down across from me. She took another bite of her donut. "How have i not met her before?" I asked myself. She looked up and smiled at me.
"Do you come here often?" I asked smiling.
"No this is my first time eating here," she replied smiling.
"What is your special talent?" I asked slowly.
"I don't quite now, I don't have a cutie mark," she replied blushing.
"Don't worry, you will get it soon," I said reasuring her.
"I don't know, I'm an eighteen year old Alicorn," she said still blushing.
"Alicorn, as in royaltiy?" I asked shocked.
"No just an Alicorn," she said smiling.
"Could she be a princess? Could she be related to Celestia or Luna?" I thought.
"Have you met the Princesses?" I asked.
"No they are not fond of other Alicorns," she replied sadly.
"What do you mean?" I asked puzzled.
"Well the princesses tend to look down on other Alicorns that are not of royal blood," she said sadly.
"That does not sound like them, but I am not an Alicorn so i wouldn't now" I said still confused.
We sat in silence eating for a few minutes. I was deep in thought about the princesses, could there be a side that I have not seen? I saw the sadness in Dusty's eyes and decided to change the subject. I looked down and noticed she had eating all her donuts.
"Can we go to your house?" She asked befor I could speak.
"Uh, sure," I said slowly, thinking this might cheer her up.
She waited while i finished eating my last two donuts. When i finished she smiled and we walk outside together. When we got outside she flexed her wings, and took off into the air. I followed and lead the way to my house. The flight was quiet and it felt like it was taking forever to get to my house.
~~~
We touchdown a few feet from the front door to my house. I opened the door and held it open so she went in first. She looked around for a bit examining my bookself. After looking my livingroom over she sat down on the couch and I closed the door.
"Do you need anything?" I asked smiling.
"What do you have to drink?" she asked in return.
"I have water, apple juice, and some wine," I replied and started for the kitchen.
"Wine would be good," she said smiling.
I went into my kitchen and opened my cubbard and retrieved two glasses. I opened my fridge and took out the wine bottle and headed back into the living room. I walked in and poured her a glass and then poured mine. I gave her one of the glasses and sat down next to her on the couch.
"This is good wine, where did you get it?" She asked smiling and taking another drink.
"It was a gift from Cheerlie," I replied taking a drink, finding it was good.;
"She has good taste," she said taking another drink.
I smiled and took another drink, I don't usually drink unless its a special event. I noticed her glass was almost empty and slide her the bottle on the table. She smiled and refiled it.
"You know, You never told me what your special talent is," she said smiling.
"My talent is rare, I'm a jack of all trades excluding magic," I replied showing here my cutie mark.
She studied it closly. The golden jack card with a red seal in the middle. It looked more like a crest then a cutie mark.
"Your lucky to have such a great talent," she said smiling.
"I use my talent to help every pony that needs it," I said taking another drink of wine.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked smiling.
I thought for a moment, "This is an odd question." I smiled and blushed, " I'm thinking I have made a new friend."
She smiled and giggled cutley. She took another drink of her wine and smiled at me. I couldn't help but to smile back at her. I took another sip of my wine and glanced out the window; it was getting dark out.
"It is getting late, would you like me to walk you home?" I asked.
She tried to stand up, but when she got to her feet she wobbled and sat back down. "I hate to ask but can i stay here tonight?" She asked blushing.
"I don't mind at all," I said smiling.
She smiled and blushed. I got to my feet, feeling kinda wobbley myself. I helped her to her feet and walked her to the stairs. I helped her walk up the stairs and into my bed. She looked at me with a confused look.
"You can sleep in my bed tonight," I said with a smile.
"Where will you sleep?" She asked still confused.
"On the couch," I replied smiling.
"Why?" She asked.
"I insist," I replied.
She smiled and stared at me. I smiled back and sat beside her. She hugged me, this made me blush, I didn't expect this. As we pulled away she smiled and laid down on my bed. I got up and headed for the stairs.
"Shadow," she said cutely.
"Yes Dusty?" I replied turning to face her.
"Could you keep me company before I fall asleep?" She asked blushing.
I nodded and smiled blushing. She smiled and patted the space next to her. I walked over to the bed and laid beside her. She hugged me and I hugged her back. She looked up at me and smiled and giggled. I looked into her beautiful emerald eyes. She smiled and covered us up with my blanket and laid her had on my chest. I put my arm around her and she smiled bigger. A few moments later she was fast asleep.
I watched her sleep and relized i couldn't get up without waking her. I laid my head back on my pillow and she put her arm around me. I smiled and yawned, then closed my eyes and fell asleep.