Chapters Chapter I - My Name Is Shadow Nova
(Author's Note: Starting Over 3: Return Of Spectra will be written after Star Burst Chronicles, which will be written after this so hold your tits.)
My name is Shadow Nova. Let's see...what can I say about myself? I am a unicorn with a dark colour scheme and no visible cutie mark. I am currently 30 years old and friends with a pegasus named Spectra Speed and an earth pony named Aeb. Me and Aeb had a rough start, but we're friends now. Spectra recently got turned into a stone statue and now all of us have to wait 5 years for him to come back. Celestia above, he'll be 35 when he comes back. Anyway, about me. Right, right. I was abandoned by my parents at age 11.
We lived in Ponyville. They never fed me right or treated me properly. I had to feed off scraps. One day, I woke up and noticed they had taken everything in the house and left. They didn't grab the couch or the ice box, which was empty. I left the house and went out toward the forest next to the town, seeing how I could only go there. All I took with me was the ice box. I walked into the forest and tried to find somewhere to live. I found this strange looking cave near a river. Inside it looked to be shaped to look like a house. I found some weird name plate inside that said "Home To Star Burst". I looked around and it looked like nopony lived here in ages, so I threw it out.
I set the ice box down and started a fire pit. I lied down on the floor and tried to fall asleep. You would think being abandoned would be a scarring event in my young life, wouldn't you? Well, I was glad they abandoned me. They were jerks. They hated my guts as much as I hated theirs. Anyway, when I woke up I tried going out to look for some food. What I found instead, was a giant Pyronine. They're basically like Timberwolves except they're on fire. I wasn't afraid of it. In fact, I felt sorry for it. It was just following its instincts, and it found me. Poor thing.
I guess I never explained why I was abandoned. Although they didn't tell me, I figured it was the reason. I had constant black outs whenever anypony threatened me or hurt me. I don't know why I never did against my parents. But I didn't care. What was so bad about blacking out, was I woke up with the pony who threatened me or whatever, lying on the ground covered in blood. I got in trouble frequently, especially at school. The other fillies and colts would make fun of me, for a number of reasons. One of them would be that I didn't have my cutie mark, or so they thought.
But, that's a tale for another chapter.
They would make fun of my eye colour, pitch black. Apparently they linked something about my eye colour. Black equals Pure Evil. Same with my aura, pitch black. And you know what, I believed them for a while. The first time it happened, a big bully came up to me and started teasing me. I ignored him for a while, until he started shoving me. It annoyed me for a while, but it got worse. He started shoving me harder and harder, then that lead to hitting me. When he hit me, I blacked out. When I woke up, I was standing over him with blood all over us. I got into trouble and the teacher suggested therapy. My parents didn't want to waste the money.
I felt bad for this poor creature because he didn't know what he was getting himself into. He started clawing the ground while eyeing me up. He lurched forward and I tried to dodge his attack. Not for my safety, for his. I knew what would happen if I didn't get out of this. He leaped forward again, and hit me. I looked down and the last thing I saw was 3 bloody cuts on my stomach. I blacked out. When I awoke, I saw what I expected. He was lying on the ground, his flames are out, and his body was badly damaged. I sighed and looked around. I was sure many of the plants in the forest were inedible. So, I took a jagged rock from near the river and started hacking at the flesh of the beast.
I knew I wouldn't get used to it soon, but I had no choice. Did I forget to mention I'm quite smart for my age? I know many spells and survival tactics. I don't know how I knew the survival tactics, but I wasn't complaining. I was almost gunna be moved up a year, but my parents didn't want me to be smarter. They only even paid for my schooling because it was the law. Anyway, I had looked around the immediate surroundings and I couldn't find any plant that even looked non-poisonous. None of them could kill me, but they would make me sick and since I can't afford hospital, that would be mortal agony.
I took the flesh of the beast into my house and shoved it into the ice box. The box was enchanted by my parents to be always cold no matter what. It was a simple spell, so I guess that's why they didn't take it. I went outside and took some sticks from the bottom of the trees. I went back inside and fashioned a sort of pot holding device. I put a hoof to my chin and pondered where I could find a pot. I decided to go back to my old house and search through it. I found a few pots but only took one. I look back at the couch as I was heading for the door. I figured that couch would be a lot more comfortable compared to that damn floor. I picked it up with my magic and headed out the door. It was night so nopony saw me.
I walked back towards my cave-house-whatchamathingy. Lets call it the Shadow Den, shall we? I placed the couch down and walked out to the river outside the den. I filled the pot with some water and went back inside my den. I put the pot on the little construction I made to hold it over the fire, then I opened my ice box and grabbed the meat out. I'm not stupid, if I eat raw meat I could die. Timberwolves even have their foul breath that is so strong, it literally cooks dead flesh. I wasn't an idiot, I got a spoon, fork and a plate from the house to. After a few minutes I look back inside the pot. The meat looked cooked, so I forked it out and threw it on the plate. I poked at it for a while, readying myself for the foul taste that was yet to come. I closed my eyes and put a small piece of meat in my mouth. I chewed it, then I snapped my eyes open.
This. Tasted. Great!
I quickly chewed the piece then got another piece and ate that. I think the reason I loved it was because of my normal diet. I was given the scraps of food my parents didn't eat, which was the disgusting bits of the food they didn't eat. Have you eaten apple cores as a daily meal? Or some Orange pips? Not great tasting.
I ate the slab I had then looked back into the pot. Some pieces were still in there. I capped the pot then sat on the couch. I figured I needed to find a bed, so I would go out searching tommorow for one. I might have to fashion one out of leaves and branches, though. I slowly closed my eyes and went to sleep.
Normally, I didn't have dreams. But this night was different. I was in another section of the Everfree, near a waterfall. I stared at the sight for a while.
"Yeah, yeah. It's beautiful. Whatever. We need to talk."
I spun around and saw an earth pony with a grey coat, dark red eyes, black mane and tail and a cutie mark of a pentagram. He had a scar that goes over his right eye. He looked old, about 50 I would say. He didn't have wrinkles or anything, but he gave off the impression of old.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Kaor. General Kaor. I am an immortal demon pony from roughly around 1,000 years ago. I fought under Discord as General of his army. That was until the alicorn sisters revolted, and turned him to stone. Discord gave me a gift before he was fully encased in stone; Immortality. But this wasn't your average immortality. I need a host to continue on living. So, I chose you."
I was staring at the waterfall after I was convinced he wouldn't harm me. I turn my head to him.
"Why me?"
Kaor sat down next to me and stared at the waterfall.
"I sensed a great amount of magic and sadness coming from you. I came into you when you were about 3. I saw how your parents treated you."
I looked to the ground in sadness. "Why wouldn't you hurt them?"
Kaor stood up, as did I. We locked eye contact for a while.
"Revenge, is never the answer. I may be a demon general, but I am not without heart."
I pondered this for a moment. I looked up to him and nodded.
"So, you won't hurt me?"
Kaor shook his head. "I've been protecting you for all these years. I am not an evil general, although I can hold a grudge pretty easily. I only joined Discord to protect ponies from him. Instead of him looking for them and torturing them, I looked for them and locked them up. Keeping them safe."
I could barely take this in at the time. I finally know why I black out. Kaor is trying to protect me. I looked up to Kaor and smiled.
"Thank you, General."
Kaor winked and walked off. "See ya 'round, Shadow."
The landscape disappeared along with Kaor. I was surrounded in darkness before snapping awake in my house on my couch. I looked outside, still night time. I got up and decided to spice up my house.
"I'll go make a door, and fashion a bed. It'll take me a while, but that couch is giving me some back pains."
I walked outside into the night time and look for something to use to make my new life simpler to live.
Chapter II - 2 Months Later
Shadow took a deep breath and looked at the three fillies in front of him.
"Okay, girls. That's enough for today."
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all "Awwed" at the same time.
Scootaloo gave Shadow a pleading look.
"But we wanna know more, Shadow!"
Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we barely know anything about you."
Applebloom slumped down, her hat fell over her eyes.
"I want to know what happened with you and Kaor."
It had been 2 months since Spectra had been turned to stone. Everypony was coping well, even Rainbow had calmed down.
"Nothing happened after that. Me and him just went back to doing what we do best. Me and him shared the vision of helping anypony in need. That's all I'm telling you for now. Go home, it's getting dark."
The three fillies have changed over the course of a few months. When Spectra gets out he is in for a shock. The girls all got up and headed home. Shadow got up and headed for Rainbow's house. She recently had a little filly, Rose. She was the cutest pegasus Shadow had ever seen. When he arrived, he spotted the statue of Spectra Speed himself.
Spectra Speed,
A Great Friend,
A Great Husband,
A Great Pony
That's what the stone was inscribed with, after Discord turned him to stone. Shadow shed a single tear and gave Spectra a pat on the back.
"Don't worry, mate. You'll be out soon. We all have to be patient."
Shadow looked up to the cloud house with a smile.
"Rainbow Speed! Oi! Rainbow?!"
There was no sign of the cyan pegasus or her dark blue daughter.
"Rainbow, where are you?"
Shadow went into Ponyville and tried looking for Rainbow and Rose. It was night time, but Shadow could easily see in the dark. He was looking for what felt like ages. If something had happened to her, Spectra would go full on Dark-Red on him. Shadow remembered the Changeling stew Spectra had made for him. It wasn't long before he heard that familiar voice of Rainbow's.
"Leave me alone!"
Shadow ran full speed towards the sound of her voice. When he got to her, he saw three ponies he hoped he would never see. It was Hop and his gang, they were in a circle surrounding Rainbow, Rose and Sparks. Rose was on Rainbow's back, Sparks was on Rainbow's shoulder. Sparks had grown a lot in such a short time.
"Well, well, well. I don't see your stone husband around to protect you. I believe it is time for some payback."
Hop advanced toward Rainbow and tried to hit her. Before he could however, he felt his hoof being held back. He looks behind him to see Shadow holding his hoof with a dark look.
"You really should not have done that."
Rainbow looked happy to see Shadow.
"Shadow! Help me out!"
Shadow pulled Hop back and snapped his foreleg he was holding on to.
"I am Kaor, not Shadow!"
As Hop was crying out in pain on the ground, Kaor went for the stallion to his left and smashed him in the back of the head, knocking him out. He raced towards the other one, who was running away. Kaor leaped on top of him and started smashing him into the ground. Unlike Dark-Red, who had super strength and speed, along with fast reflexes and magic, Kaor had none of these. All Kaor had was his rage and brute strength. When he was done with the stallion, he jumped off him and turned back into Shadow. He looked down and smiled at his work. He walked over to Rainbow.
"You alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Rainbow nodded, and Rose giggled.
"Thank you, Shadow. If you hadn't passed by....I don't know how to thank you."
Shadow shrugged. "It's what I do, don't thank me."
Shadow winked and turned around and headed for the Everfree Forest.
"No Shadow. I wanna thank you."
Shadow sighed and turned around and faced Rainbow.
"Don't thank me. Thank Kaor."
Rainbow stared at Shadow before nodding.
"Thank you, Shadow and Kaor."
Shadow winked at Rainbow.
"See ya later Rainbow. Bye Rose, later Sparks."
Rose giggled and waved a hoof. Sparks nodded. Shadow turned back around and headed for the forest. When he got to his home he started wondering about something that has been bugging him for ages. He lied down on his bed, which was woven vines filled with leaves and feathers, and began to fall asleep. And just as he hoped, he was on the waterfall in the Everfree.
"Evening Shadow."
Shadow didn't turn at Kaor's voice.
"Hey, Kaor. I have something I need to ask."
"Go ahead. Ask away."
Shadow turned to Kaor. He still looked the same after all these years.
"Did you know Luna and Celestia when you were with Discord?"
Kaor nodded and sat down next to Shadow.
"Sure did. They were one of my only few friends. I had a best friend named Star Burst, he was with Discords army. He was Luna's coltfriend."
Shadow was shocked. Kaor and Star knew each other? Shadow had heard of Star from Spectra, before he was turned to stone.
"So, what was Star like?"
"He was my best friend, as well as Luna."
"Kaor? Is that you?"
The duo turned at the sound of a new voice. What they saw surprised them both.
Shadow got up and bowed.
"Princess Luna!"
Luna walked forward and laughed.
"Do not bow before me. This is your world, not mine."
Shadow got up and nodded. Luna turned to Kaor.
"It has been a while, friend."
Kaor nodded and smiled.
"Indeed. How are you?"
Luna shook her head.
"Who cares about me? I want to know how your alive! And why are you inside Shadow?"
Kaor looked at Shadow. "Discord made me immortal, but I need a host to survive. When I saw Shadow and his magical abilities, I chose him."
Luna walked up to Kaor and gave him a hug.
"It has been too long, friend."
Kaor returned the hug.
"Luna, I have some interesting information for you."
Luna pulled away and backed up a bit.
"What is it?"
Kaor turned to Shadow.
"Shadow here lives in Star Burst's old home, the one he owned when he was a soldier of Discord's army."
Luna looked to Shadow with a happy look.
"How does it look?"
Shadow shrugged. "I spiced it up a bit. Added a couch, a bed, a door and some other things."
Luna smiled. "I best be off now. I must take my rule of Canterlot at night. Goodbye, friends."
Luna flew up into the night sky and vanished. Shadow turned back around and looked over the waterfall.
"That was helpful."
Kaor nodded and turned around.
"Indeed. Good night, Shadow."
"Good night, Kaor. Oh, and great job with Hop today."
Kaor turned and gave Shadow a wicked smile. He turned and walked off away from Shadow and vanished. Shadow's vision was filled with darkness as he woke up. He looked outside, it was day time.
"Better go get the girls. They'll be harping me for ages if I don't continue my story."
Shadow got up and headed for Ponyville. He met the girls at Sugarcube Corner. They were joined by Rainbow Speed, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity.
Twilight had a notepad with her. She and everypony else looked up to Shadow.
"Shadow! Come over here! The girls have been telling us that you've been telling them your story! We're all so interested to hear it!"
Shadow sighed and smiled. "Okay, Twilight."
Shadow walked over to the table they were sitting at and sat down.
"Nothing else happened for a few weeks. This is what happened...."
Chapter III - Lost Traveller
I was sleeping in my newly made bed when I hear a noise outside. I got up and decided to check it out. Somepony knocked at my door, which startled me. Normally no pony would even dare step this far out into the forest. When I open the door, I see a filly zebra. She looked soaked, she probably was walking through the river near my den to get here. She was carrying a lot of bags with her as well. She looked up at me and gave me a small smile.
"C-c-can I c-come in, if i-its not a b-burden?"
I stepped aside and gave her a warm smile.
"Welcome to my abode. If your cold, just sit next to the fire."
She nodded her thanks and walked inside. She placed her luggage down and sat next to the fire. After a few minutes she got warmed up. She looked up to me and gave me a confused look.
"What are you doing out here, do you not have a home somewhere?"
I leaned back a bit. "Well, I'd like to know your name first if that's alright. I'm Shadow Nova."
She nodded. "I am Zecora. I am a traveller."
I cocked my head to the left in confusion.
"Where's your home then?"
She looked down to the ground in sadness.
"I do not know."
I looked at her with pity.
"Orphan?"
She nodded weakly and curled up in a ball next to the fire. I got up and headed out the door. I turned my head around.
"Sleep in my bed. I will go out and find you another home. I don't have the best kind of food to feed you, so you may have to go into Ponyville later and buy some. Or steal it."
I exited the den without hearing another word from her. I wandered through the forest for what seemed like years, until I found a gigantic tree. There was a small hole leading inside. I poked my head in to see it was hollow.
"Perfect. Alright Kaor, I need some assistance."
I became possessed by Kaor and we begun our work.
After a few hours I returned to my den. I walked inside and saw Zecora curled up in my bed. I smiled and silently dawww'ed at the sight. I walk over to her and started to shake her.
"Zecora! Zecora!"
She groaned and looked up at me with a gentle smile.
"Follow me, bring your bags. I have a surprise for you."
She got up and picked her bags up and started following me through the Everfree. I knew the layout like the back of my hoof, so I wouldn't get lost. I was afraid she wouldn't keep up and get lost, so I tried slowing my pace. When we arrived at the hollowed out tree, it looked more like a hut now. There was a door and some windows to go. She stared in amazement for a while, before grabbing me in a tight hug.
"Thank you so much, Shadow! My spirits are no longer low!"
I kind of figured that rhyming was her thing, so I didn't ask about it. She ran inside and started placing her things down. She had a lot of things. She pulled a cauldron out of her biggest bag and placed it in the middle of the room. I leaned against the door frame with a smile. Helping others is what I do. I turned around and started heading home.
"Wait!"
I turn around to see Zecora running up to me. She blushed, then she kissed me. After that she giggled and ran off home. I stood there for a while, trying to comprehend what just happened. I turned around and headed home. I jumped onto my couch and sat there for a while.
"I know exactly what I need to do. Go out and map the Everfree out for her! She needs to know her way around."
I went out and started mapping out the entire Everfree Forest.
Shadow stood up.
"Okay, I'l tell you all more next time."
Pinkie was suddenly right up in his face.
"Omygosh! You helped Zecora out!? We're all friends with Zecora! We should meet up sometime!"
Shadow laughed. "I see her everyday. We talk and then she goes back to her hut I made for her. Later, girls."
Shadow left the bakery and headed home. On his way he took notice once more of Spectra's statue. He saluted and continued on towards his home. He gets inside and grabs the Cockatrice meat out of the ice box. He puts the meat inside the pot to cook.
"What's that?"
Shadow jumps and turns himself invisible, his special talent of stealth helps out a lot. He looks back to the doorway to see Applebloom. Shadow sighs and turns visible again.
"Dinner. Applebloom, you really should head home. It's dangerous out here."
Applebloom looked at Shadow sadly.
"But why can you go inside tha forest? What makes you so special?"
"I have a demonic war general inside me. You don't. Ah, horseapples."
Shadow looked outside to see it was midnight.
"Celestia damnnit, Applebloom. Looks like you have to stay here tonight."
Applebloom jumped up and down. In mid jump, her hat fell off her head and rolled over to Shadow. He looked down at it with sad eyes.
'Spectra, we all can't wait for you to come back. '
Shadow picked the hat up and put it on Applebloom's head.
"Do not lose that hat. It was given to you by a great stallion. You'll sleep in my bed, Applebloom. I've gotta go meet up with somepony."
Applebloom nodded and crawled into Shadow's bed. Shadow exited the den and walked towards the river near his house. He stopped just in front of it.
"Oi, mate! I don't feel like getting wet today!"
Suddenly, a giant sea serpent appears from the water depths.
"Oh! Shadow, going to a little meet up with Zecora again?"
Shadow nodded. "We do it on every new moon, don't we?"
The serpent nodded. "Alright. Hop on!"
Shadow jumped across his back and onto the other side of the river. Shadow turns and bows.
"Thanks, mate."
"Any time, Shadow."
The serpent dived back into the water and Shadow turned and went on his way to the Everfree Castle. When he got there, Zecora was waiting for him.
"Ah, Shadow friend. It is good to see you again."
Shadow shook his head. "That was a terrible rhyme."
Zecora laughed as Shadow sat next to her.
"So, Spectra still has yet to recover. I miss him, Zecora. He was as good a friend to me as you are."
Zecora nodded. "Patience is the key, until then try and be happy."
Shadow smiled and looked around the old castle.
"Aeb! Aeb, ya here!?"
"Shadow? Hang on! I almost forgot!"
Shadow heard a weird noise, then he saw Aeb come out from a different room.
"Hey, buddy! Come here!"
Aeb ran up to Shadow and gave him a noogie. He released him and Aeb sat next to Shadow. The trio of friends just sat there for a while, until they eventually fell asleep on the cold stone floor of the castle.
Chapter IV - Caretaker Of The Everfree
Shadow sat at table in Sugarcube Corner with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and his 6 other friends.
"Alright, girls. I'm gunna tell you about my job in the Everfree Forest. I was the caretaker of lost ponies who stumbled into the forest by whatever means. I loved taking care of ponies and helping them out. Thats why I saved Rainbow when she was looking for Spec-"
Shadow stopped himself before he could say any more, but the damage was done. Everypony looked down in sadness. Shadow raised his head a bit.
"Sorry. Anyway...."
I was on my own, sitting on my couch waiting for my manticore meat to cook. I suddenly hear a knock at the door.
"It's open!"
I fully expected Zecora to come in. Instead, a small orange filly with a blonde mane came inside,
"Ah didn't expect anypony to be in here. Do ya know the way out of here? Ah need ta git back ta mah family."
I got up from the couch and nodded.
"Of course. Follow me."
We exit my house and she follows behind. When we were about halfway through when a Pyronine decided to jump in front of us.
"Ah! What'n the hay is that thing?!"
I back away and hold my hoof out in front of her protectively.
"It's a Pyronine. Give me a second. Look away right now!"
She closed her eyes and I became possessed by Kaor. When I came to, I was standing over the beasts body. I turned around to see the filly staring at me with a terrified look. I just sigh.
"Just follow me and you'll never have to see me again, alright?"
The filly nodded. We continued on our trek and eventually got to the forest exit. She ran out from the forest and headed home. I turn and began my trek home.
"Hang on!"
I turn to see her looking up at me with a happy smile.
"Ah want ya ta come home with me! I need ta thank ya! Ah'll probably bake ya a pie!"
Shadow activated his stealth and circled the filly.
"I'm sorry. I can't do that. I'm an outcast. And besides, I can't eat pies. I'm more used to flesh. Goodbye."
Shadow became visible and walked back into the forest. The filly looked at the forest with a sad look before turning around and heading home. Shadow frowned.
"I would love to have even one friend. But, not right now."
Shadow walked back into the forest and headed home himself.
Shadow took a deep breath and looked at everypony. AJ was suddenly in his face.
"That little filly was me! I remember ya now!"
Shadow rolled his eyes.
"I figured out who you were when we first met, AJ. But that memory is a sad one for your past. Sorry you had to see me do that."
AJ went back to her seat and gave Shadow a warm smile.
Twilight was scratching her notepad the entire time. She looked up at Shadow confused.
"Wait a minute, when did you figure out your talent?"
Shadow laughed. "At school, these bullies were looking for me, so I wished I was invisible and poof. Instant Disappear."
Twilight scratched more notes in her little pad. She got up from her sitting position.
"I have to get home. It's late and everypony else should be getting home."
Everypony got up and headed home. Shadow entered his cave and jumped on his bed. He fell asleep very quickly.
-----5 Years Later-----
Shadow, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Discord, Luna, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rose, Sparks and Aeb were all on top of the hill for about an hour. The CMC got there a few minutes ago. Everypony was waiting for Spectra Speed himself to come back from his stone prison.
"Alright everypony here's the plan."
Everypony looked to Discord.
"He won't remember anything beyond when I blasted him 5 years ago. So, he might go Dark-Red on me. Try and calm him down and explain the situation to him. I can garuantee he will be shocked beyond all belief, but he has to know where he has been these years."
Everypony nodded. Shadow looked to Rose. She had grown during the years. Same with Sparks. He was a magnificent bird now. Rose was looking at the statue with a huge smile on her face. Shadow could barely look at her without smiling himself. She was the cutest filly he had ever seen.
"Okay, everypony! It's happening!"
The statue started glowing a bright light very violently. Everypony's vision was suddenly filled with bright light.
