Chapters Prologue: information on placing
This is a Pre-story document for the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfic I am going to be posting on DA soon as I develop it. This basically is a list of warnings, and a list of details befiting the setting of the story, and what it does and does not follow.
Content: This story is what I would rate to ranging from Pg13, to X (in some chapters though admitingly likely very few) It contains dark themes such as rejection, hatred, betrayal and bitterness. It contains adult subject matter along the themes of relationships, intimancy (aka sex for the less informed), family ties, social class and so forth. Other materials that may be questionable include; blood (and gore, to a limited extent, depending on how wide of a scope your veiw of what “gore” is, as the few times I involve such a detailed description of ones body in a rather “gorey” way is more medical and linked to a characters subplot) cursing (to an extent mostly amoungthe the FCs more then the OCs) and negative habits such as (possibly) smoking and drinking.
Story in relationship to the episode list: As of this document only 10 episodes of season 2 have been aired, due to a lack of seasonal information in any ep but for the most recent, seems to have happened before Twilight's first full year in ponyville has come to passed, meaning that it is late spring nearing summer, and as such, the Summer Sun celebration. Though some may question the placement of “Nightmare Night” as meaning we would have to, I would actually like to say, that Nightmare Night, has happened prior to Winter Wrap Up of the first year, which as many timeline theorist will point out is fairly late into Twilight's first year in ponyville. This is to explain Luna having been around more into the public eye and establishing things from Nightmare Night as having been seen for enough months to explain key elements of the story. For a more explained idea of how I forsee the story, eps 1-2 take place as though summer is only a month in, the first month deals with most of the early episodes, such as Applebuck Season and the Young Flyer Competition. As Summer passed they delt with the meeting with Zecora, the red dragon, Owlicious' arrival, and the forming of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Fall Weather Friends puctuates the arrival of Fall, in which Nightmare Night happened, as well as Suited For Success, Green Isn't Your Color and Feeling Pinkie Keen. Winter Wrap Up passes over the Winter season. Though, animated without snow, I feel that events that would of transpired in this season that could fit are; the gala, Swarm Of The Century, Stare Master and A Dog And Pony Show. With the arrival of new Spring came Disqord and all missed season 2 episodes. I know this does not include a lot of refinment, but if you would rather adjust things slightly as to when key episodes happen, it is fine with me, just know that pretty much everything but episode 10 has happened, as the girls have not been doing as much and have been busy sense, to do said play the first year after becoming the carriers of the Elements of Harmony, as well as having had the gala and Rarity's visit to canterlot which I feel would have been influenced the princesses choising them the year following.
FC characters by name and some info.
Age comparison (as I do not fully know the real ages of the girls comparitivly I derived a sort of chart, much like explaining the episodes, this is how I explain their ages. For explaining FC ages and how it will relate to their actions.) For short hand we will go with this assumption, Rarity is the eldest, as she owns a full on store and comes off as the eldest in attitude and what she actually does. Twilight is a year younger then her, having a more adult outlook on things, even if a shut in adult outlook, and sounding quite well up in years compared to the most energetic and less developed of the main 6. Fluttershy and Applejack are both a year behind Twilight, while Fluttershy takes care of herself it is arguable due to her soft voice and her way of life just how old she is, as she seems to be able to make well enough dispite any inherent issues that might come with age. Applejack, while strong, is the middle child, and has a lot of youth to her strenght, while still being more mature then the last 2, but still at times very immature when dealing with Rarity's upper class attitude at times. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash are both the youngest, we do know, atleast through episode 6, that Fluttershy IS atleast 1 year older then Pinkie, this is the ONLY stated bit of evidance I know to suggest any age comparisons. Also she comes off as the arguable least mature of the group, completely oblivious to the real world and due to having arguably the youngest pet, in her baby gator Gummy. Rainbow Dash is also this young for a few key reasons, arguably the “young flyer competition” is held for the younger fliers, judging by the voices of Pegasus Hooves and Leeroy Wingkins, we can assume to some extent that these fliers are younger, probably in the mid to late teen range to possibly young adults. While none of the girls are old persay, we can assume that there is a cutoff age that, if anything like our own world (which shows like this tend to use some human standards on a non-human world to appeal to the human audience) the cut off age would probably of cut Rarity off if she was just a year older (as if we where to assume that Rainbow is, say, 17, Rarity would be 20) Beyond this, other things such as her pranking nature, and her quick to confrontation with others, would also suggest a lack of full on maturity, as well as how often she tries to brag and play off anything that bugs her. Also her young and almost juvinal admoration and/for reaction around the Wonderbolts befits that of a teenaged girl. For the most part we can assume the Cutie Mark Crusaders and all ponies in their class are roughly the same age, so let us go with Rainbow Dash to Rarity of 17-20, and mark the Cutie Markers at the age of 10, with Big Macintosh being roughly the same age distance from AJ as AJ is to Apple Bloom, which would put Big Mac at 26 years old being 8 years older then AJ and 16 over Apple Bloom.
Name: Cosmic Stream
Name: Cosmic Spark
Name: Night Fury
Author's Note
When i first wrote this fanfic awhile back it was during the mid point of season 2, because i knew this was going to be a minor issue as i do like stories that try to stick to continuity with minor references to events or full on explaining how those events impacted this one, or how the fanfic would impact cannon. I decided to write up a prologue to better explain the mind set of how the world works and what has or hasn't happened by this point. Please give it a chance and comment on how i might improve on explaining or telling stories as this fanfic goes on. Arigato.
Canterlot: The Wonderbolt race track, Royal VIP box.
Twilight Sparkle and her 5 friends where taking up seats near the edge, as behind them sat the regal forms of the white sun goddess, and dark blue moon goddess, the princesses had invited them to Canterlot for a week to relax and get away from it all, not only for the girls, but for the princesses themselves. The idea had really been Twilight's. Since Nightmare-night, she had been talking not only to Celestia, but also to Luna, and gotten to know the younger of the princesses more. She found the idea of a mini-vacation to be something that both her beloved mentor, and newest friend needed from their hectic lives of running the nation of Equestria. This really was something she had been looking forward to though, since Rarity’s visit to Canterlot last week had gone so poorly, a second chance to just relax and have some proper fun sounded good to the recovering socialite she called a friend.
As they prepared to watch the 6 Wonderbolts, including, as Dash had informed Twilight, Spitfire and Soarin, though she didn't immediately know the names to the other 4, race it out. A number of thunder claps cut the crowds murmurs to minor panic, as a small group of Pegasus dragging a set of black clouds neared the track.
“I would think that if there had been plans for a storm, it would not be at the same time as a race,” Said Rarity, while Twilight noticed the confused glances traded by the Princesses. Then Twilight felt herself, like Rainbow beside, her gasp at the sight of what the pegasi where wearing.
“T-the S-sha,” Rainbow stammered out as Luna stood up fully from her seat
“Guards!” Said Luna pointing, as suddenly Celestia stuck her leg out to stop her sister and the guards.
“Just who do you think you are barging in wearing those knock off uniforms and stopping our race with your racket!” Demanded one of the Wonderbolts. The leader of the 3, a Black colt who was quite tall and thickened for a pegasus, arguably not as big as Big Macintosh and other such stallions, he was no light weight either, would look through the goggle/glasses of his uniform at the questioning Wonderbolt, and spoke.
“My name is of no importance, I am the leader of the Shadowbolts!” He was interrupted by another Wonderbolt before he could say anything
“We wish to prove we are the better fliers.” The other 4 Wonderbolts just burst out laughing as well as most of the stadium. These ponies better then the Wonderbolt's?
The Shadowbolts in the clouds began to tear into the track, pulling it apart and molding new parts to it out of the clouds they had brought with them.
“Next, if a bolt, wonder or shadow crashes through or off the track, that is it, no getting back on!” Celestia would order her guards to sit around the track to make sure to enforce this rule much to Luna’s protesting eyes. Twilight could not blame Luna for wanting to protest her older sister’s allowance of this. These where fliers who not only interrupted a high class event, which to Twilight’s knowledge, it was a massive insult and even a straight up felony to interrupt back then, let alone just the trespassing and the interruption of a organized sport in such a manner was still considered an offense, but the uniforms where a visage of a dark time in Luna's life. Whether they knew it or not, that may be a massive insult to the princess. As the 9 bolts began to make a line at the start, the colt said 1 more thing as all the wings unfurled,
They where off, well 8 of them, the black colt was stuck on the start line wings locked up his teeth gritting, some might think he was just going to try to completely upstage all the others by letting them get a head start, but something in Twilight's gut told her something was wrong. As the 8 began their course up the peak, one Wonderbolt shot off the side, hard, from a sharp turn, trying to get back on, only for the guards to point him back to the stands to wait. Spitfire and the Shadowbolt filly came over the top and shot down first, neck and neck. Soarin was behind them, then another Wonderbolt, then the blue colt Shadowbolt, and the last current Wonderbolt, as they did, the black colt finally shot from the start line with a tremendous wave of air shooting behind him. During the loop-de-loop, the 2 in the lead shot through, at first one might think the under trained Shadowbolt filly might end up crashing them both out of the race. As the idea of a completely independent group of fliers this hot headed might be able to keep up without crashing into a pegasus they have never worked with before was honestly laughable, but the 2 kept going side by side unwavering. Soarin did the same, but the Wonderbolt behind him. When he went through the part where he was upside down, for some reason he flipped up in some sort of instinctive auto-correct and crashed through the back, leaving the blue colt Shadowbolt and other 2 Wonderbolts to catch up to Soarin. The 2 came out of the final bend out with Spitfire showing she was edging out on her Shadowbolt competitor. The filly dropped back and took up a position behind Spitfire nearly sending her hind hoofs into Soarin's face.
“Smart,” Said Rainbow, to which Twilight responded,
“Aw no buddy you are not getting past me, sorry.” The Shadowbolt smirked as he shot under Soarin and did the loop-de-loop with him shooting in front of him,
The photographer and officials pooled over the image and seem to be drawing lines down it to literally mark who was just how far ahead. Finally, one stood up,
“You really strutted your stuff out there, and now I understand your complaint about the short track. Indeed it was not enough to show just how fast a pegasus can go but how agile they are, giving them the room to out play their opponents like that.” The Shadowbolt filly neared, her eyes locked on Spitfire, though you got the vibe she wasn’t exactly as happy-go-lucky sports-mare as her Wonderbolt counterpart.
Author's Note
I do want to mention that i did have an editor to help me during most of this, she also did my title card on the front and is a good friend of mine. I hope you all enjoy this, comments on how you felt or how you feel i could improve are much appreciated.
Chapter 2: A Night's Fury
Location unknown: Shadowbolt Hideout
Night Fury was pacing around angrily as she put her goggles aside and pealed the top off her uniform revealing the full face of her form. She had a strong yellow color to her but was muted with this kind of gray smoky coloration over the top of it. She inhaled turning her head to the slowly undressing black colt who was still wearing his goggles even though his uniform was half way down his body,
“You, Bumbling, Fool!” She was on the verge of just straight up screaming at him.
“Night fury...” She would shove a hoof into his chest to stop him,
Night Fury was stomping through the base as pegasus, unicorn and earth ponies where walking around the base, many staying right out of her stomping line.
She had thought to before Cosmic had left her frustrated and grumpy but atleast here she was alone. Slowly it came down as a long scar showed on her chest as she pulled her forward body, and front legs out. The scar continued from her chest down to just past her ribs, as she pealed the single piece away groaning as she felt the rush of fresh cool air hitting her sweating, overheating fur. She would continue to slide the uniform down past her round flanks, revealing a cutie mark, two storm clouds with a full moon rising in the middle of it and a lighting bolt coming out of one. She would use her teeth to grip her uniform and fling it into a chair across the room to let it air out as she stretched out on the bed. Tired and aching across her spine and wings, she laid out on the bed pulling the pillow under her head and letting out a deep slow sigh.
The memories where still fresh in her mind despite how long ago it felt. She sat in the park of the mostly abandoned town of Cherry Grove, one of the former jewels of route 6. She was watching the few families there play as one colt ran by snatching a mare's purse right off her back, “Stop thief!” She screamed as Night Fury shot out from under the tree after him, she was too fast for him to get away so he tried to draw a switch knife out on her. He meet with a pair of hind hoofs smashing his chin and side of his face by another colt, a black pegasus with a wild blue mane, right as Night fury had snatched the bag back. Night Fury returned it back to the mare quietly, while the black colt had the thief in a head lock waiting for the local police.
Night fury sat there with the colt a good hour later after giving their reports. The colt had not said much to her so far as he turned to her,
Author's Note
Ya know ya'd think a filly with sun fire orange eyes and a mane that looks legitly like blue fire would be calmer. I always had an issue with how short this chapter came out but i could never figure out what else to put and i figured better put what is really in your head and not try to drag it out and ruin it. Comments are still welcomed.
Canterlot: Royal Palace.
Twilight was with her friends in the Grand Hall of the palace waiting for the return of her mentor and her sister. Twilight was still replaying the events from mere hours ago in her head while her friends talked about them with a quite varied set of emotions. “I cannot believe those upstarts!” Yelled out an angry Dash, “Doing that infront of hundreds of noble ponies to the Wonderbolts of all pegasi!” Clearly she did not take her childhood heroes losing well and no pony could blame her really. “Though ya'll gotta wonder, where they got the uniform idea,” Said Applejack, taping her hoof to her chin looking to Dash. “What are you looking at? I didn't give it to them!” Rarity clearly realized something, “But we did dear! Your Nightmare Night costume was the Shadowbolts!” Rainbow Dash's face fell realizing that Nightmare Night was a big deal in the newspapers and tabloids because of Princess Luna's arrival and actions, meaning her costume might of shown up all over Equestria! Fluttershy meekly spoke up at finally, “I - I did happen to notice they didn't have any markings over their flanks.” This did make Twilight, and Rainbow Dash begin to realize that she was right, judging by Rarity's and Applejack's reactions, it suggested they had realized this too. Pinkie would give a rather thoughtful “Hmmmmm,” Which usually meant Pinkie logic was bound to leave the rest of them completely confused. “Oh I know why!” The groan from Rainbow Dash went unheeded, “It's because they feel like they are not noticed and thus aren't recognized for their talents, much like a young filly who hasn't found their special talent and thus their cutie mark!” Silence permeated the room followed by the other 5 trading stunned glances at just how simple and yet, accurate, that seemed considering the speech by the leader that was now ringing very vividly in their collective minds.
“That would be a fair concept Miss Pie, though a presumptuous one. From what little we know, I would agree.” The voice of the younger Equestrian princess rang into the mare's ears as they all turned and bowed to the arriving royals. “At ease my little ponies,” Said Celestia gently, as they sat properly looking at them as they took pulled some thicker cushions to themselves with their magic, sitting with them. At first no pony wanted to speak about the events of the race due to not knowing how the princesses felt on it. Twilight inhaled slowly and began, “Princess Celestia I must ask,” Celestia's gaze stopped her from finishing. The motherly royal smiled, “You want to know how we feel about the sudden, if very bold, appearance of these “Shadowbolts”, am I right?” Twilight nodded. “I know this maybe surprising to you girls, but I whole heartedly endorce what they are doing.” The 6 mares shared a collective look of shock and/or confusion. “Beg ya' pardon princess but I can't help but wonder why?” Said Applejack getting agreeing nods from Rainbow Dash and Rarity. “This is not the first time this has happened,” “It would be the third,” Said Celestia calmly as the girls looked amongst themselves considering that. “Third? Dear sister,” Questioned Luna as her elder sister nodded, “The second time was roughly seven hundred years ago.” “Oh...” Responded Luna as Twilight watched a little saddened by the droop in the younger royals ears, knowing how she felt about that expanse of time she missed due to their recent letters to one another. “I understand that you may not fully appreciate or understand their plight, most mortal ponies long sense forget the cycles of a society as I have observed them during my long tenor as Equestria's Princess.” The girls would focus their attention on the Sun goddess, wanting to understand as she did.
“During the first few centuries of our rule, cleaning up the mess Discord left behind, it became easy for the successful and rich to begin to rise to power and influence, as they had the most to spare. Ponies would side with them quickly in favour of gaining supplies from them. Over time however, they successfully became the noble families of Equestria, spreading their class and influence in ways that benefited them the most, beginning to surrogate the lower class ponies from their own society.” Twilight remembered how the high society life had begun to effect Rarity all of a week ago, driven to such lengths to try to get the recognition of the high society, that she felt embarrassed by her Ponyville roots, and friends.... She could understand that perhaps the nobles and rich had a tendency to do that, not just now but for a very long time.
“If I may um ask,” Started Fluttershy, showing that her assertiveness was still developing when it came to talking up to the princesses. “How come you didn't do anything to stop it?” Luna's brow furrowed a bit at the question clearly not liking it, which made Fluttershy squeek and duck behind Dash some, while Celestia slowly sighed. “I often wish I could have, but it was the early centuries of our work, we were not practiced in the position of leadership as I have come to be over the last millennium and a half. We had begun to notice unrest but we had hoped that such actions were beyond our little ponies, seeing that harmony and peace where so welcomed when we came into the rolls.” Luna would nod slowly, “I was also a much younger mare, almost still filly like in appearance and attitude. It did not help matters as I often was more then willing to be blissfully ignorant to the idea that our subjects would behave in such a manner.” The girls would trade looks as they began to process this in their own ways. “So what happened?” Asked Rainbow calmly, “Rebellion?” The girls where a little uneasy at their friend's suggestion, looking to the princesses. “Almost, there were some protests and few riots, atleast few by the standards of Equestria today. Fortunately that opened our eyes and allowed us to make the necessary changes to the social and government systems to better help the lower class support itself without need to be practically enslaved by the elites and nobles.” After a bit of time to process all this, the obvious question came up, this time though from Luna. “Sister I must ask, after the first time, how did it come to pass again only two to three hundred years after....” Celestia gently slide her leg over Luna's shoulders comforting her sister gently.
Luna could not help but lean into her sisters chest and relax. “It was because of those events sadly.” She said trying not to impose any sort of blame or guilt onto her younger sister. “I was just in an emotional haze for quite some time after that, and the nobles and elite realized how easy it would be to manipulate the system for their benefit at the time.” Luna looked up to her sister sadly with those soft blue eyes of hers as Celestia smiled softly, “Don't look so sad sister, it seems to me, that really it is a cycle of society that the upper class becomes self-centred due to their privileged lives and they will, at times, try to take the power they feel entitled to.” Luna nodded slowly, “I do not like it but I think some cycles are just going to repeat, something I have noticed happening again to an extent.” A loud and long yawn punctuated the scene as Pinkie sat there rubbing her eye some as her stomach growled angrily, “Oh my, it seems time has gotten away from us all, I believe we should retire to the dinner hall and have something to eat before we all retire for the day, we can pick up this conversation tomorrow if you girls are still curious.” Said the princess smiling.
Twilight was wandering around Canterlot castle, lost in her thoughts, long after dinner. Most, if not all, of her friends where asleep by this point, but some nights it has been proven she did not sleep when there was a lot on her mind. She passed through a hall realizing she didn’t recognize the décor right away. She realized then where she was, it was a section of the castle that had been forbidden for as long as she had been Celestia's student. So how did she just wander in without noticing the barrier? “Twilight Sparkle?” She turned to the voice seeing the flowing blue mane of starlight energy, “It is not often a pony wanders through my corridor, what brings you here so late?” Twilight looked at her as she processed what Princess Luna had said, her corridor, that meant the forbidden part of the castle was basically the paths that lead to what use to be Luna's bedroom and other such rooms. “I am sorry if I woke you princess, I was just wandering around, when I have a lot on my mind, I tend not to sleep.” Luna would nod slowly as she understood, she was the princesses of the night, night-time sleep was something she appreciated but often skipped as she and her sister where able to nap during the day time to time, just made sure they had alarm clocks that alerted them to the proper time to do the rise and set cycles of their respective celestial bodies.
Luna felt her ears lay back some despite how casual the following offer should have been, “Would you, like to come to my room? Have some tea with me?” Twilight would blink wondering why the princess looked so, nervous? “Sure princess, I would like to talk to you anyway about all this.” Luna would nod, “It's just Luna, remember? No need to be so formal when it is just the 2 of us after all.” Twilight smiled as she followed Luna through the double doors with her cutie mark serving as the main coloration with the crescent moon serving as the handle. Luna pushed the doors open with her magic allowing Twilight into her quite large, luxurious room. It had everything, a main area which also contained a bed and a couple couches, an area that broke off a little to become a sort of mini kitchen area with a fridge, an oven though, admittingly, not large one by a house' standard and a large bathroom through a golden doorway, which was open at the time, hence Twilight being able to see it as the bathroom. Luna set a pot on the oven beginning to let it heat for their tea calmly as she sat on one of the couches as Twilight would take a chair not far from her smiling softly. “You have a very nice room Luna, I do hope I am not intruding.” Luna smiled some to the compliment, “Not at all Twilight, I am glad to finally get to talk to you face to face like this, we have not had much conversation sense Nightmare Night, outside of the letters we have sent to each other.” Twilight nodded as Luna opened the fridge with her magic, “Care for a snack? I have apples, carrots, some soft hay and some chocolates that I managed to sneak past my sister.” She had a devious little smile on her lips from saying that as Twilight would think, “Just some carrots if you don't mind, maybe some ranch dressing to dip?” She licked her lips some realizing how hungry the thought made her. Luna would nod getting some apples and carrots with a dipping cup, filling it with ranch and floating it onto the table between them as the tea pot steamed out as Luna poured the water into some cups, pulling out her selections of teas for Twilight, picking a simple green tea which Twilight also picked.
After a few minutes of snacking on their respective snacks and drinking a cup or two of tea, the pair would relax into a comfortable silence. After mulling her words over in her head, Twilight spoke first, “Luna, I am curious as to how you feel about these pegasi calling themselves Shadowbolts.” She watched Luna inhale slowly as she was clearly thinking over her response. “I am not sure how I feel about it, or even how I should feel about it.” She sighed gathering herself, “I understand that they are, though how limited I am in knowing to them, my fault. Atleast in their design and possibly name. However, given the changes to the outfit such as having no mark on their flanks, and their over all demeanour, it could be possible that I just gave them a form in which to show their unity and that I should be to some extent proud that I helped my beloved subjects.” Luna looked out the main window above her bed looking at the waning moon cycle nearing a new moon. Twilight decided to move to a different topic, talking to Luna mostly asking about what it was like to be a princess, and letting Luna ask her about her recent activities in Ponyville sense Nightmare Night and so forth.
After an hour or so, they where contently sipping at their 5th or so cup of tea and the snacks fairly depleted, much to their joint enjoyment, as one question came rather unexpectedly from the princess. “So Twilight,” She paused for a second, for what Twilight wasn't sure, “Do you happen to have any colt-friends or perhaps filly-friends,” She said the last part a little more in a low tone but Twilight heard it well enough to cover her mouth to stop herself from spitting her tea out in surprise. Luna's ears flatten back some looking down, “I - I am sorry. I did not mean to insinuate,” Twilight raised an eyebrow, did Luna think she had insulted Twilight just for suggesting she may like other mares? I mean Lyra and Bon-bon where very well known couple in Ponyville and they were both mares. Twilight however reminded herself, that much like with her actions on Nightmare Night, Luna may simply be stuck in the past and perhaps then the concept of same-gender couples was not as accepted as it was now. “Princess it's okay, please calm down,” Twilight said worried. “Y - you are not upset?” Asked Luna as Twilight smiled, “Why would I be?” Luna's ears perked up some communicating that Twilight had indeed atleast to some extent communicated what she had wanted to. “It's... nothing, never mind, an old thing,” Said Luna smiling some as Twilight would nod taping her hoof to her chin faux thinking, “Well I can't say I do have anyone special in that regard,” Luna would blink, “A kind-hearted and beautiful mare like you? Single?” Twilight found a flush creeping across her cheeks, was she really beautiful? I mean sure her friends often called her pretty as a friendly compliment and Rarity often complimented their beauty when it worked with her dresses, but was she really genuinely beautiful? Luna seem to think so and, for some reason, that pleased her.
“Well, as I have said in my letters, I hadn't put a lot of thought into even friendship until recently, so therefore I really have not had any interest in such things as love and relationships either, nor do they really come up that often.” Which outside of any conversations about book selection with Rarity, which true, Rarity would bring up romance novels and talk about how wonderful the idea of the perfect romance would be with “the perfect stallion” and so on. Luna seemed interested in this, “So, do you even know, which one you like?” Twilight this time was legitly in thought, as she tapped her hoof on her chin, “Can't really say I do, I've just never put any thought into it and I've never had any real reason to put the subject high on my studying list.” “So would you ever consider, you know, going with a mare?” Luna was starting to pry but for some reason she was running with this topic. Twilight found herself flushing a little again as she would think about it, “I can't say I would know right now, I would have to have more time to consider it all, before I decided what it is I would want in a relationship.” Luna nodded slowly as Twilight felt now was her turn, “So princess, have you ever considered being with another mare?” Luna had a deep pink colour spreading across her cheeks now. “Well I - you see...” She found herself tripping over her own thoughts. Twilight giggled getting out of the chair and going to the princess, gently placing a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, “Well whoever it is, they must be quite somepony to gain the affections of the princess of the moon,” She smiled and yawned gently, “But it is late Luna, I think I shall finally retire to my room and get some rest.” Luna nodded still flushed as she watched Twilight leave her room the doors being shut behind her with her unicorn magic. “Indeed she is somepony, my stars of escape.” Said Luna before she laid on her bed having floated over from the couch and would rest her head, allowing herself a few hours or sleep before the dawn, when she and her sister would have to lower the moon, and raise the sun of the new day.
Chapter 4: Shadow Do Well
Ponyville 10 days after the Shadowbolt's interruption of the Wonderbolt Derby
Twilight was sitting in the park with Rainbow Dash shooting over head doing her daily rounds in her weather patrol job. She was reflecting once again on Celestia's words,
“Stop Thief!” Rang through the air as a strong built earth pony stallion ran by a unicorn mare snatching her saddle bags off her back. Criminals where rare in Equestria but that did not mean they did not exist entirely. Twilight turned her body to follow the thief when she was beaten to it. A black and purple blur tackled the earth stallion to the ground wrestling him. Twilight was stunned watching what could only be called a “Shadowbolt coloured Mare-Do-Well who was a colt” Physically man handling the thief while another Shadowbolt landed with a second one, this one having its hat float off revealing a unicorn filly in the costume with the red filly flier pulling out several ropes that the unicorn used to tie up the thief in question. The scuffle ended quickly now as the thief struggled against his bindings as the Colt-Do-Well stood up fully. Twilight realized this one was an earth pony, as the filly put her purple hat back on with her magic while the colt carried the bags back to the mare who the thief had taken them from, “I believe these are yours ma'am,” He said carefully hefting them back onto her back as she smiled,
“Thank you so very much!” She kissed his cheek and went on her way. A young pegasus colt walked up to the Colt-Do-Well holding a black hat, much like the purple one the unicorn filly had,
“So ya'll saw them Shadowbolts having earth ponies and unicorns in their group?” Asked Applejack as she pushed a cart with some snacks and juice to her friends at the table. They had decided to meet up here when Twilight called an emergency meeting.
“Dash they just took the idea and ran with it. This has nothing to do with the fact we had any hand in it,” Said Twilight putting a hoof on her friend's shoulder, trying to comfort her. Dash looked at them as they where all smiling at her trying to take that worry out of her mind as she slowly smiled,
They did however not have to wait long. Later that Day, a tour trolly broke off its pullers and tumbled down the side of a hill, very dejavu for Applejack watching it as she was about to leap into action when a black hatted colt jumped in and body slammed into its front as he pushed against it, being forced down the hill side with it. However the faulty harness was not the only weak point. The back wheel axel snapped on the way down, sending both back wheels flying off and wood shrapnel in multiple directions but it allowed for the trolly to drag itself down as much as the earth pony colt. After some of the ponies got off, the colt staggered slowly as he turned blood dripping onto the grass soliciting a scream from a very faint unicorn mare.
A solid section of the axle had shot out from under the trolly when it broke and lodged itself firmly into the colt's left side, much to everypony's horror. A black unicorn colt with a short well kept mane got off the trolly quickly with heavy saddle packs on, “Give me space everypony! I am a trained physician!” He said as he put his hoofs carefully around the wounded colt's injury asking for another colt to help him lay the wounded hero down. He shrugged off his bags quickly once they had him on the ground as he began using his magic to pull out key objects. Applejack recognized gauz, what appeared to be rubbing alcohol, 2 differently worded kits, both probably medical, and scissors. The medic colt bit into the uniform carefully pulled it away from the wound, using his magic to make the scissors cut. He then began to use his magic to trace a cut from where he started to the wound, slowly making the cuts so not to disturb the wound worse.
Applejack would notice the crowd forming and decided to do something to help by trying to get them to back up and give him space to work as she tried to keep an eye on it as well.
“Okay sir, now I need you to relax, on the count of 3, I am going to remove the spike.” He said pouring some of the alcohol on a thick cut of gauz preparing it with his magic quietly.
“It seems you are very lucky sir. The wound is fairly shallow compared to how bad it could have been.” He would begin to use the needle to literally sew him up, which made Applejack blink. She had seen stitches before but she had never seen a pony actually making them on another pony. As he finished and sniped the end of the thread about a half dozen Shadowbolts arrived 2 where ground, one a unicorn, one an earth pony, another 4 were pegasi and 2 where pulling a cart, clearly having been rigged up to carry their wounded ally. Applejack instantly recognized the one leading them as Night Fury, the winner of the Wonderbolt Derby almost 2 weeks prior.
Night Fury seemed a bit livid about the situation as she had the 3 not pulling the cart carefully put the wounded Shadowbolt into it to take him back with them.
“Well it is fortunate that you could help him, I do not think any of ours are trained to deal with such an injury.” He smiled kindly tipping a invisible hat to her,
“Though, I do have a younger brother....” He seem to grow rather sorrowful saying that,
“Sure I will pass it on if I ever do see him again.” Night Fury quickly did excuse herself to follow her fellow Shadowbolts back as she was now nursing a rather large amount of anger for Stream. When she got back there was going to be yelling, lots and lots of yelling.
Author's Note
well this should be interesting, another black stallion with a blue mane?
Warning: this chapter contains pretty high levels of swearing.
Shadowbolt HQ - Outside Canterlot.
“Where is he!?” Night Fury was stomping her way down one of the halls as every pony in their right mind was getting the fuck out of her way. She found her target in one of the work rooms and her anger practically doubled on sight! He was laying on his belly, hind legs stretched out, forelegs crossed singing mostly to himself, with a mare over him that can best be called 'deep grape' in color with a folded towel cutie mark, massaging his back with her fore-hoofs.
Stream motioned with a hoof for the mare to leave, which she quickly did, grabbing her few things and bolting.
“Because,” He paused inhaling,
“LIES!” He screamed.
“When mom and dad died, the towns folk helped take care of me for months.” He inhaled slowly then exhaling weakly as she knew his heart had to be flaring up.
“So yeah, to me, I haven't had a brother sense he left for Canterlot University, as that was the last I saw of him. He spent the years there sending letters about how awesome it was and the friends he made and the grades he got, making mom and dad so proud and what not but... he just forgot I existed.” Night Fury picked up her goggles putting them on calmly heading to the door.
Ponyville
Night Fury was scanning the small quiet town late at night looking for Spark. Her luck proved good tonight as she spotted him alone at the park, under a tree with his horn a glow with a blue light, he was reading something, the heavy saddlebags from earlier besides him. She landed not far from him as he looked up hearing the sound of impacting hooves on grass.
“When we where growing up, my father worked hard in the mines to make sure we had food and a home.” He would take a slow breath,
“I however made a friend when I arrived,” The image of a young foal filly with a soft powder blue coat would smile to him,
“Then I was told of Stream's condition, and I felt my world shatter.” Night Fury would blink, slowly removing her goggles as she sat down slowly, having been keeping that strong glare going the whole story. She would relax a little as Spark offered her a bottle of water, which she was quite gracious for when she realized how dry her mouth was as she took it carefully in her hooves and drank.
“So what happened to you?” She asked after wiping the drips off her muzzle from the water.
Tears streamed down Spark's face as Night Fury felt something she had not felt in years, genuine sympathy for another pony.
“I began to restudy old practices and began to push the boundaries of existing medicines in my studies but there was only so much one could do without actual work in the field.” He would recall him getting his graduation certificate,
“I once stopped here and became friends with a medicine zebra named Zecoura that to my knowledge has actually become part of the town through the help of new friends she made in the last year.” Night Fury would tilt her head having never actually met a zebra face to face.
“What? How?!” She said not sure exactly why this mattered to her.
Night Fury blinked, she wasn't sure how to feel about it,
“Did you..get a heart?” She was now in too deep to be afraid to ask, as Spark nodded slowly while they both drank some water quietly.
“The third one is still alive living a quite happy life from what I understand in Chicoltgo, the last one was the most difficult for me I believe to lose.” Night Fury would gently lean in trying to silently press him on.
Spark looked at her some smiling,
“I stored it with magic in a special container that keeps it ever so slowly pumping with a set of tubes that pump blood through it. I have found some special gems that generate electrical current, for which I have found a few medical uses for.” Night Fury would slowly nod as she put her leg down and remembered one thing that some how hadn't come up,
“I am sorry, this is, still a very bitter subject,” He inhaled,
“If your wondering, Steam left 3 months after they passed, even if I had opened the letter when I got it, I would have been a month to late. I still did not give up though, I had to find him, and I had to get better at my craft.” He stood up slowly,
Author's Note
passing the half way point, what do you guys think so far? comments still welcomed.
Chapter 6: the past is a fickle thing
Shadowbolt's HQ - Outside Canterlot
Night Fury walked towards Stream's room quietly with a single bag slung over her back the strap against the lower part of her neck holding what she hoped to be everything she needed to make this work.
Stream was the only one who would stand up to her when her temper got the better of her. Stream was the only one who was who he was, he wasn’t a faker who was nicer then he really was, the jackass he was, was who he projected and he admitted to being the kind of colt he was. She stopped outside of his room and would stop realizing where her thoughts were going, slowly she sat down and would look up at the ceiling out of habit.
Stream was both the same and wildly different from the two colts she had dated before. First and foremost Stream wasn’t a faker like them, where they had acted a lot sweeter and been all hearts, flowers and sugary coated emotions on the surface to get close and then turned around and become clingy, possessive, even dominating jerks once they had her hooked. Stream was from day one, an openly admitted jackass, his words not hers. She thought back to the end of the day she meet him, her saddlebags packed and on her back as she ran up to him as he was leaving,
The sun was shining through the clouds as Stream, Night Fury and 3 other early pegasus members of the Shadowbolts where running drills through the clouds they had set up. Stream was leading them through when suddenly he coughed hard and began to just veer off in a random downward sloop. Night Fury and the others did not immediately react, trying to fully grasp what just happened to their leader. Night Fury was first to bolt out of formation and dive bomb for him as his wings had fully given out and he had gone from a sloop to just plummeting like a sack of rocks. Night Fury managed to catch up and wrapped her foreleg around his mid section trying to decrease their speed rapidly as she curved their decent as well hoping to at least land somewhat softly not knowing Cosmic Stream's condition. After the lifetime it took to reach the ground, Night fury felt the weight of her comrade tumble out of her legs, sending her jolting forward and smacking into the ground, tumbling head over flank as she came to rest about 5 feet from where Stream laid. Night Fury can barely recall the events between the landing and waking up in a room with just her and Stream, who was awake. They where both bandaged where they had been injured from the fall as Stream was staring at her,
“I was going to tell you this but when I was more prepared to,” Night Fury did not like the sound of that.
“I just wanted to do it when I was ready, not like this.” Night Fury sat there in front of his door pealing her uniform off slowly, thinking now and realizing things that probably had seemed so obvious to an outward observer. The way he stood closer then before, the flirting he started, which she had just added to “part of their dynamic” when it started. The winter where he'd keep giving her his blanket only for her to have to yank him underneath their joint blankets to stay warm or risk him getting sick. She sighed as she got the uniform past her ribs and remembered just why she had not put this much thought into this sooner despite how long they had known each other.
It was New Years Eve, Night Fury was hammered beyond all belief that the night had been a blur. She remembered the noises and being lead out of the party by someone. When she finally came to suffering a hangover that felt like a manticore had torn her skull in half, she found herself in Stream's bed. When Stream came out of the bathroom from a shower, she exploded on him. Ranting and raving about him taking advantage of her, not listening to any defense he put up or anything he said. At the time, after she stormed out or staggered really, she had thought he truly was no better and that his defense was 'a pathetic attempt at justification' at the time. Though once she had calmed down and given herself a once over she found absolutely no sign of such, outside of the headache the only damage was a bruise that was far to small to be from a hoof or a leg holding her down or anything. She found out later that she had smacked herself pretty hard against a table edge and the bruise was the right thickness to be so. The problem was she was too proud, too proud to admit she was wrong, let alone she was wrong to a colt. It was only now though on this night of reflecting that she fully realized the result of what she did. He had stopped standing so close to her, his flirting decreased and became more joking sarcasm then it was before, and she could only imagine when winter came if this kept up, his generosity for her health might not be as high.
“You're an idiot Fury,” She muttered to herself as she slide her uniform all the way off, exposing her flanks, A full moon, rising over 2 dark storm clouds with lighting bolts crossing into an X beneath them. Fury inhaled slowly gathering her courage. It was time to realize the truth and make things right, for not just Stream and Spark, but for her and Stream.
Night Fury opened the door pushing it open slowly as she walked in. Stream turned his head looking at her,
“I know what happened Stream and trust me I understand why you are upset with Spark.” The name caused him to glare rather strongly at her. “Look, please just hear me out on this okay? I understand that can be hard since I did never hear you out those months ago.” She said trying to apologize in her own way which seem to resonate a little with his soften but still strong gaze.
Stream felt a yawn cut through the air as he grumbled, he was exhausted and the cold wasn't helping. Fury realized she wasn't going to get far tonight but maybe tonight she could begin both paths of healing.
“I am sorry Stream,” She said softly blinking back moisture in her eyes.
“But even then I think I knew inside I cared for you too, you are strong, confidant and when the situation is right you are a kind hearted stallion under all that rough exterior. You protected me that night from the other stallions, took me to your room and let me sleep like the drunkard bitch-mare I was.” She felt the guilt finally coming to a head in her,
The two ponies laid together in the sort of soft bed, under the kind of thick blanket. “Tomorrow morning,” Started Night Fury as she slid her forelegs a bit tighter around Cosmic Stream's body pulling herself closer.
“You truly feel that way Fury?” He asked softly of the mare,
Author's Note
I don't honestly know if this reflects well on me or poorly on me as an Author, but i genuine had trouble writing this cause i kept tearing up on myself. Comments still welcomed
Chapter 7: a moment of bliss
Warning: This chapter contains adult themes: primarily intimancy, and mild gore (mild by my standards atleast) You have been warned.
Shadowbolt's HQ Outside Canterlot
Stream began to drift awake, not opening his blue eyes as the room was not bright enough to warrant it, his curtains keeping the harsh beams of the morning sun from hurting his eyes. What was this in his forlegs? It was soft, it felt warm and had a soft breath. Its soft fur lead to two similarly soft wings with feathers that tickled his legs gently. He ran his hoofs down it some more stopping above a thick tail that flicked against the body some,
“Watch those hooves lover-colt just because I like you does not mean I wouldn't slap you for grabbing me where I don't like to be grabbed,” Came a soft version of a voice he knew so well.
To him it was like seeing an angel-pony. He was entranced with her from the start. He knew it was silly, that true love was a fairy tale and that love at first sight was silly. Even with all this in mind, he never let go of her, never let go of his desire to be with her. As she proved to be the best companion he could ever ask for, even after she had hurt him with such accusations after that one night. Now here she was, comfortable between his forelegs, her ear on his chest, her body resting against his, everything he could ask for really. He was not one of those shallow colts who desired one end goal and cared little for the rest of it, no Stream wanted this more then anything, the feel of love, the feel of belonging that he had lost when he lost his parents those years ago. Fury on the other hand, as much as this was wonderful, felt something burning inside her, to the point she could not hold it back. Stream found himself on his back with Fury ontop of him, her body resting against his as a burning fire shimmered in her eyes.
“Fury, w what are you--?” He was cut off by a passionate kiss from his smoky-yellow mare.
“You are telling me you, never have?” She was chewing her lip some as some part of her was beging to burst into a fit of roaring laughter.
If anyone had a clock in the room, then the two panting, exhausted ponies would know that they had been at it for nearly 2 full hours.
They where not to sure how they managed to finally get out of bed and into the big tub Stream had in his bathroom, though Fury was thankful that it had hot water.
Author's Note
i feel odd that i left the chapter name the way it is when this chapter's intention ends up mostly in the next chapter.
Epilogue - Two months following Cosmic Stream's heart transplant surgery.
Sweet Apple Acres
Applejack would be walking to the cloud hovering over some of her trees with saddle bags full of some supplies.
Applejack carefully shifted the bags off her back and onto Fury's gently.
Especially after the speech he given the town not a week after the surgery, when the town had grown conflicted about what he had done and what he was, he had been called to defend himself in order for the town to allow Stream and Fury to stay, even if Applejack had allowed them safety on the farm, she was still bound by the town halls rulings as much as it was stupid.
Spark was on the stage with the mayor as the town was restlessly watching.
“A ponies heart isn't just another body part, its their heart, ya know? Ugh that sounded better when I was thinking it.” Several started to laugh but Spark air horned them silent.
He watched many heads nod smiling, feeling his words where being heard.
“But for once the truth is quite simple, without magic what I did was impossible. It is impossible with pony physical anatomy to get the tools in there and control them without magic, without the magic to see through to the organs themselves, without the precise control of magic, the ability to warp the old heart out and the new one in. I KNOW, I just KNOW, not only will those who harber issues with unicorns use this, but unicorns with egos bigger then Princess Luna's moon are going to try to hold this over the others.” He inhaled slowly and exhaled,
“Why did you decide to study this branch of medicine exactly?” Honestly who would not see that one coming?
“When I was young I lived in the ass end of Equestria, my father was a miner and my mother a former weather captain, who couldn't fly anymore. I demonstrated great magical power and they scratched what they could together so they could send me to Canterlot Acadamy, in hopes I would find my true calling in magic, and a better life. What happened after is where things get hard for some to hear, as my brother was diagnosed with a weak heart. To put it the simply, the doctors where impersonal and offered nothing but advice to keep him from “killing himself with unnecessary exertion,” Yeah, tell a young pegasus foal he is straight up not allowed to fly, not because his wings are broken or something but just cause his heart is bad.” There was a hush in the crowd as he would drink some more water before continuing.
“I got wind of the news and, that's when things changed, being told my brother, my own brother, was not going to be allowed to choose his path? Because of a bad heart? I foregone further interaction with fellow students, I began to pour myself into finding out what could be done for him, the last thing I was going to do was let some wandering ass end doctor tell me my brother couldn't be helped.”
Murmurs went through the crowd, some where infuriated by the fact the doctor was so callous about it, others where wondering how anypony could live with being told something like that.
“Eventually I studied ways around them, the issues rose when I found out near the end of my tenure at the acadamy, that my parents had passed. Between when they had passed, before a letter was even sent and how long I had ignored letters, they had been passed for some time, and my brother had left our home. Feeling I had not returned and abondoned him, not knowing I truly just did not know.” He inhaled speaking before the murmuring could get out of hand.
Night Fury would stretch,
Author's Final notes.
If you may remember when I started only up to episode 10 of season 2 had aired, so that is pretty consistant with what has been in this story. Most of the remaining second season will be happening in between the end of “From The Shadows” and the sequal story “From The Heart.” I wanna thank all of you who have read, commented, and given suggestions or just minor bits of critic that have helped me work on this.
Special thanks to
Lauren faust For making MLP and the enjoyable settings and characters.
Snow flakes For being my editor, and the artist behind the title cards.
Anadrus for being a general pain in my side helping me learn how to over all write better leading to me finishing a fanfic for once.
Author's Note
So the first story comes to an end, but the story itself is not over. I Welcome comments, i am still working on From the Heart, slowly, mostly due to motivation, i hope comments and critics here might help remotivate me, cause this is the first fanfic i ever actually finished, and i would like to do more.
Chapter 8: A heartfelt reunion
Ponyville Park roughly eleven am.
On a lone bench on the main path of the local park, a black coated unicorn wearing a red hoodie was looking around slowly, earlier several dozen ponies had passed by going along the different pathways in all respective directions to their daily rotines. The colt would run a hoof over the back of his blue mane slowly in thought, Could Night fury deleiver on her promise? Considering how strong willed Stream could be Spark wondered if she could truely get him to listen.
“That's cool I guess, mind if I wait with ya?” He blinked confused.
“Nothing to be impressed about, it was simply the right thing to do, anyone with my medical trianing would of, and should of done the same.” Applejack smiled lightly, a modest unicorn, she sure did like meeting more of those.
“Now why would ya'll seem so worried? I mean ya'll are family right?” Spark felt a frown slowly fall his lips looking down.
“What in tarnation kind of backwards stupid thinkin' is that! If ya parents had died they should tell ya! It ain't right to do thato anypony specially if he has family who need them!”
Stream would nod feeling weird, last he saw spark the older unicorn was towering over him having hit puberty, but now he sat a good two or so inches taller then his own older brother before suddenly hugging him knocking the two to the ground. Stream let tears fall from his eyes as Spark slowly hugged him gently rubbing his upper back gently
“I understand the idea that I could fix this is, not easy, cause of how doctors have failed to do more then just tell you are doomed, but I have put my life into this brother, I will not be content if I do not get to try to save you.” Stream nodded tears returning to his eyes as Spark gently brushed them away. “I would like to take this to the hospital, if you are okay with it.” Stream slowly nodded as he and night fury got their saddle bags properly as they began to move as Spark turned
Spark was sitting with his brother having talked with the local doctor about what it was he needed, and what it was he planned to do, Applejack at watched more then heard and noticed said doctor was very uneasy about what ever it was Spark was asking for, but he eventually relented to Sparks request. Stream was fiddling some having removed his shadowbolt uniform night fury packing it in her saddlebag for now.
“Yeah... I suppose you are right.” The two smiled confortable together as the two mares smiled Nightfury gently rubbing Streams side being with him as Aj was in a chair.
“please roll over.” he said calmly as Stream slowly did blinking,
“The barrel shape, and the over all healing manner makes it impossible to simply remove them, reach for the heart, or lungs if that was your target, and then put them back to heal. Because the ribs are needed for the contractions of inhale, and exhale of air, such a move will make properly breathing very difficult if neigh impossible.” He said as They listened.
“Well, mostly because it means that this can only be done by Unicorns, and being someone who perfers the unity and progress of Equestria, it feels as much a step backwards as it does progressive because of this.” Stream shrugged,
“Back on topic” He coughed.
“I trust in ya big bro... You put a lot of thought and work into this... and,” He sat up as the marks from the marker vanished as he hugged his big brother tightly.
Stream laid there his wings and legs carefully pinned by restrains as the face mask had him fast asleep thanks to the gas.
“I am in, nurse, clamps,” He said calmly as the nurse brought the tray with the 4 clamps that he would use his magic to lift up and bring in though the top of the rib cage as he carefully latched them around the Arteries cutting blood flow to and from the heart.
“What a mess” he said as he focused, he had to be careful warping the new heart in, one inch to far, he could hit the lungs, or merge it with the ribs themselves, screwing all his work up. It vanished in a flash as he felt it in his brothers chest.
“Clear!” he pressed them on his brothers chest as a shock ran through him making his chest jolt upward. Spark didn't hear his heart beating rubbing them again with his magic trying to get a stronger charge,
To be continued.
Author's Note
The end of From the Shadows, but that is not The end of the story, comments still welcomed.
