The Tale Of A Shaded Comet

Chapter 6: The Prophecy

Shaded Comet had never had a restless night like this one before. Looking out of the window to his right, the floor-to-ceiling ones facing the city center, he saw nothing but grey stormclouds lazily moving across the ink black sky.

Silently, and as stealthily as possible, he snuck out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Ascending the stairs to the roof, he felt... Tension. It hung heavily in the atmosphere around him, like smoke from a fire on a windless night.

The bracing chill sent shivers down his spine, the breeze briskly leaving as fast as it had found him. The moon was bright tonight, somewhat brighter than normal.

"Must be Princess Luna's influence." Shaded murmered to himself, taking in the beautiful landscape around him. It would be perfect for flying; the tall infrastructure surrounding the city would create tons of uplift and the narrow confines between skyscrapers would be brilliant for tricks such as barrel rolls.

"Rainbow Dash would love this." He didn't even hear himself say it.

Dashie. His thoughts immediately swirled back into the formation of Rainbow Dash. He had effectively ruined her reputation for loyalty, in the poorly executed plan that was the defense of Cloudsdale.

"If only I had been stronger, more prepared." Shaded whispered to the wind, letting his words float away as if they were nothing more but leaves in the breeze. "I am truly sorry, Dashie. I really am..." He began to tear up again, but quickly collected himself.

He couldn't let himself get distracted now. He had to be vigilant. He had to be strong. He looked up into the sky, breathing in the crisp, cool air. Something seemd to be moving amongst the clouds. Rain began to trickle down.

Shaded let the rain run over him. He watched as the rain intensified, now accompanied by the occasional crackle and boom of lightning and thunder.

"Wait a second... Lightning? Thunder?" Shaded realised something that he should've to start with. The Changlings were coming.

He quickly flew down to the town square, and shouted as loudly as he possibly could, trying to attract attention. He didn't have armour. He didn't have weapons. He was currently alone, and as such, more or less useless against an army of Changlings.

He quickly scanned the sky, checking for any more movement in the clouds. Seeing more, he flew back to the hotel, and grabbed Frostbite from his bed. Shaking him in an effort to wake him, Frostbite groggily opened his eyes.

A "Whuh?" was all he managed before a lightning bolt hit the hotel, making the windows implode and overloading all electronics. All the lights went off, casting shadows across the walls.

Shaded was leaning against the wall, covered in tiny cuts and a massive bruise along the left side of his flank. Frostbite however, was able to project a Ice shield, using his powers as a Cyromancer to his advantage. He had stopped all glass in the air, freezing the shards in place. He stood still, his horn glowing an icy blue colour that bent the light around it.

The lightning strike couldn't have been coincidentally hitting where it landed. Each strike was precise, pinpointing an area and scorching it. Many of the buildings around the hotel were crumbling, their structural weaknesses already exploited. Rushing out of the shattered remains of the large window, he quickly checked for survivors in the rubble.

Nothing. They were all dead. Changling shock troopers were now descending from the ominous giant looming above them. Shaded turned toward Frostbite. "Can you make me a sword?" He yelled over the screeching of the approaching horde, who were advancing at a steady pace.

Frostbite nodded, and summoned a sword that shimmered and danced in the moonlight. The white unicorn tossed the blade to Shaded, who grasped it in his hooves. "On three." Frostbite called out.

"1"

"2"

"3"

"Go!" They both pelted at the enemy, leaving little room for calculation or foresight. Screaming war cries, they charged over rubble to get to the first wave, who were just touching down. Most of the civilians, by now anyway, had died or were seriously injured, and it was Frostbite who ran into battle, with Shaded soaring above.

Shaded's blade connected with the nearest Changling flyer, severing the head from the shoulders. Twisting, he blocked a strike from another, but was hit by the something behind him. His shoulders seared with pain, and he felt warm blood trickle down. Growling in pain, he stabbed into the ribcage of the attacker.

The Changling ceased to live, and began to fall through the air, hitting the ground with a crunch. The rainfall was now heavy, every raindrop a burden to bear as it chilled Shaded to the bone.

The Changling forces were amassing in the distance, now wary of the defenders. The lightning was getting more accurate, blasting holes in the pavements around Frostbite. The cyromancer was surrounded by frozen statues, a blurry Changling inside every core.

There was an instant darkening of the night, all moonlight filtered through an inky black veil. Shaded looked up.

"Oh my bu-"

He was cut off by an explosion of light, blinding him. His ears bled from the resulting boom. Flailing wildly, his wings were burnt, almost to a crisp. He flapped harder in an attempt to stay airborne, but it was in vain.

The darkness of his mind swallowed him.

Twilight was talking with Princess Celestia, in complete disbelief. The sun had set, and the stars were beautiful gems, pinpricks of light in the dark. But they held a darker reasoning behind them than just being there for decoration.

"Shaded he asked for WHAT before he left for Manehatten?" Twilight's mouth hung open in surprise. It was lucky that they were alone, as she had just practically screamed out the question.

Celestia sighed. "He asked me to wipe Rainbow Dash's memory of him. Specifically Rainbow Dash and the pegusus race as a whole." She blinked at Twilight, who was frowning in confusion.

"Is it even possible to do such a feat?" Twilight advanced towards the Princess, who was looking in the direction of Ponyville.

"Yes. But only I can do it. And he asked for me to do it if he asked, not if I felt like it." Celestia scraped her hoof against the balcony. She and Twilight were outside, on the overhang on her tower.

Twilight nodded slowly. "Okay... But still, why?"

"He felt as if he had betrayed the pegusai. I told him about the nature of Rainbow Dash's conversation with you, but he wanted to hear it for himself." Celestia closed her eyes, breathing slowly. "He wanted to start anew, but aspired to try by himself to begin with."

There was a sudden, frantic knock at the door to Celestia's chambers. "You may enter." She called from the balcony.

"Princess Celestia! Manehatten has been destroyed! The agent failed!"

The guard who had entered was none other than Lieutenant Gage, Shining Armour's best friend. Twilight hadn't seen him in ages, but couldn't bring herseld to look from the floor, her eyes dripping with tears.

"No... Shaded..." She whispered into the night. Celestia's eyes shot open, and she turned to face the guard. The light brown pegasus shook his dark brown mane in confusion, his green eyes searching her. "Excuse me?"

Celestia motioned towards Gage. He approached her, evidently doubting his own ears. "The agent was Shaded Comet, Lieutenant. I'm sorry."

"Oh." The pegasus drooped, hiding his eyes from her view. Gage had known him since Shaded had joined the Royal Guards at the age of 16. He was, at the time, 14 years older than him.

Shaded was a little brother to him, and they slowly grew more and more distant since Shaded had stopped the thieves. His heartache over Shaded leaving the Guards was barely tolerable.

Gage roared at the top of his lungs, expelling all of his sorrow. His voice, it was said afterwards, could be heard at the other side of Canterlot.

"SHADED!" He drew it out until his breath deserted him, anger replacing the void that had just left. "I will avenge you... They will pay..." He lowered his head, letting his tears splash against the floor.

"We'll recover his body." Twilight had a grim expression in her eyes. "After we tell the others."

Celestia, who was silently thinking whilst this was happening, made a decision. "I will tell Rainbow Dash, my faithful student. I won't erase anyponies' memories of him." With that, she started to walk a slow, sombre walk to the door.

Twilight was silently waiting for her friends, with the exception of Rainbow Dash. When they arrived, absentindedly chatting amongst themselves, Twilight raised her head, showing her tears.

They immediately hushed themselves, and stood around her. Rarity gasped at Twilight's appearance. "Darling? What's troubling you?"

Gage entered the room in a state similar to Twilight. Twilight nodded at him weakly. His eyes were red from crying, but he had the air of somepony who has found true determination.

"Manehatten has been destroyed. The agent failed, and was killed in the fray." He rasped, his throat in pain after yelling. They all bowed their heads in respect. "Who was the agent?" Rarity whispered.

"Sha...Sh...Shaded." Twilight sobbed, choking on her words. "Twilight. Ah think we need to tell Dash." Applejack looked up, her face white. Shaking his head, Gage looked at he horizon. There was a plume of smoke in the distance, just visible in the early morning sun. It was coming from Manehatten.

"The Princess is telling her. We need to retrieve his body, and bring it back. Twilight, if you would kindly teleport us to Manehatten."

When the purple light subsided, the group looked at their surroundings. Nothing but rubble, so far, but there were several buildings in the distance that were moderately damaged, but still standing.

They were in the City Center, Applejack remembered from her fillyhood. Smoke still rose from the razed remnants of the once proud Manehatten plaza, painting the sky. There were no visible Changlings, and so they split up, and began to search.

Galloping around the piles, she looked for any sign of Shaded. she looked in every nook and cranny, every corner, every room. After about an hour of searching the center, there was a shout from Twilight.

"I've found him!" Dashing towards her, she couldn't believe her eyes. Shaded was lying in a crumpled heap, leaning against a wall. His wings were shattered and burnt. There was a pool of blood massed around him, starting at his shoulders. His eyes were glazed over, and were now an eggshell white. He was barely recognisable; his skin was covered in burns.

But what shocked her more was the unicorn guarding it, his eyes darting from girl to girl, his horn glowing a startling icy blue. His white coat was splattered with blotches of deep red. And he was surrounded by three pillars of ice.

"Please stand aside, Cyromancer." Gage asked, spitting out the last word as if it were poison. The unicorn snorted at him. "Never." The girls exhaled in anger, drawing their hooves across the dirt.

The Cyromancer looked at Twilight. "Element of Magic. I take it you are here to remove his body." Twilight lowered her head.

"Yes. Please step aside, Frostbite." The unicorn looked shocked, but retained his expression moments later.

"How do you know my name?" He hissed, his horn glowing brighter.

"Shaded talked about you. His descriptions of you were accurate, it seems."

Frostbite lowered his horn, expelling the magic. "I want to help carry him back." His eyes held a pained expression, holding Applejack's gaze. Twilight nodded, and Rarity lifted Shaded's body into the air with her magic. Frostbite then took hold of him.

"Twilight. Teleport us back to Canterlot. The gates into the city." Applejack didn't even ask why Gage had asked Twilight to teleport to the gates. Twilight lifted her head into the air, and teleported them back.

The gates were open, as usual, and a little rain was falling. The guards on duty nearly fell from their posts when they saw the group appear out of nowhere. Lieutenant Gage was with them, so they let the matter slip.

Until they saw what two white unicorns were carrying. They rushed down from their posts, and approached Gage. "Sir? What is going on?" Gage turned towards them. "Assemble every on duty pony here now. Alert Captain Armour, and say I requested his presence here as well." The pair nodded, and rushed into the barracks.

Rainbow Dash felt horrible. Her head was pounding, still reeling from what Princess Celestia had just told her.

"Flight Commander Shaded Comet talked to me about his feelings for you many times. He felt as if he had betrayed Cloudsdale when he had to leave, and then didn't return until it was two late. So I sent him to Manehatten."

"But, Rainbow Dash, he had one last wish before he left, and I wish to discuss it with you."

"What was it?" Rainbow Dash looked round, letting her head droop.

"He wished for me to erase every pegasus' memory of him."

Rainbow Dash started to sob again. He had wanted her to be happy, to not be an outcast. But she had ruined her chances of actually becoming his marefriend when he had heard her speaking with Twilight.

"I am not going to uphold his wish, as it was conditional. But I want you to do something for me. Tell the pegasai what happened in Cloudsdale. And apologise to him when he returns."

She looked out towards the gates into Canterlot, which were just beyond the barracks. They would be back soon.

The men assembled, and Gage gave them the order to form ranks around the elements, Frostbite and himself. When Shining Armour arrived, he saw immediately what they were doing. "They're not going to like this, Gage. The crowds will not like this at all."

Gage nodded, and announced a second order. "Alright! We are to defend this body as much as possible. We are moving it to the castle." The soldiers nodded in confirmation. "MARCH!" Shining Armour shouted, leading the progression.

Apon entering the city, they were met with mixed reactions, most of the public thinking that it was just a routine. And then they saw Shaded Comet's body being held in the air by a combination of three unicorns.

The pegasai, most of which were refugees from Cloudsdale, immediately started an uproar. The progression calmly marched onwards, openly crying. If they looked up, they would see a familiar pegasus stallion in a Wonderbolts costume join the group.

Soarin' saluted the body, and flew overhead at a slow pace, respectfully watching the body. The pegasai fell silent in awe. A blood red mare left their ranks, and flew next to Soarin'. Rewire Stitch felt a single tear leave her eye, watching it hit the body softly, mixing in with the dried blood.

The crowd followed in curiousity, some of the Wonderbolts among them. The steady march of the Royal Guards was the only sound that could be heard, as most of the crying was silent. About halfway through the city, the group slowed down even more, walking together.

In the tower, Rainbow Dash gasped. Shaded was being carried to the castle by about 100 plus ponies, all of them silent. Frostbite was carrying him aloft with his magic. Soarin' was flying above, marking their position.

But she couldn't see Shaded clearly; the crowd was blurry, the distance too far too make out minute details. Stretching her wings, she quickly flew down to greet Shaded, to say sorry for the pain she had caused him.

"No..." Rainbow Dash stopped in mid-flight, seeing Shaded up close. His body was covered in burns, his ears were bleeding heavily, and his eyes were white. His wings were virtually gone, the feathers scorched and the bones jutting out of the skin.

His mane and tail were moderately okay, but covered in blood and layered with soot. His mouth was open, and blood was trickling out slowly. His skin parted around the shoulders, exposing raw flesh and blood to the cyan mare.

He was dead. Silently, tears dripping from her eyes, she lifted Shaded's crumpled body out from Frostbite's magical grasp. Complying, he released the magic, letting the body drop into her arms. Soarin' descended from the sky, and supported his right side, whilst Rainbow held the left, cradling his head, letting her tears hit his face.

Together they marched and soared at a respectable pace to the castle, where Princess Celestia stood waiting, a tear rolling down her face. Bowing her head, she touched Shaded with her horn, letting her magic encircle him.

Rainbow Dash watched in awe as Princess Celestia cast the spell. Shaded's body was lifted out of her arms, and she landed and watched as Celestia raised his body above the crowd.

Shaded disappeared in a flash of light, blinding the onlookers. When the brightness subsided, there was a statue depicting Shaded in front of her. Wide eyed, she looked down to the plinth on which it perched. There was text engraved, and she read it aloud.

"From nothing to greatness, ashes to ashes,

He will be back soon, at lightning's flashes.

The soul of an innocent, the body ravaged,

To combat pure evil, the holder savage.

Remembered, disgraced, a persona displaced

Shaded Comet, you cannot be replaced.

Until you return, your body shall remain,

Locked into stone, broken through magic super-mundane."

She looked up, confused. Princess Celestia answered their silent questions.

"It is a prophecy, my little ponies."