-MLP FiM Chronicles of Moonbow Shade Ch. 3-

Since Shade couldn't fly and Blitz didn't have wings, the party had to walk which Rainbow Dash particularly didn't like. After a while, the unicorn started singing which was met with less than positive feedback.

"So climb aboard and bring along all your hopes and dreams! Together we will find the great things that we're looking for! One P-"

"Will you shut up already?!", Rainbow Dash screamed, pulling at her mane, "Again Shade, why did we bring your annoying friend?"

"You're the ones who insisted on walking to Canterlot with me.", Shade countered with narrow eyes, "I told you I can get there myself."

Dash back hoofed him over the head, "Don't talk back to me, young stallion! Grr! I am getting sick of all of these English-dubbed anime openings!"

"Actually, Tails of Fillia is a video game.", Blitz said blushing, "But I know, the animated cutscenes are stunning!"

"GYAAAAA!", Rainbow jumped into the air screaming with frustration, "I am sick and tired of your fan-colting over everything! And worse; your obsessed with me! This kid is obnoxious!"

"Rainbow, can we please stop yelling?", Fluttershy asked timidly, "Blitz may be loud, and he does kind of talk a lot, but he seems to really look up to you. Can we all be friends and show each other a little kindnes?"

Rainbow Dash sighed and thought it over for a second, "I'm not gonna lie, I have zero interest in anime or video games so keep that stuff to yourself. But you have pretty good taste to look up to me!"

Rainbow Dash smirked proudly and Fluttershy sighed. It wasn't really what she had hoped for but for the time being, they weren't at each other's throats.

Blitz's eyes lit up, "OMG, I just received a compliment from Rainbow Dash! Shade, dude; did you hear that?!"

Shade hit him over the head and kept walking towards Canterlot, "Now you are just being obnoxious."

Eventually, they reached the pony capital of Equestria and headed toward the castle. Two unicorns barred their way, iron spears being controlled by magic.

"Halt!", the guard on the right called in a deep voice, "What business have you with Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

Rainbow Dash stepped in front of them, eyes narrowed, "I am Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. And this is the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy. ...Oh, and this is our son and his weird friend..."

"How can you prove you are who you claim you are?", the left guard asked in a lighter yet just as menacing voice, "Equestria is being invaded by armies of Changelings. For all we know, you are simply enemies in disguise!"

"Let them enter!", a familiar voice called from within.

With a purplish glow, the giant palace doors opened and out stepped a light purple alicorn with a long purple and pink main. She was a couple hooves taller than Rainbow Dash remembered her being.

The guards gasped and turned around, bowing. "Y-your grace!", sputtered the guard on the right, "You endanger your safety opening the castle doors like this. Our duty is to keep you safe from the invading Changeling army!"

"And these ponies are not not Changelings.", she said simply, "They are my friends and I would never mistake impostors for them."

Twilight Sparkle smiled and headed back in. The guards, still awestruck, moved aside and bowed.

The alicorn princess looked back, "Come on in, girls. And you too."

The other three villagers from Ponyville headed down the halls with serious expressions on their faces while Blitz bounced behind them, excitedly.

"Oh. My. Gosh, I am in a real castle!", he declared, "And not just any castle; Canterlot Castle! This is like something out of a bad-flank RPG!"

Shade and Rainbow Dash both turned around and shushed him. Fluttershy looked nervous but Princess Twilight seemed not to mind. She lead them into the long hall of stained-glass windows that Queen Celestia had brought them to so many times before as fillies. Shade saw many scenes he had only heard about and the most important ones showed his mother and the other five Elements. There was the mane six fighting Nightmare Moon, the six turning Discord, the Spirit of Chaos into stone, the first major battle between Canterlot and the Changelings, the six and the dragon, Spike saving the Crystal Empire, and of course the coronation of Equestria's newest princess. There were others featuring the six Elements of Harmony but Twilight Sparkle had turned around to speak before Shade could look.

"I wish this was a cheerier reunion and I could welcome you properly.", she said looking sad, "You girls out of anypony else know how much our friendship means to me. But this is about the Changeling army and the many ponies who are dying."

Fluttershy nodded, "We know... Ponyville is in ruin. So many animals got hurt."

"Exactly!", agreed Rainbow Dash, narrow-eyed, "I nearly lost my home and my family. Those Changelings better buck off!"

Twilight Sparkle nodded and placed a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder and looked at Dash, "Correct, and I think I know where to start."

She lead them to a stained-glass window far in back. Unlike the others, this one showed a red sky and dark brown, rocky mountains. It looked like something out of and old ponytale.

"Thousands of moons ago, Starswirl the Bearded attempted to meet with the Changling Queen in her own territory as Equestra's emissary of peace.", the princess began, "His offer was rejected and he left before things got too violent. With the help of ancient records, I've found out where the Kingdom of the Changelings is."

Rainbow Dash punched the air, "Heck yeah! Let's go kick some keister!"

"Hold on, Rainbow. I haven't finished yet", Twilight held a hoof in the air, "The portal to the Kingdom of the Changelings...is on the other side of the Everfree Forest."

Fluttershy gasped but Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"So we were afraid of the Everfree Forest when we were fillies.", she sighed, "Hello? How many times have we gone in there since then?"

Twilight shook her head, "This is farther out than the Castle of the Pony Sisters or anywhere else we've gone before. In fact, it's not even in the forest. It's somewhere on the other side all together."

Dash started to look a little less brave and determined, "Um...okay. But it's not impossible. After all, Starswirl made the trip so it should be a piece of cake for us."

Twilight still didn't look too sure herself. She then looked at Shade and smiled. She trotted over to him and the colt gasped, bowing.

The alicorn laughed, "There's no need for that. Moonbow Shade, was it? I've heard you are a very talented swordspony."

Shade straightened up, "I-I wouldn't say 'talented'. Lighthoof-sensei was more skilled than I am."

She smiled weakly, "It sounds like you really looked up to him. I'm sorry for your loss, Moonbow. I've learned a good deal about Lighthoof and...his attacker as well. I understand if you'd rather not hear..."

"No! Tell me about him; the dark alicorn...", Shade looked up at her with burning purple eyes, "I must know all about Sensei's murderer..."

Twilight Sparkle backed away and glanced back at her friends. Fluttershy was looking away, wincing, but Rainbow Dash nodded solemnly.

"Nightmare Shadow, the dark alicorn...was Lighthoof's student...", she turned around, looking away from everypony else, "Just like you, he was a swordspony and like you he wasn't able to do what his kind was expected to do, use magic."

Shade glanced at his broken wing and his eyes narrowed, "He is nothing like me! He's a murderer!"

"I-I know, I'm sorry; just let me finish", she turned back around to face him, now looking uncomfortable and guilty, "He was like you...until he one day he did learn magic. It was dark magic, and he found that using both dark magic and his sword made him powerful. Perhaps even as powerful as his teacher. Nightmare went on a quest for even more dark power. He wanted to become a ruler like the other alicorns of his kind."

Shade grew silent and nodded; it all made sense now. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy remained silent. Blitz looked torn between keeping quiet, crying, and just geeking out. Finally Shade broke the silence.

"I've made up my mind; I will go to the Changeling Kingdom and confront the queen.", he spoke, "it's obvious the Changeling Queen is in collaboration with Nightmare Shadow."

Fluttershy gasped and Rainbow flew a few hooves into the air, "No fricking way! You are staying in Canterlot, young colt! Me, Fluttershy, Twilight, Pinkie, AJ, and Rarity will handle this; just like old times!"

"Don't you see, Mom? Our only chance of defeating the dark alicorn died because he was protecting me!", Shade yelled holding his ground, "I'm nowhere near as powerful as Lighthoof-sensei but I am his only student; the only shred of Lighthoof left."

"We are not swordsponies, Moonbow Shade, but we are more than enough to talk some smack into that queen and beat the hay outta that Shadow. Right Twilight?!"

Twilight Sparkle shook her head and sighed, "Rainbow Dash, Shade is right. Let's be honest, Nightmare Shadow could hit us before we even fired an Elemental attack. The Changeling soldiers we can handle, but not Shadow. I think...we should send Shade to the Everfree Forest and remain here in Equestria."

"WHAT?!", Dash really flew into the air this time and then right into Princess Twilight's face, "You are planning to send my son to enemy territory? How 'bout you just stuff him here, gift-wrap him, and send him to the Queen by mail?!"

Fluttershy squealed and started crying. Rainbow Dash glanced back at her and sighed.

"I understand your concern, Rainbow.", Twilight tried her best to look sensitive about this, "I don't want to do this either but we have little choice. This is a force that nopony else has ever dealt with before, besides Moonbow Shade..."

Rainbow Dash backed away looking at the ground and Shade approached her. "This is what I want, Mom.", he looked into her eyes, "The Changelings aren't a problem to me. I'll be fine. As for Nightmare Shadow...I'll find a way. I won't charge into battle unless I know his every weakness."

Rainbow Dash looked up and tried to keep a straight face, "I know you will. You are better at looking at the details first than I am. You can ask Twilight; every battle we faced, I just charged right in without listening. I'm worse than Pinkie Pie when it comes to that."

The three girls chuckled at that. After a second, Rainbow Dash hugged her son. Shade was surprised at first but hugged her back.

"I won't die, Mom, I'll promise you that much.", he smiled, pulling away from the hug.

Dash laughed, "That's an understatement; those Changelings will be a mess and you won't have a scratch on you!"

Fluttershy hesitantly approached them and looked away uncomfortably, "Um...I-I just want to say that you will be fine, Shade, and even though I'm not really related to you-"

Shade approached her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before she could finish, "I love you too...Mother."

Fluttershy's eyes widened and she burst into tears. Rainbow Dash hugged her and glanced at Shade.

"Do what you need to do to get ready. We don't need to see you off. Come back safely.", Rainbow Dash smiled and Shade nodded, trotting to the door.

About two hours had passed since then. Twilight had given Shade a map from Equestria, through the Everfree Forest, to the portal that lead to the Changeling Kingdom. He was wearing a saddle bag that stored the map as well as some food and supplies. Shade stood at the castle gate ready to leave when he heard hoofsteps behind him.

"Y-you're not doing this alone; I'm coming too.", it was Thunder Blitz.

The unicorn was wearing a large backpack.

Shade let out a laugh, "No offense, but the Everfree Forest is no place for an otaku. Forget the Changeling Kingdom." ]

"Ha! I'll let you know, Shade, that I am a genus inventor.", Blitz did his best to look offended, "You will need me. No flex on this one."

"Alright, but I won't be able to protect you all the time.", he answered, "If it looks dangerous, run..."

Blitz didn't want to abandon his friend but nodded for the sake of coming to an agreement. Just then they heard another voice; a filly's voice. Something told Shade that he heard it before.

"I hope you have room for one more.", it was the pink black-maned filly from Ponyville who Shade had saved before.

She was dressed in a sailor-style collar with her red bow from before. He had to admit he was surprised to see her here.

"You?", Shade shook his head, "Oh no; you're that girl from Ponyville. You barely survived back there and now you want to go with us? Do you even know where we are going?"

"Sure I do!", she said, galloping over to them, "The Kingdom of the Changelings, which is on the other side of the Everfree Forest. You're going to find out from the Changeling Queen where Nightmare Shadow is so you can get revenge for you teacher, Lighthoof!"

"You know this and you still want to come?", he asked raising his eyebrows, "W-wait, how do you know where we are going? We were discussing this with the princess. In the castle. In the hallway of stained-glass windows."

"Oh, just a hunch!", she shrugged, "And as for Ponyville, I screamed 'cause there was no way I could fight back; not without my PARTY CANNON!"

She pulled what looked like a large metal bazooka out of nowhere and fired a bunch of bright, colorful fireworks into the air. Shade and Blitz stared in awe as they exploded loudly and they could hear what sounded like car alarms going off in the distance.

The filly smiled nervously put the weapon away out of sight, "I never go anywhere without it now. By the way, I'm Star Pie! Nice to meet ya!"

"Yeah...I'm Shade and this is Blitz...hi...", Shade glanced around feeling awkward, "Anyways, we are packed and ready so we've gotta go."

"Yes! Go; let's go. Welcome to the team, Star Pie", Blitz smiled and skipped ahead behind Shade but in front Star.

Shade's eyes widened, "No, Blitz-I meant we. As in me and you. There is no 'team'."

"But Shade, she's got a weapon. What if we are ambushed? You can't take out a crowd by yourself.", Blitz got in front of Shade, pleading, "Besides...I think she likes you!"

Shade cringed and pushed passed Blitz, "Fine, but she's your problem. First sign of danger and you both are heading back home..."

"Yay! This is going to be an adventure!", Star Pie yelled bouncing after them, "We're Adventure Ponies! This is so exciting; I've never been so excited before!"

Eventually Blitz joined in the cheering and Shade rolled his eyes, trying to ignore them. He couldn't tell if bringing these two along was a good idea or not but Star was right about one thing: this was definitely going to be an adventure...

The walk to the edge of the Everfree Forest took longer than normal, at least in Moonbow Shade's eyes. Thunder Blitz and Star Pie just wouldn't stop talking. 'Those two are perfect for each other all right...', the dark grey pegasus thought to himself. He wasn't even listening to what it was they were saying. Finally they had passed through what remained of Ponyville and reached the forest's edge. Shockingly, Blitz and Star had grown quiet and put on serious faces.

"Okay...we ready for this...?", asked Blitz, bending low and kicking his front hooves.

Star narrowed her eyes and smirked, "Oh hay, yeah..."

Shade who stood a few hooves forward and between the two drew his sword from his waist, "Alright guys, keep an ear out for anything. The Everfree Forest can be dangerous any other time. It's only going to be more perilous now. Let's go!"

Sword clenched between his teeth, Shade started in with Blitz and Star behind him. Living near the forest, he had come here often as a foal despite Fluttershy's protests. The most he had ever seen were large black spiders but he had sworn he had glimpsed a manticore in the distance before. So far the only thing his sword was needed for was to cut branches and vines blocking their way. Everything was quiet thus far: the only things in sight were tall black trees and sounds of insects all around them. Whether it was fortunate or not, the other two had started to relax and talk once again.

"So why's everypony so scared of this place anyways?", Star asked, clearly not nervous in the least, "There's like, nothing here!"

Blitz smirked, "A bunch of ponytales mostly. The main reason is that this place gets breezy without the need of pegasus ponies; some it's just not natchy."

Star laughed, "I don't care about natchy!"

Shade thought for a second, "Maybe...did it occur to anypony that maybe the entire world used to be like this but then ponies decided to take the weather into their own hooves for convenience?"

"Oh!", Star yelled, jumping, "Maybe Equestria is surrounded some kind of time barrier set in place by ancient alicorns so the real weather won't affect us."

"And that's while the princesses control the Sun and the Moon...", Blitz telekineticly withdrew a notebook and a pen from his bag and started writing in it.

"That doesn't make sense...", Shade shook his head, " The sun and the moon belong to the entire world, not just Equestria. Why would they try to control weather and the entire world's time?"

"Like you said, Shade.", Blitz answered, "Convenience. Celestia and Luna are more or less goddesses. And you are right, something is definitely un-natchy..."

"That doesn't seem very convenient; just a way to complicate things more so. Anyways this isn't the topic on hoof here.", Shade said, realizing that he had just got sucked into their silly conversation, "We are here to stop the Changeling invasion; not to figure out the Everfree Forest's weather."

Star Pie smirked, "Wow, Shade. I thought that you weren't interested in us. Mr Grumpy McNon-Social-Hooves!"

"Quiet...", Shade held out his right hoof and froze, eyes narrowed.

"Y-ya don't have to get angry. After all, friendship is magic!", she backed away, head drooping.

Suddenly a manticore rose from behind some bushes just several hooves away from them. Shade was hoping it hadn't noticed them but no such luck was given as it turned around. The beast was three times the size of Shade and lunged at them as it saw them, roaring. It had the body of a black-maned lion with large bat wings and a tail like a serpent. The pegasus pony was glad that his sword was already in mouth.

"Listen to me, guys; stay back and out of the way...", he called as he jumped back.

The manticore landed right where Shade had been standing seconds before and it's large claws sunk into the dirt. It lashed out at him but the pony blocked its huge paw with his blade.

"No worries, dude!", called Blitz, "I'll build...something."

He took off his backpack and dumped everything out. Bits of metal rolled everywhere. Meanwhile Star had drawn her 'party cannon'.

"Take this, you overgrown...thing!", she yelled as she pulled the trigger.

A bunch of small rectangular pieces of colored paper flew out and she looked at it oddly.

"Oopsy...", Star said softly, "That's the 'confetti' setting..."

Shade glanced back at them, rolling his eyes. The beast kept attacking and all Shade could do so far was block. Suddenly he slipped on a metal pipe and fell to the ground.

"Dammit, Blitz!", he yelled, getting up just to be hit in the face with the back of a paw.

The blow sent him flying and he crashed into a tree.

"Crap!", Blitz began gathering the pieces into a tighter pile, gritting his teeth, "I'm sorry..."

"Fixed it!, Star Pie called, holding the gun on her left shoulder, "FIRE!"

This time a few multicolor balloons lazily squeezed there ways out of the mouth and drifted into the air. She bit her lip and started examining the weapon again. The manticore simply lashed out at the balloons and burst them with its claws. Shade got up and caught the beast's claws with his sword.

"You guys are in the way!", he yelled, struggling to hold the monster back.

Looking all around him for an answer, Blitz spotted a ledge about twelve hooves away. There seemed to be a cliff over there. He swallowed and turned back to the fight, almost hesitant to speak.

"Um...Shade?", he asked timidly.

Sweat rolled down Shade's forehead as he held back the manticore's weight, "What?! I'm a little busy here!"

"To your right; there's a cliff there!", Blitz spoke with a little more strength.

Getting the message, Shade changed his direction and started forcing the beast over to the drop. The manticore was fighting back however and it was proving difficult to steer it towards the edge. Modifying the inside of her weapon, Star slammed a panel shut and aimed it once more.

"Eat THIS!", she yelled and fired the cannon several times straight at monster's mouth.

Its face was splattered with projectiles that seemed to be made of tortilla bread and filled with rice and cheese. The manticore backed away from the assault, trying to swat the incoming missiles but getting hit anyway. To Shade's delight, it seemed to be getting closer to the edge. Springing into action, Shade continued to push the beast closer and closer to the edge. With one final shove to the back legs, he knocked the manticore down the cliff. Glancing down he saw that the drop must have been a few yards.

Turning around he gave Blitz a smile, "Th-thanks for the advice; I don't think I could have taken down a thing that size just with my sword."

"I-it was nothing, Shade.", Blitz laughed nervously, "I'm sorry I got in the way. Guess I can't work on the spot like that..."

Shade put his hoof on Blitz's shoulder, "Hey, you're a great inventor but maybe that's not something to bring on the road like this. You are a genius, dude. You can help me with your own abilities: like that. Okay?"

Blitz nodded sheepishly but wished he could do more like Shade and Star. As for Star Pie, Shade trotted over to her next.

"Star Pie!", he exclaimed, "Nice shot. But why...whatever those were...?"

"They were cheesy burritos, duh!", she smiled, "I love those things, but I guess the manticore didn't! ...That was actually a mistake..."

Blitz smiled, "Well either way, that was AWESOME! Wow, I'd like a burrito right about now."

Star shook her head, "Sorry, those were all of them. Out of ammo."

Blitz sighed and Shade laughed, "I don't have any burritos but let's have dinner. We deserve it, everypony." Shade unpacked the bag he had gotten at the castle and the three friends started eating. Before he was reluctant to bring along any company but with the help of Thunder Blitz and Star Pie, Moonbow Shade could tell that this would be a great adventure.

~End of Chapter 3~