Hello, fellow readers! And welcome back to Shadow of Harmony! Before we jump in, what's the usual:
JeaSonDash: The short answer is yes, as my reasons why are in the previous chapter. I apologize in advance if that's not your thing, but I made this decision since it's my take on Equestria and it's mainly on Sonic's side. Shadow's side is mainly on him interacting with Spike and the Mane Six.
Marilia Helena: The original episode starts with the meteor shower. You'll be waiting for quite awhile for that as I'm in no hurry to get to certain episodes as this is only Season ONE and not Season TWO. Merry Christmas to you too.
Thanks for the feedback! Now, let's jump right in!
Chapter 8: Familial Bonds
Equestria (Ponyville)
At the crack of dawn, Spike snaps awake in a panic as he realizes something and looks at the clock, "I overslept!"
Jumping right out of bed, he runs down the stairs to the study where he sees Twilight reading a book.
"Sorry about sleeping in! I'm awake now and ready to do my morning chores!" He immediately told her as he stops in front of her.
This isn't the first time he slept in, but he does feel a bit bad for doing so. To his surprise though, her response is rather relaxed.
"It's OK, Spike. Shadow and Owlicious took care of them for you."
OK, two things registered in Spike's head. Number one, he managed to sleep longer than Shadow this time while number two is the bigger concern:
"Owl who?"
"Oh right, you haven't met him yet-!" Twilight then notices the clock and sees the time, "I-It's an amusing story, but I got somewhere I want to be! He's in the library downstairs if you want to see him!"
She then heads off, leaving a confused Spike to his thoughts as he wonders out loud. "Yeah, this isn't worrying at all..."
Going down the stairs to the main floor, he reaches the fifth step from the bottom before taking a look around. His eyes fell on Shadow who was reading a random book he picked off the shelf with what likely must be Owlicious on his shoulder reading with him.
"Hey, Shadow." He greets the black hedgehog as he goes down the remaining steps and goes over.
Said hedgehog looks up from his book to see the baby dragon, "Hey. Just woke up?"
"Uh, yeah." Spike admits, "I was up pretty late- not the point! Twilight told me that you did my chores?"
"I had nothing else to do this morning. Plus, it helped show Owlicious here around the library." Shadow gestures to said owl on his shoulder during the second half of his answer.
"I see. Well, I appreciate it!" Spike then turns his attention to Owlicious, "And you must be the one Twilight mentioned."
"Hoo." The owl simply said.
"...Uh huh. Well I'm Spike, but I'm sure that Twilight or Shadow has mentioned me to ya." Spike introduces himself before glancing at Shadow, "Uh, right?"
"Yeah." Shadow answers with Owlicious nodding in agreement.
"Good, GREAT!" Spike quickly said before slowing back down to normal, "A-Anyways, since my chores are already done, I-I'll go see if we need to restock! You know, since she likes to write so many notes down!"
"True... She does like to write a lot." Shadow wasn't sure where he was going with this.
"Exactly! Be right back!" And just like that, the little dragon was out of the library to go shopping.
Shadow was a bit confused after seeing his friend's behavior, which he comments on. "OK then..."
"Hoo." Owlicious said, likely in agreement with him.
Putting the book back on the shelf, Shadow then gets a better idea to past the time. "Let's go see how the others are doing."
Equestria (Sonic)
After spending a night at the inn, the blue blur left Hollow Shades with his new ally Stylite in tow in the morning as the two follow the tracks back out and go down the other path it was connected to. During this, Sonic passes the time with his flying friend with conversation:
"So, what species are you exactly?" He asks as he was lightly jogging at a fast pace.
"We are known as 'Pterolycus', which is a fancy way of saying a 'Winged Wolf'. However, we're not very common nowadays." Stylite reveals.
"A rare one too, huh?" Sonic can understand that, due to being one of two hedgehogs back home.
"Unfortunately. Even back home, you have to be very lucky to see us."
"Heh. Guess I have better luck than I thought." Sonic smirks at that prospect, "In fact, us meeting is luck in itself."
"No kidding." Stylite thought about the implication of that before noticing their next destination, "Whoa, that's a big city!"
Sonic sees what he means and points it out, "Oh, that must be Manehattan. Helps that it's something I recognize."
"Good for you, I'm lost!"
"Don't worry, I'll run you through it!" Sonic reassures him.
When the duo got close enough, Stylite shapeshifts into his pony form that is fittingly a pegasus with a similar color scheme to his real form before reaching the edge of the city. Sonic couldn't help but smile as he looks around the tall buildings and districts, being reminded of Station Square and even noting similarities between the two.
"Aw yeah, this is happening!" He was quite ecstatic while those memories were flowing through his mind.
"Yeah..." Stylite was still unsure, most likely not used to seeing such cities.
The two then enter the city, seeing many ponies of each race walking on the sidewalks or even taking carriages through the streets as they look around.
"It looks daunting, but you'll get it in no time." Sonic mentions, "You just gotta know the area."
"Surveillance, then?" Stylite makes a good suggestion.
"That's one way. How good is your memory?"
"Good. Very good, even." Stylite brags a bit about.
"All right!" Liking the confidence, the blue blur gets into a ready stance. "I should stick out for you to keep track of."
And like that, the two were off on their exploration. Throughout the day, they see various landmarks and shops throughout the rows of tall buildings that clutter the city. Some were broad in their brands like boutiques, salons, and jewelry while some were more specific. Heck, one shop has just rock pouches... in a city.
And that probably wasn't a dent in what Manehattan has to offer, as far as they are aware. Stopping for a bit to reassess their surroundings, they had arrived at a school on the more residential side of town as the afternoon sun shins down on a cloudless day. The various ponies that attend it are already out, either leaving it or hanging around for a bit.
"So, this is what a school is in this land?" Stylite wonders out loud.
"Looks like it." Sonic casually answers, "Guess you have them back home?"
"Not exactly. We have our history laid out through our town and numbers are used to record them. Straight to the point." The disguised wolf briefly explains.
"Same goes for the language you learn to speak?"
"That's different. Due to our shapeshifting nature, we needed to learn at least the most commonly used ones to blend in best."
"Whoa, that's crazy!" Sonic sees that as a daunting task in itself, considering the time needed to learn just one for the humans in his world.
"There aren't other languages in your world?" Sty interprets his shock wrong, though.
"No, there is. Heck, I know two of them." Sonic corrects his friend while revealing something about himself.
As the two are talking, one of the ponies exits the entrance to the school lost in her thoughts as she goes down the steps and onto the sidewalk. She didn't stay like this for too long as her usual route home has something different in her way-
"Oof!"
As she bumps into somepony, knocking her off her hooves and onto her rump. She shakes off the brief dizziness and sees somepony, or rather someone, as the obstacle she hit and frantically starts apologizing:
"Sorry! So sorry!" She blurts out in an country accent.
Sonic simply shrugs it off no problem, "It's all right. I got hit by much worse, trust me."
The earth pony was surprised at his claim when she sees the pegasus next to him offer her a hoof to help her up, which she accepts.
"T-Thank ya, sir."
"No problem. Name's Stylite."
"Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog." The blue hedgehog briefly introduces himself, "And you are?"
"S-Sunflower." The shy mare returns the gesture.
Sty had a small hunch, seeing a sunflower placed neatly in her brilliant gamboge mane. She has a light crimson coat and moderate emerald green eyes to compliment that and the tail, complete with a sunflower cutie mark that should have been the giveaway to the name.
After looking her over, he asks the obvious question. "Are you troubled?"
"H-Huh?" She was a bit put off by said question, which Sonic notices. "I mean, I doubt that's just your way to say hi."
The flower mare was understandably quiet, leaving the three in silence for almost a minute until finally speaking:
"I-I might. Why do you ask?"
"Just a feeling, honestly." Sty answers.
"If you wanna talk, we'll lend an ear." Sonic follows up with an offer.
Sunflower look at the two for a moment before accepting, "OK."
Back in Ponyville
No lie, the restock part was just an excuse to get of the library to think. Spike has decided to take a walk around town as his mind was thinking about the possible implications stemming from the really fast developments.
"I know that isn't what it means! It can't be!" He mutters to himself, annoyed that one answer keeps popping up in his head that he doesn't want to hear. "I always do my best as her assistant, making sure she is able to focus on her studies without worry."
Spike definitely has that memorized. Being born during her school entrance exam from her magic and raised by her family gives great insight into somepony's habits. Still, that doesn't explain anything and that brings in another obvious factor:
"She has Shadow! He did the chores while I was sleeping in, which makes the owl pointless."
Deducing it wasn't another assistant, that leaves the angle of a simple pet that is rather sensible.
"Well, she does like owls and she did keep asking her mom to get her one back then. But of course, her mom would always say..."
He then puts on his best 'mom' impression to replicate the memory, "Twilight Sparkle, why would you want TWO pets? That's TWICE the responsibility! Besides, you already have Spike!"
He then puts on his best 'Shining Armor' impression, "Twily, Spike is already a BIG responsibility! If you get us two pets, the other one is ALL you!"
Dropping the act, he chuckles at the past before slowly stopping upon realizing something and starts pacing back and forth:
"Wait, two pets? Why would I be a pet? I'm part of the family! At least, that's what Twilight told me. Did the others not think I was?"
He then went deeper into a worse-case scenario, "Or maybe Twilight has forgotten about that! Maybe she DOES think of me as a pet now and thinks that I'm starting to slack on my duties as her assistant!"
However, he tries to rationalize that thought. "But Shadow is not much of an assistant type... in fact, he's a fighter more than anything. And Owlicious is a pet, but it's possible for him to be trained to assist her like me. And he can do it almost all of the time since he's nocturnal, unlike me."
"But Shadow was assigned by the princess to be her bodyguard, to protect the Elements of Harmony. I was clearly..." He then stops in his tracks, "Made to be her personal messenger between her and Twilight. I mean, I was given that ability soon after I was able to breathe fire."
Spike then lets out a frustrated sigh, "Why is this so hard to figure out!?"
No answer came, but he did hear familiar voices nearby. Walking towards the direction, he looks around the corner of a house to see Shadow talking with Fluttershy. He was about to call out to them before noticing Owlicious on the hedgehog's shoulder. Curiosity takes over as he stays hidden, getting closer to them until reaching a stand next to them to overhear the conversation.
"You said you were carried by the wind?" Fluttershy asks the owl.
"Hoo." Owlicious answers, which is taken as a yes.
"You must be very far away from home."
"Hoo, hoo." The owl also said something else along with another yes.
"You were migrating to find a new home, anyways? Well, I guess that's good to hear." Fluttershy finds that to be rather coincidental.
Shadow also finds it strange, but simply shrugs as the owl decides to spread his wings for a bit.
"If you three need help taking care of him, he can always come to my place to stay for a bit." She offers.
"I'll be sure to tell her that." Shadow simply said, as he's also just watching the owl for her.
The gentle pegasus then took her leave, allowing Spike to process the new info he has learned.
"Hoo." He hears Owlicious say to Shadow.
"She takes care of animals. Don't worry, she's very nice." He assures the feathered friend as the two start going through town again.
Spike continues following them while hiding out of sight, needing to know more in order to answer the doubts he's been having. And it didn't take too long as Shadow arrives at Sugarcube Corner where Rainbow was hanging out with Pinkie, the latter managing to do so as her day at work was rather slow.
"Hi, Shadow! Hi, new friend!" The hyperactive pony greets the two with Rainbow noticing the new face, "You have an owl now?"
"Twilight's is more accurate. I'm just watching him as she's out for the day." Shadow corrects her.
"Oh! What's his name?" Pinkie asks as she pops up next to him.
"...Owlicious." Shadow eventually said before adding, "That's also Twilight's doing."
"Yeah, just her." Rainbow doubts that, but didn't press it as she turns to the owl. "At least she got a pet that can fly. Spike's cool and all, but he wouldn't keep up with me."
The baby dragon rolls his eyes at that, knowing he hasn't reach the proper age to grow them yet.
"How often do you walk?" Shadow questions, considering how often she talks about flying.
"More than you think. What's the point of wings if you don't have the strength to take off?" Rainbow has a good point there.
Pinkie then brings focus to the newcomer, "Hello, Owlicious! How is your stay at the library?"
"Hoo." The owl simply said as he lands on Shadow's arm to rest.
"He's just got there last night, so he's still adjusting." Shadow mentions.
"Is Spike OK with him?" Rainbow questions, which got Spike's attention as he listens intently.
"Uh, I guess." Shadow recalls from earlier, "When we met, he was happy enough to shake my hand. When he met Owlic- Owl, he just went to go shopping."
Pinkie and Rainbow were understandably confused by this as the former takes a shot in the dark, "Maybe... he's a bit jelly?"
"...Jelly?" Shadow was now also confused for a different reason, "Spike's not a jam, Pinkie."
Next thing he knew, the two just burst out laughing, which didn't help at all as he scratches his head and looks at Owlicious. The owl had the same face he always did, but Shadow can tell he was right there with him.
"N-Not a jam, Shadow!" Rainbow clarifies while catching her breath, "S-She means that he's jealous!"
"Oh..." He mutters in embarrassment while not showing it.
"Jealous? Of an owl?" Spike mutters, not believing what he heard. "No way! Why would I be jealous?"
"Then, why would he be jealous?" Shadow took the words right out of the dragon's mouth without realizing it.
Before their conversation could continue, a voice calls out from inside Sugarcube Corner. "Pinkie, I need assistance baking some orders!"
"On it, Mrs. Cake!" The pink pony answers back, "Gotta go, see ya later!"
And just like that, she zooms back inside, leaving Rainbow with Shadow and Owlicious. The black hedgehog was still seeking an answer as he turns to Rainbow, "Any ideas why?"
"Umm, I think it's related to... siblings, I think?" She guesses, having heard about it from- "I think Applejack told me about it once."
"Applejack, huh? Where is she?"
"I saw her at the marketplace selling apples." She recalls from her flying exercises around town, "Don't worry, I'll take you there."
"Thanks." The three took off at an impressive speed.
Thankfully, Spike knew where the marketplace was already as he couldn't keep up with them while hiding at the same time.
Back in Manehattan
The blue blur and the disguised wolf were currently walking alongside their new friend Sunflower, who was rather curious about where they were from. Makes sense as they were not from the city, or Equestria for that matter, but Sty kept that to himself as Sonic was the odd one out right now.
"Ah've never heard of this 'Mobius' before." She doesn't recall from her history lessons after a brief summary from him.
"It's way out there. I'm not surprised." Sonic told her before shifting the topic, "What about you? Were you born here in the city?"
"Actually, no. Ah was born and raised on a small farm before my parents decided to move to Manehattan to expand their business. But..." She answers.
"But what?" Sty questions her trailing off.
"...The city's nice and all, but I wish we stayed at the farm." She admits, "It's a small community where everyone knew each other and got along. Here, I don't think I've ever seen ponies so distant."
"I've noticed that too." Sonic mentions as they were traveling through earlier, "It's like everyone's in their own little world."
"Exactly. Even in places like the park, they just go about their merry business." Sunflower adds, "Ah just don't get it."
"What about the school? You gotta know somepony there." Sty wonders.
"Not really. Ah would say my little sister, but she goes to a different school."
"I doubt that. We saw little groups talking with each other." Sonic points out.
"True... but Ah ain't apart of them." Sunflower sounded a bit sober saying that.
The two got where she was going with this as she continues, "Due to my 'funny accent' and 'odd behavior', I'm considered an outcast. Same goes for my sis at her school."
Sty feels that way a lot, due to his shapeshifting nature, as Sonic is reminded of a certain fox and decides to address this:
"You shouldn't let that get you down." His words made the other two look at him as the three stop in their tracks.
"What do ya mean?" She asks him, unsure about the sudden encouragement before he tells her a small story:
"I have a friend back home who dealt with the same thing. He's a fox who was born with two tails, which made him an outcast too. I met him one day while he was fixing up my old plane when I went running and as it turns out, the kid is a mechanical genius. Any machines or broken tech he finds, he can fix and even improve it in his own way."
"That's amazing." She was very impressed hearing that with Sty nodding in agreement.
"Yeah! What I mean by this is that you'll find someone who accepts you for you." The blue blur reassures her, "Same goes for your little sis too."
Sunflower felt tears coming out a bit as she smiles, "T-That's mighty kind of ya to say."
Stylite couldn't help but smile at the advice too before getting dragged into a group hug with her and Sonic. To their surprise, she has quite the strong grip as the two struggle to breathe a bit.
"G-Great to see you smile. Just don't crush us please!" He pleads as he felt it get tighter.
"Sorry, sorry!" Sunflower immediately lets go, releasing the two as they caught their breath.
"Y-You're fine." Sonic clears his throat after saying that, "It's natural to hug others."
The mare sheepishly smiles, still feeling a bit embarrassed about it before speaking up. "A-Anyways, Ah better get home soon. Babs worries when Ah'm later than usual."
"Right, best we don't hold you up then. We still have business to do elsewhere." Stylite reminds Sonic of their goals.
"Oh right, we should get back to that." The blue blur agrees before waving at Sunflower, "It's great meeting you! And tell your sis what I told you!"
"Ah be sure to have us memorize that!" She waves back as she sees them leave, "And thank ya again!"
Back in Ponyville Again
The marketplace was rather filled today, making business for Applejack easier to do as she was selling apples left and right. Before she realized it, her cart was empty with a bag full of bits as she has already exited said marketplace when she hears her name:
"Yo, AJ!"
Turning towards the direction she heard it, she sees Rainbow flying over with Shadow following close behind before reaching her.
"Howdy, you two! I just made out like a bandit today!" She was quite proud of that as the two notices the bag of bits.
"Whoa, lucky!" Rainbow was honestly impressed upon seeing it.
"Not bad." Shadow simply said before getting to the conversation, "But it isn't that. I have a question to ask you."
AJ was about to ask what it was, only to notice an owl on his shoulder. "Uh... who's your feathered friend there?"
"This is Owlicious." He briefly introduces said owl, who waves at her with his wing.
"Which goes into our question." Rainbow shifts the topic back, "When Spike met him, Shadow said that he was acting a bit weird. Do you think that it's something similar to a sibling thing?"
Applejack thought about it for a moment before admitting, "I mean, I just met ya'll three days ago. And the owl just now. How should I know?"
That... was a pretty good point. This is just from what Shadow noticed earlier. Maybe Spike just acts differently to animals than ponies? Or hedgehogs, for that matter?
"Ugh!" Rainbow lets out an annoyed groan, "That's not an answer!"
"It's all right." Shadow sternly told her, getting her attention. "You're only helping. I'm only assuming what I don't know."
"...Fair enough." Rainbow eventually relents before shaking it off, "Anyways, I gotta get back to my training routines. See you three later!"
The fast flyer then takes off, leaving said three alone right before Applejack spoke. "I also gotta get back to the barn. Granny Smith will be smiling her pearly whites when she sees my haul of the day!"
"Right." Shadow simply said as she goes as well, leaving him and Owlicious alone. "You think that was pointless?"
"Hoo." The owl responds back with in a neutral tone.
Still unbeknownst to the two, Spike was hiding nearby and listened to the conversation. Right now, he's just conflicted on what he should feel right now from all that was said. While his heart is uncertain, his mind was able to think of one option.
Peeking out around the corner, he sees Shadow with his back turned and takes a breath before walking out into the open. As he approaches the two, he stops halfway when Owlicious turns his head a full one-eighty to look towards him. He won't lie:
"Dude, that's creepy."
His comment got Shadow's attention as the black hedgehog turns around, "Spike, there you are."
"Were you looking for me?" The young dragon questions naturally as that sentence correlates with that intent.
"More like, I had a feeling someone was watching me for some time." Shadow clarifies, which made said young dragon nervously chuckle.
"N-No, why would you think that?" And the stuttering didn't help him hide it.
The coolest life form raises an eyebrow to the idea of lying right now as Spike eventually admits it:
"Yeah, I was. But, it only happened cause I heard you nearby and couldn't help but overhear!" He clarifies the events that lead up to it.
Shadow can somewhat believe that, he didn't know where Spike went and coincidences can happen. But still...
"No harm done, I guess." He relents on the matter before shifting the topic, "Why did you leave like that anyways?"
"...I just needed time alone." The young dragon admits.
"For what?" Shadow wonders as the owl tilts his head in curiosity.
Spike took a moment to collect his thoughts before letting it out:
"When I met you, I was rather surprised that Twilight has met someone else outside of Canterlot and a different species to boot! But then I realize you're from another world and the princess introduced you to her, so I only thought it was a special exception. Of course, it doesn't change the fact that we're friends and I don't want to ruin that!"
"Then the whole thing with Nightmare Moon happened and I couldn't really do anything, since I was fast asleep and... well, look at me. What could I have done then?"
Shadow sees his point, Nightmare Moon was a threat that he and the girls had a hard time with. All Spike would do is worry them about his safety, unless his fire can be used for anything but scrolls. Still, that's just a what-if now.
"And next thing I knew, she made five new friends! And that's great! That shell she made after becoming the princess's student has broken away and can spend her days outside the books! And she even got a new pet just last night!"
"Hoo." Owlicious simply said as Shadow kept himself quiet to listen a bit longer.
"With all these new faces coming into her life now... I guess I just feel... a little bit left out."
"Left out?" The black blur repeated upon hearing that.
"You know, friends spend time with each other in all sorts of ways. But the more friends Twilight makes, the more time she has to make use for to spend with them. Just the thought makes me feel something I don't like and I don't know what it is!"
Shadow had processed all of what he heard, trying to come up with an explanation until a memory from his past pops into his head:
"Maybe, it's jealousy."
"Jealousy?" Spike repeated, "Are you sure?"
"I think so." Shadow then tries to recall said memory, "A... very close friend of mine told me that emotions can be rather complicated. One of them is jealousy, which often comes out when someone has a lack of trust in others."
"L-Lack of trust!?" Spike blunts out, "I was raised by Twilight and her family, what reason can there even be for that!?"
Shadow already knows that might not be it in his case, "Well, there are other causes for it."
"Like what!?"
Looking straight in his eyes, Shadow sternly told him. "Insecurity."
"H-Huh!?" Spike's eyes widen at that, leaving him shook.
"Unless I'm wrong in assuming that." Shadow adds, not wanting to sound too harsh to the baby dragon.
Said baby dragon opens his mouth, trying to think of anything to deny that claim... only to draw a blank. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more sense it was starting to make.
"Yeah... yeah, I think that's it." He felt his heart sink upon realizing the truth before looking at Owlicious, "I'm sorry, Owlicious. What I thought isn't really your fault, but mine."
"Hoo hoo." The owl responds back, which Shadow translates for him. "Most likely means it's fine."
Spike gives a small smile, but still felt rather bad for overthinking the whole situation. Shadow sees his young friend down in the dumps and gets an idea to cheer him up.
"Come on, I want to take you somewhere."
"Huh? To where?" That is a good question.
"You'll see." Shadow simply said as the owl flies off his shoulder, allowing him to pick up the small dragon before skating off.
Spike finds himself in a similar position from before when they were going through town for the first time, seeing Shadow somehow skate on solid ground with his special shoes again. It didn't take long before reaching the destination as he slows to a halt, putting him down to let him see a familiar boutique.
"R-Rarity's boutique?" Spike was rather nervous, due to a certain reason.
"Yeah, she'll cheer you up in no time." Shadow already knows said reason, but it isn't to tease him.
"Shadow! Spike!" The two heard a familiar voice behind them and turn around to see Rarity approaching them, "What brings you here?"
"I was showing Twilight's new pet the town he's staying in and her friends." Shadow gestures to Owlicious, who is still flying next to the two, as he answers.
"She got an owl? That's rather fitting, honestly." The magical designer then introduces herself, "I am Rarity, darling. Pleased to meet you."
"Hoo." The owl greets back before landing on Shadow's shoulder again.
Shadow then notices a saddlebag of supplies with her, "You went shopping?"
"Oh yes, I was missing a few fabrics I needed to complete some dresses." She answers as she walks past them to her boutique with the two following.
Spike hears this and immediately blurts out, "Do you need any help with that!?"
Rarity was a bit surprised at the sudden offer and took a moment to think about it, "Hmm, I am a little bit behind schedule. If you two can assist, that would be much appreciated."
"Yes!" Spike was on board anyways.
"Sure." Shadow simply said, willing to help.
The rest of their afternoon was the three working on the dresses. Well, two to be specific as Shadow has no experience, but he was helpful in checking their lengths... in a way.
"How did I get here..." He wonders out loud as he was trying on one of the dresses for Rarity, who wants to make sure the dress lengths were just right.
"Trust me, darling! You look smashing!" She assures him.
If he'll agree on one thing... he does look pretty good. "I can rock this shade of red."
Spike couldn't help but laugh at his hedgehog friend's predicament. If this was his idea of cheering him up, it was a success.
"Oh, I just remembered something!" Rarity suddenly said before going over to one of her chests.
Opening it, she pulls out an interesting bowtie that is adorned with various gems and jewels. Spike was drooling a bit before wiping his mouth upon seeing her going over to him.
"Spiky Wikey, I made this as a little reward for your work during the meteor shower last night." She told him as she neatly ties it around his neck, "I hope it's to your liking."
"I-I love it!" He was a bit stunned at such a gift, "Thank you, Rarity!"
"Oh, how delightful!" She smiles upon hearing it before getting back to work.
Shadow saw that took place and gives his dragon friend a smile, who returns with a brighter one.
Time flew by as the two helped Rarity complete the order, which she wanted to repay the hedgehog in kind since Spike got his special bowtie to count for said reward. Shadow didn't have anything in mind for any sort of attire to wear, but will get back to her on that if he gets any ideas. With Owlicious in tow, the trio made their way back to the library where Twilight was there reading a book once again before noticing them enter.
"There you are!" She said as she puts said book down, "Did you have fun... doing whatever you were doing?"
"We did!" Spike answers, "In fact, I just learned a great friendship lesson!"
"Really!?" Twilight was ecstatic to hear that.
After getting a scroll and quill, the young dragon took to writing his first friendship lesson:
Dear Princess Celestia,
This is Spike, writing to you about my own adventures on friendship. Today, I learned that being jealous is a natural emotion, but getting caught up in it will get you nowhere with your friends. No matter how many friends somepony has, there's plenty of love for all of them to share.
So from here on out, I promise that I will keep on supporting Twilight and her friends as I'll never forget my own place in her life again.
"There." The young dragon is rather proud of what he just wrote, Shadow and Twilight reading over his shoulder during it with the latter being rather impressed.
"That is a great lesson! How did you come up with this?" Her curiosity is showing upon asking that, which is understandable.
Spike and Shadow exchange glances before the former lets out a small chuckle, "Uh, it's a rather amusing story."
And done! That took a bit to figure out as while it did have a similar beginning, I refuse to do anymore past that as I couldn't stomach it at all. As for what I did instead, I wanted it to still involve the lesson that the original is going for and I think I did pretty well.
I took the more technical approach with Spike for this chapter. For how I've seen his character, he's portrayed as the voice of reason when he interacts with the Mane Six. But despite his logical side, he's still a kid that has a lot of room to grow. So instead of a bad comedic villain plot, he'll take time to himself to sort things out.
I can easily imagine Shadow as the observant type, noticing that something's not right and goes to figure out the problem. Though, introducing Owlicious to the others was also on the list. Still, he wouldn't know the solution until he has the evidence, like a proper detective should.
For the lesson itself, I actually didn't have to change much. The original was already worded very well and got across clear enough for the audience.
As for Sonic, we have reached Manehattan, the big city of Equestria. Despite the fantastical places this new world has, a familiar setting is refreshing to see for the blue blur. Unlike him though, Sty has no experience with cities, which Sonic is gladly ready to show him the ropes. During their little tour, the two took a small break and unexpectedly meets an earth pony named Sunflower. After spending an afternoon with the two, she learns an important lesson from the hedgehog that will help her in the long run before parting ways, unbeknownst to the three of how important it would be.
And in case you ask, she's NOT an OC! She is an OFFICIAL character from the series! I have a feeling I should specify as when I did research on her, she had barely anything on her in terms of appearances, mentions, and even any fanfics with her as the focus. So, I figured why not include such a character.
Anyways, with all that said, Happy New Year to all of you! Thanks for reading and I'll see you all next chapter!