A/N: Hey everypony! It took me much longer to come out with this chapter than I originally intended for it to take. I can't help feeling that I was a little vague on Shadow's physical description so here is a little more in depth one. His coat is a dark gray (almost black), he has a ragged scar under his right eye that gives him an unappealing look. He wears a pair of red shades to hide is eyes, which are amber and are slitted similar to a cat's eye. He has a dark purple stripe that runs through his black mane. A flaming black shield is Shadow's cutie and represents his love for protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Now that thats out of the was, Enjoy R&R plz! I enjoy any feedback that I get.
Shadow's sleep was anything but pleasant. He tossed and turned as his dreams were haunted by a pair of eyes. They were green with red, slitted pupils and they gazed into the sleeping pegasus's soul, as an alpha predator would its prey. A dark voice filled his mind I will find you. It said, driving fear into the stallion. Shadow was deep in his nightmarish slumber when he was overcome with feeling of falling. His wings flapped frantically as he fought against gravity trying to prevent contact with the ground. His eyes shot open as he realization that he really was falling coursed through him. He braced himself as he prepared for the inevitable collision with the ground, before he smashed into the earth a flash of cyan flashed across his vision and he felt a pair of hooves wrapped around and catch him.
"Oh buck mister. I'm sorry I didn't see you there before i bucked that you sleeping in. I didn't think anyone would be napping in a cloud at this time of day." said the cyan pony as she set him on the ground gently.
Shadow checked himself over as he sat upright on his haunches. When he was satisfied that he was okay he looked up to study the pony in front of him. Stating that her rainbow colored mane was unkempt would have been and understatement, yet it suited her light blue coat. Shadow could make out well toned muscles under her coat. After a minute of silence he shrugged off her apology and started to walk off. It was bad enough that she had seen him.
Before he could get more that two steps he was met face to face as the mare hovered in front of him. "Hey! I'm trying to apologize here." she said offended by his lack of care. "I know we didn't exactly meet in the best of way but how about we start over. Hi. I'm Rainbow Dash, Equestria's greatest flier."
Shadow relented reluctantly, "Name's Shadow. Now can I please go on my way." he said shouldering his way past her.
"Wait," she exclaimed. "Where are you from? I've never seen you around here before."
"I don't remember my home. I'm just a wonderer."
"Oh, I'm sorry I brought it up. Still, I'd like to be the first to welcome you to Ponyville." she said as she gestured to the village around them. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the place."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm rather tired and I'd like to get back to napping." Shadow said.
At that Rainbow Dash looked crestfallen. "Well, maybe later I could treat you to dinner? As an apology for disturbing you."
Shadow nodded before he said, "That sounds doable. I'll meet you in the town square at dusk."
"Sure thing," Rainbow said. Shadow watched amazed as she flew away at a speed that actually impressed him. Guess she wasn't just stroking her own ego. She's got the speed to back up her claim.
The stallion flew up to a nearby cloud and laid himself down gently. He tried to find sleep, however thoughts about his nightmare plagued him. Whose eyes were watching him? Why was it searching for him? What did it want with him? Most of all he wondered whether or not he was simply over reacting to foalish dream. After hours of tossing and turning Shadow finally threw his hooves up in defeat. "Buck it!"
Irritated that he couldn't sleep Shadow flew down into the streets below where other ponies were enjoying their days. He hid in the shadow of a random hut whilst he thought up something for himself to do. After a bit he contented to walk around, out of sight, and explore more of the town. As he walked along the edges of the village he saw a small cottage near the Everfree forest. Must me one brave soul to live so close to the wild like that. Further along he saw a two-story tent-like structure that intrigued him. Instead of investigating it further Shadow decided to continue on his little expedition around Ponyville. Shadow eventually found himself looking over a large orchard of apple trees. Well if I get hungry then I guess they wont notice a few apples disappearing here and there.
Keeping to the shadows, the stallion eventually found himself in a schoolyard. He watched in lighthearted amusement as the young colts and fillies played on the playground. He was about to leave when he heard the sounds of somepony being made fun of. "Blank flank!" he saw two snobbish looking fillies shout at three fillies that had yet to earn their cutie marks.
Seeing these two ponies abusing others over something as menial as cuties marks instantly struck Shadow's nerve. He decided that he wouldn't let this continue any longer. Maneuvering behind the two young mares he stood there towering over the fillies until they felt him behind them. "Uhm, Can I help you?" said the light pink one.
Shadow's voice was almost demonic as he asked, "What is your name?"
"Diamond Tiara." she said proudly.
Shadow leaned down until he was face to face with his prey. He saw a satisfying flash of nervousness flash in her eyes before he spoke, "Karma's a bitch." Before she could speak Shadow clamped her mouth shut as he picked her up and flew high into the air. Tears of fear where starting to show in her eyes as they reached the cloud layer. Bringing them to a sudden stop Shadow looked at the scared filly in his hooves.
"Please, put me down! I'm afraid of heights!" she pleaded him. Her eyes widened as he grinned wickedly at her. Diamond Tiara screamed as Shadow released her.
Shadow allowed himself to free fall next to the flailing filly. "Well look at this. A falling pony that needs some help is right here. But wait, I hear that she's been bullying other ponies because they don't have their cutie marks yet. Why should I save such a horrible pony?" Shadow semi-talked to himself.
"Please," Diamond Tiara cried, "Catch me! Please, I'll do anything!"
Hearing her say that seemed to please Shadow. He wrapped his hooves around her and caught her mere inches from the ground. He dropped her on her haunches as he spoke sternly, "You WILL NOT bully another pony because you can. If I find out that you've been bullying again you just might slip out of my hooves. Understand?" Diamond Tiara was a crumbling heap of pony as she nodded. "Good. Now run home." he said as he shoved the filly towards Ponyville. He looked over at the Diamond Tiara's horrified friend as he said, "Same goes for you. Now, scram." She wasted no time to flee after her friend.
Shadow felt content with himself as he watched their retreating forms. Turning his back on them Shadow was confronted the three fillies that were being bullied. "Um, sorry you lads had to see that. I really don't take kindly to ponies being bullied."
The first one to speak up was yellow with a red mane, "Ah've never seen yah afore. Wat's yer name?" she asked in a heavy southern accent.
"Applebloom," the white unicorn interrupted, "I think we should introduce ourselves first. My name is Sweetie Belle. Thats Scootaloo and Applebloom." As she introduce each pony she motioned to them respectively.
"And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" they said in unision.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders eh? I take it you three aren't going to give up searching for your talents?"
"We'll never give up!" said the CMCs.
"Well, go get to work." the stallion said as he gently nudged them towards the schoolhouse. He watched as they scampered off carefree. It amazed him how those three ponies could let somepony else bully them yet they remained so happy and innocent. I miss my own days of innocence, before I learn about of how cruel this word really is. Happy that he could help somepony Shadow flew into a nearby tree and reclined on one of the branches. He took out one of the books he 'acquired' last night. The cover read The Fall and Return of the Crystal Empire. The solitary pegasus read until he drifted off to sleep, the still open book resting on his muzzle.
The hoot of an owl woke startled Shadow into wakefulness. As he stretched the pegasus saw that the sky was clearly darkening. Well I guess it's time for my little date with Miss Rainbow Dash. Shadow put his borrowed book back into his saddle bag before he flew to the town square where he saw Rainbow waiting for him. When she saw him she flew out to meet him. "Wow, you're actually here. I half expected you to skip out on me." greeted Rainbow.
Shadow hovered in front of the techni-colored pegasus and said, "I told you I'd let you take me to dinner in order to make up bucking my cloud earlier. I'm a stallion of my word."
"Well lets get going. I know the perfect place for us to get a good deal." Rainbow Dash said. She led Shadow over to a bakery that seem that it was edible of itself.
"Sugarcube Corner? Sweets for dinner?"
"Yup, Pinkie makes the best cupcakes you've ever had." confirmed Rainbow.
Shadow shook his head as he allowed her to lead him to the small dessert shop. They took a table next to the window and waited for somepony to come and take their order. While they waited Shadow withdrew his book and started reading again. "Whatcha reading?" asked Rainbow
"A book I borrowed from the library yesterday," he answered casually.
"Oh, so you met Twilight then."
"In a way."
Rainbow was about to ask him what he meant when Mrs. Cake came up to their table and asked what they would like to order. Shadow let his companion order for him son the grounds that he didn't know what was good on their menu. The chatted idly while they waited for their foo to arrive. Shadow was reluctant to tell Rainbow that he was once a part of team of pegasi in Stalliongrad before he left for reason he wouldn't share no matter how much Rainbow pryed. He could see the she was about to ask another question about his past when he was saved by a pink earth pony who came up to their table with their food.
"Hey Dashie," greeted Pinkie. "You must be REALLY hungry. There is enough food here for two ponies."
"Thats because there IS two ponies here, Pinkie." RD said as she pointed at Shadow.
"Hey." Shadow say shyly. When Pinkki saw him she let out a long and exasperated gasp until Shadow was certain she would pass out. Suddenly she disappeared leaving behind a dust version of herself. "What.. How did sh.."
"Don't even try to understand it. That's rule one of understand Pinkie." RD explained.
"Okay. Let's eat. I haven't had a good meal since i left the last town." he said as he picked up a blueberry muffin. Shadow let out an audible moan as he bit into his muffin. "This is bucking delicious" he said through a mouthful of heaven.
"Told you," bragged RD as she began to eat a muffin herself.
Just as Shadow finished his second muffin he heard the door open. Looking up he saw the alicorn Rainbow had referred to as Twilight, worst still she was accompanied by three other mares. He quickly ducked under the table to avoid being seen. Shadow took the opportunity when Rainbow turned and waved at her friends to fly out the window, which as luckily for him open. He hid just outside the window and watched as Twilight walked over to RD.
"Sup, Twi."
"Hi Rainbow. We have a problem."
"What problem?" Rainbow asked seriously.
"Somepony broke into my house last night and stole some of the books."
Rainbow turned to question Shadow but was stunned to see he had vanished. He's going to bucking get it. "Girls I think I know who took the books."
Celestia that was close. Shadow had flown away from Sugarcube Corner the instance Twilight had mentioned the library. He didn't want to be caught by five angry mare, more so he didn't want to be caught by Rainbow after she had just paid for such an amazing dinner.Shadow decided that it would be smart to lay low for a bit until they found his note or until they had calmed down enough he could talk to them peacefully. He took off in search for a cloud that he could sleep in, this time however he wanted to choose a cloud far from Ponyville. After a few minutes he found a suitable cloud, he pushed it through the air until he felt he was far enough from Ponyville. He made sure that his cloud didn't blow away by securing it to a nearby cottage with a thin and almost invisible line of skywire.
After he had everything set up to suit him the pegasus laid himself down for a quick during the last hours of sunlight. He felt a light breeze blowing across himself carrying the sun's gentle warmth and lulling him into slumber. I almost don't want to wake up for tonight patrol. Eh, somepony has to do it.