Chapter 6: Accommodations
Silence. Shadow hated it, but was used to it. He never had been one for flowing conversational skills…
Glancing outside, Shadow's heart jumped to his throat. It wasn't the afternoon, it wasn't evening; it was the dead of night. Where did the time go?
"I uh…" said Rainbow, at a loss for words.
"Thanks… for everything." Shadow stated, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
After starting towards the door, he heard Rainbow call out from behind him, "Where you staying?"
Shadow turned around, and after a few seconds replied, "I… I hadn't considered that factor."
'I'm an idiot,' Shadow thought, chastising his lack of planning in his head.
"Oh… uh… well if you want you can crash here…" Rainbow suggested.
"No," Shadow answered, shaking his head vigorously, "I've already intruded enough."
With a quick bow, Shadow exited the house. After backing up a few steps, Shadow charged off the edge of the clouds, his wings unfurled. The icy wind of night was cold against his face, but refreshing. Shadow flew about for a while, attempting to find some form of inn or motel. He was also preoccupied with his experience at Rainbow Dash's.
'Why was that so… awkward? And why did I tell her…" Shadow pondered, as he soared silently above the little town.
A noise to his right broke his train of thought. Storm banked left to investigate. Ahead he saw nothing but darkness. Blinking a few times, his eyes quickly began to adjust. He slowed down, attempting to remain stealthy, after spying an object ahead of him. His fears were confirmed.
After a quick tactical appraisal, Shadow stealthily landed nearby, and took cover beneath a tree. The objects passed over the city. He saw the distinct blue glowing eyes from the shadowy objects, and shuddered as they passed over the city.
'Changelings… what are they doing here?' Shadow thought, as he lifted off silently once more.
He followed the wing of the three changelings, as they flew over the town. After circling the village several times, they veered off to the south, and quickly gained speed. Shadow landed in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres, and watched as the changelings sped off toward the horizon.
His mind went swirling, in an attempt to surmise and quantify the sighting he just had. His mind raced, but he forced the sighting out of his head. After another quick reconnaissance trip, Shadow took the hint; Ponyville was devoid of any lodgings.
Landing near a few trees, Shadow went back to his survival training. He began to set up a small lean-to shelter outside the town. After gathering some large sticks and pine branches, he got down to business.
It wasn't the worst conditions, but resources were surprisingly scarce. Storm got a move on, nonetheless, knowing that the cold of night would soon be bearing down on him.
"Alright then. This is interesting."
Turning around, Shadow grinned and watched Rainbow Dash approaching from behind.
"Are you stalking me?" Shadow asked, half-jokingly.
"No. But I do know there's pretty much nowhere to stay for tourists and outsiders."
"Sounds just like Appaloosa. Great," Shadow remarked sarcastically, placing another bunch of branches onto the basis of his makeshift shelter.
Dash chuckled, landing next to Shadow with a quiet thud.
"You're seriously staying here?"
"Dash, I'm RAF Special Forces. I've had to take survival courses. Two weeks, no rations. Just me, the elements, and my own ingenuity and training. Fun fun fun!" Shadow responded, gathering sticks for a fire, "Not to mention when I've been downed in enemy territory and had to sneak around patrols, guards, all while not getting killed by nature."
"Wow. That's… hardcore?" Dash commented, still grinning slyly.
Shaking his head with a smile of his own, checked his pockets. Thankfully, he had remembered to re-kit before leaving Canterlot. Producing a box of matches, he set himself to lighting kindling.
"Look, why don't you just sleep at my place for the night. It'll be a lot more comfortable, and I doubt this'll do any good for your wing and leg," Dash said, staring at the pegasus.
She had a valid point, and Shadow knew it. The idea of staying at her house was not exactly appealing, though. He'd seen what other fans had pulled on Soarin' and Spitfire, and experienced it once or twice himself. On the other hand, the night was getting rapidly colder.
"Fine."
He couldn't believe he said those words. What was worse was he was at her house's doorstep within minutes. He was now going to go to sleep in some stranger's house.
Dash left the door ajar, and headed into the middle of the hall. Shadow hesitated a little, before slipping inside and closing the door. He watched as the tired pegasus ascended the stairwell slowly. When she disappeared from view, Storm made his way to the living room, and settled down on the floor.
For the next hour, Shadow lay awake, thinking of his encounter with the changelings. After an hour had passed, Shadow's brain practically shut down, and he fell asleep. He slept soundly, and calmly.
The next morning, Shadow woke up to hear rustling across the hall. Still tired and barely awake, instinctively Storm wished to investigate. As he stood up, his back emitted a loud crack, the result of sleeping on a hard surface all night. He paused for a moment to dust off his wedge and place it under is epaulet, and then walked to the edge of the living room. As he peeked around the corner, he saw a small kitchen opposite the living room. He walked further in and turned about the corner.
As he went into the kitchen he saw Rainbow Dash, making some food of some kind. Her mane was still tousled from sleeping.
"Oh, sorry," giggled Rainbow, her earlier happy-go-lucky attitude returning.
"No problem," Shadow replied with a tired grin, "it's your house anyway."
The two sat in silence for a moment, unmoving.
"Thanks, by the way. If it weren't for you, I'd probably have spiders crawling in my ears right now," Shadow stated, smiling.
"It was the least I could do for someone like you," Dash returned, adding, "Plus, you can put a good word in with the Wonderbolts for me when you get back.
After a brief conversation, Shadow bid Rainbow goodbye. As he exited the kitchen, he stopped in the doorway.
"A word of advice," Storm said, attempting to get Rainbow's attention.
She turned to look at Storm, her Rainbow coloured mane fluttering as she did so. She looked calm for once. Shadow paused, and observed her for a moment.
"Watch your back, things could get… dangerous around here real quick."
