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// friendship over mission 
// Story: the change of one 
// by Dj Shadowstrike556 
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 	  Shadow stared at the ceiling as images of the events before he got home played through his head. He turned on his side and stared at his reflection. Shadows own eyes filled up with tears as he whimpered. He sat up and put his hooves over his blue eyes and cried. The weeping changeling fell to the floor with a flood of tears spilling out. Shadow curled up into a ball as the simple images in his mind became a short film… 
….Earlier….
Shadow entered the room quickly and shut the door. His changeling skin began to seep its way through his disguise. He had just returned from his journey to Manehattan when a puff of green smoke appeared. Shadow prepared himself the best he could for the queen. 

“Shadow” the queen said “what is the situation? Have you found out anything new?” 
Shadow spoke “Yes my queen” 

“This better be worthy enough information shadow. I'm not one to lie; your past reports haven’t   exactly been fruitful of information.” explained Queen Chrysalis’s. 
“I followed Rarity throughout Manehattan and I'm happy to report, I found something strange. Another pony gave her a rainbow spool which concerns me only because of one thing. I saw her at the contest…” Shadow was about to tell her more when he remembered what he did. 

“Um…” Shadow stumbled with his words “Her eyes… it was like you told me in the briefing when I broke out of the prison. The rainbow flash.” 
“Very good Shadow, Inform me if the other ponies have this phenomena. Tirek was worried about this.” And with that Queen Chrysalis hung up and the smoke dispersed. He sat back down as a flash of heat traveled his body. He didn’t tell her about what he did. The memories of helping Coco and even the memory of feeling sorry for Rarity filled his head…

It was the morning and the ponies were about to leave. Shadow quickened his pace and from behind the building turned into his pony form. He looked for his train car and nearly started to sprint for it. He was nearly there when he felt a force knock him on his side. Shadow usually would have been pretty angry but for some reason, he looked up and said sorry automatically to the pony he bumped into. He came face to face with none other than Rainbow Dash. 

“Oh my gosh, I'm sooo sorry!” She said. 
Shadow froze for a second as the pony reached her hoof out. He shook himself awake and grabbed her hoof. Rainbow Dash pulled Shadow up quickly and nearly instantly recognized him.

“Hey! I’ve seen you before!” Rainbow Dash said 
Shadow quickly retorted “Yeah! Uhhh, I saw you for a brief second in Manehattan right?”
Rainbow Dash scratched her head for a brief second but quickly said “OH YEAAH! I'm Rainbow Dash!”
She extended her hoof again. Shadow grabbed it and a burst of bad memories rushed his head. The memory of the fight burned his brain for a brief second. 
“	Uh, I'm Shadow Strike.” Shadow replied. 

“Shadow Strike huh? That’s a cool name, where ya off to Shadow?” 
“I'm uh heading to the Equestria Games” Shadow said. 
“Cool! I'm the captain of team Ponyville.” Rainbow Dash said 
“I’ll be Cheering for ya” Shadow said. And with that Shadow entered the car and took his seat… 
Shadow sat and stared out of his window at the beautiful landscape. All of a sudden he felt the brush of a wing on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Rainbow Dash smiling at him. 
“Oh hey, what's up?” Shadow asked Rainbow Dash. 
“Awe nothin much… you?” She said
Shadow shook his head and felt his cheeks burn. “Uhhh How’s your team doing?” He tried to spark a conversation. 
“They're doing okay…” She said. “Ya know I haven’t seen you ever in Ponyville. Are you new?” 
Shadow nodded. Rainbow Dash then asked “Why aren’t you on the team? You seem like a good flyer.” 
Shadow forced himself not to blush. He then was reminded of his broken wings. The memory faded in an instant as the face of Rainbow Dash woke him up. “OH uh, I had an accident and permanently broke them…” 
Rainbow Dashes smile turned into a frown and said “I'm sorry…Well…I gotta check on the team… seeya around Shadow!” Rainbow got up smiled at shadow and moved to the next car. 
Shadow smiled back and went back to staring out of his window. 

The sky was clear, except for the competitors in the sky. Shadow felt a stab of jealousy overcome him as a Pegasus flew over his head. He pushed it aside and focused. He scanned the place for Rainbow Dash. Eventually he found her among her team. The one named Bulk Biceps was flying. A Fritter came out of nowhere and hit him in the face. Shadow laughed as the Giant Pegasus hit the ground. He looked over and saw where the fritter came from. Apple Jack tried to launch one into Bulk Biceps mouth. Later they tried passing batons. After failing, Shadow noticed Rainbow Dash seemed to be not doing well…

Shadow followed them to the Wonderbolts training course. He looked up and saw Soarin blazing through the course. Across the field he saw Rainbow Dash gazing at him. Shadow looked up again and saw Soarin fly through the loops. But as soon as Soarin hit his wing on the loop, a memory bashed strait into Shadows skull.  The battle raced through his head as the unshakeable memory of the pain shot through his body. Shadow looked away and walked away…
He sat from under the tree staring at Rainbow Dash who had begun to practice with the Wonderbolts. Shadow saw her transition from her team to the Wonderbolts. He knew what had happened. She was practicing with the wonderbolts but not telling her team. Shadow wanted to confront her but he decided to let it play out. The progress of team Ponyville wasn’t exactly good. Shadow watched as Rainbow Dash repeatedly ditched her team and practice with the Wonderbolts. Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps were good team members but Rainbow Dash didn’t like practicing with them. Shadow finally broke. He walked up to Twilight Sparkle who seemed to already be suspicious of her. 

“Hey Twilight Sparkle, you got a minute?” Shadow asked 
Twilight nodded and walked to Shadow “What is it?” 
Shadow told her everything “She is practicing with the Wonderbolts. I just though you should know…” 
Twilight said “Yeah I kind of guessed.” 
Shadow nodded and walked away “Don’t tell her I told you.” He said. 
Shadow sat down next to her and just let his mind speak. They talked about Ponyville, the fun she had in her adventures with her friends, even the fight against Discord. They both laughed and talked for what Shadow thought was hours. Eventually the fight for Canterlot came up. Shadows memories haunted him up until she asked him one question “So… how did you hurt your wings?” 
Shadow seemed to freeze as he tried to come up with a quick lie “I…uh….got into a fight with someone. They broke my wings…” 
Rainbow Dash frowned and said “I'm sorry…seeing us out here flying must be tough. How much did you like to fly?” 
Shadow replied “Oh, I love it. Every time I had the chance or choice to fly, I did. The wind in my face was the best. I could spend days up there…” 
Rainbow dash listened to Shadow go on and on about flying. 

“Hey Shadow,” She started “I was wondering if I could tell you tell a secret…”
Shadow looked at her and said “You’re practicing with the Wonderbolts…” 
Rainbow Dashes jaw dropped. Shadow nodded and asked “Is it really worth it?” 
She looked at the floor and back up at Shadow “Yeah… I wanted to ask a favor.” 
Rainbow Dash quickly explained what Twilight told her. Shadow listened to her completely forgetting the past. 
“I just wanted to know what you would do.” Rainbow Dash asked Shadow. 
Shadow Nodded slowly and simply said “This is your choice Rainbow Dash. You need to make the right one.” 

Rainbow Dash then walked through what Twilight told her. She wanted to act like she was hurt so she wouldn’t have to choose. Shadow went through with the plan… He gathered the things for her and helped wrap her up. 
“Listen…” Rainbow Dash started “I am sorry about your wings…I could never go through that…”
Shadow wasn’t prepared for what came next. Rainbow Dash extended her arms and hugged him. Shadow felt a warm fuzzy feeling in him and accepted her hug. For once in his life someone actually hugged him… 

Rainbow Dash let go “Hey listen, I gotta go…thanks for your help...”
Shadow waved bye and trotted away with a new feeling inside of him.

Shadow hoped that team Ponyville would qualify. He sat down and saw Bulk Biceps and Fluttershy do the course. As she neared Rainbow Dash though, a message came through. The green smoke came out of nowhere and surely enough the voice of Queen Chrysalis came through. All of a sudden Shadow remembered who he was. However the memories of his time with the ponies changed him. His mortal enemy turned out to be his best friend. He tried to keep a serious face. 

“Shadow, what is your report?” She asked. 

“Oh my Queen!” Shadow started “uh. Nothing to report today…just simple pony stuff…” 

“If anything changes please contact me.” And the Queen hung up. 
Shadow quickly looked for Rainbow Dash. She was blazing her way through the course. His heart was pounding knowing that the time was almost up. When Rainbow Dash passed the checkpoint Shadow uncontrollably jumped up and threw his hands in the air. He shouted her name “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! YEEAAAHH!”
He felt his insides glow as he jumped up and down. Shadow was so happy she made it. Later that day the ponies all celebrated. Pinkie Pie dropped off an invitation for Shadow who was about ready to leave… 
Shadow walked over the hill and saw Rainbow Dash. She waved at him and Shadow waved back. 
“Hey Shadow…I gotta surprise for ya!” Rainbow Dash said. 
Shadow followed her shortly to her group of friends. Shadow almost was confused and scared at the same time. He was worried they would find out he was a Changeling. He still had time however before his spell would wear off. 
“Shadow, come here!” Twilight shouted. 
He walked with a confused face towards Twilight. Just then Twilight introduced him to all of her friends. Shadow felt a shower of heat and happiness overcome him.  All of a sudden a red and pink lighting ball shot at him. He gasped as it traveled straight to him. 
“Don’t move Shadow!” Twilight ordered.  

Shadow shut his eyes and braced for the hit. Its over he thought. Just then he felt a small pulse pass through him. Shadow opened one eye then the other. He looked at his hooves. He was still in disguise. 
Twilight’s voice chimed in “Rainbow Dash told me to research a spell that may help you get your flight back.” Shadow couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “It looks like it may have worked! Try and open up your wings and flap.” Twilight suggested. 
Shadow slowly opened up both of his wings without a pain blasting through him. He chuckled and smiled. 
“Good! Now try” Twilight was cut off as Shadow blasted off from the ground and flew straight up with no problem.
Shadows smile turned into a loving laugh as he let himself fall after climbing over 2000 feet in a matter of seconds. He dove back down nearly touching the ground in a dive bomb. Rainbow Dash joined him. They flew together for the longest time. A tear escaped Shadows eye and fluttered down onto the dirt. Shadow turned around and landed right in front of Twilight Sparkle 
“Oh my goodness Princess Twilight Sparkle thank you!” Shadow shrieked out. 
Shadow didn’t think. He lunged for Twilight and embraced her with all of his might. Tears began to shower out from his eyes. Rainbow Dash was the next to join the hug. Shadow turned around and threw both of his arms around her. Twilight hugged his back. Soon Apple Jack joined then Rarity, then Fluttershy, then Pinkie Pie. Shadow bawled onto her shoulder. He never felt so happy. No one, not even Shadow, noticed him slipping back into his changeling form. Shadow felt everyone slowly let go. He felt Rainbow Dash drop her hooves. Shadow looked up and saw all of them staring at him. He looked down at his hooves and saw the Swiss cheese arms. Slowly he gazed at the mane six. 
“I'm…” Shadow lost his words…