> a cat named shadow > by Darkwill45 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 "What is friendship?" The more I think about it, the more I hate that bloody question. Want to know another question I hate? Well that one would be; "what is normal?" I mean sure you can answer those by giving the dictionary definition, but are you truly answering what they mean? Maybe, maybe not, it depends on who you ask. However, it does not change the fact that what one would consider normal is right, the same goes for friendship. Am I right for thinking that friendship is something that one gains through trust, love, and kindness? As I sit here perched on the rooftop of ... town hall I think they called it. Gazing down upon this town, I realize that this kind of thinking is normal for me. Despite how I shouldn't be thinking at all. If I were to meet another of my species would they think me a freak? Treat me like an outcast? Hate my guts and try to kill and eat me? Or would they not care and welcome me with open arms? Again, that depends on who I meet. "Growl gurgle growl" Heh, as per usual my thoughts are interrupted by the grumbling of my stomach. Which reminds me, where is that girl? Yesterday she promised me that she would get some fish and cream today, to make up for that accident to me. as I stand and stretch letting out a rather big yawn, I look this way and that trying to spot shock of, my guess, lightning blond hair over slightly skewed golden yellow eyes. After a couple minutes I give up my search settling down again, only to zone out. "Hey mister kitty, sorry I’m late." My ears pick up her voice as I snap out of my reverie, with a shake of my head I look in her direction as she comes in from the... east is it? With a glance at the sun I realize that I zoned out for one maybe two hours. Huh, time flies when your mind blanks out on you. With a meow I get up and rub my body along her front legs in thanks. What? Wait, you didn't know? I’m a cat, I thought the fish and cream would have been a dead giveaway. Now where was I? Oh yeah.... did I forget to mention that the girl was a pony? Huh, I thought I did. Ya know this would go a lot smoother if you didn't pester me with questions, why? Well because right now the mare and I are currently sitting down gazing out over ponyville while we are having this argument, I’m also chowing down on the fish and milk so would you kindly shut up! Thank you. "How’s the fish and milk, mister kitty?" the mare asks me to clear some of the silence, I lift my head to let out a confirmative meow. All the while I pretend to not notice the "I-know-something-you-don't-know" smirk on her face. When I think back on the accident I remember the ponies calling her something, I think it was Derpy at any rate. After finishing the meal I rub my head against her in thanks for it. "You’re such a nice cat I don't see why nopony want you for a pet.", she says with a sigh. It’s a shame really, of all the equines in this town she and a few of the others are the only ones who take note my... kind acts. but then again I don't give it much rent in my thoughts, I’ll care about my chosen when the time comes, for now I’m not worried about it. Besides I don't need to look at her face to know that she like me is looking out over this town with disappointment. it’s not the first and it won't be the last either. After a couple minutes I meow to get her attention, after having gotten it I , with my paws mind you, point to her, the sky around the town and the sun asking if she need to be anywhere at the moment. It takes a couple tries for her to get the message but when she does she says with a gasp, "that’s right, I’ve got pick up my little muffin from school", I help her pick up the dishes she brought for me to eat from putting them in her... saddlebags I think they're called, which interestingly enough wasn't really that hard. "Would you like to come with?" Now there is a question that I wasn't expecting, she had asked me this before taking off. For a moment I was given pause, I didn't know this "little muffin" mainly because Derpy didn't really speak of her or him, were they a siblings? Her little one, as I call them? On account of this I almost turned her offer down, however the thought of passing up a chance like this to meet someone new as well as see more of this town from a bird’s eye view made me accept. After all you don't meet someone new every day, ya know? I wait a few seconds before I finally nod in the affirmative, we don't want to seem too eager now do we? With a smile on her face, derpy moves to open one of her saddlebags. Unsure of what she intends I wait, only to see that she wanted to have me ride in them. With a sigh I shake my head in the negative to that option. "Then how do you intend to come with?" she asks me, a slight frown on her face at my refusal. I lift a paw to my chin in thought, on one paw I could follow her from the rooftops and/or the ground but I would most likely get distracted by something that tickles my fancy. However, on the other paw I could ride on her back instead. With that in mind I jump onto derpy's back, taking note of where her wings are so I don't get in their way. "HEY!" she cries out in mild protest, but even as she does I see the smile that dances on her lips and in her eyes. I see that like me she can't help but wonder as to what everyone else's reactions will be. Under her breath I hear her say, "Dinky’s going to love you." for a second I’m confused then I realize that ‘my little muffin’ was a nickname for the little one. while we settle into position, derpy test flapping her wings to make sure that they wouldn't touch me, I still question what ponies like her are called... pegesi maybe, I’m testing out how deep my claws can sink in without causing her pain. When I think they're in a good position I ask her,” Meow (is this good)?" "Huh?" came her response, prompting me to ask again. "Meow (is this good)?" "Huh?" Derpy asks me again as she turns her head my way. With a sigh I remember that she can't understand me. In a sense all I need to do was gauge her reactions to my claws in her hide but, I want to a good passenger. So while digging my claws into her side I once again ask, "Meow (is this good)?" "Oh, oh yeah, your good." Was her response, even though it took her a moment to get the message. With that we takeoff from the rooftop of town hall. As we fly toward the school, my eyes shifting this way and that. I take note of all the eyes that follow us in a mix of confusion, shock and awe, it's like they've never seen a cat riding on the back of a pony before. But at the same time they're looking at us with fear and disapproval. It’s not a shock that my ears pick up on the whispers and murmurs of the latest weird antic involving derpy. "What is she thinking letting that mangy thing ride on her back?" "I hope they don't get into an accident." "I can't help but wonder how long that cat can stay on without falling off?" "I hope they do get in an accident good riddance to worthless thing." After hearing that one the phrase "after everything you've done for them, eventually they'll turn against you" pops into my head. As I said not a shock. When we arrive unscathed at the school house, much to the dismay of the one who wants me gone, and there is almost no one around. I dismount and take a glance at the sun, checking its position for the time of day... hmm, I think is about 2:59. When I look back at the school my ears hear seem to be hearing a steady ticking. "Tick (3)," "Tick (2)," "Tick (1)," "Briiiiiiiiiing" And there goes the bell. Not even two seconds pass and there is already a gaggle of... colts and fillies, I think the little ones are known as, come streaming out of the doors. For a moment it’s a clashing chaos filled with screams of laughter and joy. Half of the little ones are heading towards the school's playground, while others are dashing off towards parents and elder siblings mouths going about a mile a minute on what they learned in class and what their friends spoke of at lunch. We stand there for a moment or rather derpy stands whilst I sit beside her grooming myself, taking glances at the door every couple of seconds to gauge how mass of little ones dwindles down to almost none. In that time we don't hear any cries of mommy, or sister in that swarm of sound. I stop my grooming to share glance with Derpy. It’s clear that something is wrong. We march a couple steps toward the doors only to stop and hesitate. With a sigh I rub my tail along her front legs, it’s not much but it's enough to bring some form of comfort and maybe a little hope. > chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 When you take those first few steps into a school building, what exactly do you expect to see? What do you expect to hear? What do you expect to feel and smell? Whenever I passed by this building, I would often pondered as to what it was that I expected to encounter when I entered such a place. Sometimes my imagination impressed me, while other times it failed me. When Derpy and I took those first few steps into the school, I was torn. Torn between awe and disappointment, the floor beheld a classic wood paneling with classic plaster walls that was what disappointed me. I let her lead the way so I could take in the rest of the sights, the sounds, the smells and the feel of the energy within the halls that filled me with awe. Despite being indoors the excited chatter of the little ones could be heard coming from both inside and outside the walls of the school. The halls still had some of the little ones in small groups of 2 -4 consisting of colts and/or fillies discussing plan for the days to come. If I recall correctly today is, what they called, a Friday. Meaning that tomorrow will be Saturday and the day after will be Sunday, which in turn meant that there would be no school for two days in a row. Hmm, that in of itself is most intriguing. Maybe it will be a chance for me to… “Clopclop, clopclop, clopclop” oh, oh dear guardians, Please let that clatter of hooves not mean what I think they… “Kitty!!” oh, cra… “Whump pu bump bu daf” “You’re tho cute!!” Oh sweet guardians, why must you curse me so?!! Despite the gleeful giggling and my gasps for breath being funneled into my ears, they pick up the snickers and chuckles of the little ones that happened to be around during that tumble. After gathering enough air in my lungs, I sigh as I turn my gaze to the ceiling beseeching those who may be beyond that horizontal wall, why? Why do I have to be so cute and cuddly? Were the circumstances different I would still bemoan the fate of my appearance. I stare at the ceiling a little while longer before turning my gaze to my captor, and what I found did not surprise me in the least. My current captor happens to be a little one, a filly to be exact. Her mane and tail are a reddish brown hue, while her coat is light beige in color. While my gaze moves to her face I see that she wears glasses. And when I see her smile I take note of the pieces of metal on each tooth, connected together with more metal. I guess that explains the speech impediment. “Looks like you made a new friend mister kitty!” Derpy exclaims, ignoring the fact that I almost got crushed by said “new friend”. Besides after that was said I just waiting for it. “What’th hith name?” the little one asked derpy, eyes big behind her glasses. “He doesn’t have one sadly, but he lets me call him mister kitty.” She replied. “Wait, he’th not yourth?” and there it is, with a sigh derpy and I shake our heads in the negative. We both know what coming ne…. “TWIST!! Get your hooves off of that cat!!” … ok, we were not expecting that. The three of us look in the direction the voice came from to see a mare, who looked very familiar to me. As she stomped closer I could see that her mane and tail held a half purple, half cream coloring format, while her coat was a light brown. What’s more I could see that she didn’t have wings nor did she have a horn and looking back at… Twist I think that mare called her, I could see that she didn’t have any extra appendages as well. Earth ponies are what these two would, at any rate, be called… I think. “But…” “No buts, or did you forget what happened last time tried to hold a cat like that.” When she finally stopped I saw an image of two to three pieces of candy, still in their wrapper I might add, on her flank. Looking back at twist I saw that she had two... candy canes I think they're called on hers, while a glance at derpy's flank confirmed that she had bubbles on hers. Cutie marks are what they call them. "I mean you got scratched, and started to swell, and all that cat did was hiss in amuse..." "Bonbon calm down." said a mare stopping on the left of "bonbon", her mane, tail and coat being a green so light that it brought to mind that candy that's eaten before, during and after certain events. While adorned on her flank was an image of a musical instrument that looked like a harp but was smaller... a lyre perhaps, she had a horn on her head. I guess it’s safe to say that she is a unicorn. "Lyra, how in the hay can I calm down when she's allergic to cats?!" “Well, given that she isn’t a balloon right about now. I’d say you don’t have to worry, because she’s not allergic.” “… Ok you’ve got a point, but she’s still in trouble.” Bonbon relented taking a few calming breaths to sort out her thoughts, If you are wondering where I am during this exchange. The answer is I’m still in the arms of twist, that should not be a surprise. When Lyra finally looked at me she did a double take, glad to see that I’m not the only one with the buzz of recognition in their head. “Excuse me…” “Say Bonbon, doesn’t this little guy look familiar to you?” “Excuse me…” “Why are you asking me? All cats are evil in my eyes.” “Excuse Me… ” “I’m asking, because he looks familiar. And not all cats are e… ” “EXCUSE ME!” All eyes turn to derpy in shock. “Whump” Well, almost all eyes. With a sigh I get up, dusting myself off and looking about just in time to hear derpy ask, “What’s this about, Twist being in trouble?” Both Lyra and Bon bon are silent for a spell, I can easily tell that they weren’t expecting to hear concern from another in regards to their charge. “Well…” Lyra begins, “Twist came home with a note from her teacher, asking us to come to the school concerning her and a few others.” Bonbon concludes… why do I not like the sound of where this might be going? A glance at derpy’s face confirms that I’m not the only one who feels as such. When I turn my gaze back to twist I see a sheepish smile dancing on her lips. If I could speak as they do my words would be, what did you do, but I guess my eyes will have to do. When she sees that I’m staring at her she mouths... "I’ll tell you later." it's clear that she is hiding something and that she wants to tell me, maybe it's because like lyra she recognizes/knows me or maybe it's because I’m just a cat and I won’t be able to give away the secret. Eh, whatever when I get around to looking about notice that we're standing in front of a door marked "faculty office". I let out a meow to get every ones attention, and unsurprisingly it doesn't work. I do it a few more time before I finally get a reaction. "what do you want you stup..." bonbon begins finally giving me a glance only to stop and stare, more often than not I find that to be strange it's almost like they've never seen me before. "Oh hey long time no see." she says with a sheepish smile. "Really bonbon, now you recognize him?" Lyra asks a look of mild disbelief on her face. Trust me you wouldn't believe how often that happens, you're not around someone for about a week and ones subconscious locks any memory of you until you meet again. This is not the first nor will it be the last. I point my right paw at each one then the marked door nonverbally asking if this was the place they were headed. The door began creak open before they could respond, revealing a... very questionable sight. Beyond the doorway lies a simple dean-like desk, under normal circumstances such a desk would not be questionable. However it's what's on the desk that makes it so... wrong. On the desk is an earth pony mare with a dark purple coat, with mane and tail a mix of white and grey with a smiley faced flower on her flanks. She is on her back with a ball gag in her mouth, blindfold over her eyes, bound in rope so that she can't move around with a sign behind her head. The sign itself reads; "Come play with my kitty" I drop my right foreleg, shutting my eyes and shaking my head a couple times, looking again to see that the door is closed. A look to bonbon and Lyra shows me a mix of concern and confusion on there faces, while a glace to twist shows mild innocence in regards to my reaction. I look to derpy to see that she is looking at me that's how I know that she saw the same. "You see it to?" her eyes ask me, I don't even need to blink or nod for her to know that I did. "Say Bonbon, is it alright if Twist takes Mr. Kitty outside?" "..." she doesn't know how to respond, I wouldn't either if I didn't know what was going on. "sure she can, twist why don’t you go outside with the little guy while we big ponies talk. " lyra answered it was clear that she didn't know what was going on either but I could tell that she had a hunch. "Ok" was all I heard before I was lifted by the scruff of my neck. I looked back one last time to share a glance with derpy. "Be careful" was my silent response. "I will" was what her eyes told me. And with that we were gone. > chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 While little Twist carries me out of the school building, I bet you’re all clamoring for answers. Like what the hell was that, or don’t you think your over reacting? Sigh, sometimes I wish it was that simple, after all not everything is as it seems. Take this day for example; the sun is shining on a pleasantly warm afternoon, the air is filled with the screams of joy and laughter that belong to the little ones, whom are enjoying their time out in the sun. The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing. It all seems to be sunshine, lollipops, rainbows, and everything that makes the world look so nice and pretty. But just like everyone and everything else in this world, a beautiful day like this has its secrets, and its lies. When twist finally sets me down I take note that she brought me to a bunch of bland brightly colored wooden picnic tables, I turn to look at her only to find that her eyes are down cast, and her ears are folded back while her hooves are scuffing the ground. I don’t even need to meow to get her attention or ask what she did. Simply put all I have to do is wait and she'll speak on her own. "I wath planning a thurprithe party for mith cheerliee," she says after a few moments of silence, eyes still down cast in shame. I feel my eyes half-lid themselves, questioning the reason for her shame. She looks up to see me rotating my right paw, giving her the all clear to continue. “I couldn’t help but notice that thhe doesn’t get any appreciation, dethite how much effort thhe putth into her work. Tho I thought what better way thay 'thank you' than a thurprithe party,” she concludes a spurred on by my interest. In all honesty that doesn't sound like a bad idea, in fact it sounds quite nice. Having the heart to let someone know you care for them and appreciate them with a pleasant surprise. Yet I feel an eyebrow rise letting my confusion be known, I mean how could she be in trouble for the idea. "Oh, um..." she pauses, turning shy upon sight my confusion. “Well that'th becauthe..." "It’th a thupid idea," mimics a voice, causing twist to freeze up upon hearing it. Smell her anger rise. She doesn't need to look to know who it is, I on the other paw do. With a glance to my right, I see a light pink filly with her mane and tail a mix of white and blue. Adorned on her head is a tiara and while to image of one is on her flank. A couple paces behind her is a grey filly with a lighter grey mane and tail, like twist she wears glasses. However, hers are different in color and are connected to a strand of pearls, while adorned on her flank is the image of a spoon. Just like Bonbon and Lyra they look familiar to me, but at the same time the pink filly ticks me off. "What do you want, Diamond?" Twist asks, though a strained smile. "Oh, nothing really," the aptly named Diamond replies nonchalantly looking at her hooves, "just wondering if you enjoy talking to a stupid cat like the loser you are," she continues. Oh goody, one of those ponies. I turn my gaze to the filly who has yet to be named. Only to find her gaze fixed on me with a gleam of recognition dancing in her eyes, and in that gleam I see that her heart it still pure. But this makes me wonder why she puts up with that stuck up loud mouth. My gaze shifts back to said loud mouth when I hear her sigh out; "I mean you’re still friends with those blank flank losers,” she looks away for a moment only to look back with a smug smile. ”It almost makes me ashamed to have ever considered making you one of my friends.” I can’t help the smirk that curls up my lips and a glance at twist's face confirmed that I wasn't the only one who was amused at that. Had something more intelligent come from her mouth the grey filly to her left wouldn’t have let out a muted sigh, she seemed to have some choice words in mind. It’s also good to see that I wasn’t the one who thought that she was blind. “I don’t really care about being your friend, diamond.” Twist says with a sigh,”bethideth it doethn’t matter if you think my idea ith thupid anyway.” “Oh really?” diamond smirks, making my eyes half lid themselves at her question, could one be any more predictable. “Did you really just ask that?” the grey filly asks giving diamond a deadpanned look. Good to see that she to is unamused. “Yeth, really.” Twist responds with a sigh, the look on her face shows that she been down this road before and does not want to be back. “Well,” diamond begins smirk turning into a grin, while she kicks at the dirt. “With the little chat I had with Miss Cheerliee, I think it does matter.” “What chat?” the grey filly asks, turning to diamond confusion clear on her face. “Oh silvy, it wasn’t much of a chat really,” diamond begins with a dark chuckle. “But I will tell you that when all was said and done. I left her all. Tied… ooh piece of candy!” diamond suddenly stop her tirade diving after and hastily unwrapping a yellow and blue piece of candy immediately popping it into her mouth. “Wow,” twist giggles at the sight of diamonds antics. Silvy, short for silver I’m guessing, on the other paw… facehoofs? Sorry, I’m still trying to wrap my head around equine terminology. Diamond just sits there for a few seconds, letting the piece of candy role around in her mouth before we hear a… “Crunch” Huh, must have been a hard candy. A few seconds more and diamonds eyes flutter open, a blush forming on her cheeks as it takes a second for her to remember where she is. Twist tries to smother her laughter as diamond turns to the three of us, attempting to intimidate us with a glare only to fail as the remaining blush makes her look cute. “And what are you laughing at, loser?” diamond says, her glare focused on twist. “You and your sugar addiction. “ Silver mumbles under her breath, “It’s almost as bad as your table manners.” Ouch. “Jutht thomepony, who I’m not concerned about.” Twist responds, after getting her laughter under control of course. “Whatever, you parentless bitch.”… Wow, Twist doesn’t show any reaction to what was said, other than a deadpan expression on her face. “You didn’t,” silver whispers in shock, the look on her face shows that this was not the first time that diamond made an off paw comment like that, and I doubt that it will be the last. “You know for one with thuch high clath thophithtication, that wath really disappointing, diamond.” Twist says turning her gaze skyward for a few seconds letting a single tear that only I can see fall from her eye, after a moment of silence she turns her gaze back to diamond. “If anything I expected you to jutht turn tail like the coward you are.” “I’m not a cow…” diamond begins stomping the ground with a hoof. “Cracka-boom” At the sound all diamond can get past her lips is a high pitched yelp before dashing off slamming head first into a tree. As twist and silver cringe at the sight, I turn my gaze skyward to see a small formation of clouds, most likely a thunderhead. Upon sight of it the only question that comes to mind is, just how long has that thunderhead been up there?