Flurry Heart kept lifting things off a table with her magic and slowly putting them on another one. She was always a fast learner especially with magic, even as a foal (all of her family could attest to that).
"Very good Flurry Heart," Sunburst said clapping his hooves. "You've improved very much, since our last lesson."
"Thanks," she said brightly. "Do you think that I... could possibly... maybe learn more advanced stuff now, maybe even some alicorn spells?" She asked nervously.
"Oh, definitely not," he said quickly. "Alicorn spells are way too advanced for you. We should stick on the path I have for you."
He could see the disappointment in her eyes. "But hey," he continued while fixing his glasses. "You're still going to be able to do them and you're doing really well on the spells you know now."
"Thanks," she said with a sad smile.
"Here, I have an idea," he said trying to cheer her up. "Your birthday is coming up, so why don't I teach you a special spell for it and you can show it to your parents."
"Yeah, that sounds great. I can't wait," she said excitedly.
"And you won't have to. I can teach you now!"
"Yay," Flurry said as she began to jump up and down on the floor.
"Ok, let's get started," Sunburst said as he held up a book with his magic.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLURRY HEART!" Everyone there said in unison as she walked through the door.
"Oh my gosh," she gasped in excitement. "I thought I wasn't having the party?"
"Nope," Cadence said smiling. "We just wanted you to think that so we could throw you this one."
"Yay, thank you, thank you, thank you," she said happily, hugging her parents.
"Don't thank us," Shining Armor said pointing forward. "It was mostly your aunt Pinkie Pie, she planned it all."
"Oh okay, well thank you anyway, AND THANK YOU AUNT PINKIE PIE!" She shouted across the room to her aunt.
"You're absolutely 100% welcome," Pinkie Pie said smiling. "Now get out there and party!"
"I will," she said walking to her friends. "Thanks again."
Her friends Screwball and Midnight came to her party, as did some new friends of theirs Thundercloud and Stormcloud. They were Rainbow Dash and Soarin's twins, who were two years younger then Flurry Heart and her other friends, who are all around the same age.
"Hey Flurry Heart, what's up?" Screwball asked. "Happy Birthday again, man it's been like forever!"
Screwball was a purplish pink earth pony, with a violet and white curly mane and she wore a small propeller hat, and she had purple eyes. She was very energetic and kind, but tough at the same time and she had her fathers chaotic magic.
"I know right!" Flurry Heart said.
"I can't believe you're nine! I'm not even nine yet, almost though."
"So did you guys hear about Sombra?" Midnight asked curiously.
Midnight was a dark blue pegasus, with spiky dark blue hair with purple and light blue streaks, and light blue eyes.
"Yeah," the twins said in unison. They both had their father's mane and mom's coat. Stormcloud had her mom's eyes and Thundercloud had his dad's eyes "I heard they still haven't found him and he was spotted near Canterlot." Thundercloud finished.
They were a little surprised he knew that considering he was seven and he didn't pay attention very much. His sister though was the exact opposite, she liked to know everything.
"Do you think they'll ever find him?" Flurry asked worriedly.
"Of course they will," Screwball said trying to put Flurry's mind at ease. "Now come on its Flurry Heart's birthday, let's celebrate!"
"Yeah, right," Flurry said hesitantly. "Celebrate," but she couldn't help but think: Will they find him? as she ran off with her friends to play.
Three years later
"Three years," Luna said angrily through her teeth. "Three years and we still haven't found that monster!" She yelled as she slammed her hoof on the table.
"I know, I want to find him too," Celestia said calmly, even in dire circumstances she remained calm. "But getting angry won't help us, we want to stay calm and collective if we're going to have any chance of finding him."
"Well staying calm and collective hasn't helped us these past three years has it," Luna said bitterly.
Celestia decided to not answer knowing it would do no good to help change her mind. Because once her sister has made a decision about something it's very hard to change it. She continued to look at the map on the table as Luna marched out silently.
"Uh Princess Luna, is everything alright?" Flurry asked cautiously knowing she was probably upset. Flurry Heart and her family had come to visit while all the princesses had a meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Maretopia. They also wanted to discuss the topic of King Sombra. Knowing that the meeting would take a while Cadence decided that they would stay the weekend.
"Yes," Princess Luna said trying to stay calm. "Everything is alright Flurry Heart, you need not worry about it. Just enjoy your visit," she finished with a sad smile as she walked away.
"Oh ok, thanks," Flurry said as she was left alone in the hallway trying to hide her worry.
She wasn't completely blind to the situation. She knew what was going on, but she wanted to know more and wanted to be included in what they were doing. She knew that she had not yet earned the position of princess but she still wanted to help. Her mom said she was just like her aunt Twilight when she first became a princess and that her time would come, but she was having trouble being patient. She also couldn't help but think about school because it was starting soon. She had really enjoyed her summer but now that it was time to go back she knew she would have to face those three girls. Over time she realized that they didn't really want to be her friends. They were just using her for popularity, but she was afraid of being made fun of or them getting back at her. She knew she had to stand up to them but she was afraid.
"Oh what am I going to do?" Flurry asked herself as she flew out the window to go for a fly. She wanted to clear her head.
"Alright son," Sombra told him. "Now that your thirteen you can finally practice using your magic on a pony."
"On a... p-pony," his son stammered.
"Yes, Shadow Hunter," Sombra said in his deep threatening voice. "A pony, is that a problem?"
Sombra wanted to give his son a name that would strike fear into his victims, he figured Shadow Hunter was the best fit.
"Of course not."
"Then let us depart," his father said as he walked forward to the entrance of the cave.
Their home was less than ideal but it was the only place they could live without being spotted since they were so close to Canterlot. They had to hide out there and Sombra would use his magic to get them food. Shadow was rarely let out of the cave and when he did leave his father kept a close eye on him.
"You will use your magic to capture a pony. Make sure that when you do capture them it's not near the public and is out of sight. Understand?"
Shadow nodded, "who will I be capturing?"
"Anyone you want as long as they're not in sight."
"Wait really, I get to choose?"
Sombra rarely let his son choose anything, it was always his decision.
"Yes, now go." His father said impatiently.
"Wait, you're not coming?"
"No. I don't want to distract you."
"Yes!" His son shouted way too loudly.
His father glared at him and that was his sign to go before he changed his mind.
"Oh...uh I mean bye," Shadow said as he ran out of the cave.
Sombra sighed, "let's hope he doesn't mess this up."
Flurry was flying way outside Canterlot, she knew her mother wouldn't want her to but she didn't like all the noise and busyness of the town. The forest was much quieter and much more peaceful. She liked to go there to clear her head and think. Little did she know, she wasn't alone. She decided to land and take a break from flying for a while in a small clearing of the forest.
"Gosh, you think with my big wings I wouldn't get so tired easily." She said to herself, but someone else heard her.
Shadow was quietly listening for any pony that had come near. He was a little worried he wouldn't find anyone in the forest and he would hate to be unsuccessful, especially having to tell his father that. He heard someone talking and thought it was his perfect chance, but he didn't know he was about to attack an Alicorn Princess.
"Gotcha!" He shouted as he jumped on top of her and held her down with his magic.
"What in the name of...what are you doing!?" She asked as she struggled to get out of his grasp.
"I'm capturing you and there is nothing you can do about it," he said with a triumphant smile on his face.
"Oh yeah, we'll see about that."
"Yeah try all you want but..." he trailed off once he realized what she was. He didn't recognize it immediately but once he saw that she was an alicorn he froze and it was just enough time for Flurry to make her move.
"Hi-ya," was the first thing that popped up in her head as she blasted him with her magic and sent him flying ten feet away from her.
"Wow," was all he could manage to say after the impact. He got back on his hooves and saw Flurry Heart completely for the first time. He had never seen an alicorn before, but he wasn't really focused on that. As soon as he saw her he realized how pretty she was.
"Wow," was all he could say again. No no no, focus pay attention you can't fail! He thought to himself.
"Wow what?" Flurry asked frustrated. "Why in Equestria did you try to capture me?"
"Look, I'm sorry okay," he said trying to distract her. "I shouldn't have done it."
"But why did you do it?"
"Because if I didn't I would have gotten in trouble."
Flurry Heart stared at him with wide eyes, shocked at what she heard.
"Why would you have gotten in trouble? If anything you would have gotten in trouble for capturing someone."
"Not with with my dad," Shadow said sadly. "He told me to do it."
"Really?" Flurry asked in shock. "Who's your dad?"
"Uh..." he said as he quickly tried to change the subject. "Never mind, it's not important. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, are you? Because I hit you pretty hard with my magic," she said with a smirk.
"It wasn't that hard," he said also smiling. "I've seen better."
"Oh really huh, by who?"
"Me," he said pointing to himself.
"Wow," she said sarcastically. "Yeah right."
"You wanna bet?" He said enjoying this "argument".
"Yeah, let's see what you can do," she said pointing to him.
"Alright, watch this."
He lifted the biggest rock in sight and threw it as hard as he could with his magic, across the field. It landed about forty feet away from them and landed with a large bang.
"Ha, beat that."
"With pleasure," she said while she lifted up a bolder the same size as his. While pretending to yawn she threw the boulder, with her magic, fifty feet away.
Shadow stood there slack-jawed.
"How did you get it that far?"
"Impressed?" she said with a triumphant look. By now Shadow had completely forgotten about capturing her.
"Pfft-no, of course not."
"Anyway, that was a lot of fun. I'm Flurry Heart," she said extending her hoof to his.
"Flurry Heart, that's a pretty name," he said while shaking her hoof.
"What's your name?"
"Oh my name is... never mind it's not important." He was afraid that his name would scare her, so he was hesitant.
"Yes it is, and I told you my name."
"Alright fine, my name is... Shadow Hunter," he turned his head and closed his eyes waiting for her response. He was confused though when she didn't say anything at first.
"Shadow Hunter? Wow that's a cool name," she said with a warm smile.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I've never known anyone with a name like that."
"Yeah, I didn't think so."
"Well I have to go now, bye," she said about to fly off.
"Wait!" He shouted probably too loud.
"Yes?" She said turning around.
"Will I see you again?" Flurry noticed almost a hint of desperation in his voice, like she was the only friend he ever had. Little did she know, she was.
"Sure, in fact we can meet up here again tomorrow if you like?"
"That would be great! What time?"
"Does two o'clock sound good?"
"Yeah, that will work."
"Alright see ya then," she said as she flew in the air.
"See ya," he waved.
But just before she was too far away she remembered something. "Oh and Shadow?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't kidnap any ponies while I'm gone, okay?" She said with a smirk on her face.
"Very funny, but I won't."
"Good, bye," Flurry said as she flew away.
"Bye..." suddenly a thought occurred to him, Oh no, what am I going to tell father?!