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// Prologue: Seven Years[Un-Edited] 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Wingless Knight 
// by Aegis Spirit 
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I woke up from bed early in the morning with my alarm going off. I turned it off and headed to the bathroom. Looking at the mirror, I examine the scars on my body and thought back to the day I lost my memory and wings. There are scars on my left cheek, left rear leg, the right side of my neck, left side of my stomach, right side of my forehead, my right shoulder, a bite mark on my right front leg, and the two largest on my back where my wings used to be.

Seven years ago; I first opened my eyes to see nothing but a ceiling. Getting up, I notice that I’m in a bed with a bunch of bandages over my body. I then felt pain all over my body from the wounds, especially my back and head. I tried to remember where I got these wounds, but couldn’t remember. 

The door opened up and a mare came in. Her coat was white and mane light grey. She had on a hat with a plus mark and a heart in the center. “Oh, your awake. How are you feeling?” She asks.

I looked at her and said. “My wounds hurt, but I think I’m ok. Who are you and what is this place?” She responded, “I’m Nurse Redheart, and this is the Ponyville Hospital. You were brought here after the incident.” My eyes widened in surprise at this. I try to remember what happened, but nothing came up. “What happened.” I asked. She had a worried look on her face. “I’m afraid that you were attacked by a pack of timberwolves at Sweet Apple Acres. According the the ponies that brought you here, you were chased by timberwolves outside the Everfree Forest, but fought off most of them until the last one got you in it’s jaws. Honestly, it’s a miracle your still alive.” She explained. I could’t believe what I was hearing, I was attacked by dangerous creature. I looked down while putting my hooves on my head.

Nurse Redheart walks over to my side and place her hoof on my shoulder. “I’m sorry this happened to you dear, but you did save one of the ponies lives on the farm.” She said, trying to encourage me. It made me feel a little better, knowing I help somepony else.

“I should let you rest, but do you think you could tell me your name?” She asked with a concerned look. I was about to answer, until I realized something. I took a couple moments to think, but nothing came up.

“I... I can’t remember.”

I later realized I was a different pony when i looked in a mirror, I had a dark brown mane with grey coat, my eyes were light silver. Nurse Redheart said I was a thestral pony. Thestrals are bat ponies that are nocturnal and their senses are much stronger. It’s the reason I have prescription sunglasses for my eyes for the sunlight. The only reason I’m awake during the day is because I adjusted my wake up time. What’s strange was that I had no problem adjusting my sleep schedule, the doctors believe I’ve been practice this before I lost my memory. As for how I lost my memories and wings. After I was release from the hospital a week later, the Apple family came by to thank me for what I’ve done, and told me what happened. Apparently, the pony I saved was Applejack, who had and orange coat and blond man wearing a stetson hat, was extremely close of being timberwolf food. They told me I pushed her away at the last second, and the timberwolf chomped on my wings. It slammed my head through one of their trees, causing my skull to crack and wings ripped off at the same time. Most of the Apple family were there for a yearly reunion, and dealt with the last timberwolf while one of the mares ran to the hospital. 

I was glad nopony beside me was hurt, and Granny Smith, Applejacks’s grandmother, asked me why I was chased by timberwolfs in the first place. After telling them I lost my memory, The Apple family offered me to stay with them until I find a place to live. I agreed to their offer. When we arrived, the Applejack gave me a tour around the farm. The last place Applejack took me to was their barn. What I didn’t expect at the time, was that is was a surprise party for me. This was where I met my Applejack’s friends; Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie had a light pink coat and dark pink mane. She was the one who set up the party the moment her pinkie sense went off, which I had no idea what that was. Rarity was a unicorn. She had a white coat and dark violet mane. Rarity gave me my hoodie she fixed up for me from the timberwolves. Fluttershy and Rainbow dash were Pegasi. Fluttershy had a light yellow coat and light pink mane. She kinda kept her distance from me at first. I assumed it was because I was different than the rest of the ponies. It turned out she was like that that with everypony at first. Rainbow Dash had a cyan coat with a rainbow color mane. She said it was cool that protected her friend, though felt terrible that I lost my wings. At the end of the party, everypony was trying to think of a name for me until I get my memories back. They came up with Dark, Silver, Scar, and Shade. I looked at my cutie mark, it was a dark brown shield with a crescent moon on it, so I picked Shade until I remember my original name.

A year went by since I started living in ponyville. I spent most of my time at the library when I’m not working on the farm. I was looking for any information that’s familiar to me. Eventually, Mayor Mare offered me a job as a part time librarian, since the old librarian moved to a place called Manehatten. She even offered me the bedroom on the top floor. I accepted her offer and moved to the library. Whenever the Apples require an extra hoof with the farm, I would normally go over there and help. 

After three years, I strolled by the Karate dojo in town and saw a few ponies spar. Something about seeing them fight felt familiar to me so I started practicing there. What I didn’t expect was that I was more skill at fighting than most of the senior ponies there. Within a month, Black Belt, the teacher there, asked me to be a part time assistant instructor. 

For the next few years to this day, I enjoyed my time here in Ponyville, even though there were ups and downs. I became stronger in my fighting skills and learning about Equestria. I even taught the girls some moves to defend themselves once in a while, beside Fluttershy. Unfortunately, nothing I read about in the library jogged my memory, neither has my fighting practice, even though it was second nature to me. After discussing with the doctors about it, they said that they can’t begin to guess when my memory will return. Not only that, since Thestrals kept themselves hidden since the Nightmare Night incident, there was no way for me to find anypony I might have known.

I just sigh and clean myself up for the day. After I finished, I put my sunglasses and jacket on. Since my ears are different, it kinda freak new ponies in town, hence why I usually keep my hoodie over my head. Walking down stairs for breakfast, I heard the door knocking. Opening the door, I see a mail pony with a letter in his mouth. “Letter for Shade.” He said. I felt confused a bit. The only ponies I know live here in Ponyville. “Um...I’m Shade, but who sent the letter?” I asked. The mail pony gives me the letter. “It’s from Princess Celestia.” He said and left. I just stood in place processing what I just heard. I didn't understand, why would the Princess send me a letter? I went back inside to open the letter. I opened the envelope and read the letter.

“Dear Shade,

I’m Princess Celestia. Years ago, I intended for my personal student, Twilight Sparkle, to live in the Ponyville Library, but it was never to be. Tomorrow, I will be sending Twilight to Ponyville in a pegasus chariot to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. I would like to ask you to guide her to where the preparations are, and to allow her to temporary stay in the Ponyville Library. Please send your reply with the teleportation rune on the by placing a letter on the rune.

Yours, Princess Celestia.”

I was surprised the Princess would ask me to assist her student, especially a pony she doesn’t know. Something was strange though. The moment I read Twilight Sparkle’s name, it felt very familiar to me. The same happen’s whenever I hear about Princess Celestia, but I assume it was because she’s famous. Nether the less, I put the paper down and reached for a paper and quill.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

I’m honored you would ask me to be your student’s guide and yes, she could stay in the main bedroom of the library. Though I am confused why you ask me to do it, I will help her to the best to my ability.

Your Subject, Shade.”

After I finished writing the letter, I place it over the rune the Princess provided. The letter caught fire, turning to smoke and left through the window. I looked back at the letter and notice the rune disappeared. ‘I guess it worked’ I thought.

The rest of the day, I cleaned the entire library. If Princess Celestia’s personal student is going to stay here, I figured I’d make her comfortable. With everything cleaned, I went to Sweet Apple Acres to tell the Apple family I won’t be joining them for their family reunion. When I told them about the letter from Princess Celestia, they were just as surprised as I was. With everything done, I went back to the Library and slept in the guest bedroom. ‘Why does Twilight’s name feel so familiar to me.’ I thought. I decide to wait until tomorrow to worry about it and went to sleep.

I opened my eyes to a ruined castle. It was night and I could see rubble from the collapsed ceiling. ‘Where am I?’ I thought. Suddenly, I hear laughing from all directions. I tried to find the source, but no success. The laughter increased from above, I looked up and couldn’t believe my eyes. I was see a descending alicorn, just like Celestia, but this one was different. She had a dark blue coat with a translucent purple mane. She landed in front of me as a backed away a little. Suddenly, my back hit something behind me. I turned around, and saw other ponies, but these were different. I noticed there eyes and ears were just like mine, and they bat wings. All of them were only staring at the alicorn. The alicorn looked at me smiling and said. “My little ponies, soon I will return, and the night will last forever!”