//------------------------------// // New feet! // Story: Fate's Shadow! // by Shadow_lulamoon //------------------------------// "Grrrr... when Starlight asked Trixie to help with an important matter, Trixie never thought that it meant to clean the lame library," grumbled Trixie. Starlight and Spike returned to the magician several minutes later to assist their friend. "It's about time you got back," said Trixie with a high-pitched whine. "Calm down Trix. You're such a drama queen we were only gone for a few minutes," said Starlight Glimmer. Starlight's horn glowed a bluish green as she levitated the closest books and neatly stacked them. Spike pulled from the book stack and alphabetized the books on the shelves. "Such menial tasks..." Trixie started to say but stopped. "You don't have to stay Trixie if you... don't want to..." said Starlight trailing off as she gazed at her friend. Starlight cantered over to Trixie waving her front left hoof in the magician's face, "Trix?" "Starlight to Trixie... hello," said Starlight repeating her hoof wave. Starlight looked to Spike for assistance." "Any ideas Spike?" Spike staring with wide eyed bewilderment just shrugged. "It's Trixie..." "You're oh so helpful Spike thanks," said Starlight with venomous sarcasm. "Only you!" Said Trixie with an eerie monotone voice. Starlight and Spike both jumped from the abrupt interruption. "That was creepy!" said Spike. "I would have to concur," replied Starlight. The pair jumped a second time when Trixie suddenly shook her head, awakening from the trance. "Why are you two staring at Trixie like a pair of creepers? Should Trixie be worried?" asked Trixie with a scared voice. "Worried?... We should be asking you that question," said Starlight with a slightly higher pitch. "Starlight is right you’re the creepy one Trixie... standing still like some possessed pony and spouting weird stuff like only you," said Spike with a sour tone. "What did you mean by only you, Trix?" asked Starlight. "You’re just pulling my leg right Starglim?" Seeing the serious expressions of her friends, Trixie proceeded to sigh and shake her head "I have no idea!" ******************** Shadow awakened from his nap, jumped from a frantic knocking emanating from the bathroom door. "Shadow!" said the familiar voice of Sunset. The stallion, realizing that he was still in the tub climbed out. Dripping wet Shadow shivered from the cool damp air in the bathroom. "I really need a towel to dry off," thought Shadow. With that thought Shadow's horn began to glow with a soft violet hue as a white towel levitated off the sink's countertop and floated towards the stallion. "What the heck?" Shocked by the floating cloth Shadow stumbled backwards tripping over his rear legs. The light on the unicorn's horn blinked out. The towel no longer under the effects of magic landed on Shadow's face. Shadow awkwardly stood up trying to dislodge the towel. Sunset waited impatiently for her friend to respond. Several minutes went by without a peep from Shadow. Then suddenly there was a loud crash followed by some muffled words Sunset couldn't quite make out. "Shadow!" shouted Sunset as she frantically tried to open the door but to no avail. The latch on the door was stuck tight. "Grrr... stubborn door open." Sunset pointed her horn at the door and tugged with her telekinesis the door still refused to budge. Sunset swung herself around, facing away from the door and kicked her back hooves at the door. "Thunk!" went the unicorn's hooves as they harmlessly hit the door. "Oh, come on... it works for Applejack." Sunset gritted her teeth. Determined to rescue her friend the unicorn's horn began to glow a molten red. Sunset's aqua eyes were filled with burning fury as she released an energy blast against her wooden opponent. Shadow spun in place, but that motion just managed to get the towel even more tangled around his horn. "Fracking towel get off of me!" grunted Shadow as he lowered his head between his front two hooves. With a hard yank the towel was finally off. "Yea!" shouted Shadow in triumph. With a sinister smile Shadow leapt into the air and stomped on the white cloth, exacting his revenge. "You just got schooled!" Shadow's victory was short lived as the bathroom door behind him exploded into tiny splinters. The force of the blast sent the blue unicorn and his soft nemesis across the room where they landed in a heap, with the towel covering Shadow's head. "Shadow!" shouted Sunset, panicking. Sunset took in her surroundings; her gaze fell upon the covered heap across the room. The fiery mare galloped over to her companion. "Shadow, I heard loud noises... are you... alright?" Ears ringing, Shadow shook his head trying to clear his mind. The stallion, finally focused and unable to see realized that once again he was at the mercy of the towel. "Oh, for the love of Celestia not again..." Sunset blushed realizing that she got a little overzealous. "Get off of me," grumbled Shadow as he struggled with the towel. Sunset smiled to herself as her horn glowed red. The towel slowly levitated off Shadow and was then discarded to the floor by Sunset. "Looks like I arrived just in time," said Sunset with a quiet laugh. "I had everything under control until the door exploded," said Shadow giving his savior a disgusted expression. "Uh...oops," said an embarrassed Sunset rubbing her head with her left front hoof. ******************** "So how does this unicorn magic stuff work?" asked Shadow. "Just picture what you want. When you see it in your mind; will it to come," said Sunset. Shadow looked to the sink's countertop where he had placed his glasses. "I am surprised they made it through all of that weirdness." Shadow focused the glasses in his mind and when he had a clear image, he wished for them. Slowly the glasses lifted off the sink and levitated towards Shadow, but at the halfway point the stallion's focus began to falter and the glasses clattered to the crystalline floor. Shadow's face was drenched with prespiration as he tried to calm his breathing. "That's pretty good for your first try. It takes a quite a bit of mental as well as physical fortitude to move objects with your magic," said Sunset. "You made it look easy," muttered Shadow dejectedly. "In my defense I was born a pony here in Equestria before I crossed over to the human world. I learned at a young age how to use my unicorn magic." "That's still not comforting," said Shadow sarcastically. "Don't worry I can teach you to master your powers oh mighty augmenter of causality," said Sunset with smile. What do you mean by augmenter of causality?" asked Shadow. "You know from the astral plane!" replied Sunset. "No, I don't know," said Shadow with a confused expression. Sunset gazed into Shadow's fuchsia eyes trying to detect a lie but was unable to see any form of dishonesty. "He really does not remember," thought Sunset. "Never mind just forget I said anything!" "What? You can't just change the topic... now I am curious," said Shadow. Sunset just sighed and then answered, "If you don't know of what I speak, then you are not ready to know." "Can you be anymore cryptic?" muttered Shadow. "Just drop it!" replied Sunset with a frown. Sensing no further comments from his companion; Shadow nodded his head in agreement. "Good let us go meet the others in the library," said Sunset. Shadow tried to keep up with the fiery unicorn but as he took one clumsy step after the other, he started to fall behind. Sunset turned to see that her companion was having a hard time walking with four legs. "This is going to be fun," thought Sunset with an impish grin. ******************** The moon illuminated the room through the library's southernmost window. The moonlight danced across the crystal walls creating tiny glinting motes on the floor, reminiscent of a clear star filled sky. Within the dim light Spike breathed life into the candles, their flickering flames assimilated the moonlight and ensconced the library in their warm glow. "Thank you Spike now I can see to finish," said Starlight. "Anytime!" replied Spike. By the eastern bookshelf lie Trixie sleeping soundly on a red velvet couch. The magician's purple hat covering her face as she mumbled the words, "only you!" "There she goes again. I wonder what it means?" said Spike. "To be honest I don't know either, but I am curious," said Starlight watching her best friend slumber. A loud thump followed by a giggle drew the attention of Starlight and Spike to the library entrance where Shadow lie nose down onto the crystalline floor with his posterior in the air. Starlight stood over her dragon companion, as she tried to stifle a laugh; failing. "Sunset what took you so long?" chided Starlight. "I was trying to teach a new foal old tricks. Shadow still can't walk straight," replied Sunset with another giggle. "I am glad you think this is funny," grumbled Shadow as he attempted to stand up. "I'm sorry Shadow I shouldn't be laughing but I just can't seem to help myself," said Sunset. Shadow firmly planted all four hooves and lifted himself up off of the floor. "If this Snart for brains wasn't such a bad teacher maybe I could properly walk," said Shadow with disgust. "Hey, I am a great teacher you're just a slow learner," said Sunset wiping away her tears. "As if Sunshim! Your driving skills are far better than your teaching skills and that doesn't amount to much," retorted Shadow. "Watch yourself Shady! My driving skills are top notch," said Sunset her expression darkening. “Oh no did I touch a nerve... is little Sunshim angry now?" teased Shadow. "All right break it up you two, right now we don't have time for a lover's quarrel," said Starlight interrupting. "Lovers?" asked the duo blushing at the same time. Shadow glanced at Sunset gazing into her aqua colored eyes. When Sunset's gaze met Shadow's, she quickly looked away. Feeling uncomfortable Shadow left the library. "Shadow where are you going?" asked Sunset. "I need some air." The stallion somehow managed to stumble he way to the castle entrance and out into the cool evening air. From the velvet couch Trixie stirred awake with a soft snort. "How is the great and powerful Trixie supposed to get her beauty sleep with all this noise?" mumbled Trixie as she stifled a yawn. "Trix you should probably head home for the night. We will finish up here," said Starlight. "You don't have to tell Trixie twice. Good night everypony," said Trixie bowing to her friends before she cantered out of the castle. ******************* The evening breeze gently caressed Trixie causing the magician's cloak to billow out behind her. The brim of the floppy matching purple hat fluttered as the wind caressed the magician's face. As Trixie made her way down the walkway a lone figure caught her attention.