Shadow Storm lay flat on his back in his colt-cave, staring up though the skylight at the night sky. He remained motionless for over an hour, enchanted by the milky black canvas with pinholes of light shimmering through. “Should be only a couple more minutes” he thought to himself.
Sure enough, three minutes later the first inch of the moon crept into his field of vision. As it inched its way farther across the darkened sky, Shadow’s pupils dilated in the light. He felt as if the crazy life that he could never get a grip upon was finally in his grasp. Everything was simple, everything was straightforward, all the confusion in his mind and all the doubts he had about his magic became crystal clear. He gave a light sigh and relaxed his body.
Regardless of the relief it gave, he knew the moon couldn’t stay framed in his skylight forever. It had to move on. A wave of regret that he was still awake washed over him. Shadow always tried to fall asleep gazing at the moon, it ensured him a peaceful night. He felt an urge to run outside, find a hilltop, and gaze up at the sky until morning. That wasn’t really an option though, sleep started to creep over him, and his sluggish legs did not feel as adventurous as his mind.
Slowly his eyes slipped shut, and his mind started to wander. He thought of what it would be like to be a pegasus, to be able to soar up into the sky, to be even closer to the moon and stars. But the fantasy quickly ended, he reasoned that he wouldn’t trade his magic or his magical studies for anything. Shadow reasoned that while wings might bring his closer to the stars, his magic made him a part of them.
Soon his consciousness began to lose control to sleep, and the dreamy reality that comes between sleep and wakefulness flooded his mind. However, it was not a good flood. Images of his life with his aunt and uncle in Canterlot began to float in his mind. Images soon became memories, and memories soon became dreams.
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Shadow Storm has always trotted down a different path from other ponies. At a young age he had discovered a proficiency with magic, and was enrolled in Celestia’s School for Gifted Colts. There he toiled daily to learn all the magic known in Equestria. While he was there, he learned many a thing of both magical and historical nature. All things that he saw interested him, although there was one subject in particular that interested him, the tale of Nightmare Moon. He read endlessly of Luna’s downfall and of her transformation into Nightmare Moon. As he grew older he began to critique the author’s (whoever authored the particular book he was reading) writing. Everypony always degraded Nightmare Moon for her deeds, and celebrated Celestia’s victory over her. But Shadow didn’t understand, HE liked the night, especially the moon, and with them, he grew fond of Nightmare Moon. Some days he mindlessly carved pictures into classroom tables with his magic, but on one particular day he found himself carving a portrait of Nightmare moon.
He began to study the magic that Princess Luna had used before her transformation. The texts were not easy to get a hold of, but the young colt managed to get them all the same. Luna’s method of magic was so very different from Celestia’s. This new magic intrigued Shadow like nothing had before. Every night he would sit underneath the moon and study his new mentors work.
His dark magic, as the ponies of Equestria classified all of Luna’s magics, talents flourished, although they had to so secretly, for a young colt so enamoured with Nightmare Moon and the lost Princess Luna would be looked upon with disdain. He knew that the magic he learned was dangerous and had great potential to cause destruction, but he kept a true heart and resolved to not fall down the same path that led Princess Luna to her downfall. Although it caused him to feel distant and different from the other colts and fillies, he kept his obsession with Nightmare Moon hidden for the time being. When his cutie mark, a crescent moon with six small stars lining the moon’s right concave side, finally appeared, no other pony really understood what it meant. Most ponies assumed that it had something to do with his dark grey coat, and even darker black and crimson mane.
After eight years of intense study, he was ready to graduate. He had already been accepted to the Canterlot College of Magic and History, and was set to move into the dorms. Although he was all packed and had said his few goodbyes, Shadow was far from prepared. He knew that living in the dorms would make his secret studies even harder to conceal. Living with his aunt and uncle was no longer an option. As kind as they were to take him in, their overly zealous and traditional ways were too much for him to bear any longer. Sitting alone in his room he knew he’s be happy to leave, but still felt inexplicably anxious. He absent-mindedly began to carve a replica of his cutie mark on the door, in the back of his mind he knew that his aunt would find it mildly heart-warming, whereas his uncle would most likely replace the door. As Shadow put the final touches on his carving an intense wave of realization crashed over him. It wasn’t where he was that caused him to feel anxious, it was where he was going. He knew he had to go far away from where he was. He desperately needed a change. The college would never accept his magic, Canterlot would never accept his magic! He needed to travel someplace quiet and common, someplace he could study his magic in peace, and there was one particular place that he had in mind. The gossip which Canterlot so happily thrived upon said that there was one town which the newly returned Princess Luna particularly favoured. Perhaps here he could advance in his studies and perhaps meet his mentor.
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Shadow awoke with a slight twitch. Glancing around he noticed how bare his cottage was. Only the few bits of furniture that had been left with the cottage furnished his residence. Well, those and the shipment of books that had been delivered by an odd looking pegasus the day before. He got out of his bed and looked at the boxes books he had delivered from his old home. Upon closer inspection he noticed that the boxes looked like they had been dropped several times. To his relief none of the books were damaged or missing. He walked over to a stove and began to brew a cup of herbal tea. While the kettle boiled he reflected on his short time in this new town.
It had only been a week since he had moved to his cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville. Most ponies would expect somepony to have at least one acquaintance after a week. However, Shadow Storm had only ventured into the town once, for food. Even on that occasion he wore a thick cloak that made him conspicuously inconspicuous. He saw quite a number ponies, a few even caught his eye, a purple unicorn and a white unicorn who looked his age talking to a pink earth pony who he only remembered as “vibrating”. “They seem cute enough” he thought to himself as he gave a small smile. It made him feel a little more at home to see that there were some friendly unicorns about, and that the general pony population of Ponyville seemed nice enough.
“I suppose the general population of Ponyville is nice enough” Shadow said to himself. “In fact, they seemed almost welcoming!” A determined look grew on his face “That does it! Today I’m going to go into town and make at least one acquaintance!” He clopped his foot on the ground as if to seal the pact. He finally had the chance to start with a clean slate.