//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: The Adventures of Shadow Chaser: The Shimmer in the Desert // by RangerBeef //------------------------------// (Spike) I was happy when Twilight relieved me early from monitoring Shadow. I'd been watching the glowing dot that represented him creep along the map as he made his way to the safe house and I'd been nodding off while watching it. Twilight says I'm still a little dragon so late nights are harder for me. I guess she's kinda right. When she relieved me I went and made her a quick breakfast, while munching a few bites down myself, before telling her I was headed out for the day. "I thought you didn't have to go to Rarity's today." "I don't. I'm going to get something that Shadow said could cheer her up." "What is it?" "I dunno. He said Cheerilee would know when I asked her." I was moving around the room searching for my backpack through piles of books on Las Pegasus. "Cheerilee? Why would she..? Ya know what, never mind. Shadow has a way of knowing the right things to do so I'm just gonna trust him. Just don't slip up and tell Rarity what he's doing." Twilight levitated my bag over to me and I watched her drop an apple inside. I wasn't sure if she meant it for me or Cheerilee. "I'll be careful." I slipped out the front door of the library and into the cool morning air. The birds were just beginning to chirp and the sun felt warm on my face. For whatever reason, it filled me with the hope that today would be a good day and I walked with a skip in my step toward the school. I was passed a few times by colts and fillies headed to school. I got a few hellos from the ones I knew but most just looked like they hadn't fully awoken yet. As I enjoyed the scenery on the route I kept my eyes off the trail too long and eventually fell over somepony. "Ouch! Hey!" I jumped up quickly dusting myself off. "Oh! Sorry Sweetie Belle. Guess I wasn't watching where I was going." "It's okay. I guess I should've been walking a bit faster anyway. I'm almost late." Her voice was uncharacteristically low. She was missing her usual joy. "What's wrong? You sound like you're sick or something." We continued our walk toward the school, slowly. "I'm okay. I'm just worried about my sister." "Oh. Yea, me too. But I got some advice on something that may cheer her up." Sweetie Belle's face lit up. "Really!? What is it?" "Well, I don't know really. But I'm told Cheerilee will know what it is." "Yay! Let's hurry then!" Before I could respond she took off running. We weren't far from the schoolhouse but she covered the distance in a time I don't think even Rainbow Dash could beat. I jogged up and heard the bell ring, indicating it was time to start the day. I approached as Cheerilee ushered the ponies inside. "Hello, Spike! Are you here to enjoy class with us today?" She chuckled softly at her own joke. "Not exactly. I came here to get some help." "Help with what?" "Well, Rarity has been down in the dumps since Shadow died and I heard you had a drawing Shadow did that might cheer her up." "Hmm," Cheerilee thought for a moment, "I think I only ever took one drawing from Shadow. I might know where it is, but I have to get class started. Would you mind sitting in the back until I can get the kids to work on something?" "No problem." "Great! Come on in!" Cheerilee closed the door behind us and I walked to the back of the class catching a few weird looks and some snickers. I sat at a large table with some paper and crayons at it and decided to occupy myself with doodling. I heard Cheerilee begin her lesson as I thought of what to draw. After drawing a few squiggles and some shapes, I did my best to draw Rarity and then Twilight. Celestia once told me that ponies close to your heart are easier to draw because you've paid them closer attention than most. Neither of my drawings looked anything like my desired result. As I thought about how to improve my design I felt a tap on my shoulder. The children were working on writing something at their desks and Cheerilee motioned for me to follow her. I grabbed my doodles and hopped off my chair, waving at Sweetie Belle as I followed Cheerilee up the aisle. We entered a small room in the corner of the classroom and I saw several large file cabinets covered in dust along with scattered essentials for any school teacher. "May I have that?" I was startled at the question but I realized Cheerilee was asking for my drawings. "Doesn't feel right pulling out a drawing without having one to replace it." I handed her the drawing with a smile and watched her place it in the top drawer of the nearest file cabinet before moving to the next file cabinet over and begin searching through drawings. "Cheerilee, how will you know which one is Shadow's?" She pulled up another drawing looking at it closely, "Oh, I never forget an artist. Why, this one," she held up a drawing of some apple trees and a green pony standing under them, "this was drawn by Big Macintosh. He wasn't quite so big back then though." She went back to work searching several more drawers before finally coming up with our desired doodle. "Yep, this is it. One of the best drawings of another student I've got in here. Looks a lot like Rarity, don't you think?" She handed me the picture and the resemblance was unmistakeable. Purple mane, diamonds on the flank, it was definitely Rarity. "I hated taking that one away. I think he was drawing it for Hearts and Hooves Day." I stared at the picture in a muted disbelief, wondering how this simple image would pull Rarity from her depression. "Are you sure this is Shadow's drawing?" Cheerilee nodded. "Uh huh. Pretty sure. There used to be more on it but I guess it faded away with time." "Alright. Thanks Cheerilee." I left the schoolhouse and stared at the drawing as I walked. There was no way this simple little drawing would bring Rarity back to her old self. I wondered what must have been on it when Shadow originally drew it. I made my way to Rarity's house in hopes I'd be able to cheer her up myself. I was met with disparaging news upon my arrival. Fluttershy met me at the door and informed me that Rarity was back to refusing to get out of bed. I told her I would take her shift for today. After a bit of reassuring Fluttershy that it was okay to leave I went to Rarity's room. "Rarity?" I could see the covers move as she sat up in her bed and leaned back against the headboard. "Oh Spike," she pulled her sheet over her face. "You must be so disappointed with me. Wallowing in sadness and being a drama queen." "No, Rarity! I would never think that." I rushed to her bed and sat on the edge. "I just want to help you get past all this sadness and move on." She reached out and placed her hoof on my hand. "I'm lucky to have you. Oh, what's that?" She pointed to my other hand that had the drawing in it. "Oh, it's a drawing that Shadow did. Someone told me about it and said it could help make you feel better." I offered her the page and her magic did the rest of the work, levitating it over in front of her. She smiled softly and, for a moment, I thought the simple picture would work after all, but then Rarity's face changed. Her smiled faded and I saw her jaw drop slightly as her eyes danced across the page as if it had come to life. "Spike, this is incredible!" Rightfully confused about her reaction to such a simple drawing, I moved up next to her and my jaw dropped as well. On the page was Rarity, but there was now a dress on her and standing next to her, looking quite familiar and happy, Shadow stood in a tuxedo. On the bottom right corner of the page stood the word "Over." As Rarity flipped the page over she read the words she found aloud. "Roses are red. Diamonds are blue. I like your cutie mark. And I like you too." I looked at Rarity seeing the tears begin to form. "Oh my goodness. All those years ago. He wasn't lying after all." "Who wasn't lying?" "Shadow." Rarity sniffled softly before continuing. "Many years ago Shadow and I attended school together. He was a bit more of a brute back then and took to bullying me rather quickly. I was not fond of him but my mother always said that was how boys his age showed they liked someone. One year, though, he told me he was going to stop bothering me and that he had a surprise for me for Hearts and Hooves Day. The prospect of him not bothering me and us actually becoming friends excited me. And I anxiously awaited Hearts and Hooves Day. But when the day came, I received nothing. I never even saw Shadow that day. He had told me to meet him after school and I had waited as long as I could before it had started raining. I figured it was all a cheap ploy to find a way to get me all wet in the rain. This must've been his surprise. He really did like me." "But I don't understand. When I got it, it was only a picture of you standing there. Where did all this other stuff come from?" Rarity giggled softly. "Magic ink. It was a trick Shadow's father had taught him. A way for messages to be hidden from Earth and Pegasus ponies. When it's left to sit the words or images fade away but as long as the page is held by magic the entirety of the image can be seen. He must've drawn my character in regular ink and the rest with the magic ink." Rarity flipped the page back over and studied the images, looking closely at the tuxedo and the dress. "My word, Spike, this is almost the exact tuxedo that I made for Shadow before he..." Her words trailed off but I followed her meaning. "I wonder if I could make this dress." I leaned in closer to the page and noticed a bright purple jewel coming from a necklace on Rarity's character. "Hey, that looks like the shadow jewel I gave you." Rarity squinted and leaned in next to me. The closeness of her face to mine made my knees a little weak. "Yes it does. Spike, I am going to make this dress. I've always wanted to break into the bridal gown world, and what better way to honor our friend's memories than by making the dress he designed?" "I can think of no better way, m'lady!" I said, mostly just excited that Rarity was up and about and in a dress making mood. Maybe the drawing really was the key. I worked with Rarity for the rest of the day and as I left for the evening Rarity told Pinkie Pie that she would alright by herself for the evening. Pinkie beamed at the news. Not because she didn't want to be with her friend but happy because things seemed to be getting back to normal. And I couldn't wait to tell Shadow.