The bird’s outside sang several decibels louder than Shadow’s current taste. Every vein in his head felt like it had expanded to twice it’s normal size. The throbbing pressure in his skull was accompanied by the nausea in his belly. He had been awake for almost half an hour now, but had not yet gathered the strength to rise from the large pillow that he deemed as his bed. Ok, you can do this, he thought as quietly as he could. First step to getting out of bed, opening the eyes. With that, he began squeak open his left eyelid. A tiny ray of sunlight shot into his head through the ocular opening. Sweet Celestia’s sun! Nope!
His eyes shut tighter than ever as he began to recall last night’s events. The party at Pinkie Pie’s, the midnight walk with Rainbow Dash, meeting that other pony on the way home. Wait, what was that filly’s name again? He racked his brain for the name of a pony he met on his journey back to the cottage. Oh right! Berry Punch, wow, she was barely understandable. Someponies just can’t handle their cider I guess. He chuckled at the thought of the random pony who was completely smashed. Chuckling however, proved to be a terrible idea, as a pulsating pain in the head proved.
Ok, time to colt up and rise and shine. I’ll just open my eyes, get up, crawl downstairs, make some tea, and go about my day. Wait... something isn’t right, that won’t work. Why not? I know I’m still alive, so it shouldn’t be too hard. Oh buck.. What if I’m not alive? What if I’m dead?! Is this death? Wait... no... I opened my eye and saw the real world. Ok. I’m good. This plan is solid. Wait! Aww, Luna curse me, I don’t have any roots or herbs for tea! Ug, well, I won’t get any tea by lying here, might as well get up anyways.
Although his spirit was willing, his flesh proved to be a bit less eager. Pushing through the headache, Shadow managed to crawl his way down to his kitchen, without ever standing up. Admittedly he looked stupid, but with no one around to see him, all he could think was: meh.
“Well well well! Look who’s finally up!” A throaty voice rang from above him.
“In the name of all that’s sacred! What the hay are you doing here? How do you know where I live?!” Shadow looked straight into the purple eyes of a familiar rainbow maned pony.
“Duh! I was here last night. I mean.. Duh!” Rainbow Dash chuckled as she hovered above the floor. “And let me tell you, anyone who ever called you a quite sleeper was a liar.” She continued to giggle as she glanced around the modest cottage.
“Man this place is drab! I haven’t seen a cottage this empty since Fluttershy moved into her’s.”
Shadow wasn’t sure how to react, partly because of the slightly embarrassing comments being made by the pegasus that was floating around the room, but most because of the fact that there was a pegasus floating around his room making demeaning comments.
“Well, I did just move in...” He said slowly.
“I know” the pegasus exclaimed. “That’s why I rainbow dashed to my place and got you this housewarming present!”
Rainbow Dash unfurled a massive poster of a flame coloured pegasus, wearing a blue body suit and flying through a thunderstorm. On the top of the poster a fiery text read ‘Spitfire’. Shadow looked on in awe. He had no idea what he would do with such a massive effigy of another pony. Well, unless that pony was Princess Luna of course.
“Wow... Is that-” before he could finish his sentence the pegasus cut him off.
“Yup! Life-size! Impressive ain’t it?” Rainbow dash interjected with a smile.
“No no no. Is that Ms. Spitfire?”
“Ms. Spitfire? Never heard anyone call her that. But yup! Most fiery of the Wonderbolts, second fastest pony in Equestria! The one, the only, Spitfire!” The pegasus gave a holler and threw her arms in the air at the mention of her idol.
“Wow, I took a class with her back in Canterlot. Never knew she was such a big deal.” Shadow explained without the same excitement that Rainbow Dash had displayed. Rainbow’s proverbial jaw dropped.
“Wait wait.. So you know spitfire!?”
“Well, yeah. There was a class I took about flying magic and the unique biology of pegasi back in Canterlot. She was the TA.”
“But, but why would she even teach when she’s part of the Wonderbolts!?”
“Well, when she introduced herself she said that she was just trying to give back. Buuuut, I wasn’t exactly the best student in that class, so she had to tutor me one day, it was sort of weird since she’s only a few years older. Anyways, we got to talking, and she basically said she had to complete sixty hours of community service.”
“Oh yeah... I guess that makes sense. I suppose you don’t set half of Fillydelphia’s clouds on fire and get away with it scot free. Even if you are Spitfire.”
Half the clouds on fire?... Pf, I could do that. Shadow let his more devious side take hold as he plotted how he would actually go about doing that. But before his plan could come to fruition, or even budding, the pegasus interrupted him.
“Aaaanyways, I gotta go set up the next rainstorm. Enjoy the poster! I know I do.” Shadow noted the hint of suggestiveness in that last sentence. He expected a wink, but got nothing, and the pegasus was already half way out the window.
Wait, I still have questions. Where do you think you’re going!? Not willing to be ditched before he had his questions answered, he used his dark magic to stop Rainbow Dash in her tracks.
Rainbow felt her flanks chill. Something strange was embracing them. Something cold, yet comforting; tingly, yet smooth. She looked back and saw a red and black aura pulling her into the cottage. She realized it was Shadow’s magic. The odd sensation was promptly noted by the pegasus, but to her, all unicorn magic was the same to her, so she gave it no thought.
“Wait wait wait. I have a couple questions to ask you before you go.” Shadow said as he placed the pegasus in front of him.
“Oh, alright then. Shoot mister mysterious.”
“What exactly did we do last night once we got back here?”
Rainbow gave a filly’s giggle and looked right into Shadow’s eyes, giving the most seductive look she could muster.
“Don’t remember? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget.” The pegasus whispered suggestively in Shadow’s ear.
“Not.. Every last detail... Maybe you could fill me in... on what.. exactly, yknow.. happened..” The unicorn caught himself tripping over his words again. He felt his body temperature rise.
“Well, after a charming walk to your cottage, you opened the door for me, and walked me into your humble abode.” Shadow hung on her every word, not sure what he wanted to have happened.
“Then you put your arm around me, and insisted that I take your bed. ‘No sleeping on the floor for Dashie’ you told me.” Rainbow paused.
“Yes..?”
“Aaaand a couple seconds later you told me you were going to bed. So you wished me a good night, crawled into your bed, and passed out.”
Shadow breathed a shallow sigh of relief.
“And that was all that happened?”
“Well, I might have given you one more kiss before I headed out. Just to make sure.” Shadow felt mildly violated.
“Make sure of what?”
“Oh, yknow. Just making sure I didn’t want to wake you up and uhh.. get to know you better.” With that, she gave the wink that Shadow had been expecting for a while.
“Buuut, yeah. Nothing happened. I told you before, colt’s aren’t really my thing. I just like to remind myself of what I’m missing out on every now and then.” Shadow went from feeling mildly violated to mildly used. The feeling quickly passed however when he realized that he was nopony to judge.
“Oh, so I guess you’re still quite the fillyfooler then, eh?”
“Mehhh, I prefer the term: ‘appreciator of fine fillies’. Like that one right there.” She motioned to the poster which lay spread out on the floor, taking up most of the room. Shadow remained silent.
“Sooo, enjoy the poster, I know I did.” The pegasus gave another chuckle and hovered in the air. “And I guess I’m heading out then”.
“Wait a sec, one more question!” Shadow called out before the filly was out of ear shot. “If you went back to your place last night, how did you get back in this morning?”
“Your window. Duh! Catch ya later Shadow!” Rainbow shouted back to him as she flew away into the clouds. Shadow felt as if his home had been broken into, but the feeling quickly passed. No harm no foul, he reasoned.
He looked around at his cottage and mentally went through the checklist he made earlier in the day. Get out of bed, check. Get downstairs, check. Make tea... Well, looks like I finally have the chance to head out and gather some herbs.
Shadow’s eyes glanced around looking for his saddlebags. His mind thought back to the pegasus’s remarks.
This place is looking pretty shabby. Maybe I should do something about it. Get these boxes unpacked. Make some bookshelves. Put this poster up... maybe.
After staring at the massive portrait of Spitfire, he decided why not. He levitated the poster off the ground and placed it against the largest wall of the cottage. Using his magic he embedded the poster a half inch deep inside the wall. Then, using a spell he had learned only through banned books, he froze the air in front of the poster into a solid but smooth and clear material, leaving the wall perfectly intact. Just now it had a life size picture of Spitfire embedded in it.
Shadow stood back and admired his handiwork for a minute before trotting over to the boxes he kept in the corner. He finally had a chance to unload the hundred or so books which he read so religiously. Just as the first twenty or thirty we laid out on the floor, a knock came at the door.
What is with ponies and this cottage? He thought, trying not to become agitated. Remembering his resolve to be more social, he decided to forego his normal strategy of making himself invisible and pretending no one was home. He wondered who, aside from Rainbow Dash, even had a reason to see him.
He used his magic to swing open the door, without even looking up from his books.
“Come in” He shouted half-heartedly.
“Thank you” a cheery voice replied.
Shadow froze. Oh bucking hell. What the bucking buck. Why me... He turned around and winced as he confirmed who stood before him.
“Hi Shadow Storm I-”
“Please, just Shadow.” He cut off the unicorn with gritted teeth. One of the few things that bugged him more than an unwelcome guest who had the power to ruin his hopes and dreams, was when ponies addressed him by his full name.
“Oh.. Right” The smiling pony replied. “Anyhow, I was just dropping by, to see how you were doing. I know it’s nothing simple to move into a new town. Especially as a student amiright?” The purple pony chuckled nervously as she saw the obvious dissatisfaction of her fellow unicorn.
“Well thank you very much Twilight Sparkle” Shadow said with a forced grin. “It’s good to know that somepony sympathizes with the difficulties of a student’s life. Most notably how little time we have to socialize.” The dark pony hoped Twilight would catch on to his insinuation.
“Oh, yes... of course.” Twilight wasn’t sure if that was a hint, or a sincere lament. Well, it took all my courage to come out here and talk to him... I’m not going to back out now, the purple mare thought to herself.
“That’s a very nice piece of art you have there!” Twilight exclaimed as she gestured towards the massive poster of Spitfire.
“Thank you.very.much.” Shadow thanked her with a searing glare.
“Rainbow Dash would love it! Did it come with the cottage?”
Unsure of what to say, Shadow decided it would be simplest to just tell the truth.
“No. Rainbow actually gave it to me this morning.”
“Oh... So she was with you this morning?” Twilight felt her heart sink, remembering the events of the previous night. She recalled Shadow leaving with her pegasus friend, and she was well aware of Rainbow’s playful nature. If she wasn’t so nervous she would have been jealous.
“Yuuuup.” Shadow said slowly. Realizing what he just implied, he decided that the last thing he needed was rumours floating around about him and Rainbow Dash. He quickly tried to correct himself.
“Oh! But we didn’t do anything... I mean, much... I mean, nothing! She didn’t even stay the night. She came back this morning and gave it to me ‘cause she thought my place looked a little bare. So.. yeah..”
Twilight felt her heart flutter once again. There was hope for her yet.
Shadow began revert back to his nervous self. He felt as if the playing field had been levelled, he was no longer in the position to shoo Twilight out of his cottage. Now he had to play on the defensive. He stared at his foe intently, and kept staring. His eyes moved from the unicorns face and all the way down her slim body, finally focussing on her curvy haunches. What the hell are you thinking dumbass!? This is no time to become enamoured in a pony who you should avoid by any means possible!
“Well that’s nice of her! But I’m amazed, how did you get this installed so quickly? And so beautifully I might add.”
Still half entranced by Twilight’s body, Shadow gave the simplest answer he could think of.
“Oh, um.. Just something I whipped up. Yup..”
“Really?! Since this morning? I’m beyond impressed. That’s truly amazing, you must be very good at magic then, to just ‘whip up’ something like this.”
“Hehe.. well, I try.” Shadow’s tiny narcissistic side took delight in the praise.
“I have to ask though, how did you manage to get this glass so quickly?” Twilight asked. Shadow froze when he realized that the true answer would be his undoing. Twilight continued to prod.
“I mean, you obviously must have used some kind of spell, but which one? Not meaning to blow my own horn, but I know quite a decent amount of spells, and I’ve never heard of one that creates glass.”
“Oh, well.. uh..” Shadow’s brain could only remember the three words. “Ummm, well” He repeated.
A look of concern grew on Twilight’s face.
“Shadow... What spell did you use?” She asked with a chillingly serious tone
Shadow stared at the mare, feeling his pounding once more. She trotted over to glass to take a closer look.
“Shadow, this isn’t glass... This is petrified air! I know this spell! When a pony compresses the air around him or her to create an almost invisible, but solid, piece of air!” The purple unicorn was excited at her discovery, but a whole world of questions opened up to her.
The dark colt stood in awe. This was not the reaction he had expected. What the hay? She almost seems... excited? She obviously knows of the spell, and unless she’s completely derpy, which she’s not, she would know that it’s a basic spell of Luna’s dark magics. So why isn’t she shocked.
“This is...” The purple unicorn started, “This is... Luna’s dark magic! Shadow! I’m shocked!” Twilight Sparkle practically shouted in joy. Shadow looked on, more confused than he had ever been.
The purple unicorn trotted over to the boxes of books and helped herself to them. Shadow was slightly annoyed and wondered if he should get rid of the ‘mi casa es su casa’ doormat his aunt and uncle had sent him. His thoughts quickly focused on the more important case at hand, the gleeful unicorn rifling through his boxed library.
“This is amazing!” Twilight exclaimed. “These books! So rare! So much knowledge! Shadow, I...I can’t believe this.” The unicorn’s tone turned from a filly’s excitement, to a sombre joy.
“Shadow, you managed to preserve so many. I can’t believe it.” She wrapped her forelegs around the colt and embraced him. “I had no idea you were that kind of student.” Twilight felt her heart begin to beat faster. She felt his body rub up against hers. Never before had she felt so aroused by a simple hug, but this pony was different.
Shadow, who up to this point had been standing still is awe, wondering what the buck was going down, finally managed to get a word in.
“That kind? What kind is that exactly?”
“A rogue student! One who manages to preserve Luna’s magic of the sacred moon!”
“Woah woah woah, I’m no rogue, I passed through Canterlot’s magic schools just like every other unicorn. This is just what I did in my free time.”
“And you weren’t caught!?” Twilight seemed surprised.
“Well I tried to keep it hidden best I could. It wasn’t that much trouble though, only cost me most of my social life. Why do you think I moved to Ponyville?” Shadow explained with a sarcastic tone.
“Shadow... I think we need to have a very long talk...” Twilight looked Shadow straight in the eye, attempting to look as serious as she could. Although, her most serious face soon had a blush on it, Shadow’s eyes had a tendency to do that to young mares.