Shadow pushed his way through the thick blanket of snow that had fallen overnight. The weather pegasi had officially declared it winter time and Shadow was psyched. He was on his way to Lightning’s house, not to stay though. They were planning to get some cake at sugarcube corner then go to his house for a sleepover.
It was his birthday after all, it was about time he had a good party…
Lightning’s house wasn’t situated in the good part of Ponyville but in a town like this one there was no bad part. It was only a small house in a block of others just like it but Shadow thought it was a very big house indeed, compared to his cottage at least.
Suddenly getting an evil idea, he rolled a snowball I his hoof before knocking on the door. The moment it opened he threw hard, the sound of snow splattering on a coat sounded from within.
“Ha-ha!” Shadow shouted gleefully “who’s quicker now…Light?” His voice trailed away as he realized he was not staring at Lightning, but rather, a tall red stallion. He gulped.
“Got you Shadow!” Lightning’s voice came from behind the stallion “I knew you were going to try something like that. Thanks bro!”
The stallion smiled as Lightning squeezed into the doorway “Didn’t scare you too bad kid?” he asked ruffling Shadow’s mane “Name’s Saber Strike, nice to meet you. I’m my sister’s legal guardian.”
“Yes, but you’re still my brother,” said Lightning, reaching up to poke him in the still snow covered chest “which means you can’t tell me what to do!”
“That’s right,” said Saber with a laugh “you two have fun okay? And Lightning, try not to give Shadow’s parents too much grief.”
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem…” Shadow mumbled awkwardly.
“Then you have more faith in her than I do,” said Saber “just keep safe alright?”
“Oh I’ll try,” said Lightning, grabbing for her saddlebag “come on already Shadow, I can practically taste the cake!”
“Your brother is the one holding us up,” said Shadow, switching tactics to hover just enough to walk on the snow “I’ve just been waiting for you.”
“Yeah, whatever,” said Lightning, walking through the rut Shadow had dug to get there “blame the earth pony, typical pegasus.”
“I’m not trying to be mean,” Shadow muttered “you just like arguing don’t you?”
“I do not!” Lightning exclaimed.
“You do,” said Shadow
“Do not!”
“Do so!”
“I do not!”
“You most absolutely do!”
“Never!”
“Always!”
“Nyeh!”
“Well nyeh, back!”
They continued like this all the way to Sugarcube corner, Lightning tunneling through the snow behind Shadow. When they finally pushed the door open most logic was left long behind.
“Well I say Rainbow Dash is the most popular pony!” Shadow shouted.
“Well you’re wrong!” Lightning said angrily “because Pinkie Pie is the most popular!”
“Gosh!” said a bubbly voice behind the counter “am I really?” Pinkie Pie had just put a new batch of cupcakes into the display case and was smiling at Lightning.
“Yeah,” said Lightning “see Shadow, I’m right!” she stuck her tongue out at Shadow and sat down.
“Kiss up…” Shadow grumbled, sitting across from her.
“Well what can I get you two?” asked Pinkie, bouncing over “we’ve got cupcakes fresh out of the oven!”
“Ooh,” said Shadow, starting to drool “defiantly, vanilla please!”
“Chocolate!” Lightning added.
Pinkie laughed and bounced away to get the cupcakes, Lightning turned back to Shadow “Do I have to pay for this one? Since you lost the race?”
“I did not lose that race!” Shadow said indignantly “you got a head start!”
“Even Gio said I won!” Lightning pointed out “There’s no way you can argue that, I brought some bits anyway.”
“Well so did I!” Shadow exclaimed, voice rising now “I’m the one who planned this aren’t I?’
By the time Pinkie had returned with the cupcakes they were in full swing again “You two are so cute when you argue!” Pinkie said
“We are not cute!” both Lightning and Shadow shouted simultaneously, this was mostly off put by the fact their voices both cracked.
“Aw… is someone cranky-wanky today?” asked Pinkie “I don’t like to see cranky little foals, I think a song is in order!”
Now this turned some heads. Pinkie Pie’s singing was not a treat to miss, and just like that she burst into song
Sometimes you feel discouraged
Or just a bit depressed
Perhaps you’ve lost your courage
Maybe you’re in a mess
But arguing and fighting
They have never solved a thing
So stop your silly bickering
Come on you guys let’s sing!
And now, spontaneously as ever, a great few of Pinkie’s friends joined her in chorus.
Get along with your best friends
Even if you’re at wit’s end
Just turn that sad frown upside down
And then begin again!
Shadow couldn’t help but flush. Pinkie Pie burst out into random, seemingly rehearsed song for everyone, but this was a total first for him. And judging by the look on Lightning’s face it was the same for her.
“You see?” Pinkie said “its way more fun to get along and be friends than it is to fight and argue!”
Shadow could only nod, afraid this pink pony might burst out singing again. Lightning however, smiled broadly.
“Thanks Pinkie,” she said “sorry if we caused any fuss”
“That’s alright!” said Pinkie with a giggle “You guys are still cute when you argue, but it’s so much more fun to get along and be friends!”
Shadow was still looking around the rest of the shop where every pony had returned quite fluidly to what they were doing before the song. There was no way that had been totally spontaneous was there?
“Tell you what,” said Pinkie “you can have those cupcakes for free today! You can use the bits to buy something fun instead!”
“Yay!” Lightning shouted, digging into her cupcake.
“Thanks Pinkie,” said Shadow, trying to be a bit more reserved, but still pigging out a moment later.
They left Sugarcube Corner with faces full of frosting, laughing now, planning what they would do for the rest of the day and marveling Pinkie’s random abilities.
“It wasn’t her best song you know,” Said Lightning “my brother still has a recording of smile, smile, smile, that’s one of the best song’s I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh I don’t know,” said Shadow, licking a bit of frosting off his nose “remember with the Cutie Mark Crusaders did Babs Seed for the talent show?”
“With Rock Star on the guitar?” Lightning said excitedly “how could I forget? Oh gosh… I forgot!” And with that she started running back along the rut they had made to reach the store, it was already filling with snow again.
“What did you forget?’ asked Shadow curiously.
“My guitar,” said Lightning, grumbling “I can’t miss a practice day!”
“You never told me you played guitar!” Shadow exclaimed “why haven’t I ever heard you play?”
Lightning blushed a little “I’ve only played for a year” she said “I’m not really all that good.”
"Doesn’t matter,” said Shadow “it’s good you remembered, I want to hear it!”
“It’s only practice for now,” said Lightning “I’ve never actually played for anypony yet…”
“Well now’s your chance!” said Shadow happily “I can’t wait!”
“Yeah…sure” said Lightning uneasily as she stepped back up to her house. Saber was there almost before she knocked.
“Your guitar?” he asked, passing a small black case to her.
“How did you know?” asked Lightning sarcastically “don’t think this means I’m coming home so soon.”
“Then get outta here!”Said Saber laughing.
“I’m going!” said Lightning, sticking her tongue out and taking the guitar “Come on Shadow, can we get going already?”
“You’re the one holding us up again!” Shadow complained “I’m standing out here in the cold waiting for you!”
“Well stop waiting, we’re going!” said Lightning vehemently “Lead the way flyboy!”
“With pleasure!” said Shadow, still holding his wings out to walk on top of the snow, smirking as Lightning had to dig her way through.
It was only about a five minute walk from Lightning’s house to Shadow’s cottage even with the snow. Even so they were cold and miserable by the time they got there, Shadow holding the door open as Lightning pushed up and out of the drift piled up at the stoop.
“I love wintertime!” she said “The snow is just the greatest! What?” Shadow was looking at her like she was crazy.
The house itself had deteriorated with only an elementary school caretaker for a solid year. The floor was coated in a fine layer of dust, hoof prints showing the exact pathway Shadow would take to and from the door in the mornings and evenings. The bed, destroyed from overactive bouncing, was piled up by the fireplace. The bookcase, deemed useless, was toppled over and covered in a few tatty blankets.
“This is…interesting.” Lightning said, poking around the cabinets lined along the wall “you don’t really know how to take care of yourself do you?”
“Shut up,” said Shadow “I’ve kept the fridge and the water going this whole time haven’t I?”
“I was actually wondering about that,” said Lightning “there weren’t any power lines leading out here, how do you have electricity?”
“It’s because…” Shadow paused “I have no idea…”
Lightning merely shrugged, pulling out a box of Twinkies “Are these any good?” she asked curiously.
“Hardly a day old box,” said Shadow proudly “see? I do know how to take care of myself!”
“There’s only one left…” said Lightning.
“Yeah…” said Shadow “help yourself!”
“Nah,” said Lightning, “these things have enough sugar to fuel the town, let’s split it.”
“That totally works too!” said Shadow, perhaps a little too enthusiastically.
Lightning cut the Twinkie carefully in half “Do you have anything to drink?” she asked.
Shadow opened the fridge, revealing it to be totally full of soda bottles “what flavor do you want?”
“Um…” said Lightning, for the first time ever not knowing how to respond to a question.
“You look like a red pop person,” said Shadow, rolling over a bottle filled with red, bubbly liquid.
“Faygo?” asked Lightning reading the label “what is this?”
“Soda,” said Shadow, getting one for himself “I like the rock n rye best but red pop is good for first timers.”
“I’ve had soda!” said Lightning indignantly, opening the bottle and taking a short sniff “but… this smells like cough syrup…” she turned to Shadow, who seemed to be chugging his, then took a tentative sip.
“Good isn’t it?’ asked Shadow, surfacing from the bottle “I love it because there’s a lot of sugar in it.” He released a loud belch and covered his mouth.
“Well excuse you,” said Lightning, giggling, then releasing a hiccup herself. They both went into conniptions, laughing until their sides hurt.
Shadow suddenly grabbed one off the blankets off the “bed” and draped it over himself “Rawr!” he shouted “I am a terrible timber wolf! Aroo! Bow before me pitiful pony!”
“Oh no! Someone help me!” Light said with a giggle “Or rather, they should help you! For I am no mere pony!” she proceeded to open her guitar case “as one of the fantastic pony musicians, I will control you with my hypnotic sound!”
“No!” Shadow play-quailed “Not my only weakness! How did you know?”
“Your big ears gave it away mister timber wolf!” Lightning said with a smile “and now, I vanquish thee!”
She struck the strings of the guitar, and at once a sweet song poured out. It was a basic melody, but a beautiful one. Shadow indeed was almost hypnotized, just as she had said. The song, wordless and yet wonderful, seemed to carry memory of things far away. Images of snow, and a crystal kingdom appeared in the mind’s eye, capturing every detail even without a single explanation provided.
The music trailed into the evening, the sun setting slowly and a full moon rising behind. The song seemed to beckon the stars themselves to shine even brighter around the cottage. And indeed, one spectral entity whom was not a star.
A flash appeared from the lunar sphere as a dark shape descended slowly on ebony wings toward the cottage. The hooves that landed in the deepening snow held the tall pony high above the icy crystals.
“What is that tune…?” the pony questioned the empty night “Umbra’s violin? No… that sounds deeper. A guitar? Hm…”
The music drew to a close and the pony smiled “I suppose I’ve been noticed” they said “It’s finally time…”
Lightning couldn’t help but grin as Shadow shook off the sound’s enchantment “He must have really enjoyed it,” she thought, glowing with pride.
“Well…musician…” said Shadow, tumbling for some way to one up her “the powerful Manticore is immune to your haunting melody!” He reared up on his hind legs and made snorting noises.
“Oh but you silly manticore,” said Lightning “you are no match for the mother of all things dark,” she yanked another blanket off the bookshelf and tied it off as a cape “Nightmare Moon!”
Shadow took a moment to think if there was anything that could defeat Nightmare Moon. At a loss, he lowered down “No miss Nightmare, have mercy on this poor manticore!”
“Never!” Lightning cantered, rearing up herself now “as punishment for being a disobedient and rather rude monster, I am going to use my dark magic powers to turn you into a frog!”
Shadow gave an exaggerated gasp and jumped up onto the bookshelf, taking off his blanket so he could hide under it. “I’m doomed!” he shouted “Doomed I say! Doomed!”
Neither of them noticed the door open as the pony walking in, ducking through the doorframe. Her eyes looked around the dust and debris, heart jumping into her throat.
“Umbra?” she called, too quietly to really be heard. She thought for a moment that the house had been abandoned, until she heard a sound from the corner. She turned sharply, not daring to hope, and her eyes fell on the red earth filly, standing on her back hooves, turned away from her.
“Ha-ha!” said Lightning “There’s nowhere to run now you horrible Manticore! Prepare to meet your doom!”
Shadow’s head emerged from the blankets, smiling “I have one last trick up my sleeve…” his voice trailed away as his eyes ascended to a point above Lightning’s head “Nightmare…Moon…?”
“Yes you foal!” Lightning cackled, totally oblivious to the tall pony behind her “and now, I will gobble you up!”
“We do not have any pretext for gobbling innocent ponies!” came a tremendous voice from behind her “we would much appreciate it if thou would cease thy infernal ideals!”
Lightning froze, then turned slowly to face the pony behind her. Green eyes connected with a set of deep blue, then travelled up to the dark horn, then to the wide wings, and to the lunar styled robes.
“Nightmare Moon…” Lightning squeaked, backing up into Shadow, pressing them both against the wall “No… this can’t be happening…Shadow?”
Shadow had been stunned into silence the moment he had spotted the dark alicorn princess. It didn’t seem like he was going to come back to reality anytime soon. Luna leaned forward, eyes seeming to drill into the two foals.
“Dost thou find it amusing to go poking around the places thou dost not belong?” she scolded “canst thou return to thy mothers?”
“I d-don’t have a mother!” Lightning squeaked “I-I’m j-just here f-for Shadow’s p-party!”
“Shadow…?” Luna seemed to pause here, eyes locking on Shadow now. A flash of recognition crossed her face, followed by stark relief. “Shadow, it is you.”
“You’re after him?” Lightning exclaimed “there’s no way!” If you want to get to Shadow you have to go through me!”
“You do not understand child,” said Luna, smiling brightly “I mean you no harm, I’m here to…”
“Get back!” Lightning shouted, rearing up on her front hooves and kicking back hard.
Luna recoiled, the blow had done little damage but it had been strong, and it was very painful, “Shadow…” she said slowly “what’s wrong…?”
Lightning was standing protectively in front of him. He looked frightened to say the least as well as bewildered. Maybe, just maybe, a glimmer of recognition? But no… it was just a trick of the mind. Luna realized now that Shadow had no memory of her at all.
“Get out!” Lightning shouted “Go away! We don’t want you here monster!”
Luna was crushed to say the least, but she had one more question “Shadow…” she said “where is Umbra? Where is your father?”
Shadow didn’t have to answer, she saw the moment his face moved from abject terror to pure sorrow. She couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it, but the evidence was all around her. Umbra, whom she had waited all these years for, was gone.
“Will you leave already?” Lightning shouted, legs wobbly “or… I’ll hit you again!”
To Lightning’s terrified surprise, Luna’s head bowed. She turned around and walked quickly out, the door slamming shut behind her.
Lightning collapsed, dizzy from fear “We did it,” she said “we really beat Nightmare Moon!”
Shadow was staring at the closed door, still shocked out of speech. A million thoughts were racing through his mind. For starters, what was the princess of the night doing in such a small town as Ponyville? Let alone his little cottage? It seemed totally preposterous. He glanced over to where Lightning had hauled herself up into a wobbly victory dance. She hadn’t really done anything to defeat her… so why had she left?
“You don’t think maybe she didn’t want to eat us?” Shadow asked, after he found his voice again.
“Well of course she was trying to eat us,” said Lightning matter-of-factly “Nightmare Moon gobbles up little ponies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”
“But Nightmare Moon was banished from Luna decades ago…” Shadow pondered “so that had to have been…”
Lightning gasped “Princess Luna?” she exclaimed “no way! Not a chance! Why would she be here?”
“I don’t know that,” said Shadow grimly “but you kicked her!”
“Oh…” said Lightning, starting to sound scared again “do you think the royal guards will come after me now? Will they banish me to the moon?”
“I don’t know…” said Shadow, the childish fear creeping into his mind again ‘I don’t know what to do…”
“Oh no…” Lightning fell again “I can’t believe it, I’m so stupid!”
Shadow, maintaining a sort of composure, rolled off the bed and landed on his hooves. He trotted, wobbly, over to the row of cabinets and grabbed his schoolbag, rummaging a bit.
“What are you looking for?” Lightning asked weakly.
“Travelling stuff,” said Shadow “do you know how to make trail mix?”
“No,” said Lightning “why are you getting travelling stuff?”
Shadow pulled the bag over his back and sighed “Well you know,” he said “In school they tell you to always say sorry when you do something wrong… I’m going to go say sorry to Luna…”
Lightning gasped “In Canterlot?” she exclaimed “no way! You don’t think you can fly all the way there?”
“I’m not flying doofus,” said Shadow “I’ll figure something out…”
There was a thump of hooves as Lightning jumped off the bed and walked over “Well not without me you aren’t!”
“But…”said Shadow “won’t your brother be worried?”
“Oh he’ll get over it!” said Lightning, rolling her eyes “so have you got everything? The sooner we go the less likely it is the guards will arrest me!”
Shadow laughed and threw open the door “Look out Canterlot!” he shouted into the night wind “Shadow Chaser is coming to town!”
“Hey,” said Lightning, pointing to the left of the house “what is that?”
There was something glowing a deep blue in the snow a little ways off, clearly visible in the dark. Shadow walked over and lifted it up out of the drift.
“It’s some sort of necklace…” he said, holding it up. It was the sphere on the end that was glowing blue, the only thing on the small silver chain. “What do you think this is?”
“I dunno,” said Lightning in wonder “can I try it on?”
Shadow had started to drape it over his own head for a moment, eyes flashing from their usual red to a deep blue “Oh, sure,” he said, removing it and handing it over.
Lightning brought it over her head, eyes shifting color, but it was imperceptible in the dark “Huh,” she said “I don’t know what it is, but it’s pretty!”
Shadow rolled his eyes “Fillies…” he muttered, starting to walk across the snow.
“What?” Lightning shouted, pushing after him “I say it takes a real mare to understand beauty! Nothing a dumb colt could understand!”
“If all it is, is pretty,” said Shadow looking down at her “It’s pretty much totally useless!”
Lightning proceeded to grab Shadow’s tail in her mouth and drag him into the snow. They started fighting in the powdery crystals.
“Dang it!” Shadow shouted “at this rate we’ll never get to Canterlot!”