//------------------------------// // The Quiet Days // Story: The Shadow Lands // by kento124 //------------------------------// “I have no idea who this teacher is but it seems that she loves him a lot. How can one just leave a filly like her, it just seems so wrong” twilight stated looking back to the tucked filly that lay on the coach. She cried for what felt like hours as AJ tried to calm her down. “I have no idea who this Teacher of her's is but it seems to have abandon. How can anypony just leave a filly like her, it just so wrong.” Twilight stated looking back to the tucked filly that lay on the coach. She cried for what felt like hours as Applejack tried to calm her down. “There has to be a reason why, right?” Applejack asked looking down over lunar with a sad eyes. She turned to twilight, looking for an answer. “There could be but only one could guess why. Maybe the mare that was with her may know.” Twilight suggested as the young filly moaned a bit. “Ah'll be right back, just going to put her back to bed. Can't go waking the poor thing,” she whispered to Twilight in which she nodded. Applejack gently pick her up with her hooves and placed lunar on her back. She headed to the stairs being careful not to wake her. Twilight watched she ascended of the stairs, when she remembered Apple Bloom and Star was still here. She nearly forgot what today was, “Star, Apple Bloom, if we don’t hurry you’ll be late for school. Big mac, sorry to ask this but can you walk them to school? There still some questions I like to ask AJ.” Both Apple Bloom and Star eyes wander to the stairs, with looks of curiosity. “Now don't give her that look. You can talk to her after school. She’s not going anywhere. Now come.” Macintosh said standing right behind both of them. “Okay Big Mac,” Apple bloom sigh, heading to grab her saddlebag. “Alright Star, have a safe walk to school. I'll be here helping AJ to figure out who the filly is so come straight here after school, okay?” Twilight told her, giving a small smile to re-insure her. “Okay, I will.” Star stated with her happy demeanor fading. “Star,” she sated when seeing Apple Bloom putting on her saddlebag. “Don’t worry, I will be there to pick you up.” She informed the filly, seeing a smile spreading across her face again. She watched as both fillies left through the front door with Big Mac, heading down the small path towards ponyville. I just can't win against that frown. “Where did Apple Bloom and Star head off to?” She heard Applejack asked in confusion, turning to see the mare walking down the stairs. “Well, when I realized that they were about to be late for school, so I sent them off with Macintosh,” she responded, “They just left five minutes ago.” “Thanks Twi, ah forgot about that...” she started just as she remembered something. “Ah just remember, she had this large book with her that night. Maybe there’s something in there that could tell us something.” She stated. She quickly made her way to the small closet under that sat under the staircase. Twilight looked on, seeing here pull out a large hard cover book. Its black spine and no indication of a title, gave it an ominous feel to it. “Ah couldn't make heads or tails of it.” She instantly began to study the book as it was placed in front of her. She notices something off as Applejack sat nearby. There seemed to be a strange sensation emanating from the book. As her hoof reach for the cover it stopped, which startled her. When she removed her hoof, the sensation continued. She thought that was odd, for she had no idea what it meant. She quickly gulped, when she lowered her horn, planning to use magic to open the book. It was engulfed in the levitating spell, the cover flung open. “What the? How is that.....” XxX She stood out upon the world in the view of the sun, just as is rose. The beautiful sphere of crimson flames circling above, casting light over the land, stating her time was at its end. Its glowed, waking all within its realm, she bid them farewell as she return home. By the time she arrived, she was cast into another world. The air over the garden was clear of all but the morning dew of a new day. She landed amongst the flowers of the garden. As she crouched, having her hooves fold under her. She lay with her ears perked to the melody of the last bits of peace before the bustling day began. It sang through the air as well the mind; the feeling of peace was comforting. For the days would always be hectic and painfully the morning. The time of her jobs ends, comes a moment of bliss that en-raped her just to give way to misery. By the time the wind died as she stood, the sound of hoof steps rang forth a darken armor as he galloped toward her. “Your highness, I have grave news,” the guard stated as he tried to catch his breath upon arrival. “A strange stone of origins unknown was brought to the castle by one of the magical researchers last night. They requested your assistance as it’s seemed to be going out of control.” He finished bow. The sound of what he said confused her as she raised an eye brow. “A rock was out of control?” “And do tell, what is so important about this is out of control rock?” Her tone seeming to be sarcastic. The guard looked back to meet her gaze, with pleading eyes. “It... attacked... It tried to attack the fellow guards and some of the researchers, mam.” His sounded shaky as what seemed to be fear gripped him. She saw truth in his eyes and fear, not of her but of something else, which caused her to wonder? “Show me the way to suck a thing.” She commanded in a solid tone as the guard nodded. ….. They came upon a set of wooden doors engraved with a particular flower, a rose blown. With most of the halls and door looking the same, they ended up using symbols to state what the room was. Standing just in front of the door she notices the guard shivering in fear of what’s behind the door. The thought of what was inside curled her with anxiety as she opened the door. As she looked into the room, noticing it was study as the sight of three unicorns and a couple of the royal night guards scrambling about. They were scrambling trying to contain something that was thrashing them about as they tried to contain it. “Explain what...” As she spoke, an explosion sent one guard flying into a bookcase near the door. Turning back to the mass of ponies, seeing one unicorn scream in pain with something like water striking him. She was stunned; a black pasty thing was griping the unicorns' neck and horn, as other researchers try to remove the thing. “Princes Luna, please help. We have no idea what this thing is,” one the guards pleaded for help. At the time her name was said, the creature lunged from its victim straight toward her. She failed to dodge its strike as it latched itself onto her wing and for leg. She could feel it piercing the bone of her wing. Strangle she felt no pain as the rest of the room laid shambles and disarray. The sound of the others screaming as they tried to help as they rushed toward her. She turn to her wing seeing a black tar lie substance engulfing her wing. It felt strange; her body didn’t respond as if all the strength was drain from her. It felt like something slipping into her wing, into her body, inside her mind. A small voice slowly called forth from her minds deepest reaches. Help… help… help me, Its whispered, with emotion that were not hers crept into her body. The emotion of loss and fear surged into her mind, the heart breaking pain of emotions that it nearly overwhelmed her. “I will... I will help... please allow me to help you,” was all she could managed to say, trying to shack the cloudiness in her mind. At that moment she replied, she could feel it slipping out as it formed a puddle right in form of her. With her body heavy with exhaustion, she looked up to see all the researchers and guards whimpering; cowering back in fear. As she tried to recover her strength, the black mass extended a part of itself to her. It look to be trying to do something, she mustered the strength needed for her hoof to meet it. When her hoof made contact, a simple thought past into her mind. Are you lying? The words filled her mind, as it receded from her. It was talking to her telepathically, by touch of their body's. It could speak into anyponies mind by touch. The pain and sadness it felt was great, so great it nearly broke her heart. “No, we would not lie to you for we know the same pain. Please, let me help you. Do you have a name or a form?” She asked regaining control over her emotion as she reached out with her hoof again. Tears slowly fell as she began process its pain, its never-ending fear and its bottomless pool of misery. With the rest of the room still controlled by their fear, the black mass reached out again, touching her hoof. As it made contact, she could it piercing her hoof causing her wince in pain. The substance retreated as it began to form into sphere like object. Luna, as well the others in the room watched as it twist and pulled as it took shape. It slowly grew into was resembled a pony but something was off. Its coat and mane were both black as it flowed like fire. Its eye, narrow elongated like a cats, which seem to shine like crimson. “Shade, I think it’s Shade. Do you know who shade is?” It asked Luna with its piercing eyes and raspy voice. She could feel the pain in its voice, it felt like the same sadness of her own mistakes. The thousands of years of loneliness, that plagues her even to this day. “No, we know none by the name shade but we will find out. To that I swear to you.” She stated as she begun to stand once more. With a glanced, she looked about at the lab that laid in shambles. She noticed that her brave guards were starting to gain back they’re courage. “I, Princess Luna declare that this pony is not to be harmed. We will do all in our power to help... him” She hesitated for a sec, not knowing what to call him. She felt his pain, the same loneliness that she felt. Luna just couldn’t leave him be. He needed help and she was going to do it. She notices that every pony was bowing to comply with her command, Shade just cock his head at the site. “Alright,” She stated, looking down to the guard that lead her here, “You go inform my sister of the events that happened and my orders as well.” She could feel the exhaustion creeping over her. “You other two,” She quickly pointed to the two other guards standing in the room, “Go prepare a room for our new guest and mine as well. It’s been a tiring experience.” She finished as the three guard rushed off to their tasks. All that left in the room now was Luna, the researchers, and the strange pony named Shade. The researchers looked about in confusion, wondering about what to do. She asked them to leave just the two alone, some protest but quickly left. As the door finally closed, she turned to face shade once more as his eyes bared on her. There eyes' meet which reflect solitude back at her As they stood still for a few minutes before he finally spoke. “Who are you? Who were they? Why did they go?” He asked as his face slightly showed emotions of his voice. She could see a small sense of fear from him as those questions were asked. “We are Princess Luna; they were trying to figure out who you were as you scared them. I've sent them to ready you a room in which you could rest. Don't worry; by my word they will not harm you. For them, my word is law.” She said, trying to comfort him that it seems to do. His tense body loosens up for him to slump down. He raised his head saying, “The word thank you is needed. I don't know much. All of this is weird and strange. So thank you.” He finished as he slowly slid to the floor; closing his eyes. She was slightly worried but it quickly faded when she realized he had just passed out. It was strange that this pony was thanking her for her help. Ever since she came back, she was rarely thanked for anything she did. Every pony still felt scared around her and never talked when she was around. The sense of abandonment from her subjects was hard, with only her sisters love to hold on with. And here's a pony that just saw how much the guards obeyed her and how much power her voice alone had. Yet he felt safe, and thanked her for helping him. She looked down to him sleeping with as a small grin formed, “You are a strange one” XxX As the days passed by, she watches him sleep. Never to wake from his slumber. She visits him in the room she prepared for him. She didn’t know what he like or what he hated as she brought some scented candle to liven up the basic room. It wasn't big with a simple bed and a small nightstand, which she placed the candle on. As she lit the candle, she notices the fading light from the window on the far wall. The sun was falling near the horizon and she knew her duty was coming. As she left the room only looked back in hope he wakes, wondering when it will be. When she shut the door, her mind swept to her duties and her sister. While she made her way down the grand hallway, the thoughts of their conversation played in her mind. The conversation they had over Shade. “Sister! How can think as such.” Luna yelled at her sisters choice. “How can we treat him as such? He has done no wrong, nor hurt any pony. Why do you insist on treating him as a criminal?” Her sister face showed no change as the words left her mouth. “By the reports, he attack the loacl guards and the unicorn researchers, causing them some injures, such as broken bones an extreme exhaustion.” her words struck her hard., “I cannot detest that but they had no knowledge of his means of communication. I felt his pain, he was reaching out and they struck back in fear, which cause him to fight back.” She tried to protest back leaving her words to linger as she stared down her sister. Celestia’s eyes tightened with the look of displeasure on her face. “So it seemed so but he also caused you to collapse after wards as well with, the injured your wing to. It hurt my only family and you want me to treat it like a hurt puppy?” She stated coldly without even a second thought. Luna shifted at her words. She knew that she just wanted her safe but this still feels wrong. “Why do you defend such a thing, something so dangers?” Her words struck deep in her mind as her long laid thoughts became known. “Why... the reason is because I know his pain. The solitude, the fear, the sadness the fester through his entire being. I felt it, I understand it, I know how it feels to hold all that up in side. Still you being you wouldn't know how that would feel or how that would change you. So whith your untainted mind, you have no understanding in this.” She saw the effect of her word on celesta's face as it changed from cold to sad. “Luna, I...” she was cut off as Luna yelled. “No, you have been kind but I will not have you pretend to know my heart. Sister he is under my protection and he will not be treated as some common criminal!” As she finished the statement, she turned and storm out before her sister could mount a reply. She hasn't seen or talked to her since that day, feeling a bit of regret to the words she said. As she came upon a balcony, wondering what Celestia was doing. She hasn't seen or talked to her in the last four days. It pained her seeing sisters face like that, wishing that she didn't have to cause her such pain. But she couldn't leave him to such a fate, nor could she stand her calling him an 'it'. As she set herself up to raise the moon, her mind was jumbled. What could she do? She felt as if she created an even more grief that now enclosed her. She cleared her mind deciding to focus on it later, because now she had to do her only job; To raise the moon. xXx As the new morning sun washed over the windows, nurse red heart was making her rounds. She was checking up on the few ponies that were injured, to see if any were in discomfort. When she past room 215, a small amount of groaning could be heard. She decided to check on the occupant inside, wondering if there is anything she could do to help. As she opened the door, revealing a gray pegasus turning about in the room's bed. Making her way to the bed's check board, just remembering that she’s was that pony that Miss Applejack asked about. She looked up to notice that she was awake and sitting up. “Um, where am I?”