The train chugged into the station at eight that night, Celestia's sun was just nearing the horizon to set; a whistle blew as the train pulled into station and stopped completely, this was the last stop of the night for the well traveled train. Ponies got out of their seats and with a slow pace of passengers without rush, exited the train.
"Mmm... what?" in particular one tan colored Pegasus with a blond and yellow mane with a brown streak down the middle was sleeping on his guitar case. The train's whistle had alerted him that his stop had arrived, the musician shook himself awake and threw his case loosely onto his back and walked out into the train station. Families and significant others embraced the tired passengers from the trip. Soul Song searched the platform for the sight of his friend, Shade Burst, Shade was one to keep his word and that he had said that he would be there to meet him. So by that logic, Shade Burst would be present, Right?
"Did he get stopped on the way here? did he get hurt? or was he running late? or... or did he forget?" walked a few steps before a voice directly behind him started talking.
“Or was he following you the whole time?”
“AH!” Soul Song jumped into the air and was hugging the bottom of a cloud while Shade stood on the ground below him, next to the guitar case that had been dropped in fright. Shade's long coat blowing around him as his wings held it down as the trickster Pegasus smirked up at his friend. “How did you do that!?”
“With a lot of practice” Shade replied stoically. Soul decided to drop the subject and find a new one.
“You’re wearing my scarf!” Soul Song flew down and hugged Shade, who paused for a moment before returning the gesture.
“Good post-noon to you too” Shade smirked and took Soul's guitar case off the ground and tossed it into the air, flying up to grab and carry it by its strap. Shade twitched mid hover as pain shot through his right wing. "wow that still hurts..." Shade quickly ignored the pain because of Soul, for he was worried too easily for Shade's liking. “We should be off” Shade called down as Soul flew up beside him.
"Wanna race there?" Soul asked with a challenging smirk. Shade just sighed and shook his head. "What?"
"Of all the things to ask me" "Who is holding a guitar case?" Shade motioned to the guitar below him with a hind leg. "I like for things to be fair, and unneeded weight would only serve to hinder me in a race. So, your answer is no" the midnight blue pegasus had enough racing for one day.
"Oh, whoops, sorry about that, let's just get going." Soul began flying towards Shade's cloud home with good speed, hoping to outpace Shade. Shade flew next to his friend and smiled at him, serving to annoy Soul Song further.
"I still can fly better." Shade broke his serious demeanor for sticking his tongue out at Soul Song, who tried not to laugh.
"Shut up" Soul shot back, not stopping himself from smiling. The two pegusai flew in a happy and welcome silence, giving both pegusai time to think.
Shade opted himself to forgo the conversation he had sent over the phone and restart the conversation, as well as forget about the phones in it's entirety. Only ponies in Manehatten, Las Pegasus, Applewood, Baltimare, and Fillydeplhia had mobile phones, and Shade did not want any more problems from the manager that was the root of Soul's problem, and the sole point of contact Soul Song had with his manager was through his phone. no phone? no problem.
Meanwhile Soul Song was happy to be finally free of the choking air of his manager's control, she was an amazing manager and was the pony to discover him in the first place and had been the reason for his success and that he had met Shade Burst, these where things that Soul felt grateful to M for, but she also had her mind in the wrong place, she was focused on the profit, not the ponies. This landed Soul Song in a balanced positioning between great positives and horrid negatives. Soul whipped the memory from his mind and instead tried to focus on relaxing and spending time with Fluttershy and Shade Burst.
Shade landed and walked into his familiar house, setting the case against the wall and taking his long coat off and setting it on the hanger, leaving the scarf on because of how comfortable it was. Soul went over and sat on the couch and sighed in great relief to be free from the tension and stress, and to be in the sanctuary that Shade's home presented. Shade trotted over to Soul and held out his hoof. "Phone"
"Oh! here!" Shade grabbed the cell and flew back to his room and walked over to a walk in closet he didn't need. "Soul was so insistent on having a big closet, at least it became a little useful in the end..." Shade mused as he trotted over to a safe on his right and opened it with a quick combination and swung it open, the safe was empty. Shade removed the batteries from the phones and setting the batteries in first, setting the phones afterwards. Shade shut the safe and locked it with a spin of the tumbler, resetting the spin combination.
"I guess I should just... check... Glass would get mad at me if I just ignored it" Shade thought out loud as he shut the door of his closet and trotted over to the back and flipped the light on, he tapped a hidden switch and the back wall flipped around. and his armor appeared.
Night guard armor. He was no bat pony, but he was part of the force none the less. His armor was near standard issue, but the colors where different and the design was slightly off.
His armor was all pitch black as the base color and dark grey secondary instead of shades of purple, the "eye" on the center of the armor was grey instead of blue, the plated armor extended to his neck and stopped compared to having a cloth drape over, his helmet was standard like, but the top spike was gone, leaving it flat, the sides of the eye slits extended a little farther past the eye slit and ended in a flat end, he also had a black cloth undercoat with a black chain mail coat to go over the cloth and under the armor. He only had hoof covers for his hind legs and retractible gauntlets for his front legs, easier to hold a sword that way, the armor was still in good condition. But Shade knew he needed to take it out and shine and repair it later, best when Soul was off doing something rather than chance him seeing the armor. Shade leaned over and grabbed a small pocket watch that was hanging off the armor. He had received the watch a long time ago, it was black and had the symbol of the crescent moon on it, it was old and had older numbers on the face, but Shade had learned them well enough to tell time on it. Shade put the watch in a crook in his scarf as he tripped the switch and the armor disappeared out of view.
"Better get back to Soul before he suspects something, sorry Glass, I know you would disapprove" Shade imagined his friends thorough scolding Glass would give him if he found out about Shade's armor upkeep. Shade smiled as he glided down to his friend and temporary flatmate for the next two weeks. Soul had grabbed a book on music theory and was reading it, as Shade descended Soul bookmarked the page and put it back in the correct shelf.
"Found the right hiding spot?" Soul asked with a laugh as he sat down again.
"yes, I got a better hiding spot." Shade laughed a little as well, neither pony wanted to deal with the phones and the stress that came along with it.“So…. How is work?”
“Good! I've been doing a ton of concerts, but M isn't being... considerate of my feelings. She is trying to push me and Vinyl Scratch together as a couple. Though I like Fluttershy...” Soul repeated his earlier text, Shade nodded as he thought to himself formulating a good reply to the statement Soul had made.
“Obviously” Shade commented. “You are constantly sending letters to her. Most of the time the reason you stop at my house it is because Fluttershy is in the proximity”
“Proxy-wha?” Soul asked.
“Proximity. It means to be close too” Shade rolled his right fore hoof and rolled his eyes as a sign of impatience and annoyance. "Just expand your vocabulary a little"
“Oh! Well then…. Your right” Soul agreed, slightly embarrassed by his friends blunt assessment of his vocabulary. Soul took a breath to calm himself and clear his mind, something Shade had taught him during the time they had spend together. “Fluttershy has been on my mind for a long time now. I can't go through a day without thinking of her. It's hard to concentrate” the guitar-playing Pegasus commented. Shade sat on the couch and leaned back, trying to relax his wings from the extensive usage over the day. Shade sat up as he remembered that he had some work to get done. Shade spread his wings and flew up to the bookshelves that lined the wall of his house and got his book on fighting styles that he had been studying for the past month or so. He flipped open to a page that was bookmarked and resumed reading at the spot as he sat down on the couch, relaxing his wings once again. Shade motioned for Soul to continue talking while he studied. This was a habit Shade had developed an affinity for, double tasking. “I’ve had times where I’ve nearly crashed into someone while I was thinking of her” Soul admitted, Shade’s ears popped up and he slapped his book shut, then he flipped the book back open
“My page!” Shade exclaimed, he sighed as he found his page again and resumed reading.
“What was that for?”
“I got a revelation on the royal guard's fighting principle, it seems like a heavy insight into the reasoning of spears being used with unicorns” Shade replied, moving his head forward to look deeper at the words. But Soul Song was skeptical of his bodyguard.
“Sure, it's rarely that simple with you” Soul Song floated over to Shade and looked at him critically. As Shade sighed and flew up again. Putting the bookmark back to mark his page before slapping it shut and putting the book back on its shelf. Soul saw Shade’s movement was erratic, like he had discovered something and he was unable to focus on something. “You’re hiding something!”
“And you would think that why?” Shade asked as he flew and grabbed the newest Daring Doo book and look at it, he had barely read the series, and he already had a replacement book as he got it as a present from Soul and had bought it before, but he never told Soul. Shade flew down and sent it in the middle of the large round table and sat in a couch as he looked at it, analyzing the book. Soul looked over from his spot on the couch and watched as his friend looked at the book. “Hmmm…” Shade then got up and paced, Soul watched the midnight blue Pegasus pace around the couch in an arc. Soul was used to the mediative pacing the midnight blue pegasus did when he was thinking to himself, nothing could really get the pegasus out of his stupor once it began. But Soul at least had to try to break him out of it.
“What?” Soul asked, but it had no effect. Shade continued pacing, and then he froze, his eyes wide with realization. Shade fell and landed flat on his butt as his pupils shrank in surprise. Soul watched Shade with his face full of concern for his dark furred friend, waiting to see how long the pegasus would remain immobile. “Shade…” Soul called, Shade stopped his realization and looked at him, his eyes clouded in deep thought. It was some movement, and it would be accepted with a grateful heart. “What is wrong?”
“Do not say a word” Shade commanded as he got up and paced for a while longer before talking once more, he stopped next to Soul and looked down at him. “I think that I have… found it.” Shade admitted as he sat down next to Soul. Soul’s eyes went wide and he looked at the midnight blue Pegasus. Soul Song thought that Shade would be ecstatic to find the one thing he had been searching after for Celestia knows how long. But Shade seemed worse than before he had made the relaxation.
“You have?” Soul asked, Shade nodded solemnly, then got up and paced again.
“I think I have, but I do not believe that I can just get it whenever I want. But I need too get it soon... I do no want to use somepony... but I need this... ” Shade talked to himself in fragmented sentences and Soul just listened as Shade rambled. Shade clenched his hoof and his fragmented sentences continued, Soul started to become worried for the safety of his friend.
"he hasn't been this bad for a long time..." Finally Shade's colorless grey eyes looked at his hoof and he shook his head and cleared it. Shade’s face went back to its normal smirk, the mask had came back up over the stallion.
“Enough with my problems, you have to see Fluttershy” Shade commented. His smirk growing and leaving Soul in the dark, who clenched his teeth in annoyance and anger as Shade stood up and trotted over to the kitchen.
“You can trust me you know” Soul Song mumbled quietly, hoping that the message would get to Shade burst. A package landed in his lap and Shade stood there, above him.
"I can trust you, but these secrets are too dangerous, I do not want to hurt you" Shade
“You have to give her the blanket you gave me. Or will I have to shove you out the door again? You know how she is when I am present.” Shade threw over his shoulder and grabbed two apples out of the basket. Shade tried spinning the apple on the tips of his right wing but the shot of pain made Shade twitch and drop the apple. Shade's hoof shot out and grabbed the apple and set it on the counter. "hey Soul, think quick!" Shade tossed the apple to Soul who silently caught it and started munching away. Shade trotted over to sit next to Soul Song as he munched on his apple, ignoring the look he knew Soul was giving him.
"Why do you have to shut everypony out from your problems? can't you just tell me a litlle bit more about you so I can help!" Soul raged at Shade in his mind as he looked away from Shade with a sigh.
"I am sorry Soul, I am so sorry, but I cannot see you hurt." Shade pushed the regret from his mind and opened his mouth.
“So… are you going to do it?” Shade gave Soul a sideways look as he chewed on his apple slowly, relishing the taste of the Apple family's apples. Soul was chomping on his apple to vent his anger, making some pretty loud crunching noises. Shade choose to ignore this for sake of possible causing an argument he did not want to instigate with his friend.
“Go see Fluttershy? Not yet” Soul made the excuse and Shade just shook his head and sighed.
“You are gravitated to her presence, if she’s within eye sight you move towards her” Shade rolled his eyes as Soul flew up and glared at him face to face. Shade smirked as he drew a parallel between this stallion and Rainbow Dash, both where easy to be annoyed, and outwitted.
“No I’m not!” Soul argued back.
“So instead you are repelled by her and run away?” Shade asked tilting his head to the side, Soul visibly deflated as he sunk back into the couch, getting out of Shade's face.
“…No…. no I don’t run from her…”
“Then run to her.” Shade smiled as he set a comforting hoof on his easily annoyed friend and looked at the clock in the room out of habit. The clock read nine o’clock. “On another note: I have sleep” Shade commented and walked up the stairs and up to his room, Soul grabbed his case and followed him, going to the top floor Shade went into his room, but not before he looked back to Soul and smirked. “Goodnight Soul, I will see you tomorrow”
“Night Shade!” Soul called as he went in the room across, shutting the door behind him, it was filled with his own stuff and the music pony went straight to his bed and went in, Shade watched his friend go into his room and waited until he heard the sounds of a plumb tuckered out colt snoring away, then and only then Shade entered the portal into his own, laying on the bed and waiting for the grips of sleep to tighten and hold him in its embrace.
Clinging to life as the voices swirl.
Wanting to sleep...
Afraid of the nightmare that was sleep
Afraid of the hell that was waking.
Cannot move, Cannot see. Cannot hide, Cannot run, Cannot escape the torture.
That is his punishment.
“Why do I deserve this!”
“Because you are not worthy of death, too merciful for your kind. So you shall get a living death"
Soul opened the door and looked out the window of Shade Burst's room, the sun had just came up above the horizon, the pegasus that was the owner of the room was sitting up, an empty look on his dark face and colorless eyes.
Shade was staring blankly at the opposite wall. Soul watched him from the doorway in absolute worry. waiting for movement to occur naturally in the dark colored pegasus, but giving him space. The two stayed like this for several minutes, a broken, sharp and painful silence like shattered glass descended upon the two.
“Are they back?” Soul broke the silence with a question, fearing the worst. he got worse than he had even thought.
“They never left” Shade got up and trotted wordlessly past Soul and into his bathroom, cutting off further conversation that Soul could possibly attempt with the amount of worry the Stallion had just induced into his friend.
Soul went into his own room's bathroom, they both got ready for the day, Shade glided off the steps and into the house and glided in slow circles in the top of the high ceilinged room as Soul trotted down the steps and was about to get breakfast ready,
Soul Song got two bowls, one orange for himself and a yellow one to cheer Shade up by starti ngsome weird argument the two would have and they would both be smiling at the end. Soul grabbed two spoons and milk and opened the pantry, and finding his own favorite cereal and the usual healthy stuff Shade ate, he grabbed both of them and set them next to each other. Shade silently glided down and took a bowl. the orange one. “Hey, I wanted the orange one” Soul said “I got you the yellow one, and I always eat from the orange bowl.”
“Wait, I thought this was- wait” Shade flew back to his long coat and checked something quickly. Shade realized his mistake “Oh. OH.” Shade flew back to Soul song and pushed Soul's orange bowl back to him and grabbed the yellow bowl and healthy cereal and poured it into the bowl with a frown. “Sorry” Shade poured the milk and began eating as he internally beat himself up over the stupid mistake.
“It’s fine, you're good” Soul slapped his friend on the back with his hoof as Shade was just swallowing a spoonful of cereal, Shade twitched forward and glared at Soul Song.
“You nearly made me choke” Shade's comment made Soul smile a huge smile to annoy Shade. The trickster decided to stoop to his friends level and punched the tan colored pegasus in the shoulder.
“Hey!” the musician glared at his bodyguard who smirked. “That hurts!” Soul reasoned, but the sting was already fading quickly. Shade's eyebrows shot up incredulously at how wimpy the pegasus was acting. “okay, not anymore, but for a second, okay?”
“Fine, now I have to exercise, all right?” Shade went out the door and squinted as the sunlight poured into his house “that is bright. It is not time for anypony to be up right now, so wait a minute before going to go see Fluttershy. Try composing some music or you can read from my library, as-”
“As long as it goes back exactly where it was before.” Soul completed. “I got it, you’ve only said it a thousand times” Soul stood up and tapped his bodyguard shoulder as he rolled his eyes at Soul.
“Have fun exercising!” Soul called as he walked up to the sound room and as Shade put on his long coat and put his watch into the breast pocket with a smile as he exited outside.
“Another day for exercise” Shade Burst thought to himself. Shade searched around to make sure his paranoia had been satisfied. He stretched his wings with the pitch black streak and boosted up high and into the air, leaving the pitch black circle behind him, after his race with Rainbow Dash, Shade allowed himself a small break. He just glided through the clouds for a simple exercise and stretching wanting to let his mostly healed right wing recover.
“Hah! Hah!” a feminine voice yelled. Shade immediately gathered his pitch black energy in his wings and boosted to a cloud, hid inside of it, and looked to where the sound was coming from. A Pegasus with a rainbow mane was clearing the clouds. Shade climbed out from inside the cloud and sat down as he watched as Rainbow Dash quickly destroyed the clouds and cleared half the sky. She then took a deep breath and landed on a cloud, Rainbow let her head sit on the cloud and sighed, out of a return to the one job she liked, cloud busting. Shade looked around to see that nopony was looking and Rainbow Dash was resting happily on her cloud....
Shade decided to try something.
Shade jumped and boosted down through the cloud and destroyed it. In the midst of the cloud breaking apart Shade boosted again, going through another cloud. This continued as Shade Burst rapidly went from cloud to cloud as Rainbow Dash sat up watching as the clouds rapidly disappeared by themselves.
“Whoa! Cool!” then a large cloud group was the only group left, Shade put more pitch black energy into his wings and burst through the entire group at once. “That was AWESOME!” Rainbow Dash cheered as her voice cracked at the end. Shade had an unfamiliar feeing rise inside himself that he quickly pushed aside for the need to focus on flying. Shade then boosted underneath the cloud Rainbow was previously sitting on and hid underneath it. Putting his hooves into the clouds at the four corners and pushing himself up against the cloud. “That was so cool!” Shade felt the rainbow Pegasus sit down on the cloud above him and bounce a little. “But who would do that?” Rainbow tapped her hoof against her chin. “Thunderlane? No, not fast enough, Cloud Kicker? Flitter? No, they wouldn't do that… would Twilight of broke the clouds with magic? no... if they wouldn't... who would then?”
Rainbow stood up and impatiently stamped her hoof. Hitting the hoof that Shade was using to hold himself under the cloud, Shade brought his hoof back up and repositioned it under the cloud.
"What was that for!" Shade yelled in his head at Rainbow Dash with a glare. "that was eather dumb luck or really good accuracy..."
“I better get home to get ready for Shade, he's gonna get me some lunch! And I got a present for him!” Rainbow Dash giggled mischievously at the thought as she grabbed the cloud and flew back to her house.
Shade let go of the cloud and dived above the tree level of sweet apple acres, staying in the shadow of Rainbow's cloud. Shade tailed Rainbow back to her house and stopped.
"Alright, choose what you want, Rainbow Dash, a castle or a mansion?" Shade took in the cloud home that was 20% larger than everypony else's. Shade watched as the fluid trailing off the corners where the same as the light blue Pegasus’s mane. "wait, she has a liquid rainbow generator? those things are super rare... not to mention expensive... Shade's thought was shoved away as he head Rainbow laughing. Shade watched as she pushed the cloud underneath the rainbow waterfall as the cyan Pegasus smiled widely as the cloud turned a rainbow color as it filled to the brim with rainbow fluid. "that is new. I never knew liquid rainbow could be absorbed into a cloud" Rainbow Dash then flew inside, grabbed rope and tied it around the center. Shade flew back to his own house, now knowing of the prank. But not its execution so he can still test his reflexes in a ambush situation. Shade reached his own house and went in through the door with a sigh.
Luckily finding not a Soul Song present, then seeing that the package for Fluttershy from Soul Song was not there. Shade figured the tan Pegasus would of already gone off to see Fluttershy, since most ponies would be up by now as he had seen Ponyville waking up after he had completed Rainbow Dash's job and flew back home. Shade looked at the newest Daring Doo book laying on the center of the table and glided over to it, he looked at it for a few seconds before grabbing it and flying back to the correct spot. Setting the book back in it's right spot, Shade smiled and flew back down to the entrance to his own house and took off his long coat and scarf and hung it up in on the coat rack. The liquid rainbow could possibly cause damage or stain to fabrics. And he did not want to deal with that, Rarity and Glass would give him quite an earful if he stained it.
There was a knock on the door and Shade flew over and put his eye through the peephole. He didn't see anything. But that didn't mean nothing was there. "and the prank begins" Shade thought grimly and brought his wings up, ready to fly. he oopened the door slowly. Shade looked up instinctively and saw Rainbow Dash jump and slam the rainbow cloud with all four hooves,
“Taste the rainbow!” Rainbow Dash screamed.
And a wave of liquid rainbow flew down at his face. Shade thought fast and brought his wings up over his head but the rainbow still splattered Shade's wings an hooves, but prevented the fluid from getting into his eyes.
“What... Is this?” Shade froze as he felt dizzy as he tried to comprehend all the colors covering his usually dark hued coat. He decided to change from trying to separate every color individually and trying to comprehend it individually. but to just make it one large color “this is rainbow colored” he thought and the dizziness faded and his mind righted again as it stopped it;s massive overload. Shade noticed peals of laughter coming from above him from behind the slightly less saturated rain.
“Priceless!” Rainbow commented as she rolled on the rainbow cloud. she stood and copied the dizzy face Shade had made “that was perfect!” Shade growled in annoyance and boosted up in front of Rainbow then boosted in the opposite direction. The momentum throwing the rainbow colored fluid onto Rainbow Dash, making her fur the same color as her mane in some places.
“Hey!” Rainbow had closed her eyes from laughter and hadn't noticed his boost. Rainbow wiped the rainbow fluid off her face. Rainbow flew off and pulled at the cloud, widening the cloud and making a pool of liquid rainbow. Rainbow jumped in the center and splashed at Shade.
“Hey!” Shade exclaimed then got a side of head turned rainbow. “Really?” Shade jumped and splashed back in retaliation and made the rainbow Pegasus even more colorful. "you want to try me? then take this Rainbow Dash!"
“Al~right then! Come at me brony!” Rainbow splashed back,
Both pegusai engaged in the Liquid Rainbow War and started with serious faces and wing beats making waves and hitting the water with absolute precision to get the splash just right. As the bodies of Rainbow Dash and Shade Burst started to turn into Rainbow Colors as the fight went on. The two pegusai started laughing at each other. Rainbow Dash forgot about the splashing and just straight up tackled Shade trying to dunk him in the substance. Shade rolled and the two pegusai wrestled in the substance until they broke apart and burst out into fits of laughter
“H-hah!” Rainbow boasted between fits of laughter “y-your covered in rainbows! I can't even see your fur!”
“Really” Shade smirked as he laughed a little too “you just look like your mane outgrew and you are one giant rainbow mane and tail, didn’t know you where THAT unkempt” Shade smirked as he saw more red on the Pegasus’s face, then Rainbow tackled and shoved Shade into the pool once more.
“I still won!” Rainbow boasted as she stood above him, pinning the stallion with her hooves on top of his. Shade noticed the cyan pegasus' rainbow colored wings where splayed out.
"So she likes being on top..." Shade noted to himself with a smirk that formed on his muzzle “You think so?” Shade taunted
“Yes! I know so!”
“Want to test that notion?”
“Bring it on!” Rainbow Dash noticed the dangerous smile Shade gained at her reply one second too late. Shade grabbed her hoof and spun her around with surprising speed. Their positions had switched, and now Rainbow was pinned in the pool of rainbows and the similarly colored stallion was above her, a proud smile on his face. Rainbow Dash's wings where splayed out and Rainbow Dash's face was a little more red colored than before the switch.
"but I guess she likes being on the bottom more" Shade got off Rainbow Dash's hooves and laughed “You asked for it” he said with a smirk as he helped the mare to her hooves. "now how do I get this off?" Shade glared at his now rainbow colored body with a little disgust. Rainbow laughed and wiped a tear out of her eye.
“Do you know how to get this off?” it was Rainbows time to smirk as Shade tilted his head out of curiosity. “We have to make a rainbow, so help me” Rainbow flew over to the cloud and went behind it, and pushed as she compressed the pool of liquid rainbow into the cloud. “Push this thing with me” Rainbow commanded
“As you wish” Shade got into position, naturally syncing wing beats with Rainbow Dash’s wings did not hit his “I assume we go at a fast speed in an arc and create a rainbow.”
“Exactly” Rainbow sped up and pushed along with Shade, the two accelerated to a certain speed and the two maintained it, sending a rainbow trail behind them as the liquid fell off them and the cloud. The two pegusai started going up and about to curve down but instead Shade continued to push forward on the could “What are you-"
“Follow my lead” Shade turned into a large loop and ascended
"What? are we doing a loop de loop?" Rainbow thought as Shade made her thought correct, using the cloud the two pegusaid made a loop de loop and went down in a normal rainbow
“There, you do not see that every day” Shade smiled as Rainbow destroyed the spend cloud. both of their coats where cleaner than before and a little more vibrant due to the liquid Rainbow.
“That’s awesome!” Rainbow hoof pumped as she saw the work she had created. Shade looked around for a few seconds and blinked a few times.
Shade looked up at the rainbow loop once more and sighed quietly “it would be better if it worked like… that... I could always… but it has to be genuine…” Shade shook his head to clear his own confused thoughts, then looked back at the light blue Pegasus “wow, your mane and fur look different, if anything your light blue fur looks… different” Shade thought out loud.
“That’s because it’s not light blue but cyan”
“It is cyan?” Shade asked he looked at Rainbow dash’s coat close then noticed that she was a different shade of light blue than he had realized. “You are right, my apologies for the mistake” Shade said with a bow. “Will you forgive me?”
“You kidding? Of course!” Rainbow smacked Shade on the back and Shade faltered for a second in flight.
“You are in weather patrol” Shade said with a shake of his head
“And don’t forget it! I can clear the sky in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow boasted again and Shade’s usual smirk returned
“Really? Show me” Shade challenged.
“I can’t” Rainbow shook her head.
“Why?” Shade asked, tilting his own head, a feeling rose in Rainbow that was quickly shoved aside.
“Because two reasons: 1. the skies are cleared already and 2. that’s for me to know and you to find out, Shade” Rainbow used Shade’s saying against him and the midnight blue Pegasus just rolled his eyes “anyway, you still owe me lunch, you can go get your money and come back, meet me at the Golden Oak library in Ponyville within thirty minutes, okay?” Rainbow flew off before Shade could even respond.
“Alright, I will meet you there…” Shade said to the empty space. Shade sighed as a smirk graced his features as he lifted off to go back to his house. “she is different from other mares, that much is certain”
Soul Song went to the door of the quaint cottage, noticing the animals milling about and the small garden to the left “Looks like nothing has changed” Soul thought as he checked himself quickly before looking around, praying that the cream furred Pegasus was in, he knocked on the door. Nothing happened, he knocked again.
“Hello? It's me Soul Song!” he added. Inside the cream furred Pegasus was frantically moving about, cleaning up things and moving stuff so that the house looked clean and shushed the rowdy animals. Another knock came and Fluttershy squeaked.
“But I’m not ready!” she said to herself and dashed over to the door, she then checked her face in the mirror and grabbed a brush and brushed her mane and tail. Finally she deemed herself presentable. She opened the door slightly to see a tan Pegasus with a package under one front leg.
“You got mail!” Soul called with a smile. Fluttershy was overwhelmed with happiness and then tried to compose herself to little success.
“Soul!” Fluttershy whipped the door open and hugged Soul Song, making the tan Pegasus lean back and take a step back.
“Hey Fluttershy!” Soul Song smiled and spun the yellow Pegasus in a circle as their hug continued.
“It’s so good to see you!” she cheered as she was set down and the musician smiled. “How did you get a break from work?”
“Well I took a vacation. I wanted to see my friends, and you specifically” Soul smiled as Fluttershy blushed at his attention.
“Where are you staying?” Fluttershy asked, tilting her head in a way Soul found cute. Soul knew of Fluttershy's reaction to the answer, but would not lie to his friend.
“I’m staying at Shade's house” at Soul's answer, Fluttershy started to shake a little “he is fine! It's nothing important right now” Soul handed the package under his leg to Fluttershy, she took it.
“Here is a present”
“Oooh!” Fluttershy went into the house and opened it, a cream colored blanket unfolded, it was embroidered with Fluttershy's cutie mark. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed and hugged Soul Song once again, this time the blanket between them. Fluttershy let go first with a shy smile and went upstairs to put the blanket on the bed, “no! Remember you can't go in my room if it's only the two of us!” Soul sheepishly backed down the stairs,
“Sorry…” Soul blushed as he backdown the stairs. He spotted the bunny, Angel, glaring at him as he turned around . The two participated in a stare down until Fluttershy got down the stairs. The orange pegasus and white bunny both smiled and looked at the crème Pegasus. Who smiled at the two of them in return with her usual serene grace.
“Thank you Soul Song, it looks great!” Fluttershy smiled while she went down and patted angel as she walked past. Soul brought on an evil smile and a glare from Angel who had received less attention from Fluttershy than Soul.
“No problem, I had it made for you and bought it” Soul reasoned, ignoring the bunny as he walked past and walked around the room, looking at the animals milling around, then got an idea. “Hey, want to go get lunch at sugar cube corner or something? Since I am around and all…”
“Yes!” Fluttershy flashed a large smile that made Soul warm inside. “Of course!” "wait, did he just invite me too a date!?"
“I’ll pay, let’s go” "hey waaaaaaait... did I just invite her on a date? I think I just did... she's not objecting though..." Soul Song shrugged and walked out of the house and then saw something going on in the sky. “Whoa, look!” Fluttershy and Soul Song both looked as a rainbow arched into the sky, then when it reached the top of its arc it went in a large loop and resumed the downwards arc.
“It’s beautiful” Fluttershy commented, looking at the shape.
“Not as beautiful as you though…” Soul commented quietly.
“What did you say?”
“N-nothing!” Soul said with a fake plastered smile as he tried in vain to hide his blush. Which only made Fluttershy smile “Now we better get going to eat, I am getting hungry!” Soul tried reasoning again as he ran in front of Fluttershy
“You’re always hungry” Fluttershy countered but followed anyway.
“All the more reason!” Soul opened his wings and flew around for a few seconds, “C’mon! We got ourselves a lunch to ravage!" Soul cheered "HA! take that for expanded vocabulary Shade!" after his taunt to Shade somewhere, the pegasus flew off as Fluttershy took off after him, heading into Ponyville for a "date"
Twilight was sitting in her library, her horn glowing with magic and her wings rose in concentration. Books where moving around from her most recent study, the books on Alicorn-level magic where flying up to the second floor and going onto her own private bookshelf and was locked with a magic seal.
The other books scattered about where picked up and set in their rightful places, The books where moving at a fast speed for the amount of books being moved and moved around Spike, who was sweeping the floor. Halfway through the re-organization, Rainbow Dash slammed open the door, causing all of the bookshelves to rattle and shake with the threat of falling over.
All the books in air froze and Twilight's purple magic aura enveloped all the bookshelves, pushing them back in place and making sure that not one book fell out. Twilight opened her eyes and the magic aura faded from the shelves and the books continued flying around to their spots, now avoiding Rainbow, the entire library's worth of books seemed to be moving around.
“Wow, you are really cooking sister!” Rainbow exclaimed with amazement at the books flying around her.
“Yeah” Twilight said with a distracted tone. "give me a second" a breif flash from Twilight's horn and the magic continued moving the books back on their own. “What is going on Rainbow?” Twilight asked “you seem a little on edge” Rainbow sat down and motioned for Twilight to do the same, Twilight made two pillows float over with more levitation magic. Twilight sat on her pillow and picked Rainbow up with magic and set the pillow under her before setting her down gently onto the pillow quickly. The aura leaving Rainbow Dash who bounced on the pillow a little, testing it.
“Oh, comfy.” Rainbow commented then her serious look came back “so… there is this... Stallion-”
“A stallion!?” Twilight exclaimed, the books moved a little faster for a second, then reverted back to their normal speed. “When did this happen!? How did you meet him!? Is he cute!?”
“It’s not like that!” Rainbow countered, her face red and an angry look on her face“I met him yesterday when I did the fashion shoot for Rarity; he let me have breakfast at his house after that”
“You went to his house!?” Twilight exclaimed, surprised at how fast her friend and stallion’s relationship was going so quickly, but Rainbow Dash's look told her that it wasn't like that.
“Yes, I did and then I saw something.”
“Why where you snooping?” the purple Alicorn's eyes narrowed at the cyan Pegasus who glared back.
“Because, he has three feathers in his mane braided in and color cards in his long coat he wears all the time, and he talks differently, and he’s…he’s… he just is… Different, and I can't place it” Twilight's face transformed from an angry glare to wide smile
“You like him! You like him!” she cheered, “This is so exciting!” Rainbow shook her head in anger, the angry look stayed
“No I don't!” she shouted, thoroughly annoyed “Pinkie Pie doesn't even know of him, though she knows everyone's name. And he didn't help or appear for the training for the tornado. Though I did see a black blur every now and then during that...” Rainbow ventured “anyway. This Pegasus has no friends. And I want to be his-”
“Marefriend?” Twilight couldn't help but make the jab, Rainbow glared and Twilight calmed down “I understand your position, he seems like has no friends and you want to help him, what’s his name?” Twilight's magic came to a close as all the books went back to their original positions. Twilight nodded in satisfaction and refocused on Rainbow Dash.
“Don't complete my sentences, just don't, and his name is Shade Burst” Twilight noticed a peculiar tone in Rainbow's voice and Twilight felt a weird feeling when she heard the name. but Twilight choose to ignore it for sake of creating further argument.
“I see, Shade Burst, that's a peculiar name. I haven't heard of him before. What does he look like?”
“He’s a Pegasus, taller than us, a really really dark blue, pitch black mane and tail. He has a scar on his neck and wings. Feathers are dark blue except for large pitch black line parallel to line of wings. Always wears a black long coat with stuff in it and a black scarf. He has a cutie mark that’s a black circle with three feathers, and he has three feathers braided into his hair, one is the same pitch black as the line on his wings, one is dark dark blue and the one is dark dark blue with a pitch black line through the center”
“Wow” Twilight said with a smirk. “Nice description”
“Well I just saw him like two minutes ago” Rainbow reasoned, Twilight thought for a second as her mind went through all of the ponies she had met in Ponyville.
“Aaaah… I don't think I’ve seen him, sorry” Twilight Sparkle said setting a hoof on her chin as she scanned through her memory for the unique looking Pegasus once again.
“Well he does seem anti-social....” Rainbow said with a sigh “that’s why I got a plan. I raced him”
"He accepted?" Twilight asked.
"yep! I kinda tricked him into it." Rainbow stuck her tongue out with a smile. "he deserved it"
“And is he as fast as you?” Twilight asked, but already knowing the answer.
“Not even close.”
“Did you actually push yourself?” Twilight asked her friend.
“I went all out and he didn't even compare” she said. “There was nothing but a competitive bet on the race” Rainbow smiled “and I won. So now he has to eat lunch and buy lunch for me for five days!” she put her hooves up in excitement “perfect plan! Now I can tell him to meet me at each of your places and introduce you to and actually make him socialize with ponies!” Rainbow dash fell back onto her back with a happy smile as she lay spread out on her back “I love it when a plan comes together”
“Doesn’t Soarin say that something like that?” Twilight laughed as her Wonderbolt in training friend sat up quickly at the mention of one of her idols and crush, a small blush on her face.
“Maybe. Anyway, come outside.” Rainbow Dash took a curious Twilight and overhearing Spike outside and showed them the rainbow she and Shade had made.
“That’s one messed up rainbow, but so cool!” Spike exclaimed. Twilight teleported somewhere and back, holding a piece of parchment and quill with magic she wrote an description quickly, her horn glowing as she looked from parchment to rainbow and back, and then she used magic, a flash and a full picture of the rainbow with the loop appeared.
“How did you do that?” Twilight inferred. Rainbow's smile got bigger.
“Long story short, I filled a cloud up with rainbows and pushed it along with Shade Burst, making the rainbow come off... Shade had the idea to make the loop, I helped on that.”
“Amazing!” Twilight wrote some notes and the rolled the parchment up, and sent back to her study to go write more upon the subject later.
“Haha! It’s cool and fun to make. Maybe you and me can try it Twilight”
“Maybe, but you know how well I am when it comes to flying, I’m decent. But not on that high of level.”
“You can still practice, I have to train you anyway” Rainbow added with a shrug,
“But I’m not as talented as you, even with your training” Twilight humbled herself.
“I am 20% cooler, but you’re at least... 15% cooler than most ponies, you can get better at flying” Rainbow complemented. Then a soft thud and a quiet wing beat the two looked over and a midnight blue Pegasus wearing a black long coat landed in front of them. He trotted up to the Alicorn and Pegasus, only noticing the horn on the Alicorn, not the wings.
“Hello Rainbow Dash, I didn't know you would want to eat at a library- Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Shade immediately bowed deeply to the princess and stayed in the position. “My humblest apologies princess for not noticing you and not giving you the proper respect you deserve. Please forgive my insolence.”
“Stop being so formal!” Rainbow exclaimed as she picked the midnight blue Pegasus up and set him on four hooves.
“It is fine, you may rise. You must be Shade Burst. I have heard of you, it's very nice to meet you face to face” Twilight smiled disarmingly at the Pegasus that was just bowing and groveling a second ago.
“I’m flattered, princess, that you know of me. The pleasure is mine to finally meet the newest princess at last” Shade turned the compliment around.
“Maybe so, but Rainbow Dash is right, you don't need to be so formal, call me Twilight Sparkle or just Twilight, whatever works best for you, and you don't need to bow. I want to be friends with ponies, not their ruler.” Twilight explained and Shade nodded as a relived smile passed over his muzzle.
“Thank you... Twilight, you have potential to be a great leader. That I can say with the upmost certainty” Shade complemented and looked to Rainbow Dash. “I guess that you have already introduced me to her?” he asked, motioning with a head jerk at Twilight. Rainbow nodded. “alright so are friends with Twilight Sparkle?” he asked for sake of confirmation.
“Yep! I knew Twilight here when she was just an egghead, now she's a princess egghead!”
“Egghead?” Shade asked with an eyebrow raised “what is that?”
“Someone who reads books all the time and is totally uncool” Rainbow explained giving a look to Twilight, the princess and the midnight blue Pegasus both frowned, but then Twilight smiled mischievously.
“Then you are an egghead too” Twilight said “you always read Daring Doo”
"So that is why she was looking at the Daring Doo books when I checked on her" Shade's realization clarified why that pony had looked at the cover of the newest Daring Doo book for so long.
“But I’m not as big as of an egghead as you are! I only read fiction! And you always read that research stuff!”
“But I remember that day the newest Daring Doo book came out two months ago you spent the entire day reading, then you wanted to read all this nonfiction on archeology and old temples”
“That was one time!”
“You mean the past three times a book has come out?”
“So what if I study every now and then! It does NOT make me an egghead!” Rainbow Dash looked away in indignation, flying into the air and crossing her forehooves. The two then noticed that Shade’s shoulders where shaking. “Are you okay!?” Rainbow asked with slight panic.
Shade opened his mouth and a laugh was an answer, Shade continued laughing until the two mares noticed how silly, or crazy, their conversation would sound to someone who did not know the two of them. “You two remind me of some ponies that I know” Shade smiled to himself “but that was good, something to remind me of a good time.” Shade nodded “and if this is a library, may I look?” he asked, Twilight nodded and went inside, Rainbow following as Spike went in and Shade brought up the rear. Shade looked at the small dragon and bowed slightly to him “thank you for being on our side, Spike, you will make a good aide to the princess, Dragons get wiser the older they get. And you will eventually get that too, and you will be essential to the princess in her time of most need, which may come sooner that we all think, if we are not careful in our actions”
“What?” Spike asked to Shade Burst’s mysterious compliment and warning, but he had already moved on, looking around the library. He was mostly going on the sections about magical events and magic in history.
Shade trotted around and inspected the books. “A good selection” he commented. Rainbow couldn't help but boast to defend Twilight's library.
“The best! There is about every book that's important here!” rainbow boasted, Twilight looked at her friend who was defending or complimenting her from Shade.
"what was that for?" Twilight thought as Shade gave a mischievous smirk.
“Not the newest Daring Doo book”
“Well that’s....”
“Not important?” Shade completed her sentence.
“Stop completing my sentences!-”
“Or else?” Shade smiled at Rainbow who flung her hooves up in desperation
“Don’t make me race you again!” Rainbow threatened. “Or I just can make this day not count!”
“Is that a threat or do you want to spend more time with me?” Shade smirked as Rainbow blushed and flew up in front of his face and grabbed his black scarf.
“I beat you fair and square, so you better co-operate and do as the bet said”
“Or else?” Shade added, Rainbow flung her arms up and flew into the air as Shade grinned.
“Will you stop doing that?” Rainbow exclaimed, doing a small loop to vent her anger.
"I keep forgetting how fun it is to drive ponies crazy" “Once it stops affecting you.” Shade's smile grew.
“Can’t you be a little civil?” Rainbow asked in desperation floating down to hover above and in front of Shade.
"Civil?" a mischievous smirk covered his face "that is a pretty new word I have never heard you say before. If you want me to be civil compared to how I am right now, would you rather have me talk like all those Trottingham citizens in Canterlot?” Shade cleared his thought “my my, Rainbow Dash you look absolutely smashing this morning. Would you like to join me for tea this afternoon on a balcony in my mansion as we watch the bustling town of Canterlot waltz through its daily life below us as we consume our sustenance with all the manners of courtly etiquette equal to a dinner with princess Celestia? And then after would you like to join the waltz of Canterlot with me? If only for a few minutes it would be well worth your time” The Alicorn, Pegasus and Dragon where surprised at how much Shade sounded exactly like a Trottish stallion on the upper crust.
“How did you do that!?” Spike exclaimed.
“With a lot of practice” Shade said, his voice already reverted to his normal tone. He adjusted his scarf from the slight panic that was rising from the apt attention he was being given. He noticed his scarf was a new cyan color in spots and rubbed the scarf to turn it back to black again, “what is going on with my scarf?”
"Did you just ask me out on a date?” Rainbow's question gave Shade the chance to recover back to his trickster mode.
“That is for me to know and you to find out, Rainbow Dash” Rainbow groaned and Shade laughed a little, Twilight Sparkle then choose to interrupt for the point of stopping Rainbow Dash from exploding in exasperation.
“Hey Rainbow, could you help me with something in the kitchen? I got this potion I needed to complete.” Rainbow, seeing a way out of her bad position. Did as she was told and went into the kitchen, Shade stood and watched the two mares go wordlessly, then glanced at Spike and went to go look at the magical events section.
"My my, that has been the most fun I have had in a while when it came to driving ponies crazy" He scanned the titles in S' and R’s and then went to the general history, and looked for the oldest version of books. finding one he took it out of the shelf and glanced at the cover, finding the book to be a descent source of information. Shade got up on his hind legs and leaned on a wall, a habit of his when he was reading. Shade opened to the index and scanned the listing of events, finding a specific on he flipped over to the page and began reading, his colorless grey eyes analyzing every page.
“So, are you an egghead too?” Spike asked with a forced smile, nervous on how he was supposed to prevent Shade from eavesdropping on rainbow and Twilights conversation.
“Yes, according to Rainbow Dash’s description" Shade admitted "I guess a trade in information is in order, I can tell them my "hobby" I guess" Shade sighed and looked at the book "I study magical events or phenomena that are incredibly rare as a hobby”
“So you are sorta like Daring Doo” Spike reasoned, remembering Shade and Rainbow’s conversation earlier. How Shade said he had the newest book, Spike assumed that Shade would at least know about the book.
“Not really, I am studying magical events. Not going out and searching for the people or place or items that can create the magical events” Shade stated. “Though that is not true, I have one event I do look for”
“But you still research it” Spike pressed, still going on about researching magical events to try and find some common ground. Shade shook his head to clear it from the subject he did not want to bring up.
“Yeah, just study, no search” Shade took a breath and looked down at the book, closing his colorless grey eyes as he took a breath and kept them closed.
“I have always thought magic was amazing, from the magic of being able to fly and sit on clouds, only Pegasai can do such things. Unicorns can delve into the secrets of the world and make amazing things with magic. Earth Ponies have their incredible strength and affinity to crops and fastest land speed. Dragons can eat jewels, breathe fire and sit in lava and other hot surfaces without getting hurt, and use their own magic that is on a whole other kind than unicorn magic." Shade's eyes shifted to his cutie mark "and also… in a way we are all magical in our own way... Thanks to our marks we can do things only we can do, and that is magic in itself that will always be beyond all comparison and comprehension” Shade opened his eyes and started flipping through pages and stopped at a specific page “and all I am doing is researching the fruits of their efforts”
“Wow…. That’s deep”
“Thank you, but you needed to hear that anyway, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Pardon my bluntness, you are a baby dragon surrounding by those that are not your kind. You must be going through some identity issues. What I said is true Spike, you will do something amazing for this world. that only you, Spike, aide to princess Twilight Sparkle, can do, and hopefully when it happens I will be there to see it, magical event or not.” Shade replied as Spike walked over.
"Thanks Shade, what are you reading?" Spike asked with a curious look as Shade lowered the book to Spike could see.
Shade flipped and showed a few pages: one was a large circular wave of rainbow colors with a white shockwave around it. the event had the title “Rainbow Burst” at the picture was labeled: “Rainbow Burst shockwave” there was a two pages of things about the “Rainbow Burst” Shade then flipped the page and a large pitch black ring and an arrowhead shaped mass of pitch black energy. It was only half of a page and had very little information. All which was speculative and read: “Oblivion Strike” Shade looked at the pages, flipping between them both, showing them to the curious dragon.
“Found what you are looking for?” Spike said memorizing the page number and book cover and title, Shade shook his head in a denial.
“I have the same information at my own house, so it is not new to me” Shade shut the book and Spike reached for it, he gave it to the dragon and looked him in the eye"there, now I have traded some information" “and I know you are going to report to princess Twilight on what I said and I know you are to keep me from eavesdropping on the conversation in the kitchen” Shade smiled as Spike froze, his intentions now known. “I am fine with that though, some curiosity and mistrust is expected with new people, especially those of the opposite gender and as... dark as I look.” Shade said motioning to his long coat and scarred appearance with the three woven feathers in his mane, one midnight blue, one pitch black and one midnight blue with the pitch black streak in it. “But eventually I hope to earn your trust and be a true friend; you can put that in your report, right?” Shade’s smile went back to normal and he went back on all four hooves. He stretched his wings out, winching a smige as the pain shot through but not only a small throb. and then went back to the books, looking for another one that would peak his interest as Spike sat nervously, expecting Twilight to reprimand him when she got back out of the kitchen.
“What’s taking them so long?” Spike thought with a bead of sweat and with an eyebrow raised towards the kitchen
“So how is he?” Rainbow Dash turned and looked at Twilight Sparkle with an earnest face.
“He’s interesting, his personality seems to be nice, and you two get along very well” Twilight informed as Rainbow smiled at the news.
“Think he could get along with Pinkie and Fluttershy and AJ?” Rainbow asked. Twilight paused for a second to think.
“Yes, your plan can work… and for a potential Coltfriend... He’s a good pick” Twilight winked at Rainbow who glared at Twilight
“It’s not like that!” Rainbow exclaimed “I barely know him!”
“Well what was that argument you just had outside? It seemed like flirting a little” Twilight said. Her mind going back to a study she had read on Relationships and dating. “by what the book said, engaging in activities together with a competitive goal, trying to outdo the other person in something and having a playful argument is flirting” Twilight said nodding her head proudly.
“No it’s nothing like that! It was an argument! Nothing more!” Rainbow exclaimed and crossed her forelegs. "I do not like him, he is annoying, but he's nicer than other stallions, so I'm giving him a chance, and hey! free food!"
“Okay, if you say so” Twilight went to the door and put her ear on it. Rainbow flew above her and stuck her ear to the door, the two heard the conversation Spike and Shade had. After hearing Shade’s justification of why he likes magical events, the two backed off from the door and looked at each other. “well... that was very insightful of him” Twilight said with a happily surprised smile, like when she found a book that she thought had some information and might be a bad source of information but turned out to be a good source in the end.
“That’s deep” Rainbow mused, looking at the door with a confused look on her face “He sounded so… so...”
“Tender, open, vulnerable, hot?” Twilight gave out four possible descriptors and Rainbow glared at the new princess.
“No! Well…” Rainbow paused to think of words. “I think vulnerable would be the best, it’s like he actually opened up for once”
“And you want him to open up to you” Twilight assumed, And the speedster Pegasus nodded in confirmation
“Well duh! I want to be his friend for Celestia’s sake!” Rainbow announced. Decided that it would be the best time to go out into the main area now; Rainbow and Twilight didn’t want to keep their potential friend waiting. The two ponies went out the door looking calm and composed.
“Sorry ‘bout that!” Rainbow said scratching the back of her head with a hoof “it took longer than expected to do what Twilight wanted” Shade nodded as he scanned a few more books for titles that jumped out to him, and finding none. Shade pulled his pocket watch out of his long coat and checked the time, Rainbow Dash's eyebrows shot up when she noticed the lack of a phone as the time telling device "what happened to the phone?" Shade caught Rainbow's curious look and stowed the watch away with maximum efficiency.
“We should go get lunch before my shift at work comes up” Shade stated and walked to the door “should we go, Rainbow Dash?” he asked,
“Well, I thought we could stay here and eat with Twilight and Spike, but they-”
“I will pay for all of you” Shade interjected.
“No! You don’t need to do that!” Twilight exclaimed. “That’s a lot of bits! I have my salary as princess and I can-”
“No, you need to use your money on improving the library or other things that are bigger or more important, I, as your subordinate, will pay for you and your aide, and because I have to pay for Rainbow, I will pay for her friends regardless” Shade stated, putting his hoof down. Shade gave a look to Twilight that said he would not budge on the subject. “Only a direct order from you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, will make me stand down” the room was silent for a few tense seconds. Then Twilight smiled
“Well, what ruler would I be if I did not let my subordinates help when they offer it?” Twilight kept her smile and looked at Shade, who smirked and bowed.
“Thank you, Princess, for letting me do my duty, now that I don’t know if there is any place you like to buy from specifically?” Shade asked. Spike brought out a piece of paper with a quill, freshly dipped in ink
“I will write the order on this so you can remember it”
“Thanks” Shade said. “Where do you want be to go and order and bring back?” Shade asked. Twilight gave the name of the restaurant “I know where that is, so what do you want to order, order like you usually do, I have enough” Shade stated with no doubt, Twilight and Spike both ordered what they usually got and Rainbow then surprised both Spike and Twilight by ordering a Zap apple jam and hay sandwich, it was an expensive food choice, but Shade showed no change and merely nodded “I will be back post-haste” he said, using a little Trottish accent to make Rainbow groan. Shade took the note and put it in his long coat and went off the door, spreading his wings and taking off in milliseconds.
“That was mean Rainbow!” Twilight chastised, “You shouldn’t have had him pay for that expensive of food!”
“Well it was to get him back for beating me in that argument earlier” Rainbow made the excuse. Twilight rolled her eyes, the two ponies and Dragon dropped into a comfortable and welcome silence as they went about looking at books for a few minutes until Spike broke the silence.
“Hey girls… there’s something I wanted to show ya” Spike interrupted, the two mares turned to face their purple Dragon friend. “You overheard everything, Right?”
“Yeah, we heard on how he likes magical events and his speech about it” Rainbow confirmed.
“It was deep” Spike stated “but anyway, during his speech thing he found this book.” Spike walked over and pointed at the book “the book is titled “magical events and its creators” under “general history” he looked at this page” Spike flipped open the book to the page on the Rainbow Burst
“The Sonic Rainboom?” Rainbow dash asked “what about it?”
“Well…. it’s called “the Rainbow Burst” in older equestrian, before it was renamed the Sonic Rainboom.”
“I think Shade may be researching the Sonic Rainboom” Spike guessed
“Maybe he wants to perform it” Twilight replied, Rainbow laughed haughtily
“Ha! Well he’s too late, I’M the one that performed the Sonic Rainboom first! So I hold that right!” Rainbow boasted.
“Yeah, but look at this” Spike flipped to the next page, or half page, on the “Oblivion Strike” “he looked at this hoping to get more information on it”
“The “Oblivion Strike” a very complicated maneuver first used by a Pegasus that is not known. when the Strike is activated, all sound is gone, and the world loses color. it can go through a magical attack or enchantment if the user is strong enough and it is as fast as the Rainbow Burst” Twilight read the information scrawled onto the page "huh, it's the negative of the Sonic Rainboom" Twilight thought to herself, setting a hoof to her chin "maybe this may be could be something with Starswirl's studies on negative switching..."
“So he might want to do that move?” Rainbow said with her eyebrows rising.
“Maybe he wants to be as good at you but doesn’t want to copy you, so he’s trying the “Oblivion Strike” instead” Twilight explained, looking deeper at the picture, trying to get the meaning behind the illustration.
“We shouldn’t just judge him on this” Spike advised with a trace of trepidation. “He knew that you were listening in”
“What!?” Twilight exclaimed.
“It was obvious” Rainbow confirmed with a shrug.
“But he said “I’m fine with that though, some curiosity and mistrust is expected with new people, especially those of the opposite gender and as dark as I look.” Then he motioned to himself” Spike explained, reading off a scrap of paper he scrawled the exact words on “and then he said “But eventually I hope to earn your trust and be a true friend” then he told me to put it in my report. So I did.” Spike said with a shrug “I might not have the ability to tell if he was lying, but I’m sure he actually wants to become our friend too, eventually”
“That’s surprising” Twilight smiled “and that makes our job a little easier if we are both working towards the same goal”
“How does he know so much? Does-”
“Anything get past me? Not usually” Shade Burst made the two mares and dragon all jump in surprise, the midnight blue Pegasus was standing in the doorway, a bag with food set on the ground it front of him as a smirk was upon his face.
“How long where you there?” Rainbow demanded.
“Well... that is for me to know and you to find out, is it not?” Shade smirked as Rainbow Dash fumed. "and now I have received information in turn" Rainbow was about to yell at Shade. But then was distracted as Shade Burst took a zap apple jam and hay sandwich out of the bag. Rainbow Dash swooped hungrily and ripped it out of the other Pegasus’ hand and then sat up on top of one of the bookshelves staring at the sandwich.
“Oh how I’ve missed you, come to mommy!” Rainbow cooed to her sandwich and then froze, mouth mid-opening. Shade was smirking as Rainbow blushed furiously “oh shut up! I can like food!” Rainbow glared and opened her mouth again toe yell. but Shade raised a hoof to silence her
“I know already: don’t tell anyone about you and your zap apple jam and hay sandwiches or else” Shade said, Rainbow glared at the unaffected Shade burst.
“Also, don't tell anypony about me reading Daring Doo-”
“Yes, the ever present “Or else” threat” Shade just stood with his taunting smirk as Rainbow tried not to swoop down and punch the light of Celestia out of the trickster Pegasus. “Anyway, Spike, your ruby sandwich, and Twilight, your usual jam and daisies” Shade gave out the two sandwiches. Then pulled out one that was hay and lettuce and flew up to the shelf next to Rainbow Dash, Twilight got the idea and flew up next to Rainbow Dash, then levitated the pouting Spike next to her.
“Why eat so healthy?” Twilight asked. Shade paused as he chewed on his sandwich. Shade shrugged as he let himself reveal more personal information.
“I do have to stay in good physical condition, I need to stay fit to be able to run, fly, or fight if anything happens.” Shade replied as if it was obvious, Twilight didn’t understand but she saw Rainbow Dash nodding.
“I know! I have to watch my food intake too! And exercise a ton! But I get tired after I push myself really hard so I end up napping.”
“I do the same, but I work I Wildhorse café so I have to work out a lot in the morning then make sure I have enough energy for the rest of the day, I cannot take a nap to save my life" "oh well, I told the princess about my job, she would figure it out anyway"
“Haha! you just gotta learn from the master then! I do have lazy days or days when I don’t count how much food I take in” Rainbow admitted as Shade nodded in confirmation
“You have too, living under a self-imposed rule structure will drive you crazy, you have to break the rules, that is just our nature as pegusai” Shade shrugged as he bit into his sandwich once more.
“We just have to be free in the sky, it is the only way to live as a Pegasus” the two pegusai said at the same time, both froze after saying the line at the same time and then wordlessly resumed eating. Twilight was surprised about how much the two pegusai had in common.
“So where do you work out?” Twilight asked the Pegusai, trying to get conversation started up again.
“I'm usually on the north side” Rainbow shrugged and bit into her sandwich, face transforming into one of pure pleasure “oh I love you” Rainbow said to the sandwich with a voice full of passion.
“Thank you, I never knew you thought of me that way” Shade brought a hoof to his heart as Rainbow glared and punched him in the shoulder The midnight blue pony smirked at Rainbow who swung again and Shade dodged under it. “But to answer your question I usually "work out" in the south. Sometimes I fly through the Everfree forest. If really need a challenge” Shade answered
“Everfree!? You must be insane to go in there! There are animals everywhere that could kill a Pegasus, and the trees are so close that you’d clip your wing trying to fly through that!” Rainbow exclaimed
"You have no idea, Rainbow Dash"“That is why I go there, it’s a challenge, and I like challenges” Shade said crossing his forelegs after finishing his sandwich.
“Wow, he’s as big as a risk taker as Rainbow is!” Twilight thought as she heard Shade’s answer.
“Not bad, do you like to take risks?” Rainbow questioned.
“Depends on situation and the reward” Shade replied with a dodgy answer. Rainbow rolled her eyes.
“So sometimes?” Rainbow proposed a compromise
“Sometimes” Shade compromised
"okay, guess he plays it safe more often..." Twilight shook her head and refocused on the conversation
“So you are only…10% cooler than most ponies I know.” Rainbow revealed as if it was a point score or grade received in academics
“Thank you, I intend to get it up to 15% by the end of the year, I hope you can give me updates” Shade let the slight jab roll of his shoulders countered with his own.
“Yeah right, as if, that’s a demote to 9%” Rainbow said with a glare, Shade smirked
“Thank you for the update” Shade replied, Rainbow glared, finding that the Pegasus had goaded her into doing exactly what he wanted. Rainbow glared at the trickster Pegasus who only smirked. The tension calmed and the three ponies and dragon engaged in small talk until Shade checked his pocket watch; it was 1:45, Shade stowed it away again to keep it away from prying magenta eyes.
“Well, I must be off, I have work to attend to” Shade pushed himself off and glided to the door, the other two ponies followed suit and Twilight levitated Spike down to face the midnight blue Pegasus, Shade Burst bowed to Twilight “until another day, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and also to you, Spike” Shade then bowed and took Rainbow’s hoof “I will see you tomorrow, Lady Rainbow Dash” Shade used his Trottish voice as Rainbow raised her other hoof and swung at Shade who jumped back and went to the door. His wings spreading as he shot of into the sky with a smirk. Rainbow flew out to the door and glared at Shade’s retreating form.
“I am SO getting you back tomorrow!” Rainbow yelled, Shade couldn’t help but laugh
“I will be looking forward to it!” Shade yelled back. Twilight just laughed at the antics of the very alike but different looking Pegasai and then her eyes were drawn back to the opened book with the page on the “Oblivion Strike” staring at her,
“I’m going to ask Celestia about this, I’m curious, and I want to know”
And when Twilight Sparkle wants to know something, she WILL find the answer.
The two Pegusai sat down for lunch at one of the many restaurants in Ponyville, it was a favorite of her friends, Fluttershy had said, so it must have meant that Rainbow and Twilight would eat there if they had to go eat somewhere, Soul Song quietly wished that it would not happen today so that he may spend as much time as possible, when the tan and cream colored Pegasai went up to the counter to order, Fluttershy did something nopony expected
She talked first.
“I would like to order a grass and daisy sandwich please” Fluttershy said, barely a hint of her usual shyness present. Everypony within earshot froze and stared at the cream colored Pegasus with a pink mane. “W-well if you’d like that is…” Fluttershy reverted back to being shy and everypony unfroze and Soul frowned a little.
“I’d like a grass and Daisy myself.” Soul ordered a second after, handing the correct amount of bits out to the still slightly shocked cashier. He went back to go prepare the food. “Why did everypony act so surprised!? She can be assertive when she wants!” Soul thought with a growl as he sat in a chair next to the Pegasus with the long pink mane “you did really well” Soul complimented “you were really assertive!”
“Yeah... Maybe” the demure Pegasus started to frown. “I’ve been practicing to surprise you when we met again but it didn’t seem like it worked…” Fluttershy shrunk into her chair a bit; Soul surprised himself by taking his hoof and setting it on top of the Pegasus’ causing her to look up.
“No, you did great, everyone was so surprised, and I am too, but that is a good thing, you are improving!” Soul completed the compliment with a large smile.
“Maybe…” the humble Pegasus wasn’t used to getting compliments, mostly due to a certain Cyan colored Pegasus that thought she wasn’t assertive enough. Soul song caught onto the look
“Is Rainbow Dash being… herself?” Soul just shrugged as Fluttershy nodded “thought so, she was always a little mean, even when we were fillies in flight school.”
“Yeah, you were always defending me along with Rainbow Dash, and also playing your guitar or humming all the time, do you still do that?” Fluttershy asked the Pegasus who rubbed the back of his neck
“Y-Yeah… I still do...” Soul admitted with an embarrassed blush “now she thinks I’m weird…”
“Don’t think badly of yourself! I think it’s cute that you sing all the time!” both Pegasai froze after Fluttershy’s comment
“Did she really just call me cute?” Soul thought, his face crimson. “She thinks I’m cute!?”
“Did I really just say that? I called him cute!” Fluttershy panicked “I think he’s cute!?”
The two Pegasai just sat there shocked at what the butter yellow Pegasus had said, and Soul Song slowly gained his courage to say something. He was so focused on the task that he didn’t notice the midnight blue Pegasus drop from the sky and land right next to him.
“W-well… I think-what is wrong?” Soul asked, he tilted his head to the side as Fluttershy trembled and wordlessly pointed with a quivering hoof to something behind him,
Soul turned and saw the side of Shade Burst go past him, “Soul” was his one word greeting, eyes forward, not meeting the gaze of two other Pegusai, especially the cream one.
“Shade” Soul Replied, Shade nodded then he went over to the counter and ordered four sandwiches to go and stood there, his colorless grey eyes looking in the opposite direction of the two whilst Fluttershy trembled on her chair. Soul Song sighed. “He’s still scary?” Soul asked. Fluttershy couldn’t use her voice as she trembled.
Soul noticed that as long as she saw the midnight blue Pegasus she trembled and could not focus. Soul took the opportunity to change her view and trotted over to face her, then asking her to switch chairs. thereby diverting her view from the Pegasus and focusing on him instead where Soul got a view of Shade Burst from next to Fluttershy’s head. Fluttershy calmed down somewhat and they managed a little small talk as Soul monitored his friend from a distance. Soul knew that Fluttershy was still on edge and got up “I’ll get him away from here if it cheers you up...” expecting no reply, Soul trotted down to his friend.
“My apologies, I did not know you were here, if I had known beforehand I would of did something different” Shade greeted as he leaned on the wall of the building on his hind hooves, his wings extended, showing the midnight blue line in the center of them. this was a habit of his that Soul found kinda funny.
“It’s fine, why are you eating here anyway? You usually eat at home” Soul asked, trying not to upset the dark Pegasus with such a mean question.
“I am ordering food for someone, I lost a bet, and she told me that this is where she wanted the food from, so I was ordering it, I did not mean to bother you” Shade explained as he opened the pocket watch and checked the time quickly before shutting it again. A large smile spread across Soul song’s muzzle
“A she!? You are spending lunch with a mare!?” Soul was always prone to be over interested, and incredibly mocking, of Shade’s love life, mostly because of its nonexistence.
“Yes, a mare I lost in a race too- do not say anything” Shade added before Soul could even think of taunting him "it did not end well for me in the end, do not ask more."
“So you lost?” Soul asked for the sake of confirmation.
“By a good five minutes” Shade replied as the waiter walked out with two plates with the two sandwiches the Soul had ordered. “The waiter is delivering your food, you better get over there” Shade directed as another waiter handed the midnight blue Pegasus a bag he took in his hooves,
“But who’s the mare?” Soul asked, wanting to find out.
“Well... that is for me to know and you to find out, is it not?” Shade smiled at his best friend and took into the skies with the bag
“OH COME ON!” Soul yelled after him, but then flew back to his table to sit with Fluttershy, “sorry about that, he apologized for scaring you, he doesn’t want to scare you” Soul defended his friend as he took a bite of his daisy sandwich. “heh, it’s funny, he’s practically dating some mare”
“Really!?” Fluttershy asked with a surprisingly interested face on
“Yeah, supposedly he lost in a race against a mare, and now has to eat lunch with her for a few days or something” Soul explained, a small smile growing on his face. “Do you know the mare he has to eat with?”
“Yes…” Fluttershy smiled, lifting Soul Song’s spirits, it also was a mischievous smile, one she gave him when they would get small pranks back against Rainbow Dash during their time in flight school “it’s Rainbow Dash”
“What!” Soul song exclaimed, everypony now stared at him, but he was used to stares, being a musician after all, and a famous one at that. “Look away, just a surprised Pegasus here” and the citizens did, “jeez, they like to stare…” Soul muttered under his breath “aaaaanyhoof. Shade Burst is eating lunch with Rainbow Dash” Soul Song tried to hide his excitement.
“…yes?” Fluttershy confirmed, Soul Song’s excited nature slightly setting her on edge
“Oh this is just too good! This is perfect!” Soul Song smiled so large he thought he rivaled Pinkie pie. But then again, Pinkie Pie was the goddess of smiling, and you didn’t want to say you were as good as a goddess, there was Andromeda to pay for that….so maybe he smiled just as large as he could
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked, tilting her head in a cute manner as she bit into the sandwich
“It means the two friends we thought needed a good friend of the opposite gender just hooked themselves up! I want to see where this goes” Soul smiled. “ohhhh… so many ways I can mess with him! So many ways! I can finally get him back!”
“Yeah... you’re right, I can prank Rainbow Dash back!” Fluttershy smiled. “That sounds like fun!”
“Well if it sounds like so much fun…” the tan colored Pegasus finished his sandwich “why don’t we go to your house and plan something to prank both of them at the same time?”
Fluttershy nibbled on the last bit of her sandwich as she thought to herself, then nodded “yeah, that sounds great! Let’s go!” at Fluttershy’s agreement the two flew off towards the cream colored Pegasus’ house.
To plan the perfect way to get back at their respective tormentors.
"I give you my greetings, Soul Song, How did your time with Fluttershy go?” Shade asked as Soul Song walked back into the cloud home with a large smile on his face. Celestia’s sun already nearing the horizon.
“Hey hey hey Shade well, do ya count the part where you made her afraid?” Soul stopped his smile to look at the midnight blue Pegasus.
“I am sorry; again, I did not know she would be that afraid of me even after a few months of no sight of me” Shade replied with a frown on his midnight blue muzzle as he flipped another page in his book and read.
“Its fine, she got better after we left and we were happy by the time I left her house” “because we have the perfect plan to get back at you and Rainbow Dash for all your pranks!” Soul thought mischievously as he trotted up to the other Pegasus, who had his coat and scarf both hanging down the hall. “how did your day go?” he asked, greeting the Pegasus.
“My day was fine, I had to go each lunch with that mare and work, nothing too out of the ordinary” Shade reported, a folder was open to his right, papers and quills spread around him on the table, his colorless grey eyes scanning pages as he looked over and wrote notes on some pages before going back on reading other pages of notes. His scarf was tucked around his neck for warmth, also storing his pocket watch in the knot.
“Doing the nightly study?” Soul Song asked, if his friend had any down time that he could not truly do anything, he would read and analyze papers and books about things that interested him and then when he was finished studying them, he would write papers and send them out. He was still researching some on magical events, but has wrote one on how offensive magic can be diverted and sensed by other ponies besides Unicorns. And ways magic could be used to enhance weaponry; even though he could not use it. he could always study it.
“Yes and no. I have been making a lot of headway into the data I have collected” Shade reported as he looked over some pieces of paper and looked through once again “I have obtained a lot of valuable information on fighting styles of militaries across the world, and in comparison to Royal guard and Night guard, along with Special Task groups, the third was the hardest to get style information on, but I have taken all the information I can, all I am now is concentrating it into a direct comparison to be a report to Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Captian Shining Armor” Shade wrote a few more sentences on a paper and set it down “also Princess Sparkle, If she was interested in this report” the midnight blue Pegasus mused as he leaned over and wrote more notes down.
“Princess Sparkle? OH! Twilight Sparkle.” Soul Song translated. Still getting used to the idea about the unicorn now being an Alicorn,
“Yes, that Sparkle” Shade responded as if it was already pre-accepted fact, like she was always a princess “now did you already eat supper?” Shade changed the subject, not directly looking Soul in the eye; he was too busy with his work and was double tasking.
“Eeeyup, already ate with Fluttershy” Soul confirmed {“and planned the best prank ever hheeheheheheh!”}
“Okay, I have ate already, I am going to be awake for a while longer until night truly falls and I have to turn lights on, all right?” Shade then leaned over and wrote more, this time adding the completed pages to a stack already forming up. “I could actually complete it within a few days, If I work hard” Shade mused with a little optimism in his voice.
“Wow, you must be tired, you are optimistic!” Soul smiled largely
“Oh shut up” Shade snapped back, that only made Soul smile larger.
“Welllll then, I’ll just go get my guitar and compose in my room a little, if you don’t mind” Soul asked, Shade stopped and looked his friend in the eye.
“When have I ever stopped you from composing music around me? You know how much I like your music. Do it down here, I will make room for you” Shade then got up and made room for the other half of the round table for Soul’s paper, “go! I will grab more quills.” Shade got up and flew over to his shelf and started getting quills and ink as Soul Song bolted up the stairs, grabbed his guitar and folder full of not yet composed music and flew down, by the time Soul got back a space was open and Shade was back to his work, Soul sat down across and began to set out his sheets and tune his guitar.
“Ready for one productive night?” Soul challenged, Shade smirked back
“Ready.”
Shade and soul both went to town on their respective projects. Soul went off playing his guitar and singing as he composed. Shade was listening to the music as he went from paper to paper, synthesizing the information and turning it into a report.
The two talked about their lives sense they had last met each other, they laughed at funny moments, or at each other’s failures and got upset when the other was treated unfairly and wanted to get back at the pony. They worked and commented on each other’s progress and challenged each other to press on. They made revelations that inspired revelations of the other. And they did their work in happy camaraderie and warm atmosphere with music and enjoyment of each other's company until Celestia's sun had gone down and Luna's moon had rose into the sky.
“Well... We did a lot!” Soul Song cheered while playing a quick riff from his song.
“…we did cover a lot of ground...” Shade Burst looked out upon his stack of paper. It had doubled. “If we do this two more times I think I could finish it.”
“It’s that big?”
“It is full comprehensive, we need to improve to be able to fight against enemies, especially after the changelings incident” Shade sighed and went back to his work, finishing his paragraph and setting it down. His mess of papers around him had thinned as they went back his folder.
“Well, you always did a good job” Soul encouraged.
“Yes, but I am not an analysis pony, I cannot do it as fast or anywhere near perfect”
“Well yeah, it's not your talent, it's-”
“Protection” Shade filled in, he lied.
“So you ARE a bodyguard-”
“No, you know my occupation is not a bodyguard” Shade explained, Soul had caught onto that much but Shade would not let the pegasus know any more.
“You’re right, I still can't hear what it is, right?” Soul sighed. As Shade Burst shook his head
“Sorry, that is for me to know, secrets” Shade rested his chin on hoof.
“Really? Really?” Soul Song asked incredulously as he stared at Shade Burst’s smirking face
“Sorry... It is all I can tell you” the midnight blue Pegasus shook his head to clear it “enough on the depressing stuff. Play me everything you have made so far.”
“Say please?”
“I ask of you”
“Say please?”
“I request of you”
“Say please?”
“I BESEECH OF THEE! MINSTREL! PERFORM THINE SONG!” Shade yelled out in an old age voice, an annoyed and lightly enraged look on his face.
“Pffftt....HAHAHAHA!” Soul fell over sideways he was laughing so hard, he held his stomach in pain, “Stop! Stop! That’s too funny!”
“He is like Rainbow Dash, they have that same sense of annoying humor” Shade thought with an annoyed look at the tan Pegasus laughing on the couch.
“Alright, I will stop, hosting you in my house that is.” Shade’s comment made Soul Song stop laughing with a jerk.
“Wait WHAT!?” Soul exclaimed.
“I was lying, and… Please can you play music for me?” Shade asked a frown on his face, Soul Song smiled as large as he could.
“Of course, all you had to do was say please!” Soul grabbed his guitar and set it on his lap, he started strumming his guitar and sang his song he had spent so long making. Shade listened with his eyes closed as he let the song roll over him and affect him.
“Is it good?” Soul asked tentatively.
“Do you want the truth? The absolute, blunt truth?” Shade asked. Soul frowned and looked worried.
“…yes” Soul admitted, a sad look on his face.
“The truth is…. That it is…. The best song you have made so far” Shade’s verdict made Soul Song fly up in and cheer.
“YESSSS!” Soul Song flew about in circles cheering “YES YES YES!”
“Excited?” the grey eyes Pegasus asked.
“Well yeah of course! My best friend just said he liked my newest song!”
“I am his… Best friend?” Shade thought, surprised, “this is not a good thing… is it?” Shade thought sadly as he watched his… Friend fly around in circles, super happy about his progress on the song. The deep thinking Pegasus then truly noticed how dark his house was, he went to go turn a lamp, but then also realized the time with a watch check.
“Wow…. It is very late” Shade noted, Soul Song froze and looked up at the clock.
“Whoa, we gotta sleep!” Soul flew about, packing his papers cleanly into his folder and putting his guitar back in its case. “G’night Shade Burst!” Soul called as he flew up to his room “I got a big day tomorrow!” he called back
“Every day is a big day for you!” Shade yelled back
“Well duh! That’s what makes it fun!” Soul countered
“Maybe! Good night!” Shade yelled as Soul song shut his door with an excited slam. “that colt likes his sleep” Shade chuckled a little to himself as he packed his own stuff into its folder and flew up to the top shelf of his large bookshelf, a slot was open above it, with a sliding door, and folders where paced nearly end to end.
Shade put folder into the shelf and shut it, the door closed and it disappeared, enchanted to be only opened by him. Shade made his rounds, turning off lights and devices and shutting and locking doors, drawing shades over the windows and such. After checking once more over his house, Shade flew up into his own room, trotting in and shutting the door of the darkened house. Shade trotted over to the twin doors, and opened them; trotting out into the balcony Shade Burst took a deep breath as he leaned on the railing and looked out to the sky.
“Luna… this is not a good thing… is it?” Shade looked out to the moon, a depressed look on his face. “I am supposed to be secret, for I carry secrets. no one is supposed know anything about me… or else they will be in danger if they figure out that they know about me or I tell my secrets. But then you sent me here to be in Ponyville… where I cannot help but make friends and have people knowing who I am and tempting me to open up to them.” his face turned into one seeking support.
“Yes… the power of friendship is one of the strongest things in the world and my Confidant is needed... But the people that are important to me, my friends, my Confidant, they will be in danger, I will do my best to protect them, but I cannot protect them all the time, how can I be close without putting them in danger?” Shade sighed “or should I even have friends at all? should I pass and let my secrets pass with me? I am so confused… Luna, I hope you can give me wisdom, if not now, than some night, until then, good night, My Princess” Shade gave his parting and went back into his room. Forgetting to shut the balcony doors out of his mass confusion, after untying his scarf and catching his pocket watch, he set both at his bedside and He went into his bed and waited for a few minutes, dreading closed his eyes. Finally succumbing into the need for sleep, he shut his eyes, falling deep asleep within minutes.
A while later, a shadow in the moonlight passed over and that shadow landed on the balcony, and the shadow looked out at the spot where the midnight blue Pegasus with grey eyes had stared up at her moon and asked her help. She used her magic to push the already open doors aside. The Princess of the Night, Luna, entered into Shade Burst’s room and sat at the side of his bed, her face etched in sadness, it only worsened her heavy heart when she spotted the pocket watch laying on his nightstand. "he still has it..." Luna hung her head before the sleeping pegasus in sorrow "what have I done..." Luna took a breath, steeled her resolve and remembered the prayer Shade had sent up to her. Now would be the only time for her to say something, when the world was asleep an no one was looking and Shade wasn't even listening. That was she operated, with silence and secrets.
“I am sorry, my Sword. I cannot help you… for your dilemma is not one I know, for I struggle with friendship myself... and though I wish I could be your Confidant, I cannot, for I hold too many secrets of my own… those involving you and the entirety of Equestria.” Shade burst tossed in bed, facing luna with a look of pain on his face that threatened to break Luna's resolve. Either by Shade's grace or some luck in the stars, the nightmare ridden pegasus turned away from her and stopped tossing and turning.
“I am so sorry that I cannot help you with your nightmares… your dreams are cut off from my power. I wish I could help, but I cannot…” Luna set her hoof down on edge of the bed reaching out but not touching the Pegasus, and then looked up at the sleeping form of the pegasus that faced away from her. “I am so sorry that I cannot help… We are only the same, broken and confused”
The princess’ eyes went wide as Shade Burst turned over in bed to face her, his hoof went out and sleepily fell on top of hers, Luna looked up at the sleeping face of a Pegasus that she wanted to aid but could not, too bound by secrets to help. But a silent message passed from the sleeping pegasus knight to his princess, a message of forgiveness. "thank you for your forgiveness, though I do not deserve it" Luna smiled sadly as a tear slowly went down her face “but that is what friends do, don't they?” Luna let the tears flow as she covered Shade's hoof with hers "we forgive and forget and continue on, even if our secrets bind us.. we will continue on."