The life and times of an Earth Pony.

by TheRealShadowFoot

The Final Chapter.

Shadowfoot had awoken late the next morning. And what surprised him was what he wasn’t hearing. Screams of death and agony had faded. The sounds of cracking timbers weren’t present, either. He heard a rustling directly to his left. Lying next to him was the little colt that he had wrapped up last night. He was indeed a cute little thing. He had a dark brown coat and black mane, and hadn’t even earned his Spirit mark yet. The fire Shadow had set last night must have died down sometime while he was asleep. And Shadow surmised that the colts had gotten horribly cold and lain next to the warmest thing he could find after the fire. Shadow didn’t horribly mind. He knew better than to drop his guard so soon, so he nudged the colt awake gently, and tried to explain to the colt what was going on.

Northern Skies was beside himself with grief. Shadow had not made it back to base camp yet, and Northern hadn’t seen him at all during that morning. But there was packing up and cleaning up that needed to be done in the wake of the last battle, and they needed all the hooves they could get. As North helped tear down various tents and temporary structures, he kept a wayward eye out for his brother in arms, hoping that he would return safely to base camp sometime soon. Moving from project to project, Northern couldn’t help but worry. His wings and ribs still pained him, but the Medics had done a decent job of patching him up.

Shadowfoot had scared the colt at first, but the little one really had nowhere else to go. He listened to Shadow’s story, and reluctantly agreed to go with him. The colt was still visibly shaken from his experience. The colt’s name was Azure Dream. Shadow cut off a bit of his own cloak to wrap Azure in, and they proceeded slowly out of the wrecked basement, Shadow’s senses on high alert. Shadow popped his head out firstly, and then instructed the colt to follow him and stay close. He wasn’t about to let another innocent fall if he could help it. As they made their way out of the once grand city, Shadow’s eyes were everywhere, until they safely made it behind friendly lines.

Cries could be heard throughout camp. Northern Skies had thought another attack had started, so he galloped straight toward the source, forgetting his ribs were broken. North collided face first with a familiar crimson unicorn. After Northern shook his head a few times to clear his head, he was staring straight into the steel blue eyes of his best friend. The moment was awkward at best, and Northern hugged his friend, tears in his eyes. Laughing, Shadow pushed North off of him and went to search for something. When Shadow found what he was looking for, North was introduced to him. A little brown colt with blue eyes much like Shadow’s. Azure Dream he was called. Bowing low to be eye level with the little colt, he almost got bucked in the face by the fierce little guy. North smiled at this. After what he had been through, he still had fight in him.

Azure dream was filled with inexplicable anger when his big red friend was tackled by another big white pony with wings. All Azure wanted to do was buck him in his silly face, and acted upon instinct. Shadowfoot had calmed Azure and explained that the big white pony was his best friend. Shadow hiked Azure up onto his back and walked toward the commander’s tent, to check in and make sure there weren’t any other missions that needed to be carried out. Shadow had been given the next couple hours to himself, because most of the breakdown had been taken care of already.

Azure was getting hungry. He lightly tapped Shadow on his shoulder. After rousing Shadow’s attention, they went to the meal tent and found something to fill their bellies. Azure ate ravenously, as if he hadn’t eaten for days, and in fact, he hadn’t. After his parents’ ruthless murder by a pair of Old Equestrians, all he did was cry his self to sleep every night, and sleep the days away. He couldn’t face the corpses that were once his parents, but he had no idea where to go. That was until the red unicorn found him and took him in. Azure was sitting across from his new friend, eating in silence, wondering where he was going after this.

Shadow decided it might be a good idea to tell the little colt what was going to happen, since Shadow could read on his face that he was confused and still scared. Shadow explained that if the little colt wanted to, he could stay with Shadow in his hometown, or he could take the colt somewhere else if he wanted. Azure spoke for the first time since Shadow met him.

“Mr. Shadowfoot, I don’t have any family left or anywhere to go. I really need a home.”

At this, Shadow was surprised he had been so willing to go with him.

“Very well, then. I’d be happy to have such a brave young colt living with me.” Shadow said in his deep, gruff voice, ruffling the little colt’s mane. Azure couldn’t help but smile to himself. He finally had a friend, even if he didn’t feel like family yet. It was the first time Azure smiled in what seemed like months. Sure, it would take him a long time to get over his parents’ murder, if at all, but at least he had somewhere safe to go. While they ate, Shadow explained as much as he could about his home. He told Azure about the farms, and the other ponies, and all the new ponies that were arriving.

After their meal was over, Shadow relinquished his young charge to North’s caring hooves, while Shadow took up some of the work that was left over. Since camp was mostly broken down, Shadow decided to aid with body disposal. It was an arduous and unsettling task. While Shadow levitated corpses into a mass grave, his thoughts trailed off to what he was left with after this war was all cleaned up. He was raised as a farm pony, but he wasn’t sure if he would be able to grow food still. He forgot most of the subtle nuances of nature that his father had taught him, which seemed to also be the key to growing a large enough orchard to accommodate 40% of the townsponies’ needs.

Shadow had learned much about war, and the geography of Equestria in his time roaming the continent. Maybe he could become a Geography teacher. There was already a school back home, recently built with the influx of families with young colts and fillies. Perhaps he could take up a position as a teacher for half the day. He had a hefty amount of bits to live off of. Being one of the best swordsponies in his squad had its perks. He even had money from his cartography days. Even if he didn’t find his place right away, he could still live comfortably for a few years. Satisfied with this, Shadow focused once again on the grim task at hand.

After a few weeks, cleanup and most of the restoration of the town had been completed. Shadowfoot and Northern Skies were eager to set their hooves on the path back home, now with two more ponies than what they had left with. Silver Platter decided to make their hometown his home. He’d been a drifter for so long; he didn’t even remember where he lived before. Azure Dream was eager to have a new home, far away from the brutal murders he had witnessed. Far away from the evils that war had caused in perfectly decent ponies he had once knew and loved. Azure had nothing left. No family, no friends, save for the few he had met over the past weeks.

With a closing banquet before the once-proud New Equestrian soldiers had left for their respective homes, Shadow knew he would never forget the horrible deeds he had witnessed over the past years, but he had seen so much good happening also. Tribes formed small towns, technology had advanced, and the threat that once loomed over their heads was destroyed. Also, he had seen so many new families form, and he knew that the future of Equestria was bright. Shadowfoot set off eagerly, North at his heels, Azure beside him, and Silver platter babbling on about the café he was palnning to open up, and how he would serve all manner of food, from fancy banquets down to real, down home cooking.

Shadow had been invited a number of weeks later to some special event in the mountains just Northeast of his hometown. Apparently history was about to be made, and the first formal government was going to be formed in Equestria. As Shadow stood in the front row of the crowd assembled before the massive stone building, he was thoroughly bored. Azure was also fidgeting beside him. He had nobody to keep an eye on Azure back home, at least not today, so much to his Azure’s dismay; he had to go with Shadow.

Fanfares started sounding on the platform ahead of them. First two, then four, and finally six horns were blaring. Approaching the platform was a pony unlike any Shadow had ever seen in his travels. It, or rather, he had both a set of massive wings and a horn atop his head. Shadow had only seen pictures of these god-like beings in books. It was also twice the size of even the biggest ponies. It was called an Alicorn. Gifted with extremely powerful magic, and wings, these beings were quite rare and nearly immortal. Centuries ago they were wiped out, or so it seemed. But evidently, some must have survived.

The Regal Alicorn had ascended his platform, his future subjects awaiting him. His wife trailed him. He spoke with a voice only royalty possessed.

“My future subjects, it has come to my attention that our fair continent is in need of order and stability in the wake of the 10 years’ war against the Old Equestrian Tribes. I, Arcanus Solarshimmer, ask of you kind ponies to let me lead you into the bright new future our sons, husbands, and fathers, have built for us. Together with my wife, we promise to bring kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty, laughter, and magic to your lives. To prove this, I will show you the true power bestowed upon me by the gods above.”

Twin beams of magic melded together on a stone pedestal set before the crowd. One beam was silver, like that of fresh clean water or moonlight. The other beam was a brilliant gold, similar only to the sun in all its might. Together, the regal Alicorns produced gems of utmost beauty, each a different color but shaped identically. A Ruby appeared, followed by an amethyst, sapphire, topaz, emerald, and a pink quartz. These were then embedded in stone orbs, forever to be preserved.

Arcanus spoke once again. “These very gems symbolize the power of unity in all things, and henceforth will be be known as the Elements of Harmony. They contain the very power that we also possess in ourselves. I implore you once again, kind ponies, to accept my leadership.”

Shadow stood there, dumbstruck. He was well aware that magic was quite powerful, especially Alicorn magic, but had no idea that such precious treasures could be assembled from nothingness. He then only did what he felt was right. He bowed, low. Azure followed suit. Eventually, every other pony in the square did, too. It was, at that moment, the Equestrian Monarchy was established. What followed that day were several hundred years of relative peace in the land. The New royalty eventually gave birth to two daughters. One they named Celestia, the other, Luna. The sisters assumed control of the throne after their parents had finally passed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~10 years later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow and Azure were in the orchards of the family farm, tending to some trees that had been treated roughly by the previous week’s thunderstorm. Azure had grown into a fine young colt. He was big and strong; much like his Shadow had been when he was his age. He accepted Shadow as his father for a number of years now, but this didn’t stop Azure from having nightmares about the horrors he had witnessed when he was younger.

Shadow had gotten on in years, but this didn’t stop him from buckling the living hooves out of the wrecked trees that dotted the orchard. The sooner they got these trees down, the sooner they could replace them with some of the younger saplings that had begun growing. As it turned out, Azure had a knack for growing things, and with Shadow’s knowledge behind him, they had turned the once downtrodden family farm into the biggest trader of fruits and vegetable this side of Canterlot, the royal city. Just then, a bell was ringing outside of the main house. Shadow and Azure knew what that meant, and raced to the farmhouse, eager for a hearty supper provided by none other than their beloved wife and mother, Lunar Destiny.

Shadow was greeted warmly by his wife, with an affectionate kiss and nuzzle. Azure was greeted similarly, with a peck on the cheek. Destiny had taken a liking to the family life, and enjoyed every minute. She had also birthed two young foals, both who reflected the very opposite of their parents’ colors. Moon Shadow was a jet black earth colt with a deep red mane, and Swift Destiny was a midnight blue unicorn filly with a shocking white mane. They were as of yet too young to help with the family farm. Azure loved his brother and sister dearly, and spent every spare moment he could playing with them and educating them on the ways of farm life.

The town had become known as Ponyville by the locals, and eventually it was given its own place on the updated maps that Shadow still drew up to this day. He had kept contact with many of his brothers from the war, and they were constantly feeding him new information on towns and trade routes that had begun to form. Even though farm life was taxing, Shadow always found time to add to his maps, submitting them to the King and Queen for review and publishing. The one thing he truly enjoyed was sharing his wealth of knowledge.

Northern Skies had also settled down at this point, marrying Dusk Glitter and fathering his own colt, named Dusky Skies. Dusky was truly a site to behold, his coat taking on the color of his father’s mane, while keeping his mother’s mane color, though slightly darker. Northern Skies loved his family, and wouldn’t have his life turn out any other way, had he been given the opportunity. Northern kept constant contact with Shadow and his family, even becoming known as Uncle North to Azure and Shadow’s young foals. Their children went to school together, and were often found playing together.

North had established the first Ponyville library, which housed many of the books he had come across upon his travels throughout Equestria. North had enjoyed traveling so much; he had to share his findings with other ponies. In this respect, North had written some of these books himself. Other books Shadow had helped write, also. Even Silver Platter had a cookbook in the library. North didn’t need his money for much more than living and maintaining the library, so any spare bits he’d earned went towards buying more books.

Northern Skies soon had amassed a collection of hundreds of books, ranging from the chronicles of the war, to geography books, to history books about the monarchy they lived under. North displayed maps and notes from Shadow’s personal collection. Shadow didn’t have time to write on top of running the family farm and drawing his maps, so he gave copies of his notes to North for his library collection. The originals were locked away safely in a trunk, sealed magically to prevent damage to these precious things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Prologue~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadowfoot and Northern skies lived long, happy lives, and even had books written about them after they had passed. Not much is known about their families, or their descendants. Some historians say that their bloodlines still run deep into Ponyville’s history, and some historians believe that the last of their bloodline passed decades ago.

Some original copies of their works reside in the Canterlot Royal Archives, never to be read again except by the most elite of scholars, and the Royal Family themselves. Shadowfoot’s ancient trunk has never been found, and probably never will be. The old library still stands, as does the family farm.

The farm was bought out by the Apple family, and has been since renamed to Sweet Apple Acres. The Library was also renovated by one Twilight Sparkle, personal protégé of Princess Celestia herself. Rumors say that Miss Sparkle has the last remaining original copy of Shadowfoot’s final map, though its age cannot be verified due to the age of the parchment it’s on. Nor is the map displayed openly, for fear of it being stolen or harmed.

Sadly, very few ponies may ever know the true scope of the pair’s contribution to Equestrian History as a whole, for it simply cannot be captured in a book, or a thousand books. This is just a short documentation, pieced together after several decades of research. While some of this may not be wholly accurate, it’s about as close as any pony will ever get to fully knowing the history of Equestria, before the ruling monarchy came to be. There are several other individuals and groups who have compiled similar findings in other books, and while these two may not be wholly responsible for the documentation that is known, they are one of the biggest contributors.

Comments

[Stalin the Stallion]

Okay, i have read your story again. You defenetely has improved (some typos has disappeared ect.) But paragraphing is still not very good. Basically what you did is divided one gigantic block of text into smaller, but still heavy. Only advice i can give you is read other stories and pay attention to paragraphing, and then try to mimic what you saw. You know what they say? Live to learn I am still has so much to learn myself, even with paragraphing. Read. As you reading - you improving. Maybe you even dont know it, but you do. And this story is still cool! Good luck!

[TheRealShadowFoot]

533366
thank you for taking the time out once again. I'm using the same paragraphing for other fics. I don't know what else I could change, but I'll be absolutely certain to pay attention to some of the more popular fics on the site and see what I can come up with. I'm trying to alternate between each character's view points. That could be the problem right there.

[vren55]

I will tell as much as I can from carefully reading the first 2 chapters and skim-reading the next (I will read more carefully later). If you don't like the comment, delete it, but this is my opinion.
The Bad: Your fic is really, really fast moving. What you could have done is use less exposition and more events. Eg. You could write about how they met, if they bickered, how did they meet the pegasus brothers? Did they argue over their parting? Of course, that technique would be much more draining, it's a style you might not be used tow writing and will require a hell of a lot more time and would require a massive rewrite. Still, I think the characters would have come out much more dynamic if that technique had been used and it would have given the audiences more time to get to know these characters. One more thing is that I'm rather confused why you decided to tag this fic with 'Alternative Universe', because it's not really a really 'what if situation'...(correct me if I am wrong, but the story can fit into canon history even if you didn't mention the founders of Equestra such as Platinum, Hurricane, Pudding Head, Clover, Pansy and Smart Cookie). Instead I think the story becomes more of a history fic instead of 'Alternative Universe'.

The Good: You've given a lot of backstory to Shadow and North so they are rounded characters with personalities. Also, I love history fics (eg. Paradise and I'm writing one myself, plz read?) and the story works to canon. War in Equestria would have been a great possibility before the Princess's arrived and you explained it pretty well on how it broke out. Your story so far is solid, with a developing plot, actually developed characters and solid grammar (which cannot be said for some fics that exist). It is a fairly good shot for first fimfic. (better than mine which got disliked )

[TheRealShadowFoot]

698759
I know it was kind of rushed, but I was so excited about writing it I kind of got carried away. Time constraints prevent me from doing any really heavy editing to any of my fics. I'll gladly read over your fic since you took the time to not only read, but review mine. I'm not one for reviews, cuz im no real critic, but if i have anything good or bad to say about it i'll be sure to say so. It's tagged as AU because I wasn't sure if I would get any hate for claiming this as part of equestrian history. I wish you best of luck on your fic and i'll be sure to leave a rating.

[Mikoyose]

I have to say this is really good and I have no idea why it only has those few likes but on the bright side no dislikes!

[TheRealShadowFoot]

thanks man. it's been a while since somepony commented on this.