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Shadow Chaser

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  1. Shadow Chaser

    "Normal"

    By Shadow Chaser,

    Posted this on my Facebook and Tumblr earlier. Figured some people here might enjoy it as well.
     
     
    So I’m a fan of My Little Pony. And as a fan of the show, and an amateur vector artist who draws ponies, on occasion, I run into people who judge me for watching and liking the show or for using a God given talent to create art that I find enjoyable. So why am I still a fan of My Little Pony?
     
    Because I was a weird kid growing up, and MLP gives me a bit of hope that other weird kids growing up right now won’t have the shit of a time I did, in dealing with who they are as a people. I’m weird, and thank God, and my parents, I was smart enough, and raised well enough, to accept my weirdness and make it my own, rather than be made fun of my whole life. Here’s hoping a new generation has the strength to put up with the world’s bullshit, and the hope that they’ll be able to be themselves and not have to conform to what is considered “normal.” Because as far as I can tell, “normal” is the most boring fucking thing you can choose to be.
  2. Shadow Chaser
    ~Anthro-Shadow Chaser world~


     
    Shadow stood at the grave, his black trench coat flapping in the winds. He had stood at this grave every day for the past month and simply stared in disbelief. He ran a hand through his black hair before replacing his authentic Sherlock Hooves hat back on his head and sighing heavily.
     
    When he felt a presence behind him he began hoping it would be the shadow of death to usher him on like he so desired now. The soft country drawl of a girl still grieving the same loss he was carried over his shoulder and even on this blustery, overcast day it somehow brought a warmth to his heart.
     
    "How long have you been out here?" she said, just loud enough to be heard over the wind whipping around them.
     
    "Not long," he lied. "Just a couple of minutes."
     
    "You know better than to lie to me," her voice was closer now. "You been coming out every day?"
     
    "Not every day," he lied, again. He really did not feel like answering questions. Especially not questions about his safety and well being. He was well beyond the point of caring about his well being.
     
    "Stop it, Shadow. You can't keep pushing us all away. She was our friend too." Her voice was now just behind his shoulder.
     
    He whirled around in anger. "What do you want me to say, AJ!? Do you want me to tell you that I've been out here every day for hours on end in hopes that she'll somehow come back!? To tell you that I'd rather die where I stand just to be at her side again!? That I would give anything to get just another minute with her!? Because that's where I am. So unless Twilight has come up with a way to revive her or kill me, I'm really not in the mood to be worried about!" Shadow immediately regretted his words. He'd done well up until now to conceal his anger toward his friends and their worries about him. He knew Applejack meant no harm but his temper had finally caught him.
     
    Applejack, however, never flinched at his words. She stared at him evenly for a long silent minute. As if waiting for him to continue and being polite enough to allow him to continue berating her.
     
    Shadow sighed in exasperation. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just.. I don't know what I'm doing anymore, AJ. I'm lost without her. She was my light. My world is immensely darker without her. What do I even do now?" He looked at the ground as he asked his final question, looking more defeated than Applejack had ever seen.
     
    Without a moments hesitation she hugged him. As tightly as she could. And he reciprocated in kind.
     
    He rested his chin on top of her head and began to feel the wet spots forming on his shirt. Most of the girls hadn't really had time to grieve properly and sought Shadow for comfort and answers as if he had any answers to offer. He had long since run out of tears.
     
    They stood in a silent embrace for a few minutes before Applejack pulled her face away. Wiping the tears away like she expected to trick him into thinking she hadn't been crying.
     
    "So, what do you do out here? Just stand here?"
     
    Shadow nodded.
     
    "Does it help?"
     
    "Not at all. But maybe it works when there's two of us. Would you like to sit down?"
     
    She nodded and Shadow took off his trench coat, laying it at so they had a clean place to sit. This was ironic because they both loved nothing more than being just a bit dirty.
     
    As they sat Shadow put his arm around Applejack and once more they sat in silence simply staring at the stone before them and missing their rainbow haired friend.
  3. Shadow Chaser
    Feel a little bit more lost with every passing day. I need to be patient but I’ll be damned if that’s not hard to do. Especially when I can see all these people moving around and forward with their lives and I’m just stuck for now.
     
    I feel exactly like I did when I got out of high school. No job, no money, nothing really going for me. Except now, I’m going nowhere because of a lingering injury. I feel consistently defeated by something I can’t overcome by sheer force of will. The pain is debilitating. I’ve not run across very many things that could stop me in my tracks like this has, and I absolutely hate it.
     
    I was never the best of the best when I was in the Army but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who would put themselves through more stress to accomplish the mission than I would. Whether it’s just working to get vehicles ready, or physically exhausting labor, or just working through the pains that come with the job, you couldn’t find another person in my battery that could handle all of that the way I could. I have an immeasurable amount of stamina and no short supply of heart (or stupidity).
     
    And now here I am, living in a basement and stuck without a job because the pain won’t allow me to hold one. It’s killing me and pushing my mind to the limit of what I can emotionally deal with. I feel unstable. I’d never kill myself, don’t take it that way. Only the cowards have enough courage to go through with that. But I do find myself wishing for worst case scenarios. Life or death situations. Situations where death is all but certain.
     
    I want to be gone, I won’t lie. I really don’t feel I have a place here anymore. But I also can’t let myself go without a fight. Which wasn’t always me. That’s the person I’ve grown into. I’ve watched myself overcome so many things that I didn’t think I could do. I’ve left people astonished by feats of strength and the extent of my work ethic. And because of those things, and knowing exactly who I can be, I can’t just let myself go. I’d fight for it. I’d fight tooth and nail for every last breath even though I would welcome the end.
     
    I once heard that a man with nothing left to lose fights harder because all he has left is his life. I think that’s exactly where I am. Maybe that’s what the warrior’s spirit is all about.
  4. Shadow Chaser
    This is probably the greatest Christmas present I've ever received late. Shadow and Rainbow.
    Here's a link to the artist's Deviant Art and the picture on DA. Leave him some kind words for this amazing commission. (Which was a gift to me, and very much a surprise.)

  5. Shadow Chaser
    **This is the first chapter of a fic idea I had for how Zecora came to rhyme all the time. Posting it for posterity and as a place holder.**
     
     
    Many years after Shadow had finished his work as an agent for Princess Luna, he often found time to just wander through Ponyville and talk to ponies. Really learn about their lives, where they had come from prior to living in Ponyville and exactly how they got there. To be able to simply sit and listen to others talk made Shadow feel at ease after years of being on edge. It was a part of retirement that he did so love.
     
    On one such day, Shadow found himself walking the winding and unkept path to Zecora's home in the Everfree Forest. He watched the trees for predators as he walked but today seemed to be a lazy day for everyone. The ponies in town had moved with a slow contentment that was uncommon from the usual hustle and bustle, and the same seemed to be true even in the forest. Twice Shadow happened across creatures nearly twice his size, that he could not readily identify, but they seemed uninterested in him. They would eye him as he walked, but, perceiving no threat from him, they let him pass undisturbed.
     
    As Shadow followed the path, he recalled the stories some of his friends had told him. Fluttershy's fall from grace, Pinkie's rock farm family, and even Twilight's first few days in town. He found each story fascinating. Though, not every story he heard was a happy one until the very end. Ponyville seemed to have a magical aura all its own that made the residents thrive. Love and happiness was always around. Shadow was unsure if this was the small town mentality or simply a greater cause of ponies wanting to be a part of something greater, with none of them realizing that they were what made it great.
     
    Whatever it was, Shadow liked Ponyville, and, over the years, he had earned many friends. None so strange as the one he now ventured to see. Zecora was a strange pony by nearly any standard. Beyond just being a zebra, she was an earth pony who specialized in a very specific type of magic. Shadow had once called it black magic and she had been quick to correct him.
     
    "Just because a horn I lack, does not mean my magic is black," she had said.
     
    Shadow had rarely inquired further. Her business was her own and he respected her privacy.
     
    Today, however, Shadow would inquire about her past. Although he had never asked her, he was all but certain she had a troubled history. Something about her demeanor made him think she was almost as traveled as he was. And a journey as long as that would undoubtedly have a few bumps.
     
    As he reached the clearing that contained her cottage, he smiled. Her home always looked so inviting in the midst of these dreadful woods.
     
    Knocking gently on her door, she answered in her usual fashion, "A visitor on this beautiful day? Please come in and have a stay." Her voice was cheery.
     
    Zecora had always liked Shadow. He was intelligent, with a mind for the world, and kind hearted. Two traits that she considered paramount among friends. She beckoned him inside and closed the door behind them. Offering him some tea, which he kindly accepted, Zecora sat with her friend.
     
    "So what brings you to my home this day? A walk in the woods or are you astray?"
     
    Shadow chuckled. Her rhymes always made him laugh. "No, Z, I'm not lost. I came to see you. I just wanted to visit for a while and chat."
     
    "Then I'd best brew some more tea for us. And what is it you'd like to discuss?" Zecora rose from her chair and began to gather dishes to make more tea.
     
    "Well, I'd like to hear about, if you're willing to share, how you came to live in Ponyville. Or at least on the edge of it."
     
    Zecora paused as she made the tea, nodding her head slowly with her back to him. "It is not a story I often share. But I will tell it, if to hear it you care."
     
    "I've always cared to hear it, Z. I just haven't always had the time." Shadow sipped at his tea. A surprisingly sweet blend.
     
    "It is good that you have extra time. Have you ever wondered why I speak in rhyme?" Zecora sat at the table once more and refilled Shadow's nearly empty cup.
     
    Shadow nodded. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't. I just figured it was something that your people did. I never thought it was very strange, though. I find it rather pleasing to the ear, in fact. But I remember a day, years ago, when I didn't hear you speak in rhyme. It was just one sentence but it stuck with me."
     
    Zecora smiled faintly. "The day you speak of, I remember well. It was just a week after I finally broke the spell."
     
    Shadow furrowed his brow. "Spell? What spell?"
     
    Zecora shook her head. "Not just a spell, a horrible curse. That forced me to speak in rhyme and verse. It was cast on me when I was a foal. I made removing it my life's goal."
     
    "But you said when you spoke to me that you had broken the spell. If you aren't forced to speak in rhyme anymore, why do you continue to do it?"
     
    Zecora sighed. "Early in life we form habits we often never break. It's much more important when you're life is at stake."
     
    "Are you saying since you were a child that you were forced to rhyme or you would die?"
     
    Zecora nodded, the grief in her face was clear.
     
    "So how did it all happen?"
     
    After a deep breath Zecora spoke clearly and without rhyme, "I suppose I should start from the beginning..."
  6. Shadow Chaser
    .. are upon us.
     
    First of all, every once in a while, I read random things here on the forum. Random threads and things of that nature. Invariably, I begin to slowly realize just how young the forum is as a collective because I begin to feel very old.
     
    Anyway, that's not important.
     
    I'm getting ready to make some pretty big life changes. I recently had a family member completely screw me over, and now I am left without a job or a car and I have to bounce back. Not the easiest venture. So, I'm preparing to move back to my home town and stay with a friend for a while. I've emptied my retirement account and having to buy a beater car with that money so I can get a job to pay for.. well, everything.
     
    Admittedly, staying positive lately has been hard. My move date is not set and at the same time rapidly approaching, if that makes sense. A part of me feels like I'm going to die. And I mean that in the truest sense. I've gathered up a donation of old clothes and CDs to give to Goodwill, and it's a hefty load. Like I'm just starting a brand new life all over again.
     
    I just feel like after I move that things will be incredibly difficult and my motivation is currently at an all time low. I'm not excited. About most of this. But at the same time, I am. It'll be nice to be back "home" for a while. Even if I have to struggle for a while I'm okay with it. I've been through worse problems with less ways to deal, so I know I'll be okay. And that makes me a bit happier about everything, but it only goes so far.
     
    I'm just trying to keep my head up and press on. Certain parts of the training will never go away, I guess.
  7. Shadow Chaser
    So, I'm a fan of My Little Pony. I'm here so clearly it's no secret. And I don't feel the need to hide it from my family because it's just a cartoon, so who really cares. Well, I operate on the forums in my spare time. I write MLP fanfics, also, in my spare time. And I play the new MLP Gameloft app game thing, in my spare time. Basically, anything MLP related, I do it in my spare time because I have other more important things to do.
     
    Well, this week, the week of Thanksgiving, I'm at home all week with family. The family I'm staying with doesn't have TV or Internet and I brought nothing to entertain myself. Except my phone. Well, everything I do involving MLP can be done from my phone, and since this week is full of free time, I'm doing a lot of pony related things and whenever someone asks me what I'm doing I'll give them the quick explanation. Well, a few family members keep giving me weird looks when I tell them what I'm doing. I'm sure they don't really care and if I cared what they thought more I'd make up some lie about it, but it's harmless so why lie.
     
    Anyway, I just think it's funny and I keep talking a out it to one aunt because it seems to bother her more than anyone. . Anyone have similar stories of using your pony-ness to freak out relatives? Haha
  8. Shadow Chaser

    Why I write

    By Shadow Chaser,

    Someone on FIM Fiction sent me a message earlier today and asked me why I continue to write stories. Currently, I'm in the middle of my third adventure with Shadow Chaser and I haven't received a ton of views or comments or even a lot of thumbs ups but I just keep writing the character. And this person wanted to know why I continued to write Shadow when I didn't get much recognition out of it.
     
    My response was that: I don't really care about recognition. I wrote my first fanfic on a whim. I told a friend about it and they said it would be a good idea and, since I have experience with writing in the past, I figured I'd give it a shot. Not only that but I wrote it in 1st person-Limited which is something I used to hate doing. Because writing like that limits what you can talk about. Your character just has to guess and the reader is left to do the same. But I figured if I was going to write the kind of story I was going for, 1st person was the way to go. And so I wrote that whole story, all 15k words of it, in maybe a week.
     
    And what surprised me was how much fun I had. How much I loved my own character. How much I cared about the relationship that I had thrown him into completely by accident. That first story sits with about 1k total views across all chapters and maybe 12 thumbs ups with no thumbs downs. And all of that is good. I'm glad it was received well, but by the time I had finished that story, I knew I was going to write another.
     
    And I did. Shadow and Co. had one heck of an adventure in the second book. I explored more of my own characters past and I think I made him a well rounded character. Even after the second story, I was still enthralled with him. My motivation to write him has waned from time to time but I always come back because I want the few loyal followers I have to know the stories I have in my head. But more than anything, I want documentation of Shadow's life. It's just fun to develop my characters in such profound ways that I never thought possible.
     
    Anymore, I'm glad I was given the encouragement to write that first story. And even more glad that I was given the ability to write well to take others on that journey with me. I may not be the most popular author and I'm certainly not the best, but anyone who's willing to come alone with me, I'll take you on a pretty awesome journey. Just as long as Shadow gets to lead the way.
  9. Shadow Chaser
    So, I'm a huge gaming nerd and I keep up with most of the big name titles that come up and I generally power through story lines pretty quick, so I could probably get a review for most games out pretty fast and be able to provide info on how to do certain things or answer random questions. I dunno. What do you guys think? Do you care about some guy's opinion on video games? (Most recently tore through Borderlands 2. If you're on the fence about buying it.... Do it.)
  10. Shadow Chaser
    Walking back out into the deluge the evening had become, Shadow put up a small barrier to act as an umbrella of sorts. His time in Fluttershy's cottage had nearly dried him off and where he now headed he would have to be dry to make it in the front door.
     
    Rarity's Boutique lay almost all the way across town and Shadow walked slowly. Dark as the sky was it was only the late afternoon and Rarity would not stop working until the evening had come or someone brought her dinner.
     
    Walking through the market, Shadow caught Carrot Top closing up her shop and asked for a couple carrots. She handed them to him with a smile and told him his purchase was on the house. Shadow thanked her and continued his slow trek.
     
    Avoiding the mud puddles that had begun to form, Shadow made it to Rarity's Boutique at what would've been just before sun down. Knocking gently, he heard a sing song answer but couldn't make out the words and waited patiently for her to appear.
     
    Rarity cracked her front door only slightly. She had always dreaded being wet if she wasn't in a bath. When she spotted Shadow, she flung the door open and invited him in. It was the first time in a long time he had come to visit her, even before Rainbow's death.
     
    Rarity and Shadow had a rather strange past. Rarity had been Shadow's first crush and Shadow had been Rarity's first bully. Their troubled past and differences had long been laid to rest and were now comfortable friends. Shadow still held his feelings for Rarity but they were not as strong as when they had been children, though he would still do anything she asked of him. Rarity knew of his feelings and did not lead him on or abuse his helpfulness. She was more than happy to simply be good friends with a lovely stallion who treated her like a lady.
     
    "Shadow! I was expecting Twilight but you are a pleasant surprise." Rarity closed the door behind him.
     
    Shadow held up his bag of carrots. "I brought food. Are you still working?"
     
    Rarity smiling knowingly, "If you're offering to cook then I will certainly put everything on hold for a nice hot meal."
     
    Shadow chuckled softly, "Should I cook for three? You said you were expecting Twilight."
     
    "That would be nice but I'm not sure she'll make it in this dreadful weather."
     
    "If I can make it, she certainly can. I'll cook for three."
     
    They shared a quick hug before parting ways to the kitchen and the office, respectively.
     
    Shadow moved with a grace in the kitchen. He always had. He and Rarity often joked that if he were not a detective that he would mostly certainly have a chef's hat in place of his detective's hat.
     
    Rarity had even let slip once that had Shadow become a chef, her father would've been a bit more accepting of their old relationship. Shadow had laughed at the idea. Rarity's father was a jolly fat stallion, to be sure, but he wasn't sure her father would approve of anyone dating his daughter. Dads were like that.
     
    As Shadow lowered the temperatures on everything to await the arrival of Twilight, Rarity entered the kitchen and sat at the table, pouring herself some of the tea Shadow had also prepared.
     
    "It's been a long time, Shadow. We used to do dinner at least once a month. It's been nearly seven since our last get together. What brings you back to me today, of all days?"
     
    "Come on, Rare. You know why they stopped. We both know Rainbow never liked the idea of us having meals alone. She would never stop us and she would never say anything about it, but we both knew she didn't like it. And after she died... Well, I hardly felt like eating by myself, let alone with anyone else."
     
    Rarity nodded along. None of this was new to her. "That doesn't answer my question. What brings you out today?"
     
    "I.. I don't know. I was talking to Applejack and then I went to check on Fluttershy and I just thought some degree of going back to normal would help me." Shadow's voice softened as he spoke. He hated saying he needed help.
     
    Rarity rose from her chair and crossed her small kitchen to hug him once more. "I understand, dear. Anything I can do for you, I'm more than willing to." She had avoided using the word "help" on purpose. She did know him well.
     
    Shadow half-heartedly squeezed her, suddenly feeling awkward, "Thanks, Rare."
     
    A knock at the front door gave Shadow a moments reprieve as Rarity went to answer it.
     
    Shadow heard Twilight's voice in the hallway and he produced a bowl for each of them, giving each of them a generous helping of his special carrot soup, and placing it around the table.
     
    Shadow turned to the sink before Twilight entered. She had always somewhat intimidated him with her presence and he felt awkward waiting for her to appear. Washing off a few of the dirty dishes he had used he heard Twilight speak softly behind him.
     
    "Hi, Shadow," she said.
     
    He dried his hooves on a towel and turned to her, his half smile winning her over as it always did. "Hey Twilight. How goes the whole Princess thing?"
     
    Twilight blushed softly and tucked her wings in closer to her body. "Not bad. Still getting used to these things. Rarity said you made dinner for us? I didn't know you could cook."
     
    Shadow chuckled softly. "Twilight, I imagine there's a great many things you don't know about me. We'll discuss them over dinner. Now sit down and tell me if I've lost my touch or not."
     
    Their laughter still sounded strange to Shadow. It had been months since he made anything that resembled a joke, and he had avoided Pinkie for that reason, but he was steadfast in what he had said to Fluttershy. He would have to get back to normal eventually and laughter was a part of that.
     
    As they ate their small talk covered a wide range of topics: Rarity's current fashion obsessions and the large order still waiting to be completed; Shadow recounted one of his old cases for Twilight, just to fill her in a little more on who he was; Twilight spoke of some of the things she'd seen at Canterlot and some of the new things she'd learned about being a princess. She professed that her true passion still lied in the study of magic and that she had made a discovery recently about a kind of magic that could commune with the elements. She called it a shamanistic magic. The mention that it could be used as a harmony between life and death peaked Shadow's interests.
     
    "Are you saying that these shamans could use their magic to affect people who had died?"
     
    Twilight and Rarity shared a glance. "Maybe. I haven't learned much about it all yet, but I could look it up when I get home."
     
    Shadow nodded slowly, thinking about different scenarios, "Think I could go with you when you do? I like learning about magic that isn't done by the typical unicorn method."
     
    Twilight seemed to relax. "Sure, I loved having a study partner. We can catalog the information much faster with the two of us."
     
    Rarity looked back and forth between them, she wasn't convinced Shadow's interest was purely scientific in nature and she couldn't believe Twilight seemed to think it was. "Rainbow Dash was right. Book smart means gullible," Rarity thought, smiling to herself.
     
    "By the way, Shadow, this dinner was amazing. How'd you become such a good cook?" Twilight asked.
     
    "I haven't a clue, Miss Sparkle. Mom never showed any special interest in cooking and Dad couldn't boil water without burning it."
     
    They all shared a genuine laugh. Shadow's culinary skills had not suffered from disuse, nor had his humor.
     
    "Well, I'm going to head home. I'm stuffed." Twilight rose from her chair and stretched lightly.
     
    "I'll head with you," Shadow said, eager to research this new magic.
     
    "Think we could take a rain check until tomorrow? This meal will be enough to knock me out as soon I make it back to the library."
     
    Shadow's heart sank a little, he had been genuinely excited, but he nodded. "No problem at all. Food comas are not uncommon after a Chef Chaser meal."
     
    After a few more goodbyes, Twilight was on her way back to her home under her perfectly shaped magical umbrella.
     
    Shadow chuckled as he watched her go. "Now she's just showing off," he said to himself.
     
    Shadow returned to the kitchen with Rarity, where they sat in silence for a long time, just looking at one another.
     
    They had learned long ago that the silence between them often spoke volumes and both were happy to let it linger for a time. That was until Rarity could not contain her curiosity any longer.
     
    "Why do you want to know about those shamans?"
     
    Shadow averted his eyes from hers, looking at the cabinets around the kitchen, "I think it would be interesting to study that kind of magic." His eyes returned to hers when he finished speaking.
     
    "Did I ever tell you how I always knew when you were lying?"
     
    Shadow shook his head.
     
    "You don't look at me. Shadow Chaser, you will stare at me for days on end. You've never had a problem maintaining eye contact and I love that about you. But when you look away from me and speak, I know you're lying. You do that because deep down you can't lie to me, so you justify it by thinking you're talking to whatever you're looking at. Thinking that you're lying to it and not to me."
     
    The sat in silence for a moment before Shadow sighed and locked eyes with her. "If there's a way to bring Rainbow back..."
     
    "Shadow..."
     
    "I have to try, Rare!" Shadow caught himself and lowered his voice. Applejack might be polite enough to let him yell but Rarity would happily kick his keister for yelling at her. "I have to try. I miss her."
     
    "As do I, Shadow, but you can't expect that there's anything that will just bring her back. If that were an option, don't you think so many others would've found it by now?"
     
    Shadow swallowed hard, biting back a new wave of tears. "I need to, Rarity. I'm.. I'm starting to forget. The color of her eyes, all of her scars and how she got them, I'm starting to forget those things. I need to see her again. I need to save her."
     
    "Shadow, darling, this is one of those time when you need to let me save you, while there's still something left to save. The kind of thing you're looking for with those shamans... I've heard about things like that before." Rarity bit her lip in apprehension before continuing. "There's always a price for things like that."
     
    "Like what?"
     
    "Like you. To bring back one soul, you have to offer up another one as payment and I don't want you doing that."
     
    "Rarity, I wouldn't..."
     
    "Yes, you would, Shadow Chaser! Don't you dare tell me you wouldn't! You would do it for her and she would do it for you, because you're both the same foolhardy pony. The Elements of Harmony require loyalty and if you had been with us the day we defeated Nightmare Moon, instead of Rainbow Dash, you would've been loyalty. And that's commendable, dear, but you're both loyal to a fault.
     
    "Your loyalty to that lost loved one will carry you to make very foolish decisions on their behalf. The both of you would sacrifice yourself for the other. But with the both of you dying for each other, how do you think your friends feel? You think about how much you hurt but you don't think about the rest of us on the sidelines. We hurt the same as the both of you, Shadow. This is one of those things that you and Rainbow Dash have to accept. Death should be final. Not to be cheated, by any means, magical or otherwise."
     
    Shadow sat quiet, staring at Rarity as a tear rolled down his cheek. He couldn't argue with her. She was right. Death should be final. "I.. I think I need to go.."
     
    Rarity's heart sank for her friend. She had not intended to send him into yet another depression, but sometimes the words that need to be spoken are not the kindest. "Darling, I didn't mean..."
     
    Shadow stood from his chair but his legs buckled as he blacked out, falling sideways onto Rarity's kitchen floor.
     
    Rarity moved with a quickness, to his side. She could see him still breathing, and he didn't appear to be bleeding from his fall.
     
    This too was not new to Rarity. Throughout their years, Rarity had learned that Shadow had a tendency to be unable to deal with extreme emotional stress. She thought it odd that his line of work took him to such dangerous places that had no effect on him, but lay out a relationship in front of him and Shadow would literally pass out from the stress of it.
     
    The day Shadow had met Rarity's father had been one such day when the stress had gotten to him. He'd been unable to cope with meeting him and passed out while shaking his hoof. Truth be told, Rarity's father had liked Shadow, but he couldn't hide that he thought the colt odd and Rarity and Shadow had misinterpreted this as a sign of disdain.
     
    She sighed heavily and wrapped him in her magic, focusing intently she hefted him to her bedroom and laid him down. Though it was not proper, the soft bed would do him well for the night. She covered him with a light sheet of a blanket and crawled in beside him, listening to him breathe.
     
    Rarity draped one of her forelegs over Shadow in a gentle hug before drifting off to sleep.
  11. Shadow Chaser
    Shadow made his way through town as the world drowned around him. The storm was set to be a big one and last for a few days. He knew that because Rainbow had taught him the difference in cloud sizes and colors. He could see the puffy dark gray clouds bunched close together. They were in for a doozy of a storm.
     
    Approaching Fluttershy's cottage, a bolt of lightning nearby startled him. The flash doing more to surprise him than the thunder that accompanied it. For a moment, he thought about throwing up a small barrier to keep potential lightning strikes at bay but a shake of his head convinced him that he wouldn't be lucky enough to be struck this day.
     
    Finally stopping at Fluttershy's front door, Shadow hesitated for a long minute. He did not know Fluttershy as well as he did Applejack or Rarity and he knew she could be skittish around ponies she didn't know. The last thing he wanted to do would be to discomfort her. Especially if she was still mourning Rainbow Dash as he was.
     
    With a heavy sigh, he steeled his resolve and steadied his nerves, knocking gently but loud enough to be heard over the storm.
     
    When no answer came he thought perhaps that she wasn't home or did not feel like entertaining visitors. That was until the door opened a small bit and Shadow saw Angel appear through the crack.
     
    Shadow had only met Angel once but that once was enough to know he wasn't fond of the bunny. Shadow felt as if Angel only used Fluttershy as a punching bag and food delivery service. When he'd asked Rainbow about the rabbit she'd brushed off the idea of Angel being so terrible. She said that because Angel had gotten used to Fluttershy's kindness that he was able to be more demanding of her, even knowing she wouldn't give in most of the time. But regardless of his somewhat poor attitude, she had assured Shadow that Angel did in fact care for Fluttershy in return. He simply did not show it very often.
     
    Today would be the day Shadow saw first hand the extent of the rabbit's commitment to his caregiver.
     
    Angel stepped outside the cottage, motioning Shadow forward and into the house, hopping inside with him as Shadow opened and closed the door. Shadow looked around the cottage and everything seemed to be in place. He began to wonder if Fluttershy opted to clean things when over stressed, which would explain the immaculate state of her home.
     
    As Shadow looked around he felt a tugging at his hoof, and saw Angel was the one doing the pulling. He was also pointing frantically toward the stairs, clearly wanting Shadow to head that direction.
     
    "Alright," Shadow said softly. He extended a hoof to Angel who quickly hopped up onto Shadow's shoulder and kept his eyes locked on the stairs. Shadow felt an uneasiness at the rabbit's insistence, something wasn't right.
     
    Climbing the stairs Shadow opened his mouth to call out for Fluttershy but found a small rabbit paw in his mouth instead. Angel motioned for Shadow to stay quiet. Shadow was unsure if this meant not talking at all or simply not shouting. He opted for the former and continued his ascent.
     
    Reaching the top of the stairs Shadow could already hear Fluttershy's faint sobs. She was clearly still mourning her friend. He felt like a heel for not thinking of her sooner but she wasn't the only one who had lost.
     
    Shadow cursed himself for trying to defend his neglect of Rainbow's friends. They had never been anything but kind to him. He owed them more than he knew, Fluttershy especially. It had been her words of encouragement that lead Rainbow into Shadow's arms. Rainbow had never told Shadow that, and neither had Fluttershy, but without this meek yellow pegasus, Shadow would've never known the love of his life from any other mare in Ponyville.
     
    Pushing Fluttershy's already ajar bedroom door open Shadow paused. If he were to just appear next to her and speak, he would scare her to death. Standing stationary in the doorway, Angel seemed to sense his conundrum and hopped down from his shoulder and toward Fluttershy.
     
    As he climbed the bed he motioned Shadow forward, though Shadow did not comply. Sighing, and unhappy that he would have to do the work himself, Angel tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder gently.
     
    Barely moving the pegasus looked through her pink hair at the direction of the tap, her normally bright blue eyes looking dreadfully pale. Shadow could trace her vision as she looked to Angel and then noticed him standing in the doorway. She raised her head quickly, still hiding behind her long pink locks, and looked between Shadow and Angel.
     
    Angel did the same, looking between Shadow and Fluttershy. He felt his work was done but clearly the ponies were going to be difficult. Angel waved at Shadow and then pointed to a plate of food on Fluttershy's bedside table. Shadow thought Angle meant to say he was hungry and frowned at him but Angel quickly shook his head and pointed to Fluttershy, indicating the food was hers.
     
    Shadow felt lost for a moment before the wheels in his head began to turn. Fluttershy had not eaten recently and if it had been long enough to make Angel worry then surely it had been some time. Shadow stepped forward and hesitated.
     
    "May I come in, Fluttershy?"
     
    Shadow could barely see her nod in the darkness but he crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed.
     
    Shadow thought for a long time about his words. He had just yelled at Applejack for worrying about him and now here he was worrying about Fluttershy. He told himself this was different. Where he chose to spend his free time was his choice, Fluttershy not eating was a serious issue. A carrot to the side of Shadow's head broke his concentration.
     
    Angel seemed intent on getting her to eat sooner rather than later.
     
    Shadow picked up the carrot with his magic and held it out in front of him, "Would you like something to eat?"
     
    He could see her shake her head slowly and he felt his heart ache for her.
     
    "Do you not want to eat because of what happened to Rainbow Dash?" His question had been intentionally blunt and her reaction showed it had had an impact.
     
    Fluttershy perked her head up, her eyes meeting his for the first time since he entered the room. Her voice was nearly inaudible over the sound of the rain hitting the windows, "Ever since Rainbow... Since she... I just haven't been hungry. I don't want to eat."
     
    Shadow understood all too well. "I know what you're feeling, but you have to eat. If you don't, we could lose you too, Fluttershy," he placed a hoof on hers to emphasize his point. "You know Rainbow wouldn't want you leaving us because of her."
     
    Fluttershy nodded, and Shadow could see her tears already welling up. She reached for the carrot and took a small bite before leaning into Shadow. Sobbing gently against him, they sat in silence, save the rain pounding against the glass.
     
    After a time, Shadow finally spoke up. "Fluttershy?"
     
    "Hmm?"
     
    "I miss Rainbow Dash."
     
    "Me too." She sighed deeply.
     
    "But you know what?"
     
    "Hmm?"
     
    "I'm going to make sure I live a rich full life before I see her again. Because if we have eternity to spend with each other then I'll need some stories to tell her." Shadow smiled at his own words. They had been sincere enough, and he hoped to did get to spend an eternity with her.
     
    Fluttershy pulled away from Shadow and sat upright on her bed, wiping away a few remaining tears, "I don't have any stories to tell her though. She knows me too well."
     
    Shadow stroked her cheek and wiped away a final tear, "That's where your friends come in. Go see them. Make sure you're all still having fun so you can tell Rainbow about it one day. I'm going to keep working so I can tell her about all of my cases."
     
    At this point Shadow was only half lying. He would have to keep working so he could keep eating but he expected Rainbow would be watching each one closely. Or so he hoped.
     
    Fluttershy's eyes wandered down to the half eaten carrot still in her hoof. She nodded slowly before taking a large bite out of it.
     
    "Can I ask you something, 'Shy?"
     
    "Mhmm."
     
    "Do you keep your house this clean?" He hoped a simple topic would calm her.
     
    "Usually, yes. I'm just glad I was able to clean up the mess I made."
     
    "What mess? The first floor looked spotless."
     
    Fluttershy looked embarrassed by her story, "It's spotless now but.. Last week I got kind of.. Angry."
     
    "Why did you get so angry?"
     
    "It was the weather."
     
    Shadow furrowed his brow. "The weather? But the weather last week was beautiful. We even had a rainbow after one of the quick showers."
     
    "That's just it. I saw the nice weather and I saw the rainbow and, all at once, I just got angry. Why would it be so nice out this soon after her death? Why would the weather team make a rainbow when they all know what happened? And I just broke some things."
     
    Shadow nodded slightly. He'd lost a good chair and a few potted plants to his own anger. He hadn't expected a similar reaction from Fluttershy but he did understand it.
     
    "Can I ask you something, Shadow?" She asked, swallowing the last of her carrot.
     
    "Anything." Shadow smiled at her.
     
    "What would you do to bring her back?" She asked the question with no hesitation and locked her eyes on his own.
     
    Shadow's eyes spoke volumes. They were suddenly large and shifted slightly from Fluttershy to the window being pelted with rain.
     
    The question had disturbed him more than he thought because he could almost sense the line of questions that would follow his answer. After steadying his resolve, he spoke.
     
    "Anything."
     
    "What if it took the rest of your life?
     
    "Anything."
     
    "What if there was only a slim chance it would work?"
     
    "It's a chance I would have to take."
     
    "What if you had to kill for it?"
     
    "I've killed before."
     
    "What if you had to kill me?"
     
    This was a question Shadow had not expected, and his gaze locked onto hers once more as he pondered the question.
     
    Could he really kill her for Rainbow Dash? He'd killed to protect her before but this was different. True, his own pain would be gone, but he would bring his love back only to have her mourn a similar loss. It wouldn't be fair. But she would have him. And he would have her. That would be the difference.
     
    The more he tried to justify it, the more he couldn't. He shook his head at her. "No, I couldn't, Fluttershy."
     
    "Why not?"
     
    Another simple question Shadow found himself struggling to answer.
     
    "I just.. couldn't. I miss Dash but I couldn't do that to you. Or to her."
     
    Fluttershy nodded as if that was the answer she had expected to hear.
     
    "I think I'd like to be alone now, Shadow."
     
    Shadow turned gently toward her on the bed, "Are you sure you're okay?"
     
    Fluttershy placed a hoof on Shadow's and smiled the smallest smile she ever had before. "Yes, Shadow. I'll be fine. Because I have friends like you to help me through." Without hesitating she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, bringing a blush to both their faces.
     
    Shadow smiled and patted her hoof gently. "No. You have friends like Twilight and Rarity. I'm just the old fool of a stallion that happens to come by when you really need him."
     
    Shadow elicited the faintest of giggles from her and knew she would be fine. Perhaps not immediately, but soon enough, she would be back to her old self.
  12. Shadow Chaser
    There comes a point in everyone's life that it all comes to an end. What lies beyond, no one knows. We speculate and guess and have a faith as to what it might be, but no one truly knows. When we reach a point that we would rather speed up our lives to see that side, that is when we become overly reckless. For someone like Shadow, who was overly reckless to begin with, that can lead to some serious issues.
     
    Death brings many emotions to the surface. Members of the Royal Guard, arguably, the toughest people in Equestria, can be reduced to a blubbering mess at the loss of a comrade. For some folks it might bring out their true feelings, or lack of feelings. Some are simply sad for a time and then move on, while some never really recover from the loss.
     
    When Shadow lost Rainbow Dash he was numb for nearly three months. The initial days were filled with more tears than many expected the hardened detective to have, but in the weeks and months that followed, Shadow seemed like a shadow of his former self.
     
    He would drift through town almost always headed to the graveyard to sit with his wife. As if, by some twist of fate, if he didn't go every night, the stone marking her place would too be ripped away from him. Many took notice and wanted to reach out to him. Few knew him well enough to be the one to do the reaching, and fewer still knew how to penetrate the walls he had thrown up since Rainbow's death.
     
    On one particular windy and overcast day, Shadow stood at the grave. The wind whipping around him and rustling his hair as he removed his authentic Sherlock Hooves detective hat that Dash had given him for his last birthday. He held the hat in place with one of his hooves, closing his eyes and bowing his head in a symbol of prayer.
     
    Shadow, however, did not pray. With the death of his wife at this early age, so too had died his belief in a just and loving God. Instead, he silently played back all the memories he had. Not all of them good times but each one representing a moment in his life that he'd been able to spend with his one love.
     
    When he heard the rustling behind him he silently wished that this would be the shadow of Death, come to take him away to wherever his Rainbow was being held. Replacing his hat on his head he turned slowly, hoping to face the face of mortality. Instead he was greeted with a southern pony's sorrowful face.
     
    "How long have you been out here, Shadow?"
     
    "Not long," he lied.
     
    "You know better than to lie to me." Her eyes had an almost pleading quality as they met his own. As if begging him to tell the truth and simply talk to her. "Have you been here every day?"
     
    "Not every day," he lied, again.
     
    "Stop it, Shadow."
     
    All at once, two months of contained anger at people being so worried about him came bubbling to the surface. He'd never needed to be worried about. He was always fine in the end. And since Rainbow had gone, he'd almost constantly received words those thinking about him or keeping him in their prayers. The piece of straw Applejack normally had in her mouth would be the one that broke the camel's back.
     
    "What do you want me so say, AJ!? Do you want me to tell you I've been out here all day every day since she was taken from me!? Well, I have! Do you want me to tell you that I'm having a hard time dealing with it!? That's not too hard to see, is it!? Do you want me to tell you I'm okay and that I'm learning to live with it!? Because I'm not! Every single day I wish to trade my life for hers. I hope that it's all just been some crazy joke and she'll come waltzing in the front door laughing.
     
    "Every day I wish for that, AJ, and every day it doesn't happen. Every day I'm not with her I lose a piece of myself. I lose some of the light she shed into my dark world. My job might be to live in the shadows but, right now, I live in darkness without her."
     
    Shadow sighed deeply; he reveled in being able to finally get it off his chest. Tears he did not think he still had within him stained his cheeks. Slowly he opened his eyes, realizing he'd had them clinched tightly shut and instantly deflated at the sight of Applejack. She stood a half step back from before he had spoken with one leg gently rubbing the other and looking intermittently between the ground and Shadow. Yet she remained silent, as if she were really polite enough to let him continue berating her.
     
    "I'm sorry... I'm sorry." Shadow sighed and hung his head, feeling worse now than he had before Applejack arrived. Though he had lost his love and was suffering, he would suffer alone if not for the five friends so entwined with Rainbow's life.
     
    "Do.. Do you want me to go?" Her voice was meek, almost matching Fluttershy's normal tone.
     
    Shadow brought his head up quickly. Had his words really cut so deeply? He felt his heart sink even lower.
     
    "No, AJ. I'm sorry, I really am. I just..." He paused and fought back another wave of tears; he was so tired of crying. "I just don't know what I'm doing anymore. Rainbow really was the light of my world. My name might be Shadow but with her around I lived in perpetual sunlight. And without her.. My world is a much darker place, AJ."
     
    Applejack nodded gently. "Ours too, Shadow."
     
    Shadow could only stare at her. How selfish he had been to think he was the only one so deeply impacted by Rainbow's passing. They were far better ponies than he for remaining by his side, even in the face of his loathsome behavior, lost loved one or not.
     
    A distant rolling thunder broke the silence between them.
     
    "Can I walk you home, AJ?"
     
    She nodded gently but as Shadow stepped beside her she moved to the head of Rainbow's grave. Kissing her hoof, she brought it to the stone, speaking softly. "Get some rest, girl. When I see you over there, we'll settle who's the fastest, once and for all. Even if it takes an eternity."
     
    Shadow said nothing of her actions or words. Only giving her a subtle nod as she rejoined him and they began their trek across town.
     
    They walked in a somewhat awkward silence. Shadow felt he had said more than enough for the day and Applejack didn't quite know what to think of his outburst and subsequent apology.
     
    Another rumble of thunder, this one a bit closer than the first, broke their silence.
     
    "Think we'll make it without getting drenched?" Applejack asked, hoping to feel normal, if only for a few minutes.
     
    "We should be fine. Without Rainbow, the weather team moves a lot slower than they used to. I imagine the storm will be behind us the whole way."
     
    The mention of Rainbow had hit both of them strangely. Shadow had meant it as a passing comment, it was wholly true statement. He simply hadn’t thought of the impact his words would have on the both of them. For several more blocks their silence returned, until Shadow abruptly asked, "Have you seen Fluttershy lately?"
     
    Applejack shook her head slightly. "I haven't seen much of her since the funeral. I should check in on her soon.
     
    "You say you should check on her like you're worried. Is there a reason to be worried?"
     
    Applejack sighed. "I don't think so, but Fluttershy can be so danged hard to read some days. She's taken Rainbow's passing nearly as poorly as you. Uh.. I mean.." She stumbled over her words, backtracking and trying to spare his feelings.
     
    "No offense taken. I'm aware of how I've been dealing with it. Not saying I'm proud of it, but, what's done is done." Shadow had barely even caught the slip. He knew she did not intend it as a strike, merely a comparison.
     
    "Sorry. Anyway, she's been just about as scarce as you have. Rainbow was her first friend, after all. They'd known each other a long time and I reckon that Fluttershy misses her almost as much as you, Shadow."
     
    Shadow allowed this to sink in as they closed in on the gates of the farm. Perhaps he should be the one to speak to Fluttershy. He didn't know her particularly well, but perhaps they could help each other with this loss.
     
    Another rumble, this one not far away and quite loud, brought him back to reality.
     
    "Do you want to come inside, Shadow? No sense getting soaked on your way home." Applejack smiled nervously. He could tell she was trying to make a connection.
     
    Shadow glanced at the sky. "No thanks. I barely sleep as it is. No reason to keep your family up when you have work to do tomorrow."
     
    Applejack's smile faded and she nodded. "Okay," she turned to head to the farmhouse but stopped and turned back, "Hey, Shadow.. Can I..." A mix of pride and nerves kept the question from coming out.
     
    "Sure, AJ."
     
    Without hesitation, Applejack embraced Shadow. She buried her face in his shoulder and just held tight. Shadow could feel the wet spots forming on his coat and held her for as long as she wished to remain.
     
    He didn't mind. Most of the girls hadn't really had time to properly grieve and sought him for answers and counseling, as if he had any answers to give. He certainly wasn't the best person to be mindful of their feelings. The afternoon's events had proven that.
     
    "It'll be okay, AJ. We'll be okay." Shadow hoped his words sounded more convincing to her than they did to him. Being 'okay' was a hollow concept to him at this point. He was not okay. He wasn't sure he ever would be.
     
    Though her words were muffled he could still understand. "I just can't believe she's gone, Shadow."
     
    "Me too."
     
    They stood at the entrance to the farm for several long minutes before another rumble of thunder shook them and a few heavy drops of rain began to pepper the ground around them.
     
    Applejack sighed against him and broke their embrace. The tears on her face were unmistakable but she didn't care. Shadow would be the last pony to care about tears right now.
     
    "Go inside, Applejack. I'm going to go visit Fluttershy before I head home." Shadow silently hoped that would be a good idea but Applejack nodded as he said it.
     
    "I think she might appreciate that. She doesn't do well with storms like this anyhow. Take care of yourself, Shadow."
     
    "You too." Shadow turned to leave but stopped short, "Tell Apple Bloom I'll give her and the other girls a lesson on being detectives when they feel up to it." He forced himself to smirk for the first time in months. Despite the handful they could be, he liked the Cutie Mark Crusaders and he hated seeing them so saddened by Rainbow's loss. Scootaloo especially.
     
    Applejack smiled weakly and nodded. "I think they'd like that."
     
    Without another word the two ponies parted ways. Applejack picked up her pace to escape the rain but stopped on the front porch, watching Shadow disappear into the downpour.
  14. Shadow Chaser
    So, I found out not too long ago that a buddy of mine spends his time drawing ponies on paper in black and white, well, one of the most requested things on his Deviant Art is for him to color his drawings. He's not too into coloring stuff so I offered to vector a few to put them in true color with the show. And this one, Big Mac and Cheerilee, is the first one I chose to do. It's in 16x9 proportions so it'll fit as a background.
     

  15. Shadow Chaser
    The new class of Cheerilee's student sat in their seats as the bell rang.
     
    As was the usual, everyone seemed awkward and shy. For most fillies and colts, this was their first time on their own in a social setting. Even those who were friends before this class now seemed strange to one another. This included two particular pegasi sisters. Sky and Moon Chaser.
     
    Sky was the older of the two. With a cyan coat and a similarly colored mane should be all but invisible flying in the sky, except for the single patch of black in the front of her mane. Which appeared to be the only thing she had inherited from their father, Shadow. Beyond that one tuft of hair it was easy to tell she was Rainbow Dash's daughter. Even sitting at her desk, nervously glancing around, she still fluttered her wings. Cheerilee prepared herself for a hooffull, remembering her times with Scootaloo and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.
     
    Moon, however, took after her father a bit more. With a dark purple coat and black and purple streaks throughout her mane, Moon would've been just as invisible as Sky during the night. She, however, had inherited a trait that made her father so good at his detective work. She was personable. She could make any pony tell their whole life story with bare so much as a hello. And her demeanor reflected this. Sitting upright at her desk she looked around to each pony smiling happily at all the potential new friends.
     
    Cheerilee cleared her throat and the class gave her their full attention.
     
    "Alright, class. I know it's your first day and some of you are a bit nervous. But I assure you, this year will be lots of fun. We will be learning lots of new things. Like how to spell our names and all kinds of new games that I know you fillies and colts haven't played before."
     
    The mention of games seemed to spark the interest of most and Cheerilee smiled at their enthusiasm.
     
    "Okay, now, I know that a lot of you don't know each other and to help with that, I want us all to come up, one by one, and say our name and something that we like, something that we don't like, and something we fear. And we'll use those things to find out that everyone in class has at least one thing in common."
     
    This time their faces reflected their fear. No one liked public speaking, especially for a bunch of strangers, but Cheerilee's years of experience taught her that making each pony confront that nervousness helped the children to relax with one another easier and help for bonds just a little faster.
     
    "Just to show you how easy it is, I'll start. My name is Ms. Cheerilee. I like meeting new fillies and colts every year. I dislike when it rains for too long. And I'm afraid of thunder storms."
     
    Some of the children giggled at her fear, a clear sign they had already begun to take interest in who would be next to speak.
     
    "Now, who would like to go first?" Every pair of eyes, save one little pegasus hit the floor. Moon Chaser looked around and at Cheerilee, waiting for whomever would be called upon or volunteer.
     
    Looking down at her seating chart, Cheerilee recognized one name. She'd met the filly once in the market with her mother and she had seemed very bubbly at the time. "How about miss.. Dinky Do? Would you come up and introduce yourself?"
     
    Dinky moved slowly from her desk and walked in front of the class, turning and standing next to Cheerilee. Cheerilee could almost see the poor dear shaking, and coached her appropriately.
     
    "So, what's your name?" Cheerilee smiled at the little filly.
     
    "Dinky Do," she said almost inaudible.
     
    "Well, Dinky, what's something that you like?"
     
    "Umm.. I dunno." Her face was turning red with embarrassment.
     
    "You don't know? Well, what about ice cream? Do you like ice cream?"
     
    Dinky nodded a little. "But I like muffins more."
     
    Cheerilee smiled. Like mother, like daughter. "I like muffins too. What's your favorite kind?"
     
    "Blueberry." Dinky seemed to relax the more she spoke and the children of the class didn't giggle at her bashful nature, for they too were worried about speaking in front of the class.
     
    "Alright, so that covers the like. What's something you don't like, Dinky?"
     
    "I don't like spinach. It always tastes terrible." This brought a smattering of giggles from the class but some appreciative nodding as well. Even in Equestria, no one liked spinach.
     
    Cheerilee laughed, herself. "Alright, Dinky. And what's something you're afraid of?"
     
    "Nightmares. They're always so scary." This brought more nods from the class.
     
    "Very good, Dinky. Class do you think we can give Dinky a little round of applause for being so brave and going first?"
     
    There was a light clapping from the class and Dinky went back to her seat with a smile. As she passed, a seated filly whispered, "I hate spinach too." The both giggled and Cheerilee smiled. This exercise always worked like a charm.
     
    And that was most of their day. The children came up, one by one, telling their likes, dislikes and fears. When she had exhausted the rest of the class she came to her last two fillies, Sky and Moon.
     
    "Alright, Sky. You're turn."
     
    Sky nearly jumped out of her chair. She'd be ready to go for some time now. Turning to face the class, she spoke confidently, "My name's Sky Chaser. I like flying and playing with clouds."
     
    After a few giggles, Cheerilee spoke up. "And what do you dislike?"
     
    "I dislike when cloud get all rainy cuz they're not as much fun to play with." More giggles.
     
    "And what are you afraid of? Certainly not heights."
     
    Sky shook her head. "Nah. Heights don't bother me. But when it's super dark at night, that always kinda scares me."
     
    "Well, it looks like you and Hay Seed have something in common, doesn't it?"
     
    Sky nodded and Cheerilee directed her back to her seat, calling the last remaining filly to the front.
     
    Moon moved happily and without fear. She'd have been just as happy to be first. Taking her position next to Cheerilee, she spoke.
     
    "My name's Moon Chaser. I'm Sky's little sister. I like the stars that come out at night. And I dislike really cloudy night when I can't see them at all."
     
    "And what are you afraid of?" Cheerilee asked.
     
    "I dunno. I'm not really afraid of a lot of stuff." Moon said, glancing up at Cheerilee.
     
    "Well, what about the dark, like Sky?" Cheerilee offered.
     
    "Nope. I was never afraid of the dark, because my daddy showed me his shadow. And shadows only hang out in the dark, and everything in the dark was way too afraid of his shadow so they all went back to the light. So I didn't need to be afraid of the dark because the only thing in it was my daddy's shadow."
     
    Cheerilee was caught by the logic of what Moon had said. "But what about when daytime comes? Where does his shadow go then?"
     
    "It goes back to following him around. He said him and his shadow have a deal. When he's in trouble or scared, his shadow is there to keep him company and scare off anything that might try to hurt him. He said he got my shadow to make him the same deal so I never have to be afraid as long as my shadow is around." Moon spoke with all the conviction of someone completely convinced by her own words.
     
    Innocent logic aside, Cheerilee had to admit that this was an excellent way to deal with the fears of a child. "Well, ask him if he can make the same deal with my shadow. I'd like to not be alone during thunderstorms."
     
    "But you're never alone, Ms. Cheerilee. When it gets dark your shadow just takes up more room to keep all the bad stuff away. When it storms and gets really dark, your shadow is wrapped all around you, like a big blanket. It keeps out the bad stuff and lets the good stuff in, cuz good stuff always happens in the light and he always makes a hole for it."
     
    Cheerilee blinked. She had sincerely never thought of anything like this. Perhaps this would help quell her fear the next time Ponyville had a storm. "Well, thank you, Moon. I feel much better knowing that."
     
    Sky raised her hoof from her desk.
     
    "Yes, Sky? Do you have a question?"
     
    "Yea. Can I change my fear? I'm not scared of the dark anymore."
     
    "Me either," said Hay Seed from across the room.
  16. Shadow Chaser

    Help Is On The Way

    By Shadow Chaser,

    "You've failed, detective! There's nothing left for you to do! There's no one left to save! Accept you death with a little grace and humility." The grey earth pony shouted, his white mane swishing has he walked and shouted.
     
    "You're wrong. There's always someone left to save." Shadow coughed from his position curled on the floor. "There's always someone left to fight as long as there's someone left to do the fighting. And I'm still standing."
     
    "Quite the contrary, detective. You seem completely unable to stand. And where you lay is where you will rot. We've taken everything you care about in this world. Canterlot will not survive the night. Our dragon friends will be here any moment to wipe this pitiful city from the face of the planet. For that reason, I must leave you now, detective." The earth pony left Shadow's cell, slamming the door behind him.
     
    Shadow couldn't help but smile as a song he had heard long ago flashed in his mind. "I've got my mother's dreams. I've got my father's eyes. You can't take that from me. Just go ahead and try." Gritting his teeth, Shadow rose slowly to his hooves. "The Crescent City sleeps while giants in the sky, preparing to unleash, let loose a mighty cry."
     
    As if on cue a thunderous roar echoed through the halls of the prison and Shadow could only smile further. Pressing his neck to activate his communicator he spoke, "Shimmer. Dragons. More than one. Send in the Shadowbolts."
     
    "They're already en route," said the feminine voice in his ear.
     
    "Who's leading the charge tonight?"
     
    "The best flyer we've got."
     
    "I was just singing about her." Shadow closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Tell her I'm sitting this one out. And tell her... Tell her to make her dad proud."
     

    -----


     
    Moon Chaser banked to her left and closed in with the rest of her squadron, barking orders, "Alright, boys and girls, we're going up against the real deal tonight. Dragons will be in Canterlot airspace. I want you fast, agile and strong. It's not just our lives at risk if we fail, it's all of Canterlot. Get me?"
     
    A motivated "Yes ma'am" left Moon with a sense that her squadron would be fine, but dragons were the top tier of threats when it came to combat flying. Any mistake could mean death. Focusing forward and pushing ahead Moon's ear crackled momentarily and she dropped from her lead position, letting her second in command take over the flight.
     
    Rubbing her ear for a moment she waited. In seconds there was another crackle of static accompanied by an all too familiar voice.
     
    "Moon, can you hear me?"
     
    "I can hear you, Shim. What's my old man need now?" Moon was cocky because she'd been called upon several times to aid her father in his covert spy missions.
     
    There was a long pause in her ear and her suspicions were raised before Shimmer said, "He's sitting this one out, Moon. He'll be alright but he just wanted to wish you luck."
     
    Moon came to a complete stop, hovering in the air. "Where is he?"
     
    "Moon, you can't waste time trying to get to him. Canterlot needs you more than he does."
     
    "To hell with Canterlot. Where is my father, Shimmer?"
     
    "He's being held in the old cliff prisons below the castle, but Moon.."
     
    Moon took off, heading directly toward the castle, before banking around toward the cliffs. Scanning the sheer wall in front of her she couldn't notice a difference in the wall to indicate the entrance. "What's it look like, Shimmer?"
     
    Silence.
     
    "Shimmer! Of all the people in this world who would understand me right now, you should be right at the top of the list. Now help me find him!" Moon shouted louder than she intended and caused some feedback in her own ear as a result.
     
    Waiting just a moment more Moon's ear crackled. "Head to the base of the cliff, 50 meters off the water you should see a rock darker than the rest, press it."
     
    Moon moved with a speed and determination she didn't know she possessed. Following Shimmer's instructions she found the correct rock and pressed it, and watched shocked as the entire rock wall in front of her seemed to shift. Windows appeared, all adorned with bars, and from one of them she saw black flashes emanating. She'd know her father's magic on even the darkest of nights.
     
    Dashing to the window, she smiled and felt herself soften, the way only her father could make happen. "Dad! How do I get in there?"
     
    "You don't. Get away from the window." Shadow seemed unsurprised by her sudden appearance.
     
    "Dad.."
     
    "Just do it, Moon." He issued the command not as a superior but as a father.
     
    Moon turned and flew away from the window, hovering at a safe distance. She was waiting for something less than what she got. The window she had just been hovering by was soon blasted out of the wall. In fact, the entire wall attached to the window came with it, leaving a rather large hole in the back of Shadow's cell, who now lie motionless inside.
     
    Moon once again dashed to her father, clearing some debris away from him. "Dad!?"
     
    Shadow rolled over and groaned softly, before reaching and stroking a hoof over his daughter's face. "Twilight always said to never use that one in an enclosed space." His face turned to a wide smile and for a moment, they shared a laugh. "Come on, help me up."
     
    Shadow rose slowly, dusting himself off and stretching. His age was beginning to show after all these years. "Alright, I'm saved, now go save the rest of Canterlot."
     
    "Saved? You're sitting in a hole in the wall, 75 meters above the ocean. You're not saved."
     
    "Oh, daughter, you think this old stallion has run out of tricks? Not by a long shot, my dear. Not by a long shot." Shadow cast another spell, one of his oldest and favorite. Without pause he stepped forward to the edge of the hole and stepped out and down onto the wall.
     
    Moon moved quickly to grab him but she soon became aware that he wasn't falling. "How..?"
     
    "The first spell Twilight ever taught me. Back before she was a princess. I told you I still had a few tricks." Shadow gave her a wink and a smile. "Now, go. Go save the rest of the world. I'm going on vacation."
     
    Moon couldn't stifle her laugh, and she hugged her father, hovering over the ocean while he stood on the cliff. "Love you, Dad." In a flash, she was gone.
     
    Shadow watched her fly off into the night, knowing she'd be just fine. "I love you too, sweetie."
     
    As he began his trek down the wall, Shadow reached the chorus of his song. "Help is on the way...."
     
     
     
    If I ever write another Shadow Chaser story, expect to see this.
  17. Shadow Chaser

    One Last Party

    By Shadow Chaser,

    Pinkie Pie threw me one last party today.
     
    In the planning process someone told Pinkie it was supposed to be a serious and somber occasion and she was disappointed. I told her to "Pinkie" it up. Which brought her curls to their bounciest bounce. I did ask for no streamers or confetti. I think she'll still use the confetti. She knows I've always liked it.
     
    Some days I walk along this beach and watch as my hoof prints disappear back into the sand as the surf washes over them. It wasn't until recently that I realized how metaphoric this was of life. We're here one minute, solid and undeniable, and in the next, we're gone. Fading from memory until we disappear completely.
     
    I miss the days when I didn't think about that. When the sand was just the sand and the surf was just the surf. And they both felt good against my hooves. I suppose they still do. Some things will never change, no matter how much we do.
     
    So Pinkie threw my last party. And she really outdid herself. Even on what is normally an unhappy occasion ponies are smiling and laughing. Sharing good natured stories about the guest of honor. I even shared a few of my own that most don't know.
     
    It's weird to think that by this time next week I won't be here. Don't let that statement get you down; we're still here for a good time. And it's not as if I'm unprepared. I've said my goodbyes, given the tightest of hugs to the ponies that mean the world to me, and even took the time to tell a certain lady how much I was going to miss her. I stole a kiss too. She still slapped me. Sorry, Rare.
     
    I can't say I don't love the idea of having this party. And I really love that I've had time to say what needed to be said. But next week, when you're all doing this for real, remember, this is a party. I don't want my friends to leave too soon. Because I still want to play.
     
    Pinkie, go ahead and hit me with that confetti you've got saved up. You throw one heck of a funeral.
  18. Shadow Chaser
    "Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up," the silver pony asked.
     
    She nodded. "I wanted to be Rainbow Dash."
     
    "And when you found out you couldn't be Rainbow Dash, what did you want to be?"
     
    The light blue mare thought for a moment. "I wanted to be as fast as Rainbow Dash."
     
    "And what did you want to be when you found out you couldn't be that fast?"
     
    "I wanted to fly as high as Rainbow Dash."
     
    "And when you found out that you weren't the strongest flier and you couldn't fly that high, what did you want to be?"
     
    "I settled for being a weather pony like Rainbow Dash." The cyan pony looked at the ground, discouraged that she had given up on many of her dreams. "What about you, grandma? You were one of the fastest and most amazing ponies that the Wonderbolts ever had. What did you want to be when you grew up?"
     
    The elderly silver pony stretched gently and smiled at her granddaughter. "When I was a child, I wanted to be Rainbow Dash."
     
    The cyan pony nearly fell over from the irony of it all. "But you were a Wonderbolt! Everyone knows the one thing Rainbow Dash always wanted was to be a part of the Wonderbolts!"
     
    The silver mare nodded. "Yes, she did. But fewer know that she turned them down when they offered her a position on the flight team. She was the very first pegasus to ever be offered a position and turn it down."
     
    "But why would you still want to be her after she had turned down her dream?"
     
    The elder mare closed her eyes, recalling all of the times she had seen Rainbow Dash fly. All of the amazing things they had heard about Rainbow Dash being a part of even after she had turned down the Wonderbolts. "Because I wish I had been that brave. Brave enough to stare my one truest desire in the face and say 'No.' I wish I was able to have turned down the Wonderbolts and still go on to do amazing things that ponies would talk about in hushed voices. As if, if they spoke too loudly someone would try to disprove the fanciful story and they only wanted to live in their fantasy world that was, in fact, reality.
     
    "I knew when the Wonderbolts offered me a position on a flight team that I would take it. That would be my penultimate position. But I wished I could have turned it down. I wished I could've said 'no' and still gone on to be bigger than the Wonderbolts themselves. No, my dear, you're old granny isn't that brave. Not by a long shot."
     
    "I don't understand. Why tell me all of this now," the cyan mare asked.
     
    "Because I want to ask you another question, dear. Do you like being a weather pony?"
     
    "Well, sure. I'm good at it and I've made a lot of new friends. And I figure if I can't do what I really want to then doing something important to others is a good tradeoff."
     
    "Alright. Just do your old granny one favor."
     
    "What's that?"
     
    "If you ever get the chance to pursue your dream. Even the smallest glimmer of hope that you might somehow succeed, I want you to quit that weather job and jump at the chance, no matter how small it may be. I want you to follow that dream of yours. Find a way to strengthen your wings and get back in the sky. Fly high and fast."
     
    The light blue mare nodded. "I promise. If I ever get the chance to try and be the next Rainbow Dash, I'll go for it."
     
    The silver mare smiled and laid back in her hospital bed. "Thank you, dear. But I must say, if you're going to be the next Rainbow Dash, you're going to need to dye your mane," she said with her signature coy smile.
  19. Shadow Chaser
    So here I sit, on this lonely mountain top, in some forsaken cave, trying to stay warm enough to make it just one more day. Even as I write this I feel myself leaving. My soul yearns for freedom. Freedom from this cold and dreadful place. Yearns to fly as far from here as physically possible until my fragile wings give out once more and I plummet back to the earth in a final swan dive show. But it's not a show. It's a lonely and forgotten pegasus that can't handle it anymore.
     
    And as much as my soul yearns for that freedom, for that sweet release I feel my body fighting on. It holds tight to my soul, never wanting to relinquish it's firm grasp. My mind will not let me give up. I suppose my will to survive is stronger than I anticipated. I was never afraid of death. I wanted it. Stared it in the face, never blinking. I welcomed its cold embrace. But now, in this place, in this frigid tomb on the fringes of the world, I find myself fighting. I won't give up. I can't give up. I owe that to myself.
     
    If I die, then I will die fighting. I won't lay down for anyone, that's just not who I am. I've never been the bravest or the strongest, and I'm not the fastest by a long shot. But I will never bow my head in shame, never admit defeat, because there will always be more races. More chances to prove myself. And what would I have become if I give up now?
     
    It's only snow. I just have to get up and shake myself off. Keep moving and stay warm. I can make it through tonight, and come the first warm ray of sunshine in the morning I will take off once again. Soaring like an avalanche coming down the mountain and I will fly my way home. I'll make my apologies. Let them know where I've been and what I've seen. Tell them about this place that they might come visit one day. Perhaps on a day when it's warmer.
     
     
     
    Even as I write this I feel my soul slipping away from my body. The cold is taking me. Tell my family I died peacefully and with no pain. Even now, hoof shaking as I write this, nothing hurts. I actually feel kind of warm. Tell them I was warm. And Rarity, my sweet and secret jewel, tell her I lo.....
     
     
    "The rest is unreadable. It looks like he died while writing it."
     
    "What should we do with it?"
     
    "I'm thinking it belongs in a history museum. And who's Rarity?"
     
    "The only one I knew of was from that Element of Harmony story they told us as foals."
     
    "That's just a children's story."
     
    "What if it wasn't?"
     
    "Then I guess she never found out how he felt."
  20. Shadow Chaser

    Wounded Healer

    By Shadow Chaser,

    I know a lot of people don't like rap but the mellow vibes of this song along with the lyrics kinda hit something for me. I encourage you to give it a listen and just let yourself relax and vibe a little bit.
    Anyway, enjoy.
     
     

    His footprints are fading away from the beach
    We're not a family to pray or to preach
    But daddy's best friend took a handful of pills and now he's at a podium making a speech
    Yesterday night after dark
    He carefully wrote his remarks
    but everyone said what he put on his page so he threw it way and went straight from the heart
     
    I thought this was a party
    But all my friends are leaving
    And I still want to play
    You wrecked me when you stepped out
    cause you're the wounded healer
    And you're supposed to stay
     
    A year's bottle in a bucket of trash
    It'll tip over the more that it stacks
    Didn't notice it till now but dad's been moving slower every time we play go play catch
    I'm scared of the day when he'll carry a cane
    I carry his dream
    I carry his name
    And when papa is gone he will never be gone because the sound of our sneeze is the same
     
    God bless
    I hear your voice in mine
    And I want to stop time
    Like a carnival ride
     
    I don't know what I'm saying but I mean it
  21. Shadow Chaser
    As a combat veteran of the US Army, I stand fully by this response to the question, "Why is America the greatest country in the world?"
     
    "It's not the greatest country in the world. With a straight face, you're going to tell students that we're so star spangled awesome that we're the only ones in the world who have freedom? Canada has freedom, Japan has freedom, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, Belgium has freedom! 207 sovereign states in the world about 180 of them have freedom. And just in case you accidentally wander into a voting booth some day, there's some things you should know. One of them is, there is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we're the greatest country in the world. We're 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, 3rd in median household income, number 4 in labor force and number 4 in exports. We lead the world in only three categories, number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real, and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom, are allies. Now, none of this is the fault of a 20-something college student but you are without a doubt a member of the, Worst. Generation. Ever. So when you ask, what makes us the greatest country in the world, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
     
    It sure used to be. We stood up for what was right. We fought for moral reasons. We passed laws, struck down laws, for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed. We cared about our neighbors. We put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chests. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases and we cultivated world's greatest artists, and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars. Acted like men. We aspired to intelligence. We didn't belittle it, it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election and we didn't scare so easy.
     
    We were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed. By great men. Men who were revered. The first step to solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore."
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