I need your opinion: I recently got a review stating that the story has gone from interesting to ,"who's that guy or where did the original story went." By all means, I'm not mad, in fact, i have felt the same way about this before. So if i'm feeling like the story has become, "uninteresting" then surly you guys must as well. This is why I was iffy about these chapters because i knew they would be dark and almost completely different from the fic itself. I still write them because it explains why Night Shadow is who he is and how he became what he is today. Yes, I understand that the human weapons don't make sense, but there's a reason why they are there. I hope i haven't ruined anything for my readers and if I have, i would hope that my previous work in the past will show that I will eventually return to the actual story itself. If you guys don't like this background story, i can stop and i will explain in short what happens without the story itself. Thank you to those that have gotten this far.
Dark warning: Like stated before, these chapters are a bit dark and include death. Read with a strengthened heart.
Edit: 5,000 words down.
Edit: over 20,000 words and no where close done. I don't feel like posting it until its completely done...so bear with me
Edit: As of 12/6/13...33,400 words...
Chapter 16 F: The Forgotten past (part 2 of 4)
(Continued right after part 1)
Twilight stood dumbfounded and shocked as Night Shadow's good side told her this.
"A break…a break! You pulled me out because I needed a break! I'm trying-
"To save Night Shadow, yes I understand this. But, because of the darkness within your heart at the moment, his dark past might corrupt you. Please, it's been about three hours and you still haven't broken one barrier. Allow your body to rest for now, we will continue in one hour."
As much as Twilight wanted smack the stallion for keeping her away from her goal, he was right. Her magic was completely drained and she felt like an abused wad of paper. She slowly sat on the ground and looked around in the dark void before staring back at Night Shadow's other self.
"You know, you really need a name, I can't just keep calling you the good form or good guy." Twilight said to him.
"I have a name; I just didn't feel like it was appropriate to say it at the time…"
"Why not?"
"Because…because I'm not worthy to bear it anymore. I understood the job I had before me, to keep evil in check…but it would seem as if I've failed my only purpose."
"That's no reason to not say your name."
"Think what you will, I just don't want to speak on the matter of my name anymore."
The stallion looked to see Twilight searching her thoughts intently, as if trying to find something.
"W-what are you doing? I asked you to rest, not think yourself to-
"Your name is Light Shade isn't it?" Twilight asked with a smile.
It was now the red ponies turn to go into a state of shock and disbelief.
"How did you-
"It was easy when you think about it. First there is Night Shadow, the neutral third of the group. Then there is Dark Fire, the evil third. Naturally, the opposite of dark is light, hence your first name. The last name was tricky; I would have guessed water but Night Shadow's last name gave it away. Your names are contradictions to each others. You can't have a dark fire because fire makes light and you can't have a night shadow without light. So the only alternative was shade, a synonym to shadow and dark, finally giving us the name Light Shade." Twilight concluded.
Light Shade was still in shock by how quickly she got it, it was almost paranormal.
"Rainbow Dash is right; you really are an egg head."
Twilight frowned, giving him a stern look.
"And here I thought you were the good guy."
"Hey, I'm just stating the truth, nothing more."
"Still doesn't help…"
Light Shade sighed softly.
"So you have no question about what is going on in Night Shadow's past?" He asked.
"I have several, first, how is it possible that we can see several scenarios that Night Shadow couldn't witness because he wasn't there or because he was unconscious? For example, Blaze Cast talking to Celestia and the others in the cave hideout."
"That's because I'm able to use magic to portray the events like he actually witnessed them, it takes a lot out of me though. The fact the Night Shadow leaned to, "break the fourth wall," helps me with this as well."
"I understand the first part; the second makes as much sense as a banana turning into a time machine."
"Understandable, it's a confusing subject that not every character should know."
"What do you mean every character?" Twilight asked, almost offended.
"Grapefruit…"
"Ok I have another question, why is everypony running around with weapons of destruction? These memories have been nothing short of a nightmare and all these killings…it's just…just…"
Light Shadow could see a small tear run down her face in sorrow.
"It's all in the past right now…and it's something we are trying to prevent currently." Light Shade said, trying to comfort her. "The weapons you see are a result of Herus and his dark mind. He brought them into this world through ballistic engineering and mass produced them across the land for decades. What Dark Fire is unknowingly doing is bringing the past back into the present with these weapons, something I can't allow him to do."
"So why hasn't Discord done anything, I know he's not usually the one to care but I know he just wouldn't sit back and watch others die. He's just an immature kid on the inside not a sycophancy dictator."
"And that's exactly what Herus made the alicorn's believe so they could battle each other out of existence and take the thrown without trouble. But you know the story as well as I do, Celestia defeats Discord and frees the land of chaos…at least that's how it was put in the books." Light Shade informed. "Maybe Herus and his actions were left out to prevent those in the present from fearing his return."
"His return?!" Twilight screamed in terror.
"I have already said to much…get some rest, you need it." Light Shade said as he took a seat and closed his eyes.
"But what is Herus, what kind of thing is he?!" Twilight asked.
"Even I don't know the answer to that one…"
One hour passes.
"Twilight wake up, it's time to get this over with." Light Shade said, tapping on Twilight's nose.
Twilight awoke, getting up to her hooves and stretching slowly.
"Uugghh, can a hard floor get any harder?!" Twilight yelled.
"It's Night Shadow's mind, what do you expect, a five star hotel?"
Twilight groaned softly as she established her foot hold on the ground.
"I should have used you as a big fluffy pillow, would have been better then the floor."
"As great as it sounds to have a mare snuggle up with you in bed, I'm just an image that has not taken a physical form. Plus, I have rejected these feelings of…love so I can focus on the objective at hoof."
"You can't just ignore your feelings of love, that's insane."
"You…you realize who you're talking to right?"
Twilight face hoofed.
"Besides…I've been alone in here my entire life with no friends…family…or loved ones to…care for…" Light Shade whispered, staring down at the floor. "But I'm not important, we need to hurry and do what we came here to do."
"Even the best of us have to enjoy life."
"But now is not the time…I'm fast forwarding his memory three years, the proudest and most depressing days of Night Shadow life. Be warned, the pain Night Shadow feels will be directed to you as well." Light Shade informed. "Guard your heart; you may have to break two bindings at once if we are to move quickly."
"I'm ready." Twilight stated proudly.
"Brace yourself…"
5,011 years ago
Location: Discord's Equestria
Seven years before Celestia took the throne
"Do you remember your objectives?" A hooded pony asked, glaring at six other ponies in different uniforms and robes.
They all nodded.
"Good, operation nut cracker is a go…make me and your teacher proud."
The six ponies saluted in sync before a large flash of light teleported them a good hundred feet in front of a heavily plated bunker entrance in a field. The weather was slightly foggy but clear enough to see two board ponies guarding the door.
"Tremor…knock knock…" The hooded pony whispered.
A large, dark blue pony with purple hair stepped forward before the others, boldly demanding the attention of the guards.
"Hey, you can't be out here, this is a restricted area! Take your teenage friends elsewhere!" The guard ordered.
Within an instant, the dark blue pony removed his robes to reveal what seemed like a portable armory of weapons on his body. He slowly stood up onto his hind legs and removed two m202 rocket launchers from his back and pointed them at the door.
"Special delivery!" The alicorn sized pony shouted with glee.
The two guard's eyes popped out of their heads as eight lethal rockets flew towards them at blinding speed. They jumped out of the way just before the rockets made contact and literally exploded the door and the entrance away. Stone, dirt, metal and fire flew into the air as a typical alarm went off in the background.
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, WE HAVE A GROUP OF TERRORIST OUTSIDE OF THE BASE, ENGAGE WITH LETHAL FORCE!" The other guard said, screaming into his intercom.
The blue pony dropped the two launchers casually and replaced them with a Pkp Pechneg and a M 60 light machine gun. Soon, guards of all races were being mowed down by the crazy pony's firepower until the last guard simply dropped his gun and ran away into the woods.
"Well that blew them away, hehehe."
"Tremor, keep your jokes to yourself, they're bad enough as it is." An orange pegasus with yellow hair stated, giving him a smirk.
"I just mowed down eighty-six guards; you have no right to talk, Mico." Tremor retaliated.
"You know I don't fancy my code name, so stop calling me by that."
"Quite you two. It's protocol Mico, we have to when on missions and you know it." A dark brown stallion with black hair said, walking passed them.
"*groans* always with the protocol, Callidus, it's like you can't think for yourself."
"Keep moving." The hooded pony commanded.
All seven ponies moved to what was left of the bunkers entrance and entered a room full of ruble, smoke and bodies. But when the smoke cleared, there were surrounded by fourteen more guards with laser sighted plasma rifles.
"Maybe there was more than eighty-six." Tremor said, slightly surprised.
"Yeah, well it's my turn." Mico said, standing to his hind-legs.
The others knew what this meant and instantly hit the floor. Mico quickly took out two mac-10 submachine guns and angled them to the sides as he pointed them outward. The next thing the guards knew was that Mico had literally preformed a 1,800 degree spin that sent out a barrage of lead bullets, taking them all out in less than a second.
"Yeah, who's the bad flank now?" Mico said, flaunting his achievement as he blew the smoke away from his guns.
"Show off…" Tremor stated, reloading his massive weapons.
"I'm a showoff? All you do is brag about how many kills you got, one of these days you're-
Talking was abruptly silenced when a hooded dark, green pony raised his hoof into the air, stopping the rest in their tracks. The pony pointed at Mico and Tremor, silently pointing them to the left hallway. He then pointed to the silver pony with copper hair and pointed up. The silver stallion spared no time as he suddenly jumped into the vent above and vanished. To finish off, he pointed his hoof to Callidus and a beautiful purple mare and then pointed to the right. As the last of them disappeared down the halls, the green pony continued down the main hall along with the other hooded pony.
"You really don't like to talk do you, Elegit?" The hooded pony asked rhetorically.
Elegit glared at hooded pony and smirked before continuing down the hall.
"He chose well when he picked you to be his apprentice..."
Callidus quickly ducked, avoiding multiple laser blasts as he took cover behind a metal box. He stuck his head out of cover, only for him to almost get his head blasted off.
"Son of a…!"
"What's the matter, boys playing to rough?" The purple mare with red and green hair mocked.
"I don't see you trying, Filia…now let me do my job." Callidus said, being frustrated.
"Hehe, going to use one of your explosive balls again?" She asked, chuckling.
"They're called grenades you perverted mare." He corrected, blushing in embarrassment. "And yes, I am…now quiet while I angle my grenade launchers." He demanded, taking out two m32 launchers from his coat.
As he rose to fire his weapons, a stray laser shot his hat off, forcing him to take cover again.
"This is too funny!" Filia said, stopping herself from balling out of laughter.
"Filia, do something about it then."
"So you want a mare's help hmmm?"
"Errrr, just distract them while I blast them."
"Nope...I'm just going to take them out."
Filia slowly took off her robes, making sure Callidus was staring straight at her. Once off, it revealed her purple wings and a large arisaka rifle with a bayonet on her back.
"Why do you do this to me?" Callidus asked as his nose bleed.
"Cause you're cute." She said, jumping over the cover and into the open. "HEY BOYS!" She shouted, spinning the rifle above her head like a helicopter. "I'm sort of sorry about this."
The mare fired her first shot at one of the eight guards, hitting him right in the face. She quickly did a cart wheel, cocking the lever to her rifle as she did, and fired a second time while in mid spin. She hit another in the chest, forcing him to hit the floor roughly. As she cocked the rifle again, she ran up the wall and flipped off, firing her third shot in the air with the same results as the first. Taking no breaks, she ran up to another guard, impaled the bayonet into the guards throat and spun around.
This caused a gory like tornado to occur as the rifle twirled on her back and fired for the fourth time, hitting another target. Grabbing it with her hoof, she slammed a guards head into the wall with the butt of her rifle. With a quick rolled, she avoided several laser bolts and impaled another guard on the side of his neck. She flipped over him, ripping the bayonet violently from his neck and pointed the rifle at the last guard.
"Give up please…don't make it hard on yourself." She said, cocking the rifle for the fifth time.
The guard trembled as he slowly slumped to the floor, dropping his weapon. Filia quickly kicked the gun away and felt pity on him.
"Just…just try to forget about this ok." She said, handing him a bag of currency used at the time.
She then noticed an old model 1887 shotgun pointed right at the guards head and grabbed it, forcing it to point up.
"What the heck, Callidus, I just sparred him and you want to kill him anyways."
"You know our protocol; we can't take a chance to-
"No, screw that, I sparred him so he's going to live, understand."
"That's against-
"Oh my gosh will you shut up about that, Gees, they might has well made you a cyborg."
"It's our job to make sure none get out alive so they won't come back to hunt us down."
"We're the most dangerous ponies in the world right now and no one knows it until it's too late. Stop worrying about it and just let him go."
Callidus sighed as he put his shotgun into his coat. However, as Filia turned around to the door, he shoved a taser into the guards face, knocking him out.
"WHAT THE &#&!, CALLIDUS!" Filia yelled in anger.
"I will retrieve him later, then we will all be able to decide his fate."
Filia's eyes twitched in complete rage before she turned to the locked door for the second time.
"Just get the door open."
Callidus approached the door, observed it as if it was a painting, and then turned to the control pad to his left. He pulled back the sleeve on his left foreleg and started to punch in buttons on what looked to be a portable touch screen computer. A couple seconds later, a small cable popped out of the side, allowing him to plug it into the wall.
"I'm going to go ahead and hack into the system's computer to get some schematics of the base."
"Yeah, yeah…you do that computer stuff." Filia said, neglecting the fact that she had no idea what he meant to begin with.
"Should be simple and make our lives easier, heck, I might even be able to deactivate the security system from here."
"Whatever…"
"Can you at least show some interest, it's like I'm talking to a two year old."
"Naaa, I'm just going to stare at your body and just imagine some things." Filia said with a giggle.
"Fine, just keep your hooves on the ground this time; I don't want to see them…somewhere else like last time."
Filia only giggled more, stretching herself out on purpose.
"Did you like what you saw…I know I did."
"You're such a slut." Callidus finally said, ripping out the cable from the wall. "Ok, the door should be open in three, two, one…oh crap."
The door was already open, but there was about twenty guards pointing all sorts of weapons at the two infiltrators.
"Why didn't your computer tell you about this?!" Filia yelled.
"Drop your weapons and put your hooves in the air!" The captain demanded.
"With all respect…how's that possible?" Callidus asked.
"Just drop your weapons!"
Filia and Callidus casually dropped their weapons like they had done it a thousand times; it was almost boring to them.
"Get on the ground and put your hooves behind your back!"
"Again how is that even-
"Shutup and do what I say!" the guard screamed, obviously nervous.
"Wait, what about the things on his chest?" The captain asked, noticing two belts of grenades and gadgets across Callidus's body. "Take those off to." He demanded.
The brown pony remained calm as he reached for his explosive belt.
"FREEZE!" The captain panicked, firing his gun inches above Callidus's hat which he recovered off screen. "Move another inch or I'll end you."
"You seemed a bit stressed out there-
"QUITE YOU SICK & ^#$ !"
The captain finally calmed himself before cautiously approaching the brown stallion. He grabbed Callidus's hoof and yanked the explosive out of his hoof.
"And just what where you going to do with this?!" The captain yelled, getting into the pony's face.
"Freeze…"
The captain suddenly realized that by yanking the pony's grip from the explosive would actually activate the bomb, but it was too late. Callidus quickly grabbed Filia and jumped out the door just as a large light and explosion went off. When he looked up, he saw that the entire room had become a freezer with fifteen ice sculptures. In addition, however, he felt something soft underneath him as well.
"Callidus…you know I have to get my body ready first before we rustle in the hay again." Filia said, smirking.
"What do you mean again?" The stallion asked in aggravation as he stood to his hooves.
"Don't play dumb; remember the time behind the bush? You we're slightly drunk and you started to kiss me on the neck. You then took your hoof and slowly slid it down my body until you reached my-
"Filia! This is not the time or place for your made up stories."
"Made up?" Filia asked, approaching him until she was a few inches away from his mussel. "It doesn't have to be…"
Callidus instantly pushed her to the ground and breathed heavily.
"Get your gun and lets go before your heat melts the guards."
"Go on without me, I want some alone time with the guards…"
Callidus gave her a stern look, not being amused whatsoever.
"Kidding, kidding, jezz…ok maybe just on-
The stallion grabbed Filia by her neck and her gun before dragging her into the next room, closing it behind him.
"We're losing ground fast, who ever these guys are they aren't bucking around." A security guard said, observing the security tv's.
"Yeah, but we had sight on seven of them before, where are the other three?" A sergeant asked, searching the tv's.
"One went in the air vents remember…the other two though, it seems like they just vanished because every camera is static on hallway b."
"So our main hallway is being overrun by two hooded psychopaths." Another guard said, loading his weapon.
The sergeant turned to his squad of twelve guards.
"Load up; we need to end this threat before they can reach our prisoner."
"What about the commander, he must have her hooves full at this point." The security guard asked, turning around in his chair.
"And that's why she can't be interrupted, so stay on your guard and shoot anything that moves."
This was a bad call because as soon as the words were spoken, the lights went out, only leaving the dim light of the televisions to illuminate the room.
"They must be cutting the power to avoid detection, quick, get the power back on."
As the security guard turned around, a knife flew past him and hit the override switch. The guard fell out of his chair in pure horror before the ventilation duck burst open. The guards looked up to see a silhouette of a pony drop out and rapidly start to throw knifes at the guards until he suddenly vanished.
"Casualty report!" The sergeant asked in adrenaline.
"I don't know, it's to dar-
The guard was cut off abruptly; all that could be heard afterwards was a gurgling sound and a thump as he hit the floor.
"THIS THING IS ALL AROUND US!" Another guard yelled in panic, shooting at everything in the room.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'R-
The guard suddenly flew back as a wave of blood spewed out from his chest, frightening everyone even more.
"% ^# THIS, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" A panicked guard screamed.
He took to steps before he suddenly performed a back flip and landed on his stomach with several knifes impaled through his body.
"WHERE IS THIS THING?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"GOD ^ *!&# GET THOSE LIGHTS BACK ON BEFORE-
This time the guards head was yanked down to the floor and followed by a large knife impaling him right underneath the jaw.
"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" The sergeant ordered, silencing those that were left. "Don't move…fire when you hear movement."
The room remained quiet for another five seconds before they heard the sound of a knife hit the table near another guard.
"TAKE IT DOWN!"
"WAIT YO-
In total panic, the remaining guards shot one of their allies in cold blood…good job guys…
"This is crazy…" The sergeant said, losing sanity.
"We- we just…shot him…" Another guard said, shaking.
It wasn't long before another muffled sound was heard, and then another and another until there where only three left. As the sergeant backed up into a corner, he witnessed the murderer come out of his clocking spell, take out two balisong knives and rapidly stab the guards until their coats turned red. As the pony quickly did some tricks with his blades before putting them up, the two guards fell to the floor, leaving one last guard. The silver pony shook his head in sorrow before knocking the sergeant unconscious.
"Legio, are you in the security room yet?" Callidus asked from an intercom.
"Yeah, and about twelve poor souls meet their fates today." He responded.
"A jobs a job, Legio, you know that. Ok, so do you see a large control panel near the t.v's?"
Legio remained silent.
"Do you know what a t.v is?"
"Quite frankly…no."
Legio could hear a frustrated sigh on the other end of his intercom.
"It's the glowing box thing on the wall, there should be like ten of them, you see it now?"
"Yeah…what now?" Legio asked, approaching the glowing 'boxes.'
"Need you to override the security on the door so we can bypass the system to-
"Yeah, yeah, no need to get nerdy about it."
"Just flip the switch to let us in, I'll do it myself." Callidus said, losing patience.
Legio started to turn switches and press buttons until the door behind him swung open.
"Legio, how are you doing?" Filia asked, somehow appearing next to him and putting her hoof around his neck.
"Callidus, do what you got to do." Legio said, completely ignoring the mare next to him.
"Hey, I'm right here you know!"
"In which you are sadly correct my dear…now get off me."
Filia whimpered softly before backing away into a corner and crossing her hooves.
"Just because we're killing others doesn't mean we can't have fun…" Filia pouted.
"Your kind of fun is WAY different from our kind of fun." Legio said, picking up the knifes from fallen opponents.
"It's not that we're boring, it's just that we have priorities." Callidus said, imputing commands into the security computer.
"Well, you're kind of boring anyways, Callidus." Legio teased.
"No I'm not! I just like to educate myself about the situation rather than participate in your activities of enjoyment."
"In translation, you would rather read books about grass then talk to your friends."
"That was a very exquisite and informative book I'll have you!"
"You're a big, buff, bull sized, killer stallion with enough bombs to level a town. Yet here you are, talking about books about grass."
"You have your hobbies and I have mine."
The brown pony took about five more seconds before the ringing of the alarms ceased and the rest of the doors unlocked, letting Mico and Tremor in.
"I clearly got more points then you even with your head start. Face it; I won today, so you're buying the drinks." Mico taunted.
"Oh please, I'm the one that got all the bonus points for knocking out the security drones and blowing up the doors. I even got all the gryphons this time." Tremor argued.
"Yeah, well-
"Are you two playing that stupid game again?!" Callidus asked angrily.
The two ponies suddenly looked up in surprise, blushing out of embarrassment. This forced Callidus to face-hoof harder than normal.
"This isn't a game, so stop treating it like a kickball tournament! Take this more seriously before-
"Before we all die in a fiery explosion that will cost us not only our lives but decide the fate of the universe and bla bla bla I get the point."
"You clearly don't because I got them all." Tremor teased.
"Why you back stabbing-
"Enough!" A voice boomed from seemingly nowhere.
Everypony turned to the middle of the room to see the Elegit and the hooded pony standing dead in the center. Without questioning, they all stopped talking and gave their attention.
"We came here to free our teacher and friend, not bicker about kickball." Eligit spoke for the second time. "So here's what we need to do…
"Ma'am, our security is down and they're getting through, it's time to leave." A guard informed.
"No, impossible, how could they have broken through so easily?" The mare commander with a yellow coat asked.
"I-I don't know, they all look like they're in their late teens. Around the age of eighteen perhaps."
"So you're telling me that a bunch of teenagers penetrated a high level security base with ease?!"
A small chuckle was heard in the dark by a restrained captive who was sitting in the middle of the floor and bound by a wooden chair. The commander turned and gave the blindfolded prisoner a stern look.
"What are you laughing at?!" The mare asked in anger.
"Their coming to free me…and you will pay for what you've done to me unless you surrender here and now."
The mare ran up to the captive red stallion and slapped him across the mussel.
"Surrender?! Why should I surrender to a common solider and murderer?! Midnight Astral has offered good money to have you put down or captured. However, his daughter Celestia has requested your safe release into her custody as well. Last but not least, Herus has offered quite a lot of money to acquire blood hungry ponies like you. So tell me what I want to know before I decide your fate for you!"
The red pony only laughed louder at the mare's attempts to intimidate him.
"I've worked for Herus, he would kill you the second he saw you. Midnight would take control of you and Celestia would do the same before sending you out to do her bidding. So what will it be, mare. Death or enslavement?" The prisoner asked
The mare spat onto the captives face before removing the blindfold off of his head, letting his long hair hit the floor.
"I don't care who you are or who you work for…so I'll ask you for the last time. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY?!"
The stallion laughed even more as he gave her an evil grin.
"You will never find them…now surrender like a good mare before my friends do something to you that will be far worse than death."
"Forget him, we need to leave now!" The guard demanded.
"No...prepare protocol one hundred sixty-four." The mare said in a dark tone. "And as for him…bring in the kill team."
The guard opened the prison door to allow four ponies with dark fur walk in.
"You had your chance, now you will die like the rest of your kind…Night Shadow." The mare said, walking out of the door with her guard.
The door closed, leaving Night Shadow in a dimly lit room with four guards. He watched as they slowly took out what looked to be shock rifles and pointed them at him with killer intent.
"So I seriously get no final request or my one freaken phone call?" Night Shadow asked, slightly joking.
The stallions powered up their rifles, giving no emotion whatsoever. Night Shadow let out a loud sigh as seconds went by on the clock behind him.
"Look, I'm going to give you guys a chance to walk away and pretend nothing happened, ok. You don't want me to perform a very predictable and cliche scene that unrealistically frees me, correct."
The guards once again didn't care.
"like the lights will go out or I magically untie myself…or maybe one of you guys come close to me and I use him as a meat shield…you know…?"
As the four ponies fired their weapons, Night Shadow quickly turned around, letting the electricity hit his wooden chair. He then ran backwards and smashed his chair into one of the guards before lifting his hind-legs into the air and performing the splits that knocked the other two guards out and forcing their guns out of their hooves. Before the last guard could comprehend what just happened, Night Shadow caught the shock rifle into his mouth and shot the last guard before spitting it out of his mouth.
"Or you guys could just stand there like idiots, allow me time to prepare my escape, and still do nothing even when I'm beating up your friends. Hey, that might have actually been an original for once."
Night Shadow looked back to see that the chair was still tied to his body and that rope was securing his hooves to the chair.
"Oh great, this is going to hurt…"
Night Shadow back-flipped into the air and slammed the chair into the ground with all his bodyweight and force. Breaking the chair and possible his back.
"Mmmmmm…I so called it to." He said, popping his back like an old stallion. "Now I just need to get out of this stupid rope off and find the keys to the door."
Night Shadow struggled with the rope until it became lose and broke free. However, when he looked for the key, he found that the guards had nothing on them.
"This is just wonderful. Here I am in a dark room with three unconscious stallions and a fired meat bag with no way to get out of the door."
He looked at the door to see that it was made of solid metal with no hinges.
"Seems like a slide open door…I wonder if they…
Night Shadow walked to the door and slide it open with ease.
"That's convenient."
The red pony slowly closed the door half-way, put on one of the guards uniforms, grabbed two shock rifles and walked out of his cell. He looked around to find nothing but boxes and supply crates in storage garages in what looked to be a large circular hallway.
"Did they really keep me in a storage closet?" Night Shadow asked, heading to the right hallway.
As he continued on, the walls became cylinder, forming a cement tube with a dim red light flashing above him every one-hundred feet or so. He eventually reached a four way hallway.
"The signs are in a different language. Almost looks like gryphon writing but with a twist of equine. That mare did have a very distinct sent on her though. Let's hope my training paid off."
He closed his eyes and sniffed loudly like a wolf on the hunt, making him look absolutely ridiculous.
"Left." Night Shadow said, taking off down the hall.
He continued down the hallway until he reached a locked metal door with a small panel to its right. With an aggravated sigh, he walked over to the panel and smashed his hoof through it. He dug around until he found a certain wire and yanked it out from the panel. As the door malfunctioned, Night Shadow positioned himself before the door and aimed down his guns.
"I spent too much time here, longer then I needed to for such a simple task. Regardless, I need to get back to camp before-
The door suddenly opened, revealing a black, hooded pony. Before Night Shadow could even react, his left gun was knocked out of his hoof and the other was redirected towards the ceiling just when he fired it. Night Shadow was then pinned to the metal wall by the pony with ease, arising his suspicion instead of panic.
"There's only one pony that could ever disarm me so easily…"
The grip on Night Shadow was released, allowing him to remove the hood from the ponies face.
"I missed you so much…" The dark blue colored mare proclaimed with teary eyes.
"Sapphirine?! Why did you-
Without a second thought, Sapphirine leaned in and kissed Night Shadow on the lips, forcing the red pony to shut up and softly moan. She held this for what seemed like a minute before Night Shadow pulled away to breath.
"Wow…you were lonely weren't you?"
"And you weren't when you were in that cell?" The mare asked.
"Well, I did have a decent looking mare torture me, so no…not really."
Sapphirine glared into Night Shadow's eyes with annoyance.
"If I didn't know you personally, I would slap you so hard the red on your fur would come off."
"Awwww, but Sapphirine, I like my red fur. It's so comfy and warm and stuff."
"You don't think I know that already?" Sapphirine asked seductively.
"Maybe you need a reminder." Night Shadow smirked.
"Ok you two love birds, we rigged the base with explosives and I don't know about you but I don't feel like dying today." Callidus said, standing at the doorway along with the others.
"I see you brought the boys." Night Shadow observed.
"I also brought you something else." Sapphirine said, pulling out Night Shadow's AA-12 shotgun. "You dropped it when you got 'captured.'
"I love you so much." Night Shadow said happily, grabbing his gun.
"Come on, we need to leave, we can catch up later." Legio said, tugging on Sapphirine's tail so she would move.
Night Shadow nodded silently to Sapphirine before she fully removed herself from his body.
"Alright my friends, let's go home."
"You didn't bother to secure the exit?!" Night Shadow yelled, shooting from behind cover.
The other seven ponies we're hiding behind anything they could find in the narrow hallway, returning fire when given the chance.
"Well I thought they were all dead!" Sapphirine yelled, dodging a stray bullet.
"What kind of excuse is that?!"
"A good one!"
Night Shadow stood up again to fire his gun but soon changed his mind as a bolt of plasma flew past his face.
"Tremor, you have any more rockets on you?!" Night Shadow asked, ducking back into cover.
"Anymore rockets? I barely have anymore bullets!" Tremor informed, back pinned to a large crate.
"What about you Callidus, you have a spare grenade!"
"Just one smoke bomb sir!" He said, taking the smoke grenade out from his belt. "What do you have in mind?!"
"Get ready to throw it on my mark! Mico and Tremor, suppress fire until the smoke grenade goes off. Legio and Filia, when you see the smoke, take them out from within with your melee weapons! You get all of that?!"
They all nodded in agreement.
"Elegit, keep those bullets off of Sapphirine until it's clear!"
Night Shadow waited a good ten more seconds before giving the order.
"Alright, let them have it!"
Mico and Tremor both came out of cover and unleashed what they had let. During this time, Night Shadow gave Callidus the signal to throw the bomb. Once the bomb was thrown, it took about two seconds before it exploded into a large, white smoke cloud. Legio and Filia wasted no time as they ran into the smoke, now all the other could do was wait as they heard high pitched grunts and muffled sounds. Soon the smoke cleared, leaving the two ponies standing proud over their fallen foes.
"That should be all of them." Callidus said, letting out a puff of air.
"You said that last time." Night Shadow recalled.
"This time I'm positive."
They all made it to what appeared to be the last door and opened it, revealing a large, dark room. They cautiously walked in with their guns at the ready until all the lights were turned on at once and shinned upon them.
"You were saying." Night Shadow said, glaring at Callidus.
The next thing they knew, all of their weapons were suddenly ripped out of their hooves and magnetized to a large circular device similar to that in a junk yard. If that wasn't bad enough, about twenty-five guards, both above and around them, aimed their weapons at them.
"So these are the ponies that infiltrated my base, they look nothing more then common street rats to me." The commander mocked from balcony above. "To think you and your little pose cause me this much stress and pain, it's almost embarrassing."
"You see Sapphirine, I told you she wasn't bad looking, don't you guys agree?" Night Shadow said, gazing back to his friends as Sapphirine face-hoofed.
They all nodded in agreement…even Filia.
"She's kind of fat though." Mico pointed out.
"Like an overstuffed Twinkie don't you think?" Legio asked.
"She has a nice face and beautiful hair to go with it however." Tremor interjected.
"Descent sized flank to." Filia added.
"I wouldn't mind 'studying her' if you ask me." Callidus admitted.
"Unworthy." Elegit exclaimed.
"So it's settled?" Night Shadow asked.
They all nodded.
"Four out of ten." They all declared in sync.
The mare's eyes twitched widely at the fact that they weren't even fazed at the apparent danger at hand…and because of their stupidity, mostly the stupidity.
"Hey it would be five out of ten…but you're sort of a jerk." Night Shadow declared.
"Kill them, kill them now! I can't take it anymore!" The commander screamed.
"Elegit, you know what to do." Night Shadow said, smirking.
"I'm going to let them have their fun first." He replied.
"FIRE!" The mare ordered in rage.
Anyone oblivious to the scene would have assumed Fourth of July started early that year. A combination of bullets, rockets, missiles, lasers, plasma, lightning, and all sorts of crazy stuff was fired at the eight ponies in one, giant mess. There was just one slight problem; none of it was even hitting them. Everything that was fired at them was abruptly stopped about ten feet away from them in what looked like a dark green field.
"Impossible! How could you stop all those bullets…it was if you stopped it with-
"Magic." Elegit interrupted. "How naive are you? To think in a world such as this that magic couldn't exist!"
"But magic has been a lost art for centuries."
"Fool, how long have you lived in this underground cavern to believe such an art was lost, or was it another lie that the alicorns, who use magic themselves, taught you?!"
The mare couldn't help but shake in fear.
"You are deluded; allow me to enlighten you on what you've missed."
Elegit put his fore-leg onto his chest and sliced into the air in a diagonal pattern, violently sending back everything that had been shot at his friends at three times the speed. A large red mist was created from the attack, repainting the room in red. Seconds later, the balcony collapsed, propelling the only survivor towards the eight ponies, the commander herself.
"W-what are you?" The mare asked in terror.
The unicorn took this opportunity to remove his hood, showing her his dark green fur and pure white hair. But her attention was soon redirected to the red pony pointing his shotgun down towards her face.
"Now, before you rudely left me with those guards, I believe we were discussing your surrender…"
The flashback was suddenly ended by Twilight herself, who seemed a bit confused and ticked off.
"WHAT IN CELESTIA'S NAME IS DESOLENT DOING IN THE FLASHBACK!" Twilight screamed.
Light Shade was taken aback by the sudden burst of anger but remained calm as usual.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"N-no…it doesn't make sense."
"Why doesn't it make sense?"
"They all look like the elements of disharmony! It's not possible!" Twilight proclaimed.
"Why not? Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"It can't be a coincidence, the chances of that are too slim."
"Thus?"
"Thus, the only logical answer would be that Dark Fire chose them because…they're the descendants…oh my gosh…" Twilight whispered in complete shock.
Light Shade chuckled as he approached her.
"Do you really think Dark Fire just chose six random ponies just because he saw potential in them to become his elements? No, there was something far deeper than that."
"But to reunite with all six descendants in less than a month is impossible, the chances of that would be like being struck by a meteor."
"You may not remember, but back when Night Shadow was still a mystery to you, he used a spell to find Rainbow Dash just by thinking about her character and appearance."
"You mean when he challenged Rainbow to the iron pony competition?"
"Yes, even though you weren't there to witness it, Night Shadow used this spell to find and teleport her to his location."
"But he's so clumsy."
"Indeed he is, but only because of the suppressors he had on his legs. Yet he was still able to do it. So imagine the depth he could go with that spell with all his restraints taken off. May I remind you that Night Shadow wore those things to not only control his darker side, but also control his power, preventing it from ever hurting his loved ones."
"I understand now." Twilight whispered.
"This is why Death Fire must be stopped before it's too late, there will be no hiding from him if he escapes."
"Ok, I'll try to withhold my questions until after I break the first bond."
"Then continue when you're ready."
Night Shadow and the others were all sitting around a campfire as the moon lit the sky, laughing and enjoying each other's company as they told stories of their past or just simple jokes.
"So I stabbed the guy in the eye, serves him right for what he did." Legio said, finishing up his story.
"So you stabbed him in the eye just because he had a disagreement with you?" Filia asked.
"Yeah, but I think he saw my point."
Everypony laughed except for Night Shadow, who simple smiled as he held Sapphirine in his hooves.
"Remember the time Filia tried to ask Blaze Cast out?" Tremor asked.
"Hey, he was really hot, I can't help it." Filia said, defending herself.
"Is that supposed to be a pun?" Callidus asked.
"I don't know, but he's so dreamy…"
"Yeah, but only because he's married to Luna now."
"What, are you joking?"
"Nope, not at all."
"& #&*)!" Filia yelled, forcing everyone else to burst out laughing.
"Callidus, I've been meaning to ask you, why haven't you dated a mare yet." Mico asked, grabbing everyponies attention.
"Because I've been too busy doing my job, I don't have time for mares." Callidus replied.
"Oh really, so explain why I found this in your tent."
Mico held in his hooves a book that made everypony blush.
"Anatomy of a mare pony." Mico said, reading the tile out loud. "Or what I like to call, how to pleasure a mare for dummies."
"HOW DID YOU GET THAT?!" Callidus screamed as his face flushed bright red.
"I told you, I found it in your tent."
"GIVE IT BACK NOW!"
"Make me lover boy." Mico taunted.
Callidus chased Mico all around the campsite for twenty seconds before Mico took flight, making sure he couldn't grab him in the air.
"I swear to god, Mico, I will blast you out of the sky if you keep this up!"
"I'll give you back the book…if you tell me who this mare is." Mico said, holding a picture of a orange mare in his hooves.
Callidus was on the verge of just giving up, going into his tent, lay down and just die out of embarrassment.
"Come on, tell us."
"She's…she's…my mare friend." Callidus finally said, looking like he was about to cry.
"See, was that so hard." Mico said, landing and handing him the book.
The next thing he knew, he was punched right across the mussel and landed into the dirt.
"Yes…yes it was." Callidus said, returning to his tent in embarrassment.
"OWWWW, I'm not made of stone you know!"
"Yeah, but your heart is." Callidus stated, sitting back down next to the fire.
Several minutes passed before things returned to normal once again.
"But once they discovered that I had the ability to control magic to my whim, I was forced into hiding. I haven't seen my family or loved one since." Elegit said, having a calm tone about him.
"Soon…we won't have to." Night Shadow whispered.
Silence over took the group.
"What do you mean, Night Shadow? Elegit asked.
"I mean we won't have to hide anymore." Night Shadow said, standing up. "We have been in hiding for almost three years, never having a chance to see our families back home and for what. So we can do hit and run assignments that make little to no difference in this conflict?"
"We took an oath to protect our people from slavery and extermination. An oath to put an end to the Herus' reign and the alicorn threat." Elegit informed.
"And it has done us nothing; we have made no difference, no lasting marks, no message to heed by! I am tired of fighting and hiding and it's time we ended this oppression at its source! It's time we overthrew our incompetent leaders in power and reform this land from its destructive path!"
"What are you suggesting then?" Legio asked.
"We take the throne right from the grasp of the master of chaos himself! Discord has done nothing for far too long; it's time for a change that will change the course of history forever!"
"What you're saying is suicide; we are powerless to that being of deception." Callidus declared.
"Are we?" Night Shadow said, looking around. "Because I see seven reasons why we're not."
"Night Shadow, we're nothing more than common ponies with guns and knives. Aside from Elegit, we literally have no special gifts." Mico said, swallowing his pride.
"No special gifts? All I see when I look at my friends around me is pure skill, gifts that I myself wish I could posses. I trained you so that one day you could surpass me with flying colors so that you could do the same with your children to create warriors of peace and honor. To finally end the violence and bring harmony to the world like it was meant to be. And now it can finally be done..."
Night Shadow reached behind him and unrolled a scroll, allowing the others to gaze into its ancient map and text.
"Because of what we did and accomplished back at the base, I was able to find this map that leads straight to the last element of harmony…the legendary sixth element."
"There's a sixth element!" Everypony shouted in shock.
"Yes, and not even the alicorns know about it. With this, united with the other five elements that we've found, we will obliterate any that stands before us and establish ourselves as the true rulers of Equestria and the world! Then…we shall have have…peace…" Night Shadow said, almost in a sinister voice. "Now get some rest my friends…for soon, It will be our turn to fight back…and we will be victorious."
The sky rained down on the two Celestia's Corps soldiers as they sat in meditation in its drenching tears. They were meditating in the center of a forest far from the mountain peaks of Talos. Next to them was an unconscious guard in full gold plated armor. When thunder roared in and when the gray clouds and lightning crackled across its sheets, the two opened their eyes. Blue sighed and got up from the ground alongside Ra'zar that cracked his neck. They eventually glanced at the pony and back at each other.
"Let's take the bounty back; we get paid more if he's alive." Blue said, walking through green bushes. Ra'zar groaned in annoyance before lifting up the body onto his back, before following Blue onto a dirt road path, turned into mud.
"Why couldn't we just simply kill him? It would have made everything a whole lot easier." The gryphon complained.
"Because, it would arouse too much suspicion that we managed to capture a leader of a Southern country village, mind you, this pony in armor is the brother of the prince of Sand Tempest. If we were to kill him, they will go after us and I am sure Celestia and our collector will not be so please to help us." Blue said, looking back at him.
"Heh, like they can kill me." Ra'zar chuckled.
"Your arrogance might get you in tight situation that you'll be calling me to help you." Blue commented causing the gryphon to scoff.
"Please, like I ever would call your slow a** to help me. Lord Aa'zal does not accept failure during his ceremonies and demands that my kills be perfect!" He shouted in a prideful.
"You're nuts in the head, you know that? How can you hear something that does not exist?" Blue asked, angering Ra'zar who found his words to being insulting due to lack of his emotion.
"I will let you know, only chosen ones under the great lord are selected to hear his voice! I am one of them!" He yelled, only to pause with Blue after glancing back.
The two both narrowed their eyes on the path behind them and spotted pony soldiers bearing Herus' insignia.
"About damn time we get some company on the road. I was hoping on killing this f**ker on my back, but the great lord provided me fresh sacrifices for the taking!" He laughed.
"You sure you want to handle them now, we can let them pass." Blue suggested.
"Positive." Ra'zar said placing the armor pony on the ground. "After all, they are the enemy; don't we have to kill them?"
"Celestia would prefer reasoning." Blue stated, but he knew the gryphon did not care.
"Well…that's a shame. I prefer reasoning with her on touching that nice flank of hers, but I guess we can't get what we want nowadays, eh, Blue?" He asked, staring back at him with a menacing grin. Blue sighed and brushed back his mane, before staring at his partner calmly.
"Go then, make it quick."
"Heh, TIME TO DIE YOU PIECES OF S**T!" Ra'zar yelled, flying towards the startled group.
Ruby leaped from branch to branch, carrying her sealed puppet on her back with three scrolls inside of her saddle bag. Accompanying her from the right was a marish featured stallion that was a pegasus. His coat was lime green and his wavy-combed mane was silver. His eyes were purple and cast only a dark gaze to whoever looked into them deeply. The two were used to the rain falling upon them, since they were travelling for twelve days without food or sleep. The two were special kinds of soldiers Celestia knew only little and only much about them.
"How pointless it is for us to seek out a camp. We can seek out an entire base!" The partnered said in an annoyed tone.
"Don't be so annoyed, Wither, Celestia informed us that this camp is harboring a famous general. If we save him, we can figure out where the Elements of Harmony are located!" The filly shouted cheerfully.
"I doubt, what'd she even need those pieces of junk?! They'd be better off broken and buried into the grave to decay like rotten flesh that's not fresh."
"Now, I'm sure she has many reasons not explained to us, but I believe they should be mantle on pretty ponies used as displays…live ones at that…real eternal beauty!"
"Please, Eternal Beauty? That's just junk and rotten! You need live flesh, not wood or stone, that you usually take and make out of those damn dolls! Fresh ones! FRESH!" He stated proudly.
"You just don't have talent, that's why you're mad!" She laughed, causing a tick mark to form on the Pegasus with a marish appearance.
"Shut-up you small rat!"
The two both stopped on one large branch, staring through the leaves. What they spotted beyond the leaves was a camp full of guards that were actually mercenaries. The two both smirked once they located a large tent, assuming the general was being held at. Wither smirked as he placed his hooves together and scanned the area. He gasped and narrowed his eyes, licking his lips.
"It does not matter how many they have; they will witness the greatest show of art!" Ruby smirked entrapping her giant Manitcore puppet. "Wither, do me a favor, I promise to pay you back if you let me handle all of them. I will bring you a live fresh one."
"How do I know you're not lying, brat?" He asked, glaring at her.
"Because, I really want to play first with them!" She explained.
Wither gritted his teeth before lowering his hooves and nodding his head.
"You better not be lying, or so help me-
"Don't worry, I will bring back a fresh one!" She shouted, leaping off the branch.
The General was an old pony in his prime years, tied to a chair and beaten sore. A katana with no collar was on the counter and standing in front of him were masked mercs, the one being in the front was the leader and interrogator.
"We lost contact with our buddies back in the north, some saying a pony with a katana swept them clean and took an artifact our boss wanted." He spoke.
The general stared at the ground, remaining silent before gritting his teeth in pain when one of the masked mercs hoofed him from the side, causing him to lose his tooth.
"We're not askin' again!"
"Now, that's not nice!"
Rubies voice startled the guards as they turned back, staring at her shocked.
"What the, holy s**t, it's a manticore!" One merc cried out, pointing at the puppet behind her. She blinked twice confuse, before giggling lightly.
"That's a puppet, fool. Who let you in this camp, young girl?" The leader asked suspiciously.
"I did, including my pet Fluffy!" She stated as her horn started to glow.
"Fluffy?" The mercs muttered as the old pony stared at the girl shocked and frightened. He knew who she was and where she came from. He was not glad, but terrified.
"Yep!" She stated before the manticore's mouth opened wide, firing a black ball that smack one guard back and through the tent's walls. The other two had no time from a devastating and brutal slash that torn away the upper part of their flesh. When they were taken care of, the sound of the pony she shot with the black ball was loud and alerting. The filly only giggled as she looked at the old pony.
"I remember you…you're…you're her-
"My aunt's with me, don't worry! She is enjoying the show I am displaying to all these ponies! All of them!" She said happily, before turning around and exiting the tent, allowing the old pony to struggle out his binds, but he paused once Wither placed his hoof on the back of his head.
"Now, you don't have to struggle or worry about her. We're here to rescue you, so come with us…quietly!" He stated with a dark grin.
'My Celestia, this is madness.' The general thought.
The mercenaries were all frightened from the poison gas spreading from her attack on the soldier that flew out of the tent. Purple gas caused them to suffocate to death as well as others that attempted to save him. She smiled cheerfully at them as they all made hesitant moves to attack, but the filly kept her distance and used her manticore to deliver brutal kills. Its claws that her magical strings manipulated so well on had torn through the flesh and bone of any foe that stood in her way. She even launched a few purple gas bombs that flatten many tents.
"What the hell is goin' on, that thing is tearing us apart!" One of the mercs panicked as he watched most of his friends get either torn apart or choke in the poison gas' fog.
"We need to retreat!" One yelled.
Ruby's smile faded away as she narrowed her eyes. The scorpion tail twitched before extending far and passing through many mercs, impaling one through the chest that attempted to turn back and run. The mercs stared in horror before small holes opened up on the sides of the tail. They had no time to avoid the endless barrage of senbons that was laced with burning poison. Each senbon struck vital places on each merc before all of them were on the ground crying in agony.
The tail slung the merc far into the air before smacking him onto the road, just near the camp. It soon retracted back into the manticore that stood, hovering over Ruby who stared at her carnage with little emotion.
"Now…you all know true despair." She said in a calm tone.
It was the beginning of morning as Night Shadow sat in the center of what was left of the leveled camp. He examined the dirt and bodies that still appeared to be alive yet suffering internally.
"Anything to report?" Night Shadow asked.
"Some are clearly dead, quite brutally I might add, nothing simple blades or weapons could do." Legio said, checking another body.
"The others, more unfortunate I might add, are permanently left paralyzed by whatever is inflicting them." Callidus added. "They twitch in pain, almost begging to be put out of their misery."
"Who would do such a thing?" Sapphirine asked, felling pity.
"Not who, but what...which is something I still can't figure out." Callidus said, looking back at her.
"The what doesn't matter, what they were after is what I want to know." Night Shadow said, remaining still.
"Seems like whatever was here just wanted to murder everyone for the heck of it." Tremor said.
"Must have been Herus' soldiers then...no one else would do such a thing."
It was then that Mico and Filia returned from their flight above, landing roughly onto the dirt.
"I don't see where this thing could have gone, whatever it was must have came and left without a trace." Filia said.
"We did, however, found a lot of bodies not too far from here." Mico added.
"What faction?" Night Shadow asked.
"Herus', some were even...eaten by the looks of it."
"Hmmm, it's likely Herus just disposed of them...but some being eaten...that takes him out of question." Night Shadow said, thinking to himself. "Midnight Astral's hoof soldiers alone would have left evidence everywhere, displaying their power of the elements. So that only leaves Celestia and her followers."
"So much for peaceful methods..." Filia commented.
"Elegit, do you have anything to say?" Tremor asked.
Elegit came out of one of the fallen tents, holding something in his mouth. He placed it before Night Shadow and gave him a grave look.
"I believe this should give you all the benefit of the doubt." He said, pointing to a pony doll.
"You found a doll...how does this help us." Mico asked sarcastically.
"Look at it more closely...tell me what you see."
Night Shadow scooped up the doll into his hooves and examined it.
"It's a doll all right, more like a puppet...but it resembles these fallen ponies a bit too well."
"Let me see it." Callidus said, grabbing the puppet from Night Shadow
He placed it next to one of the mercs, comparing the two for about a minute.
"Obviously, the merc here is not the pony represented in the puppet, but the mane, tail, fur, and even eyes look...almost alive."
"That my friend is what you call puppet magic." Elegit said in a dark tone. "That pony was once alive, now it's forever trapped within its prison."
"Can't you do the same thing, Elegit?" Mico asked.
"No...necromancy and puppet magic are two different things. Regardless, whoever did this is quite powerful, not to be trifled with."
"So why would Celestia hire such...savages." Sapphirine asked, taking the puppet into her hooves.
"To strike fear into our hearts, but it won't work." Night Shadow stated. "We must push forward; we've wasted enough time as it is."
"What about the suffering ponies?" Legio asked.
"Elegit, can you cure them?" Night Shadow asked.
The green magician shook his head is disappointment.
"Make it quick...Sapphirine...look away."
The ponies removed their sidearms and quickly put an end to the ponies lives one by one.
"Let's go, there's nothing we can do." Night Shadow said, dropping his tone into sadness
General Jack was tossed to the ground with a painful grunt escaping his voice as he struggled to break out of his tied hooves. He soon froze in fear once the manticore puppet slumped down next to him with Ruby on it, smirking at him cheerfully.
"Princess Celestia, we've returned!" Wither called out, but instead, he was more of masculine pony than a feminine looking one. His body resembled one of the mercs back in the camp, but instead of having wings, he had a horn.
"And we brought your old friend back!" Ruby shouted as her voice echoed in the cave.
Blue's eyes glowed in the darkness along with Ra'zar's. The two sat down on top of rocks, staring at the general laced in rope. The gryphon chuckled while the pony sighed. Blue decided to speak up in his plain tone.
"The best you can do is untie him. You were sent to save him, not bound him in rope."
Wither glared at the emotionless pony and scoffed.
"Please, this old geezer deserves to be tied up. You never know, he might just attack us with his sword!" He said, tossing his katana on the ground.
"Hey, treat that blade with respect! That is the great fang of Kirin. Only blades men like I can wield such weaponry!" The old pony shouted.
"Looks like a typical blade to me." Wither commented.
"That's a special blade, Wither!" Ra'zar stated. "It's said to be able to cut through anything and not only that, allow the user to manipulate lightning and thunder with ease. Imagine getting hit with that, not only will you lose a limb, you'll also be electrocuted."
"Heh, I doubt."
"General Jack, I apologize that you are tied up like that. I'll have you know, that Celestia did not intended your rescue to being so rude with those two, but I assure you that your safety is what matters." Blue stated, throwing a knife at the ropes, freeing the general.
Jack popped his neck and cracked his back before strapping his sword on the side of his armor. He then glared at Blue and spoke in a grim tone.
"Now, I'll assure you this, I know who you all are! Criminals, with bounties on their heads. Why Celestia has you under her wing is not very reasonable to me, but if you try any funny business that will endanger me or her...I will kill you."
Ra'zar only laughed.
"Kill, hear that!? That's f**kin' fantastic!"
"Ignore my partner, sir, you have my word." Blue said closing his eyes.
Jack went into a deep thought, scanning his dark concealed surroundings before glaring at the four.
'Ruby, she uses forbidden puppet magic and turns her foes into puppets. Wither, he stole scrolls of forbidden magic from the vault back in Canterlot. Blue, he worked for Herus and killed many of my comrades in the process. Ra'zar, I heard terrible folk tales about him. Ponies that watched him walk down a bloody road path said he was immortal. I doubt, nobody's immortal, not even alicorns.' He thought. 'Just why...' He looked further into the darkness, ' why is she harboring these criminals?'
A large pony emerged from the depts of the cave, cloaked and hooded as usual.
"I'm Sorry; the princess has left to attend a meeting with her father about rising threats in the land. What do you have to report?" Blaze Cast asked, glaring at his allies.
"Our mission was to bring back the General that hid away the Element of Honesty. Since it is missing, he managed to obtain it and hide it somewhere nopony would be expecting. He's also Celestia's royal guard." Ruby explained.
"Yes, yes I am, but who are you exactly, how do you know the princess and why is she keeping...criminals here?" He asked, glaring at the alicorn.
"I'm Blaze Cast, alicorn of the element of fire. I know the princess because I grew up with her, became a royal guard and protect her like my other brother and two sisters. She recruited these 'criminals' because I believe she sees good in them...somewhere. She has such a strange way of thinking. But the elements are missing...haven't you heard the news?"
The General lowered his eyes and slowly nodded.
"I am aware...that is why I am the last of my squad to at least protect one." He spoke in a sadden tone.
Ra'zar lifted a brow while Blue narrowed his eyes at the old pony.
"The Element of Honesty, I cannot lie, but...I...the holder of this element must not hand it over to anybody but the princess herself! Those that attempt to steal it will be put down by my blade!" He stated proudly.
"When was the last time you say this element?" Blaze asked, slightly panicked
The old pony held his blade and pointed at a green emblem embedded on the side of the handle.
"This blade...is the artifact that many search for."
The General strapped back his katana and sat down on the ground, staring at the alicorn with concern.
"Now do you understand?"
"So they picked up a decoy then..." Blaze said. "This might help or hinder us in more ways than one."
"Pfft, a pitiful tool." Wither commented with disgust.
"It looks pretty well hidden. How did the mercs not noticed it?" Ruby asked curiously.
"It does not matter." Blue said, getting up from the rock. "We have it, that will stall our enemies greatly."
"Do you even know who has the other element?" Blaze asked.
"No, I don't." Jack stated calmly.
"Blue, do you know what happened to Night Shadow after so long?"
Blue remained silent and shook his head.
"He's probably dead." He muttered.
"You trained him for three years, do you really think he would be dead after all that training?"
The pony remained silent as Ra'zar started laughing.
"I wonder if that mare of his is still alive. I would like to pay her back after our last encounter!" The gryphon said.
"So you still think he's dead?"
The stallion continue to remain quiet, closing his eyes again as he sat back down on the rock.
"Let's take that as a yes!" Ra'zar yelled, ending his laughter.
"So why did I find this outside of a smoking bunker?" Blaze said, tossing an empty round drum towards the others.
The General picked it up, examining it closely.
"Just what is going on? The ones causing all this trouble, besides Herus, is that criminal's former student?" He asked.
"I would believe so. In fact, we where fools when we decided to stop spying on him. I traced the path he took to get in and the path he used to exit the base and to my horror, I not only found one trail of hoof-steps, but eight!"
Ruby and Wither became tense as Ra'zar chuckled. Blue opened his eyes slowly before glancing out at the exit.
"Eight...I understand two, but eight...I wonder...who are the other six?" Blue asked.
Blaze levitated a burnt book to his side with a grim look.
"Wouldn't we all like to know..."
A metal rod stabbed the rock Blue was on, causing the rest to stare at the entrance. There stood Olga and beside her a large creature wearing a white fox mask while also wearing a cloak. Her glare towards Blue was disgust as he stared at her with no emotion.
"We return from our bounty hunt." Olga stated.
"So have we." Zenith said, standing at the entrance with a young white colt with blue eyes, staring at the ground aimlessly.
"As I've said before, Celestia is not here and has not returned. Relay what you have found or accomplished." Blaze ordered.
Zenith adjusted his glasses.
"Me and Sand Dust completed our bounty in eliminating the Slum Lord in the Metal City." He stated.
"Cantata and I managed to kill the leader of the Pirate gang that was messing with the village nearby the Fility bay." Olga stated.
"So, besides what we have yet to learn, we seem to be doing quite well then?" Blaze asked, slightly content.
"What are your intentions, might I ask?" Jack asked, looking at Blaze. "How do you plan on stopping two factions?"
"Herus must be stopped and Midnight must wake up from his power hungry craze. But I believe peaceful methods are the key to victory. Violence has gotten us nowhere for years and I think this will change the tide."
"You cannot control the tides, you can lead them, but you cannot manipulate them. If they turn, they will turn on you first. They are not merciful, they are brutal, and they will leave you with unsettling effects at the end if you survive their brutality." Blue calmly said.
"Hmmm, you sadly have a point, but at one time in life you sought out to kill me. So tell me why you stopped?"
Blue lowered his eyes before narrowing them at the alicorn.
"Because...Celestia stopped me from going after you...after I departed from Night Shadow."
"But how, how did she approach you, was it peacefully?"
"That's none of your business." He stated in a cold tone.
"Heh, I remember when she approached me, almost had a good look at her nice a** she'd be swaying around!" Ra'zar commented.
Blue chucked a rock at his head, causing him to fall into the water, struggling to reach the surface.
Blaze was blushing immensely, secretly thanking his genetics for having a red coat
"Rude, perverted bird. He has no respect for the body of a woman." Wither stated in a cold tone.
Ra'zar finally got to the surface, breathing heavily before glaring at Blue and soon at Wither.
"F**k you, comin' from a tran!"
"I am no tran, I'm ART!" Wither yelled at the gryphon.
Blue sighed before looking at Blaze.
"Again, it's none of your business. If she hadn't given me the offer in helping...I would have killed her on the spot." He said causing the two allies to become silent.
"So what made her different from the rest of us then?" Blaze asked, being curious
Blue remained silent again as he closed his eyes. He hopped off the rock and walked into the darkness that led into the corridors where his room was located in. But before the darkness swallowed him up, he made sure all of them heard him as he spoke in a calm tone.
"She cried!"
Blaze had no words to say afterward, silently opening the book he was levitating.
"Heh, such a emo f**k." Ra'zar said aloud.
"Do you have any respect for your comrades, animal?" Jack asked, glaring at him.
"Respect, bulls**t. Who needs that, do you give your respect to your foes that are trying to kill you? I don't. I don't believe in all of that. Lord Aa'ael is all in destruction, no respect." He said proudly. "I kill for my lord!" He laughed.
Blaze sighed, putting the book down.
"My wife will be raising the moon soon, get some rest or go out to the world. Jack, will you stay a bit longer until Celestia returns?"
The General nodded his head as the others passed by him, heading down the same corridor of darkness Blue went through.
"I have one question for you." He said, looking at Blaze.
"Ask and I will try to answer."
"What are you looking forward to, if you win this war?" He asked.
"Happiness and content...something I haven't had in a long time."
"That Criminal, Blue...he has something in his eyes that you should be wary of. Something that has brought him into darkness. Ruby...she's the worse one here, too. She's not a normal filly I've seen killing for fun." He said in a stern tone. "Be wary of these criminals, each one weren't picked randomly, I am sure of it."
"I wonder if it would have been different if Night Shadow was here."
"Maybe...maybe..." He began.
Blue stopped in front of his door
'Our roles could've been reversed.' He thought, before entering into his room, closing the door behind him.
"Regardless of the situation, I need to know if Night Shadow has truly returned. I can't have him interfering with our plans if he truly is the prophesized pony in the legend. I need more proof." Blaze said, taking his leave.
Blaze stepped outside of the cave and observed the dense forestry before vanishing in a bright ball of flame to search for a lost soldier.