My Little Ninja: Den of Shadows

Another cold, moist and cloudy day in the bustling market. It was just the typical weather to expect in the Gryphon Kingdom. Never the less the market area was bustling with activity. Traders sold both their useful and questionable wares, Criers shouting the latest grim news, and the orphans ran rampant through the cluttered streets. Even the bodies of last days execution hung limply, only to be gently pushed by the wind like wind chimes. Every Gryphon, Minotaur and pony went about their  own business whether it be sales, guard duty or... Being someone's slave.

The streets were littered with them. Every day they were sent to do the tasks no one wanted to do. Garbage disposal, Dung removal, groceries and the like. Most beard the chains and bruises from their master's abuse in plain sight. They were miserable and soulless at the same time. For proof one had to look no further then their eyes.

Many have said that the eyes are the doors to the soul. If this were true then these slave ponies have none. Their irises are cold and uncaring, only carrying a fragment of their once bright spirits. They have been tortured and broken down to the point that they no longer know themselves. In a simpler explanation, they are machines. They do not feel and they do not think. They are but tools, instruments to complete undesirable tasks and when they brake. They are discarded and replaced like so many candles.

"Once enslaved you are the property of the one who bought you." One of the laws of an ancient gryphon king. Every king since him has stuck to this rule like glue on paper. It was deemed too "profitable" for the crown to over rule.

Over time the citizens believed that slavery was a way of life. One that can not be changed...

Or so they thought.

"Cabbages!" Boomed the voice of a Minotaur. "Can't get big an' strong without your Cabbages!" He flexed his muscles, ripping his shirt.

"No! My carrots are far superior!" Proclaimed the confident voice of a orange Unicorn.

The Minotaur glared at his robed rival. "You can't best this cabbages with your flimsy sticks!"

The stallion snorted. "I beg to differ!"

They approached each other and press their foreheads together. A small crowd of regulars had already gathered at the familiar scene.

"There they go again." Sighed a gryphon.

An old grey stallion gave a hearty laugh while leaning on his walking stick. "They're like an old married couple."

A white filly in the crowd adorned in rags and chains stared impassively at the nameless Minotaur. She held an empty reed basket in one hand and a small sack in the other. An older blue mare caught sight of her and knelt beside her.

"It's OK, little Courage will be along shortly." She comforted. "Then you can get what you need."

The filly continued to look forward emotionless. She did not know who this "Courage" was and she did not care. All that mattered was completing the task at hand. However whether she likes it or not, things are about to change.

Just then a small colt vaulted onto a create and used the Minotaur as a stepping stone to leap over the crowd. He soared high above them with a grin plastered on his short muzzle.

"Thanks for the cabbages and carrots!" He beamed from above.

Both vendors eyes' widened in realization. In his right hand was a bushel of carrots and in the other a bag of cabbages. The boy's smirk only grew.

"Hey you gotta pay for those!" The Minotaur roared.

The boy dropped the cabbages in the chained fillies basket just before landing. He quickly took off sprinting while waving back at the Minotaur. "I left your pay at your booths as usual!" He called back.

The two vendors looked back to their stands to see a few shiny bits on their wooden surface. AS they returned to their sides of the streets the small slave could only stare at the boy's back. Never had anypony just given things to her and yet here she was with a basket full of cabbages. A small flicker appeared in her eyes and a small smile crept onto her face. Without even knowing why she weakly waved at the fleeing boy.

Further down the street Courage ran. He knew the city's streets like the back of his hand. He turned into alleyways, ducked into abandoned buildings and skillfully dogged every passerby. He ran with a purpose today. It was a task of great importance, one that would cost him his life if any of the king's loyalists were to get a hold of it.

"Hey Courage!" Called a squeaky voice.

Courage stopped but jogged in spot. To his left was a group of familiar children he lived with at the orphanage. He waved and the others came running over to him. The voice that addressed him first was a small gryphon.

"Hey Squeak." Courage ruffled his feathers with a smile. "What's up?"

A pink filly piped up. "Were playing Ninjas!"

'Of course.' Courage cringed.

"Ya!" Cheered another foal. "You wanna play?!"

All the children of varying height and species leaned in close with glittering eyes.

"Ah gee I would love to but..." Courage searched his mind for an excuse.

"Y-You don't want to play?" Squeak hung his head and the others soon followed.

Courage smirked. "Actually I have a mission for a bunch of young ninjas like yourselves."

"R-Really!" Shouted three foals in unison.

"You bet! I need you all to stealthily bring this vital cargo yo Cherry." He held up the bag of carrots.

"That's not important cargo!" Proclaimed another gryphon. "Those are just carrots."

"Just carrots?!" Courage shouted. "These are life preserving material! Without them we will have a meager diner. Surly you remember the brussel sprout broth!"

All the children shivered at the memory. "C-Come on guys this is an emergency!" The bushel of carrots was snatched from Courage's hands and the other orphans scurried off.

Courage waited until they were out of sight before continuing his journey. He quickly turned down an alleyway. He had lost some time so he took off in a full on sprint, in an attempt to make up for it. Others cursed when he bumped into them but he paid them no mind. Where ever he ran he was followed by a slight breeze. He was fast. So fast he could not stop the collision between him and a gryphon guard.

-BAME-

Courage stumbled back, holding his snout. "OW! Ma nozs."

Before he could resume his sprint he was secured by one gryphon while the other gave a impassive look.

"You little shit!" Snarled one and threw him against a wall. "You street rats need to know your place." Courage spat on his face.

The guard behind him raised a brow and chuckled. "Brave one isn't he?" He stopped chucking when his partner punched the child into the ground.

"Nah just stupid." He laughed.

He gave Courage no time to recover. He felt the barrage of blows upon his small frame taking its toll only after a few seconds. He was bleeding  from the claw marks in his fur as well as his bruises. It hurt, but her refused to cry. If he cried then they won and they would not get that satisfaction. Not from him.

-CRASH-

Courage's body smashed into yet another crate in the on streets. A small crowd had gathered to witness the brutality. Many seethed with anger but dared not acted against the kings men. The young colt slowly picked his body up. He was beaten and bloody but not broken... yet.

"Why you little rat!" Snarled the guard. "Just stay down!"

The other guard halted him. "Here let me show you how it's done."

He slowly marched up to the child who staggered trying to keep his balance. The crowds faces grew grim, expecting a public execution of a defenseless foal. Courage weakly flailed at the guard but it was useless. He was far too weak. His attack bounced harmlessly off him. The gryphon only continue his soulless glare before placing his claws around his head. Courage was lifted three feet off the ground by his superior strength. The crowd murmured amoungst themselves without taking their regretful eyes away from the beaten child. He hanged limp in his grasp while this red blood flowed freely onto the stone road. Some believed him to be dead already.

"Well boy let me tell you something good!" He said with an eerily cheerful voice. "I'm not goanna kill you."

Silence. After what he had said there was only dead silence. It would have been easy to hear a pin drop.

"But you watch it kid." He warned still wearing his eerie smile. "The true horrors lurk in the shadows and descend upon wings of death. Always searching for their target, that they had already found." His grip tightened around the foal's skull, drawing blood. Courage whimpered and covered his claws with his hands. "They stalk and play with you making you believe you are safe until..." He raised Courage higher. "They crush your spirit."

With his speech of fear finished he threw his body into another crate, resulting in another loud crash. His  face returned to a stone cold expression, sending chills down everyone's spines. Even his brutal partner looked nervous.

"Let's go Furry." He called as he passed him.

"R-Right!" The other stammered, speed walking after him and leaving the boy behind.

The entire crowd dispersed to resume their duties, except for one. A brown stallion I his teens sporting a pair of wings and tattered clothing, ran over to the child. He expected to a broken boy unconscious and in need of a doctor but he found something odd. He found a broken conscious boy in need of a doctor.

To most that would not be unexpected but the frail body was smiling. And not just a weak smile of someone on his death bed, but a wide grin.

The two guards that had just beaten Courage to a bloody pulp, continued their patrol down the street. One had the stone wall expression while the other squeamishly glanced at his partner. An uncomfortable silence surrounded the two for thirty minutes before one sighed.

"Alright Furry what's up?" He sighed.

The guard known as Furry stiffened. "B-Back there." He gulped.

"Back where... Oh you mean with the kid?" Furry nodded. "Ya what about it?"

"You said some scary... No. Horrifying things back there."

"Did I?" He asked, disbelief painting his face. "I didn't think it was that scary."

The duo rounded a corner.

"I don't know how you can say that with all that has been going on in the past three weeks." Furry shook his head with disgust. "Three weeks ago something started. Something unnatural."

"Aw come on." He pleaded. "Don't tell me your talking about the Ninjas." Furry nodded. "Oh for pits sakes! They don't exist!"

"How can you say that? Since three weeks ago the royal guard has lost 60% of their supplies in their raids. Overall gryphon power has been reduced to two thirds of what it was before. Every time they strike they leave no survivors greatly reducing our numbers."

The other guard rolled his eyes. "OK. Let's say they do exist. How in the seven hells have we not killed one yet?"

Furry gulped. "The locals say that they are immortal and vengeful wraiths."

"More senseless superstition."

They pushed threw a larger crowd in one of the markets all the while Furry went on about the Ninjas. Over the span of two hours he had said: They can turn invisible, fly, burrow, phase threw walls, cut a gryphon's head clean off (with their fists) and many other ridiculous abilities. When the two arrived outside a tavern named "The boot", signifying the end of their patrol, He had finished a tale of a guard who witnessed all the horrors the ninja could do.

"Alright I am going to poke a big hole in that story." He proclaimed. "If the ninjas leave no survivors then how did you hear that story from a guard who was there during the raid?"

"..."Furry said nothing.

"That's what I thought." He stretched and let out a yawn. "You going to The Boot Later?"

"Unfortunately no." Furry said. "I have been posted to the castle tonight."

"Oh long day then." He whistled.

"Ya so I'm goanna go home make sure my dumb bitch of a slave got those cabbages and then beat her."

The other guard snorted. "Good to see you got your priorities straight."

"You know it. See ya Silver." Furry waved and rounded another corner.

Silver held his smile till he disappeared. When he was gone so was his fake smile. Silver spat on the ground that Furry walked on.

"I doubt I'll be seeing you Furry." He mumbled. "Tonight the castle is a chess board and you're on the team that only has pawns." He glanced down at the small scroll in his claws. "Thanks for the message kid... and sorry for being so rough. Had to look convincing."

With that Silver walked into The Boot, ready to drink away his pay.