My Little Ninja: Den of Shadows

-Who's ready for ninjas? No one, they're ninjas.- Ross Scot "Freeman's Mind".

"How was she?" Asked the heavenly voice of Celestia in the dark throne room.

"She was..." The pegasus paused. "Less then pleased princess."

Celestia sighed. "I expected as much, but this is necessary. She needs to understand that nothing is more powerful then friendship."

"But what about your sister princess?"

Celestia looked remorseful but her warm smile returned. "I am sure Twilight is more then capable to succeed."

"I'm sure you are right princess but about the gryphons..."

"Yes continue your report." She nodded.

The stallion cleared his throat. "As usual Victicus the Vile has continued his executions and slave trades." Celestia winced. "However he surprisingly has also increased the number of guards surrounding him by 57%."

"How is that surprising?"

"He is scared princess." Celestia raised an eye brow. "For the past three weeks something in the shadows has been hitting his guards, caravans, public execution and other things hard. He has lost a third of his guard in such a short time princess."

"Do we know who this group is?"

The stallion shook his head. "No. Not even our best spies can find them."

"I see. What of the citizens."

A small smile grew on his face. "Even after all the things their king has put them through they are getting happier."

"How?"

"Ever since that group have been in operation executions have gone down and the number of freed slaves has increased."

"Hmm." Celestia was deep in thought. "The world is moving in a mysterious way."

A mare with a red mane and white coat looked down at me. The sky behind her was a bright and lovely blue sky. I could feel the gentle breeze blow over me as the thin blades of grass tickled my skin.

"Umm, Sir?" She asked nervously. "Are you OK?"

The scene blurred and the colors faded. They soon returned but I was standing upright on a dirt path.

"So your name's Nick?" I nodded. "Well it's nice to meet you nick my name is Blossom."

She smiled and the scene shifted again. The scenes continued to change rapidly almost all of which contained the mare known as Blossom. Every time she spoke it was in the sweetest tone that could melt any cold heart.

"I treat them all as if they were my children."

"This city is hurting so I'm going to do my best to help it!"

"Now Courage it's not nice to stare."

"What are you carving... Is that a wolf face?"

"Nick could you go get the plats please?"

"I know your not a pony Nick but you are the nicest stallion I've ever met."

"Do you think we could..."

Everything went black. I waited patiently for the next scene. The next scene erupted around me in a raging fire. The orphanage burned around me. I knew this place all to well. They day it happed it was etched into my mind in excruciating detail.

My fist clenched around my blood soaked tanto. My clothing was stained with the blood of the dozen or so guards that littered the burning floor. In my other arm was Blossom. Her breathing was weak and laboured, she lightly gripped the spear head that protruded from her stomach as she smiled at me. I felt myself shaking violently as my vision blurred. However the burning orphanage did not vanish. I was crying. My tears covered her face but her smile did not waver. She reached a hand up to my face and stroked my cheek.

"It's alright Nick." She reassured. "Could you do something for me as my dying wish?"

I Grasped her hand tight and Shook my head, causing more tears to fall. "Do it yourself I'm not letting you die here!"

She wheezed. "Please Nick... I need you to heal this country." I continued to cry but did so in silence. "This country needs you Nick. Nick... Don't do this for revenge, don't do it fore me. Do it for the children of the future." She gasped for air. "So that they can have a better future... Nick I lo..." Her arm went limp and her breathing stopped.

"Wolf"

A figure clad in black shot it's head up. He was sitting in the agura position in with his face hidden behind his usual wolf mask. It glistened white and red in the orange glow of the torches. His gazed focused on another hand clad if black. It held a small scroll down to him. Wolf accepted the small parchment and stood up. He felt five pairs of eyes on him as he opened the scroll. On the page was no words or numbers just a simple green circle. A smile appeared behind the wolf mask and he cast the note into the fire pit. All eyes were upon him awaiting his word.

"We strike tonight. Be ready in three hours."

With that four more dark figures stepped out of the shadows and made their way down the dimly light halls.

"So it's time." Said a deep gruff voice. "I'll be sure to bring my best gear,"

Wolf shook his head. "Your not coming."

"What was that boy?" He asked in an almost threatening tone.

"Please Ancient." He pleaded. "I need you to go and make sure Cherry and the orphans get loaded onto the boat with no problems."

Ancient sighed. "I understand."

"Thank you. it means a lot."

The figure nodded and joined the others at the weapon racks. They each equipped themselves accordingly to the plan that they had been going over for three days. Everyone was equipped with at least one ninjaken and five shurikens and three kunais. After those everyone took gear specific to what they were doing tonight.

The two smallest and feminine figures had just finished attaching the ashiko to their feet and were loading their quivers full of arrows for their bows. One with a... larger chest handed a grappling hook to the other and she accepted.

"Thanks sis."

The tall masculine figure with the gruff voice approached them. He knelt down and put a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Promise me you two will be safe out there."

"It's ok grandpa we got Soulless after all."

Ancient scowled at the mention of the name but gave them a curt nod before setting off.

The one Ancient was not happy to hear about finished equipping his second kusari-gama  and was reaching for a rather interesting choice of weaponry. It was a large metal fan known as a  Tessen. This particular fan had sharpened edges so it could not only club when closed but slice as well.

"That is a peculiar choice." Chuckled a stiff accent.

Soulless did not even glace at the ninja and continued to inspect his gear.

The ninja sighed. "As unsociable as ever."

He turned away and continued to strap on his extra padding and protective gear. He was the most muscular of the group but the extra armor made him look like a heavy duty warrior. Under normal circumstances he would have dressed light like the others. However because of his part in the plan to do that would be hazardous to his life.

"Make sure those straps are tight." Wolf ordered. "Don't want you burning alive."

The large man chuckled as he took 5 spheres and attached them to his belts.

"Alright you all know the plan and your rolls. Head to your positions!"

Night had fallen and coated the country in darkness. Street lamps  lit small sections of road and homes but left large segments covered in shadows. The only natural light came from the moon and the brilliant stars resting in the night's cold vast blanket. Even with the moon's light there were many shadows for things to lurk in.

Even inside the castle grounds there where still shadows that could harbor the creature of the night. Although because of the kings paranoia twice as many fires were burning, prototype searchlights were installed and many runes and spells to create light were set in place. Hundreds of guards patrolled the halls and grounds in large groups and every door had stationed guards as well. As the halls got closer to the thrown room the number of patrols increased. All in all there was about three hundred fifty guards on duty and all of which were undesirable.

The first guards to confront the enemy in the darkness would be at the castle's rear, closest to the keep. The twins, or Dread and Regret, were scaling the wall above the cliff face and nearing the battlements. They could hear the clanking of the guards' armor as they marched back and forth on the walls. They could also hear their general complaints about the cold and the patrols.

A collective smile grew on their faces as they rested just below the battlements. Regret  could see the breath of one guard just above her. She quietly drew a kunai and waited patiently for a patrol to pass. When the noise finally ceased Dread flipped her slender body over. The guard barely even registered her prescience before Regret lunged up and sunk her blade into his throat. He gagged and Dread round house kicked him off the wall. His body plumed and spiraled as he headed for the rocks below.

Dread had already got started on the rest of his friends and when Regret got up she had dispatched of the last with a flick of her sword. their bodies lay  cold and dead on the floor with their blood decorating the grey stone in large splashes. It looked like a painter had taken a few buckets of red paint and went wild.

The pair wasted no time and immediately threw the bodies over the side. Though they doubted it would help because of all the blood it would be harder to spot from a distance thus giving them slightly more time before the bells go off.

Meanwhile at the main gate things were about to get started. Soulless sheathed his sword and opened the gate for wolf and the large man known as Hate. They quickly leaped over the bodies of the the guards who had the misfortune to guard the gate. Hate and Wolf were only two steps into the grounds before they pressed their bodies against the stone wall.

A small troop of guards glided past them with fierce looks on their faces. The two figures clad in black held their breaths allowing them to pass. Hate's and Wolf's breathing returned to normal when they were gone.

"See you later Hate." Wolf took off for the keep.