Rising Shadows

A lone figure walked the halls he was tall with a slender build and he was clothed in dark blue armour. Bodies littered the floor, men, women, children. No one had been spared. Blood coated The normally pristine white walls, large holes had been blown into every side of the hall, paintings and tapestry’s were reduced to nothing more than a pile of ash. The once beautiful stain glass windows were gone, replaced with gaping holes that looked down at the battle that was unfolding.

Two armies were locked in a fight to the death. The golden clad ponies faced down the dogs and Minotaur's that would like nothing more than to make a meal of them. With every passing moment the chance of victory was fading, Ponies were pushed aside like they were nothing more than a rag doll. They were no match for the dogs strength and agility or the Minotaur’s sheer power. It was a blood bath the ponies were being pushed further and further back, soon they would have no place to go.

The dogs and Minotaur's had no interest in land or gold, no, all they wanted was another pony head to be placed above their mantle piece. This was no war, it was genocide.

But the figure cared not for the battle, he didn’t even glance at the chaos that was ensuing outside. He just stalked forward to a pair of large white doors. Sword and shield in hand. Shadows circled around him like a cloak, tendrils lashed out randomly as he stopped a few feet from the Large doors.

He raised his right leg and slammed it into the door. The door swung of it's hinges and fell to the floor a few feet away. The throne room was completely wrecked. The white pillars that spanned the  entire length of the room were reduced to nothing more than large stumps and pieces of rubble, The far wall was gone, a gaping hole left in its wake.

The shadowy figure showed no interest in the damage his only interest was the one sitting on the throne. He was tall with a broad build, had short blond, and heavily scarred features. He was wearing a full set of black plate armour, a large halberd balanced against the throne easily within arms reach. The weapon was black with blood red spirals going up the shaft of the weapons all the way to the blade. Upon reaching the blade the spiral splits off into red teeth, giving it a much more

A large white pony with both horn and wings lay beside the throne. Her horn was gone, broken in half. Blood covered her coat from multiple wounds, the white of her coat was almost invisible due to the amount of red. She was sobbing, tears were trickling down her face and landing into a small pool of blood at her feet.

“James my friend! You have finally arrived. Like what I’ve done with the place?!” The tall figure on the throne boomed as he stroked the pastel coloured mane of the large white pony beside him, she shivered at his touch, trying to force her self to move but she lacked the strength. “Shhhh, don't worry little princess everything is going to be OK.” He whispered into her ear.

He grabbed her head and her eyes went wide. A loud crunch sounded through the room as her neck was snapped. Her lip body fell to the floor in a heap, the once multicoloured hair turning to a bright shade of pink. The light faded suddenly as the sun darkened. the sun goddess took her last breaths.

GIVE IN, SUBMIT. YOU CAN SAVE THEM ALL, ALL OF THEM!

James shook his head. Trying to force the voice from his mind.

LET ME OUT!!

“Aww so you don't like my decorations?” The man in the throne said while gesturing with his hands at the wrecked palace. “It took me so long to get it just right.” He said gleefully as he jumped up from the throne and sauntered over to a guard that was severed in two a few feet from him.

He grabbed the head of the pony “I love the decorations!” he shouted in a squeaky voice as he moved the moth of the pony as if it was speaking.

“Oh goody!! Me to” He shouted before throwing the top half of the pony through a hole in the wall and into the battle that raged below. “SO!” he boomed before turning towards James. “Have you come to congratulate me on a job well done.” He turned back and looked at James, his grin growing even wider at the sight.

LET ME OUT!!!

BZZZZ BZZZZZ

James groggily reached his phone on his bet side drawer, dropping it a few times in the process. He looked at the screen and let out a tired groan before answering. “Yeah what do you want Dale?”

“I need you to come down to Marks place right now, were hitting the place tonight!” James closed his eyes not believing what he had just been told. It was two am in the morning for peat sake.

“What? why tonight?” He protested as he slowly sat up from his bed. “It's two am.”

“Yeah I know that but Mark wants it done tonight and you know we can't change his mind if it's set on something. Now hurry get moving you have thirty minutes.”

James slouched as the call ended. He closed his eyes and shook his head. It was too early, they had only been planing for a few weeks to rob the warehouse and they expected to do it already? Fucking idiots.

He groaned as he got to his feet, his limbs protesting at every movement. He wandered around his room and looked for anything he could ware, most of his clothes were scattered about the room, on the floor, or the cabinets hell a pair of trousers were draped over the lamp shade. As you can tell he was not a very clean person.

His apartment was small. The living room was nothing more than a small room with a single brown couch and TV and The kitchen had a small electric cooker and a few cupboards with various pots and pans.

James had finally decided on what to wear, he had chosen a dark grey t-shirt, denim jeans with a black jacket to go on top as swell as black trainers.

He hurried to his bathroom mirror to check that he look at least a little representable an not like a complete druggie.

He was tall, a little overweight, had dark brown hair with a small tint of red in it and Light blue eyes. His face was rather smooth except for a shaggy beard and moustache.

Before leaving he had a look round to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything, once he was satisfied that nothing was being left on or open he locked the door and started down the stairs of his apartment building.

The journey to Mark's house didn’t take long only twenty minutes. The house was located on the very edge of the town and was a small bungalow, there were two windows peering onto the main street, a large garage was built into the side. Making it look much larger than it actually was.

James walked up to the door breathing heavily, it was along walk and he wasn't the fittest of people. He paused at the door for a second before letting out a heavy sigh. He chapped once then went it. He was met with a large blast of warm air as he stepped into the house as well as the strong smell of  damp.

The main door led into a long hall with three doors, one on the left, two on the right. The walls had nothing on them except a light coating of cream paint, the carpet 'was' white but I was now grey with age.

James walked up to the door on the left and walked in. the room was a joint kitchen and dining room, the dining room also subbed for the living room. Three men were waiting for him.

Mark A tall skinny man was standing by the fridge with a beer in hand, he had blue eyes, blond hair and his nose looked like it had been broken multiple times. He was dressed in a a grey tracksuit with white trainers.

Matt was sitting on the couch, he was very shot fat man with black hair and brown eyes and was taking more than half the couch by himself. His clothes were covered in stains making it impossible to guess what colour they had once been. A large doughnut in his hand had his full attention.

The last man in the room was Dale. He was short with a small build and looked as giddy as ever. He always got exited when a hit was about to take place. He was wearing blue jeans and a bright red top. His brown hair was obscured by his baseball cap that placed a small shadow over his face which made his green eyes stand out even more.

“Good, your finally here.” Mark said as he walked over to the couch before jumping down on it. A large grin plastered on his face. “We are hitting the warehouse tonight. I have just been told by Stu that the place is empty.”

“How do we know it isn’t a trap?” Matt said after finishing his doughnut and licking his fingers. “Remember what happened to Boyd’s crew, they thought they had struck gold and now they are six feet under, well everyone except Boyd, they only found two of his fingers.”

“That’s because they were fucking idiots and went in head first without having a good look. Stu has been watching the place for three days now and he's never been wrong about these types of things.” Mark said before finishing of his beer.

“We going in armed?” James asked as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall to Matt's right.

“Of course, The weapons are in the van.” Mark said before standing up and walking to the door. James nodded at this. There was no way he was going in unarmed, he had no plans on getting killed tonight. “We leave in five minutes so get ready.” Mark walked out and into the room across the hall.

Dale still hadn’t said a word his happy jumpy self was replaced with a look apprehension. “You all right Dale?” James asked when he noticed his sudden drop in mood.

“What?” He asked as his head shot up. “ Why wouldn't I be OK!?” he stammered

It wasn't like him to get so worked up, he had been on dozens of small hits just like everyone else in the room. “Just asking.” James said as he left the hysterical man to his thoughts. Maybe the thought of what happened to Boyd and his crew had gotten to him James thought as he scanned the room for something of interest.

Matt was feasting upon another Doughnut that he had pulled put of no were and had almost devoured the entire thing. The door swung open and Mark walked in carrying a handful of black bandanna’s and gloves. “Everyone take one the get to the van, its parked just around the corner.”

Everyone garbed a pair of each then made for the front door. Matt and Dale were the first to leave but as James was about to walk out Mark stood in front of the door. “What’s wrong with Dale?” Mark asked as he looked down at James, “ He seems rather... jumpy.”

James shrugged “Not a clue, probably just nerves.”

“I hope so but to be safe just keep an eye on him.” James nodded in agreement as they both left the house and quickly walked down the road to the van. Dale was sitting in the back and Matt was at the wheel. James and Mark quickly got in and closed the doors. Mark hit the side of the van three times and the van took off.

Mark Opened a small metal box at his feet and pulled out three pistols and a couple of mags. He handed a gun to James and Dale before loading and cocking the weapon. Tonight’s going to be fun James thought as he did the same.

The journey to the warehouse only took ten minutes. The van was parked a block away and Matt was left as the get away driver. James, Mark and Dale were now in an alley way across the street from the warehouse waiting for Stu.

“Where is he? He said he would be waiting for us!” Mark cursed as he kicked a coke can that was at his feet. He paused for a moment. “Fuck it we are going in now.”

“You can't be serious.” James sputtered as he walked over to Mark “There is only three of us. And only Stu knows where the money is!”

“That doesn’t mater. We will find it by ourselves! Now lets go!” Mark shouted as pulled the bandanna over his head. Dale did the same without hesitation. His previous anxiety suddenly gone.

James took a deep breath. This was a very bad idea what was he thinking.  He sighed “Fine but don't fuck around lets just get in and get out.”

Once they were sure no one was on the streets they bolted for the warehouse's back entrance and positioned them selves next to the door. A few kicks later and they were in.

The warehouse was massive. Large wooden crates covered in white sheets filled the room. A small second floor office was their target. All three men moved quickly but quietly, the warehouse was supposed to be empty but they didn't want to take any chances.

They soon reached the office on the second floor and went it. Half a dozen blue filing cabinets were up against the far fall all open and with all their papers missing. The desk was covered in blood and spent shell casings littered the floor.

All three men were in shock, it was supposed to be a quick and clean operation. “The fuck happened here?” Asked Mark as he slowly stepped into the room with Dale and James closely on his heels.

A bloodied figure lay behind the desk, Mark went pale at the sight “S.. st.. Stu.” He asked in a hushed voice almost to quite to hear. Mark rushed around to the other side of the desk. Stu's body was broken, he was missing all of his fingers on his right had swell as two from his left. His left eye had been gouged out and there had to be at least a dozen stab wounds to his chest.

Mark knelt by his side, hands shaking. He didn't know what to do. His best friend has dead before his eyes. James was stunned, he had known Stu for over five years.

Sirens broke the silence as police cars raced through the city towards the warehouse, blue and red light illuminating the streets as far as they eye could see.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck.” Dale repeated as he went into a state of panic. “This can't be happening, this can't be happening.”

The click of a gun stopped his panic as all three men turned to look at the door. Matt was standing there with a shotgun pointed directly at Dale's chest. Matt tilted his head so he could get a better look at Stu's body, he let out a snort “Never liked the guy anyway.”

“Matt what are you doing?”  James asked as he backed away from his friend, his hand ready to jump for his pistol that was tucked In his trouser pocket.

“My job, now you're all under arrest, now put your hands up!” No one complied they just looked on in shock, a man they had known for years was actually a cop!

“Geez Matt come on!” James shouted as he ran a hand through his hair unable to believe what he was hearing.

“Shut it! Now put your hands up!” Dale quickly raised both of his hands in air, Mark and James had no such intention. Mark was visibly shaking with anger, his had only a few inches from his pistol.

“I said...!” James and Mark had their pistols raised and aimed directly at Matt's head before he could finish his sentence, a wave of fear washed over his face.

Silence filled the room as the sound of car doors being append filled the streets as the cops got ready. No one moved,

“Now for the last time put your hand...” A loud bang echoed through the room as the wall behind Matt was coated in brain matter as The round from James' gun passed through his right eye.

“We need to get the fuck out of here.” Mark nodded before firing another round straight into his skull.

“That was for Stu. Dale hurry the fuck up.” Dale was in the corner, tears trickling down his blood splattered face.

“Dale I said get mov...”

BOOM

A door on the opposite side of the warehouse was blown open. Mark and James quickly moved back into the office and barricaded the door the desk. “Dale help us!” James shouted. Dale did nothing, he just stared at the bloodied body of matt that was lying in the middle of the floor.

Dale slowly moved forward towards the hastily created barricade, still with a crazed look on his face. Without warning he stood up and looked straight at the approaching men. “Dale NO!” James cried as windows shattered and bullets smashed into Dale. James and Mark fell to the floor covering there heads as shards of glass came at them like falling knives.

Dale fell to the ground in a bloody heap. James just stared at his friends body as Matt rushed over and pressed his hands against the gaping wounds, James face contorted in anger as he jumped to his feet with his pistol ready. “YOU BASTARDS!” He opened fire onto the walkway and hit the first Man in the chest.

He fired until the clip was empty, hitting another two men in the process. He fumbled for the clip in his pocket, before he could finish reloading a hail of bullets cut through the office again and he fell to the ground clutching his side

Mark rushed over to James and pulled him over to the far wall before pulling over a filing cabinet as a shield.

“Dale?” James asked as his face contorted in pain. Mark shook his head.

“Well shit.” James coughed as he rested his head against the wall. “That could have gone better.” he said as he gave off a false chuckle before the room descended into silence again. The only noise now was coming from the police who were slowly advancing on the office.

James couldn't believe it. In only a few hours two of his friends were dead all because of that fat bastard.

“I blame you for this.” Mark said as he sat down next to James as he placed the pistol on the cabinet.

James gave of a pained chuckle “And why is that?”

“I don’t know but somehow it was probably all your fault.” They both let out a small chuckle before the room fell silent again. Tears grew at the sides of James eyes as he slowly lost the feeling in his toes. If this is the end he thought, he raised the gun at the door and took aim, best make it a good one then.

The police quickly reached the door, James and Mark were both waiting for the door to burst open but it never did. The window on the door shattered and a small tink could be heard before a black object was thrown in. Time seemed to stop as the grenade bounced on the floor before coming to a stop.

James shut his eyes waited for the inevitable, but it never came. He waited for a few seconds before hearing something unexpected ...birds?