Rising Shadows

Dingo gave a loud yawn. He stretched his back, the popping of bones made him sigh and relish the feeling. He had been watching the entrance for over five hours now and his shift was almost up. And not a moment to soon. He thought.

He rubbed his paws above the small fire that burned lazily in front of him. Every now and then he would cast a glance over at Grace. She sat against a small rock and was sleeping quietly. Every time he looked at her he felt warm and fuzzy.

He smiled. After I get paid ill ask her out. He thought.

*CRACK*

Turing quickly he grabbed his sword and looked into the darkness. He looked for any sign of movement. He was breathing heavily as a small amount of adrenaline rushed through his system. His eyes scanned the darkness warily for a few moments. He mumbled his discomfort at jumping at sounds and turned back towards the fire. He froze, Grace was gone

“Grace!” Dingo called. “You there?” He got no reply.

“Don't fool around Grace!” He called again but was met with silence. His breathing became rapid, he kept snapping his head in different directions in hope to see her.

He only had less than a second to register the two hands that grabbed his head, and in one quick motion were snapped to the side. He fell to the round unable to move. His neck had been snapped. All he could do was blink as he suffocated to death. The last thing he saw was a tall ghostly figure moving towards the gap in the shield.

James flexed his fingers. He had no idea where this strength came from but he damn well liked it. His heart thumped in his chest. He had just killed those two dogs, and he liked it. It felt like a weight had been lifted of his shoulders, he felt lighter, quicker.

He stopped in his tracks the moment those thoughts had entered in his head. Did I just get a kick out of kill them? He shook his head trying to banish the thoughts

Making his way forward the entrance to the town finally became visible. A large circular hole was cut in the shield. It was tall and wide enough that even a tank could fit through it.

That's why they have the second barrier then. James thought. He took one last moment to look behind him as to make sure of no would be assassins, then he went in.

James took a moment to take the sight of the town in. Every building down the street he was on was made of wood and had thatch roofs. In all honesty it looked a lot like a medieval town. Minus the muddy roads that were in this place, covered in short grass.

James sniffed at the air, he scrunched his face at the smell. The air was filled with a horrid odour. He couldn't fully place the smell but it was pungent all the same.

He once again made his way forward. He stopped at each alley way to peak in and make sure he wasn't being watched or followed. The sound of jeering slowly began to build in the distance. He made is way there was the rest of the town was almost void of noise, except from the odd whistle of wind that made the hair of his neck stand on end.

The noise of the crowd was increasing. James could only make out certain words but he got the gist of what was happening.

“Kill her! Rip her throat out! Burn her!” The voices cried.

James took cover in an alleyway. The sound was coming from just around the corner. Bright yellow light filled the street in front of him, from  fire just out side of view. The jeers of the crow only seemed to get louder and his feeling of unease increased. He edged his way to the end of the alleyway and peered out.

A wall of bodies blocked his view. Dozens of dogs were gathered in the town center. They were cheering and chanting for someone to be killed, but their bodies blocked his view.

“You ere they got the last un?” A voice said from behind him. In a flash he had turned. Walking down the street were a pair of dogs.

“Yeah, The boss wants to have some fun with her later.” The second dog replied. They were no more than two meters from James. He was about to jump back into the alley way before they both looked strait at him.

The yellow light from the fire bounced in in their eyes, James was sure it was over now. No way could he take every single one of the dogs.

They held their gaze for a moment before turning away. They walked straight past him continuing their conversation as they went.

James was physically shaking. How did they not notice me? No way they couldn't have seen me. He let out a breath he didn't know he was having and slumped against the wall. He looked down at his hands. Willing his fingers he waved the appendage in front of his face.

“Definitely there.” He whispered. After a minute of heavy breathing he peeked his head around the corner again. The crowd was still there.

He spotted another alleyway ahead of him and prepared to make a run for it. He might be able to get a better view further down the street.

He was about to make a run for it until a loud voice silenced the crowd. “Now that you are all here we can start the show!”

James stopped mid stride. He knew that voice, he knew that voice very well. He stopped, turned to the crowd and began to walk. He pushed passed the closet dog and entered the crowd. He pushed past another one, then another then another. Every time the voice from the crowd grew louder.

“What one will it be first?” The voice shouted again. The purple one the crowd cried. James paid the voices no heed, he had only one thought, kill Matt.

He was almost at the front of the crowd now, pulling the gun from he stopped two rows from the front so he could get a good look. The dogs at his side didn't even look in his direction, they were fixated on the event unfolding in the town center, and it sickened James to the core.

Three  ponies were tied to stockades jutting from the ground. Twilight and Fluttershy stood side by side and the third pony was a light blue colour with a rainbow coloured mane. Rainbow Dash no doubts .

Twilight and Rainbow both looked bloodied and their bodies were covered in dozens of black and blue marks. Fluttershy seemed to to relatively unharmed but her let eye was black and blue. She cried softly as Matt circled them.

He was as fat as ever and wore a long black robe with red streaks through it. James clicked the hammer back on the pistol and got ready. His mid was cloud, he had only one objective.

“So would like to go first?” Matt yelled. The crowd instantly raised Their hands blocking his shot. James grunted as the dogs roared for Matt to pick them. He looked around the crowd for a moment before picking out a random dog with a brown coat.

“You!” Matt shouted. The dog cheered and pushed through the crowd. A grumble of annoyance went through past through the crowd. James readied the shot again. He took aim, poisoning the gun over the dog in fronts shoulder

“What one would you like?” Matt asked the dog. Alex cursed again as the dog moved in front of Matt, obscuring his view.

The dog looked at the three ponies before his eyes fell on Flutetrshy. He raised a paw and pointed at her. “That one.” He said.

Fluttershy eyes went wide. “Leave her alone!” Rainbow Dash yelled. She pulled at the stockade “I said quiet!” Matt roared. He kicked Rainbow in the gut. She fell to the ground as the air was forced from her lungs.

“DASH!” Twilight cried.

“If you try anything I will cut off your horn!” Matt growled at Twilight. She stopped her struggling but glared daggers at him.

Matt turned to the dog and gave him a cold smile. “She's all yours.”

The dog howled and grabbed Fluttershy's wings. She kicked and screamed for him to stop . Her legs were kicking frantically as the dog got behind her, and lifted her tail.

James watched in horror. He knew what was about to happen, he lined the gun back up with Matt and held his breath. “No please, Don't! Fluttershy yelled while trying to kick the dog behind her.

“LET HER GO!” Twilight yelled again. She pulled at the restraints. Only know did James notice the black object wrapped around her horn.

“That's it!” Matt cried. He turned around giving James a clear shot at his back. “I hope you liked that horn of yours!”

“Help!” Fluttershy screamed. The dog got ready no lunge.

I promise.

James aimed and pulled the trigger. The dog was hit in the throat. He staggered back as he clutched at his bleeding throat, uselessly trying to breath. He flopped around before becoming still behind Flutetrshy.

The entire crowd turned to James. The dogs closest to him push back in panic causing much of the crowd to fall over. Matt instantly lost interest in Twilight and turned to face James. His look of anger changed instantly. A wide grin split his face and he began to laugh like he was meeting an old friend.

“James! It's about damn time you got here. Although...” He looked towards the lifeless dog at Fluttershys feet. “I would like it if you didn't kill all of my men.” He began walking to James but stopped. James raised the gun again and pointed it at Matt. James knew he was out of rounds, but Matt didn't know that.

“James, lower the gun.” Matt said, the smile vanishing from his face.

“Why would I do that?” James growled. If he could he wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.

“James, are you alright?” He looked at the dead dog again before tuning his attention back to James.  His eyes narrowed.

“When did we first meet?” Matt asked.

“What?” James replied. His aim not wavering. Everything felt wrong. The way Matt stood was to straight and precise for a man of his weight. The air around him felt humid and wet. James was beginning to regret using that bullet now. Casting a quick glance towards Fluttershy, she was covering herself with her tail and was crying a river.

“Where did we first meet?” Matt growled.

“Mark introduced us, four years ago.”

Matt grinned again. “Ah I see, you don't remember do you?”

“What's that supposed to mean”

“Do you really not remember anything? I also bet the last thing you remember was that job where you shot me? Don't worry I don't hold any grudge.”

James didn't answer. His mind was racing with to many questions. What does he mean I don,t remember? And how does he know I shot him? I doubt his brain works faster than a bullet.

“Ah don't worry James, you'll remember everything soon.”

James was about to speak but a loud ripping noise tore through the sky. Like the sound of tearing paper on magnified. Everyone looked up. The sky above the shield glowed a bright orange and red. Purple steaks of light danced round it as the shield began to flicker.

With Matt’s attention occupied James lunged forward. Matt moved to the side and swung his fist into James' stomach. His momentum carried him and he fell to the ground. He grabbed his stomack as pain raced through his body.

“I'd love to chat but I don't have time. Trixie!” Matt called. With a pop a light blue unicorn materialized in front of him. She was wearing a wizards had and had a large red necklace around her neck.

“We need to get out of here.” Matt said to her.

James put all his strength into his legs and lunged. Again Matt easily dodged the attack. James turned around with his fist high in the air and swung. Matt grabbed his hand in mid air and twisted. A sickening cracking could be heard and James screamed in pain. He grabbed at his wrist and fell to his knees.

Another ripping sound flooded the air and the barrier disappeared. A wave of heat washed over everyone and for a quick second a look of fear formed on Matt's face.

“This would be a good time Trixie.” Matt said. His attention on the sky as he slowly crushed James' hand.

“Trixie is trying!” The blue mare shouted. “It is difficult to transport three people.”

James had no intention of going with them. With once last push James let go of his crushed had and swung for Matt's face. His fist collided with his chin and he stumbled back. He let go of James' hand and grasped for his face.

James pushed forward and grabbed Matt's waist. His face came into contact with the wall of fat and Matt stumbled. He fell backwards with James on-top of him.

He sent punch after punch into the downed man’s face. Every strike with his right hand made him want to scream. He knew his wrist was broken but he didn't care. He readied another punch but Matt was quicker. He hit James in the cheek and sent him sprawling to the side.

“I'll kill you.” James roared. He spat out a glob of blood alongside a tooth. He felt inside his mouth with a tongue and of course he was missing an incisor.

“Trixie, we don't have much time.” Matt said again looking at the sky.

“If you want me to transport the people you need to wait!” She yelled back. Her horn was glowing a bright red now and ever so slowly the brightness was increasing.

James slowly rose to his feet. He was about to lunge again but then he saw it. A beam of white light was coming straight for them. Any dog caught in its path was instantly incinerated.

“Trixie now!” Matt yelled.

Her horn discharged and bathed all three of them in glowing red light, and a pop later Matt and Trixie were gone.

“Get back here!” James yelled at nothing but air. He tried to walk forward but stumbled and grabbed at his gut. The pain was rising and the beam of light was getting closer and closer. The light steadily increased as his vision Turned black.