Shadows of Katsura

Several years ago
The day after the Shadow Clan fell

A featureless, gray looking unicorn in a paramedics outfit was slowly making his way through the forest. Dark clouds of smoke were still rising over the tree tops, the air filled with an awful stench of burning wood, mixed with something repulsing. The unicorn released a strange half smile as he slowly stepped into a clearing and the broken gates of the Shadow village came into view.

There were soldiers in Equestrian armor everywhere. Some stood guard at the gates, others were clearing the rubble with a look of pure horror and desperation written over their face. The unicorn began to approach the broken gates of the village with a slow, lazy stride. As he neared the entrance, one of the soldiers raised his hoof and blocked his path:

"Identification" the soldier said in a gravely voice.

"Of course" the unicorn smiled, pulling something out of his pocket and revealing a small plastic card: "Paramedic"

The guard carefully inspected the card, then nodded: "You're colleague's arrived a while ago" he said with a frown.

"Sorry" the unicorn sheepishly smiled: "I got held up at the base..." he slowly looked at the surroundings: "Found any survivors yet?"

"No.." the soldier shook his head and looked down: "The Shadow's... asked for our help. If we were just a little bit faster, maybe... maybe this.. atrocity wouldn't have happened"

"I understand" the unicorn nodded, placed a hoof on the guards shoulder then slowly moved inside the village. The scene was horrifying. Collapsed, still burning buildings. Bodies, buried under debris. Equestrian paramedics were moving around with a haunted look on their face, hopelessly digging through ruins. Some were standing unnaturally still, just staring at the carnage. Sometimes they would twitch in one direction or other, as if they couldn't decide where to start, then despair would began to set in again and they remained standing in place.

As the unicorn moved through the village, a group of paramedics digging through a collapsed structure, called for his help. He ignored them. His eyes remained locked on a small village square, directly ahead.

There was a beautiful fountain there, decorated with peculiar, mysterious carvings of ponies in cloaks. It was covered with a thick layer of ash and shattered in several places, but it still managed to retain a certain level of beauty. One of its stones sat awkwardly out of place. A small opening was visible in the ground.

The unicorn slowly stepped through the opening and went down the stairs to a small wooden basement. A single candle remained lit, on a featureless wooden desk, at the end of the room. The pony slowly approached it and knelt down, carefully inspecting the desk. There was a thick layer of dust, covering most of its surface, apart from one area, in the shape of a circle.

"... you longed to be free... didn't you" the unicorn released a wide smile: "...The Masters Medallion"

"Professor..." a raspy voice called from behind and the unicorn turned. There was another pony in a paramedics outfit, standing on the stairs.

"Ah.. General" the unicorn smiled, then looked back at the desk: "Any news?"

"Equestrians are working slow" The other pony frowned: "Several hundred souls lived in the village, confirming if someone survived will take time, but, so far we haven't been able to identify the clan leaders son. Katsura Sam"

The unicorn smirked: "Fitting, I suppose. For the son to cause us as much trouble as did his dad... no matter. We can assume whoever survived has the Medallion"

"We don't have to assume" the other pony replied: "Follow me, Professor. There's something I want you to see, before the Equestrians trample the evidence."

* * *

Two ponies in paramedic uniforms quietly made their way through the forest. The sun was high above them when they finally stepped out of the brush and a barren plane opened before them. The unicorn gasped, taking a few cautious steps forward before released a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Bodies. Several hundred bodies laid strewn across the barren land. The earth was riddled with gigantic craters and scorch marks. Unnatural, green colored fire burned out of the long cracks that riddled the ground. Far in the distance, an enormous stone castle, towered over the battlefield. Its doors blown open, its roof torn apart. It seemed as if a gigantic monster had passed through this land, ravaging everything in its path.

"...Magnificent" the unicorn smiled in awe, his eyes staring in disbelief at the carnage: "Its more powerful than I have imagined..."

"The Equestrians have not yet learned of this place" the other pony stepped forward: "The area is secure, we have scouts looking out for unwanted visitors. Lets not linger here for too long. Equestrians will begin pouring en masse sooner or later""

The unicorn slowly removed his paramedic jacket and threw it on the ground, together with his identification card. His partner did the same. The unicorn rose his hoof and made a fast, untraceable movement. His horn lit up and the jackets caught fire. In seconds, there was nothing but ash.

"This way Professor, the others are waiting" the General called and motioned toward a small group of ponies in the distance. The Professor smiled and extended his hoof, as he neared the group:

"Ambassador, Architect" he shook hooves with two ponies in formal suits: "Have my rangers been any use?"

The Architect uncomfortably shivered and looked at a group of five ponies in rough, leather armor, standing some distance away.

"...why do you insist working with mercenaries" the Architect asked with a frown.

Professor shrugged with a smile: "Its so convenient. If I want a job done in a line of work I know nothing about, I simply pay enough money to hire an expert, that can do the job better than my enemy" he slowly approached the ponies in leather armor and smiled: "Progress?"

"We've managed to identify two distinct sets of hoofprints" the ponies in armor replied: "Come, we'll show you"

The mercenaries led the group through the field: "Judging by the size of the print, I'd say two foals" one of the mercenaries said: "They walked toward the castle and up to the throne room. There was a fight there. I believe, they were fighting each other"

"Interesting" Professor smiled: "Did you find a body?"

"No" the mercenary shook his head: "After the struggle, we believe they both walked out. We found their tracks again, leading away from this area and toward the local trade routes between villages. Their trace vanishes there, mixed with dozens of other foals and ponies"

"I see..." The Professor grinned as the group slowly entered the castle and walked up to the throne room: "...they tore the roof open..." he smiled.

"Pardon?" The mercenaries looked at him in confusion.

"Oh its nothing, thank you" The professor shined a blinding smile: "You have been very helpful"

"So, about the payment" the mercenaries stood in a line, in front the Professor.

"Of course" the Professor smiled. He tapped his hoof on the floor, his horn lit up and the mercenaries suddenly released a deafening shriek before what was left of them crumbled and turned into ash.

"I do love working with mercenaries" Professor smiled: "Its so... convenient"

"We do not have the Medallion" The Architect scowled: "Hiring another village to wipe out the Shadows was a mistake"

"Hardly" Professor smiled: "The Shadow Clan is no more. All those who knew we exist are now dead. No one is left to oppose us" Professor shrugged: "Something as powerful as the Medallion will reveal itself sooner or later, especially in the hands of children. I doubt they even comprehend its real purpose... Project Sihlus will proceed as planned"

"I will begin search for the foals" the Ambassador frowned: "Local villages, orphanages, I have contacts that can track new arrivals. Once we find them, I will send an agent to gain their trust. We must know who they are, we must know what they love, what they hate. What makes them cry and laugh. What motivates them, what drives them to live. And once we understand them, we can manipulate them into revealing the Medallion."

"Shadows vanish at noon" the General looked at the sky: "We just need to drag them under the light"