Shadows of Katsura

Present Day

"...Lieutenant"

"NO!" Lisa barked at the top of her lungs: "RIGHT NOW - I'M NOT YOUR LIEUTENANT! I AM YOUR WORST ENEMY!!!"

Streaks of sweat were slowly running down Shadows face, as he struggled to stay on his hooves, tightly grasping the hilt of a wooden sword. In front of him, Lisa was scowling, holding her training weapon and ready to strike. They were slowly moving in a circle around each other, in the middle of a closed gym.

"IF YOU HOLD BACK AGAIN - I WILL LEAVE YOU A BRUISE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL!!!" Lisa shrieked, her voice slightly echoing across the room: "AGAIN!" she barked and lashed out.

Shadow moved his body out of her line of attack, but one of his hooves was left in place and it got hit by Lisa's sword. Shadow yelped in pain, dropping his weapon. Lisa rammed her knee into his stomach and threw him to the ground. They were both wearing protective gear on their chests but you could still feel the kick pretty good. Lisa sighed. Her anger vanished like it was never there to begin with.

During the past six months of training together, Shadow began to pick up when Lisa was actually mad and when she was acting, trying to simulate a real life situation. Judging by how quickly she lost her frown, right now she was acting. Shadow was still on his back, attempting to catch his breath.

Lisa shook her head: "You know, for someone who's cutie mark is a sword, you'd think you'd at least be good at sword fighting"

Shadow attempted to squeeze out a smile but the pain made him stop that endeavor.

"Honestly, its like sword fighting is not even your real talent" Lisa extended her hoof and unceremoniously pulled Shadow up.

"You think so, hahaa?" Shadow squeezed out a friendly laugh: "T-that's crazy"

"Could have lost your hoof there" Lisa looked at him: "You can't forget to move your entire body from line of attack. Even if you lost your sword, you can still attack with your hooves. Don't forget that"

Shadow was rubbing his chest plate, trying not to show he's in pain. Lisa moved some distance away and raised her weapon: "Again"

Shadow quickly picked up his sword. Lisa made a slashing move, from top to bottom. Shadow moved out of the way and attempted a slashing movement. Lisa grabbed his elbow, stopping his attack, hit him in the knee and a second later he crashed back to the ground again.

"You're telegraphing your attack. Too much unnecessary movement. Again"

Shadow slowly rose up and lifted his sword. He blinked, slowly exhaling. Lisa was moving around him, just out of reach. Her sword dangerously pointed at his neck. She suddenly jerked forward. Shadow instinctively flinched to the side, lashed out with his weapon and Lisa's sword flew across the room.

"... I did it!" Shadow smiled before a heavy kick sent him flying backwards, crashing hard on his back again. Being hit by Lisa's hooves was akin to being struck by a sledgehammer. Shadow coughed, trying to catch his breath again.

Lisa quietly sighed, rubbing her face: "Ok, break time, take five" She slowly walked up to Shadow and gently helped him back on his hooves:

"Shadow" she hopelessly said: "I can still attack with my hooves. Just because I lost my sword, doesn't mean the battle's over. You need to keep fighting until the enemy is either dead or knocked out, understand?"

"Yes... ma'am" Shadow quietly sighed.

"... you alright?" Lisa asked, trying to look into his eyes.

Shadow emitted a sheepish laugh: "Of course, I'm totally fine! You don't have to worry about me"

"Right" Lisa moved away shaking her head. The speakers planted on the ceiling suddenly came to life and the Commanders raspy voice echoed across the room:

"All combat personnel, report to HQ. All combat personnel, report to-"

Lisa scowled and broke into a run toward the door. Shadow enthusiastically ran after her:

"Is something wrong?" he asked, running next to her.

"Don't know" Lisa quietly said. Her expression was slowly turning into an unreadable mask.

"Can I help?" Shadow asked with a smile.

"Are you certified for combat?" Lisa attempted to mimic his smile.

"N-no..." Shadow looked away.

"Then keep training" Lisa gently hit him on the shoulder and ran out the door: "Take a break then keep training!"

"Ok..." Shadow came to a stop and watched as Lisa vanished from view.

* * *

Storm was sitting on one of the grassy hills of the academy, chatting and laughing with a few trainees when Shadow slowly flew up to them and folded his wings. Storm gave him a mischievous look:

"Aren't you supposed to be training right now?"

"I.. am" Shadow looked away: "Just, taking a break... was ordered to! ..take a break.."

"Sure thing" Storm caught a smile: "... you asked her out yet?"

"What? No! Storm!!!" Shadow barked. Storm fell on his back laughing.

"She's my superior officer!" Shadow frowned, catching a red tint.

"Uhu" Storm sat up again: "I guess you just respect her is all"

"I do" Shadow looked away, waited a moment and sat down as well: "... I've been training with her for, six months now, ever since I got to the academy. She moved mountains to give me a chance to train here and she didn't have to. I heard she's one of the strongest soldiers in the academy. She can do anything, save anyone, no matter what" Shadow looked at the horizon: "I think that's really cool"

"She's cool huh?" Storm grinned: "You gonna ask her out or what?"

"Storm!" Shadow barked: "Its not like that! Besides-" he looked away: "She's five years older than me, she'd never.. I mean why would she even want to hang out with some idiot like me. I'm too young and stupid"

"Oooooh noooooo" Storm comically said: "Five year gap, that's soooo muuuuch. Shadow, she will never look at you-" he broke into a laugh: "Are you serious with me right now man?!"

"Go away" Shadow slightly pushed Storm in the chest.

"But I was here in the first place" Storm laughed: "Oh! Dude! Have you heard? We're being split into squads of five next week. The brass is making a list of potential squad leaders, I bet you'd be on that list mate"

"I doubt it" Shadow scratched the back of his neck: "I miserably failed the exam session last week, Lisa was face palming herself so hard I thought she was gonna give herself a concussion"

"That's the physical exams!!" Storm enthusiastically waved his hooves: "I'm talking about field tactics! You're good at those! So anyway-"

Storm froze as a massive shadow suddenly passed over them. Dozens of Wonderbolts took off in unison and flew in a close formation over the students, streaking through the sky and toward the horizon.

"Wooaaah..." Storm stared at them in awe: "So many..."

"Two hundred fifty one" a quiet voice said and Storm looked at a gray, earth pony, sitting some distance away. He had a short knife in his hooves, absentmindedly practicing a graceful trick with it, on a safe distance from others. He was staring into space somewhere as he quietly spoke again: "The entire combat unit of this region is leaving. Academy staff, career soldiers, reserve forces. Everyone"

"Where are they going?" Shadow quietly asked.

"...far" the gray pony replied: "They packed provisions for several days. Look" he pointed at the heavy traveling bags, strapped to the Wonderbolts: "Something big is happening, far from here"

"...Wish I could be with them" Shadow quietly said: "All this training and in the end, it counts for nothing"

"Come on man" Storm shook his shoulder: "Half a year from now, we'll be right there with them"

"Yeah..." Shadow looked down.

Storm grinned: "So fellows... seeing as most, if not all of our staff has left the premises, I do believe a short visit to the bar is in order!"

"What? No" Shadow quickly began shaking his head.

"We need to unwind! Especially you!" Storm grabbed Shadow and pulled him up: "A quick visit to the local village will cheer you up!"

"No, Storm! We gonna get in trouble!" Shadow attempted to protest but two dozen other trainees sitting near by began emitting cheery noises, grabbed Shadow and that was the end of his struggle.

* * *

There was a small fishing village built near the academy grounds. A wide and beautiful river ran close, providing a source of food for the locals and much needed fun for the foals. The village was buzzing with activity, ponies were preparing fish at the market, fixing their boats or just heading home. Several ponies were unloading a cart full of bags of flour, for the local bakery. Foals were happily running around, their laughter echoing across the village.

Sometimes the ponies would stop to gawk at the twenty something Wonderbolt trainees, slowly making their way through the village in their shiny, new uniforms.

"I'm dead. I am going to die" Shadow mumbled to himself as they marched into the local bar.

"Come on lad" Storm smiled: "Didn't you say you were on a break?"

"I'm pretty sure when my commanding officer said 'Take a break' she didn't mean me leaving the academy grounds for two hours, visiting local bars" Shadow hopelessly fell into a chair.

"It'll be fuun" Storm slapped him over the shoulder then marched to the counter with a shining smile: "Drinks for twenty Wonderbolts please!"

"Ah!" The bar keeper smiled: "Soldiers get discounts in my place!"

"AWESOOME!" Storm screamed, throwing his hooves in the air. The trainees began to disperse around the bar, drinking and laughing aloud.

Storm enthusiastically returned to Shadow with drinks and sat next to him: "So, I've been thinking, every squad needs a name right? Something that will instill fear in the hearts of our enemies and inspire heroic deeds from our comrades! Ideas?"

"Uuuuhhh..." Shadow mumbled, staring into space with a hopeless expression.

"You're drinks getting warm" Storm hit him over the shoulder: "Relax while you're here yeah?"

"...Stiletto" a quiet voice rang and the two noticed the gray looking pony from earlier. He was sitting some distance away, staring into space. His knife safely strapped to his belt. He felt the two looking at him and turned in their direction: "... Stiletto is a kind of knife. Small but deadly. Like a squad should be"

Storm and Shadow looked at him for a moment before Storm grinned: "I like it. Hey whats you're name buddy?"

"...Rahzor" the gray pony replied then returned to stare into space.

Storm waited a moment before slapping Shadow across the shoulder again: "So dude, I've been meaning to ask-"

The sound of breaking wood suddenly echoed across the village. Seconds later the shrieks of dozens came from outside. As the trainees got up and walked toward the bars exit, they saw a sea of ponies running away from something.

A moment passed before a group of figures in military grade armor came into view. They slowly marched through the village, their swords unsheathed. Several citizens didn't manage to get out of their way in time. The figures in armor readied their swords.

Unbearable shrieks echoed across the village. Blood painted the ground.

The figures in armor broke into a sprint, chasing down everyone they could see. Their blades and armor stained red.

Shadow froze. He kept blinking over and over but his mind could not comprehend what was happening. He was here, in this village and yet he was back home in the Whispering Valley. The images blurred in his mind. Horror and death spread like a wild fire, consuming everything in its path. Years passed, yet he was back in this place, helplessly watching his village burn to the ground. There was nothing he could do. He was just a child again.

Several village guards appeared on the streets. They screamed in rage and charged the figures in armor. Shadow flinched and covered his eyes, but the screaming of dying guards rang unbearably in his mind. He couldn't shut it out. Unspeakable horror was closing in on him again, covering him in a blanket of darkness. He was a dumb child. The village idiot, useless in every way, unfit and incapable of raising his sword to stop the march of destruction.

His fathers face flashed before his eyes. His dying scream echoed inside his mind again:

"...run" his father whispered: "Get out of the village"

"But... you said-" Sam quietly sobbed.

"And now I'm telling you to go" his father heavily exhaled looking at him. Sam's eyes widened, he opened and closed his mouth again several times without saying a word. His father smiled and gently ruffled his hair:

"...Your weakness does not disappoint me Sam. Carpentry, construction. These are all honorable jobs if you don't have the strength to wield a sword into combat. You can be anything you want. I love you, son. I only want you to live"

"I'm sorry" Sam smiled as tears fell down his face: "I don't think I can run anymore. I am weak, useless and I don't have the strength to wield a sword into combat but... I will try. This is my choice. It wasn't my fate but this is who I am now. This is who I choose to be. My name is Shadow"

The child named Sam was gone. Shadow blinked and marched out of the bar, toward the group of figures in heavy armor. Someone tackled him from behind and pinned him hard to the ground:

"SHADOW WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" one of the trainees shrieked in his ear.

"Let me go!" Shadow roared: "I'M GOING DOWN THERE!!!"

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?!" the trainee screamed: "THEY HAVE WEAPONS - WE DON'T - AND THEY'RE HEAVILY ARMORED" he was shrieking so hard, spit was flying out of his mouth: "THEY JUST WIPED THE FLOOR WITH THOSE GUARDS. WHAT BLOODY CHANCE DO WE HAVE - WE'RE NOT READY FOR THIS - WE'RE NOT EVEN SOLDIERS YET! THEY WILL KILL US AND WE WILL DIE FOR NOTHING! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE! LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT!"

"There's nobody else" Shadow quietly said: "Academy's entire staff left for a mission somewhere, very far. Even if we got a message to them, they'll never get here in time"

"SHADOW - YOUR FIGHTING SKILL SUCKS - THEY WILL KILL YOU" the trainee shrieked.

"Ponies are dying. I will not stand by and watch" Shadow replied.

"SHADOW - YOU WILL GET US KILLED - STOP ATTRACTING ATTENTION - WE HAVE TO RUN!!!" several trainees shrieked.

"THEN RUN GOD DAMN IT" Shadow roared and pushed the trainee off of him. Several students surrounded him, their expression distorted with panic and hate. Shadow felt a blow to his head and everything fell into darkness.

* * *

The dirty floor of the bar slowly came into view. Broken glass and scattered news papers littered the area. The place was deserted, apart from three ponies in Wonderbolt uniforms, sitting in a close circle over Shadow.

"Wh-what happened" Shadow quietly whispered: "Where's everyone"

"Gone. Deserted." Storm said with a grim face. Next to him, Shadow saw Rahzor and another mare from their class.

"...no one else stayed to fight?" Shadow whispered.

"Spineless trash" Storm muttered with disgust: "Half our class is getting booted tomorrow, I swear-"

"Shhh" Rahzor called: "They're coming close again" he said, looking out the window.

"...whats happening?" Shadow whispered after a minute.

"All the trainee's ran" Storm scowled: "Only the four of us left. Those monsters outside killed everyone in their path then marched into some large building at the end of the village. Most of them are still there. A few patrolling outside. They stayed out of the houses, Shadow-" Storm looked at him: "I think there are still civilians inside. Survivors. Some ponies hid in their homes, we have to save them"

"We can't attack head on" Rahzor quietly said: "It will accomplish nothing"

"You're right" Shadow whispered, slowly sat up and rubbed his face: "Ok... ok. There are four of us. Do we know how many hostiles are out there?"

"I counted thirty" Rahzor replied: "Most went inside that building at the edge of the village. Six are patrolling outside"

"Ok" Shadow blinked, trying to focus his thoughts: "Ok, so, they outnumber us. They are better trained, and heavily armored. They have weapons, we don't. We can't take them in a straight up fight. So, first objective is acquiring weapons. Maybe we can get the swords of the village guards. Failing that, we can try picking off the patrols outside. Quietly, covertly. Without engaging in direct combat. We can take their gear later"

"How can we pick them off without fighting them" the mare quietly asked.

"I still have this" Rahzor slowly unsheathed the knife from his belt.

"Ok, I think I know what to do" Shadow nodded: "Four of us is enough" He looked at the mare: "What's your name?"

"Sky" the mare softly replied. She looked shaken and terrified to the core. But she didn't leave and now shivered in the bar next to the rest of them.

"Work together, work as a team" Shadow nodded: "I think we can do this"

* * *

A hulking figure in heavy armor was slowly making its way through the village. It was quiet, only the wind gusted through the deserted streets. Suddenly a purple pegasus ran into the path of the figure, gasped in horror, tripped and fell down. The figure smirked, raising its sword.

"No, please" the pegasus begged, staring into the eyes of the figure. At that moment, Rahzor silently jumped down from the nearby roof and ran his knife into the back of the figures neck. The hulking pony fell down to the ground and the purple pegasus slowly rose back to his hooves: "Ok, take his weapons"

Storm and Sky jumped down from the roof and began searching the body: "Two knives, a sword, this is perfect" Storm nodded with a smirk.

"Sky" Shadow called: "Take his armor. Put it on. We'll get ours from the other guys"

"Why am I first to get armor?" Sky slightly frowned: "Just because I'm a girl you say this!"

"N-no" Shadow sheepishly smiled: "You're just the tallest in the group and this guy is pretty tall too. I don't think the armor would fit the rest of us"

"Right" Sky narrowed her eyes but went to get the armor after a moment.

"Ok, same plan" Shadow nodded: "I'm bait, Rahzor jumps down from the roof. If it doesn't work, Sky and Storm move in from different directions at the same time. Its not easy fighting four ponies at once, even if the enemy's trained better"

The four ponies nodded and dispersed.

Relative quiet remained over the village for several minutes. A figure patrolling next to a particularly large building, suddenly froze as he heard a muffled scream in the distance. He readied his sword and sprinted ahead. As he rounded the corner he saw four ponies, crouched next to a body of his comrade.

The figure roared and charged forward. The four ponies froze in panic for a split second before one of them jumped forward and crossed swords with the figure:

"SAME PLAN!" Sky shrieked as she tried to stand firm under the heavy attacks of her opponent. It took everything she had just not to get hit. Her defense was getting weaker with each strike of her enemy. Shadow zoomed over the opponent and tried to attack from up top. The enemy suddenly jerked forward, Sky's sword flew out of her hooves. With the same movement the enemy turned and kicked Shadow right in his face, as he flew down.

Shadow crashed hard into the side of a building. Storm jumped forward, cutting the air with his sword and was sent crashing down into the ground. The enemy looked around and noticed Rahzor. They gray pony was doing the same trick with his knife that he practiced on the academy grounds when Shadow first saw him.

The knife danced in his hooves, constantly changing direction as Rahzor slowly walked forward. But his knife was too short, the enemies sword had far more reach and they booth understood that. The enemy pony jerked forward, slashing the air with frightening speed, but the attack was never completed - Shadow grabbed his elbow from behind, making the sword fly off course.

The enemy roared, slamming his elbow hard into Shadows face, then suddenly froze, as he felt the cold steel of Rahzor's knife, stuck in his neck.

The enemy pony stared in disbelief at the cold, dark eyes of his killer, before he slowly fell down to the ground and went silent.

"Shadow" Rahzor knelt down and looked at his squad mate.

"Just a bruise" Shadow mumbled, trying to get back on his hooves. The entire right half of his face became swollen, after he got hit there several times.

"That's all of them outside" Storm quietly whispered as Sky helped him up.

"Sky" Shadow nodded: "Start going through the houses and getting ponies out of the village. The rest of us will go that building, where most of the enemy vanished and see whats going on. If anything happens, we'll try to slow them down so the civilians can get away"

"Got it" Sky nodded and quickly vanished from view.

"Ok" Storm nodded: "We got armor, we got weapons. We're alive. Now-"

He suddenly froze as he heard something. A small, muffled sound coming from the ground. Rahzor took a few steps forward, knelt down and picked up a small, shining object.

"...A communication crystal" he quietly said: "Equestrian made. One of the guards must have dropped it"

The crystal suddenly shined and a muffled voice came from inside:"

"Can anyone hear us? Please... someone... we need help!" the voice begged: "Is anyone out there?"

Shadow leaned closer to the crystal and whispered: "We're here... who is it?"

"Oh thank god" a mares voice came from the other side. Its sounds like she's crying: "Please, we're being held hostage by someone, in the villages warehouse... they're doing something to the floor, I think... I think there's something underground, I've never seen anything like it before..."

"Its the building where the other enemies went" Storm quietly said.

"Please, get us out of here" the mare quietly cried: "You... you can get us out right? There are still guards left alive right?"

"N-no... we're.. not the village guards..." Shadow said and looked down: "But we'll do our best to get you out safely"

"Oh my god..." the mare broke into a cry: "The guards are dead, aren't they? We're all doomed"

Shadow gritted his teeth. He stood a moment in silence before he took hold of the crystal and spoke in a clear voice:

"This is Wonberbolt Strike Team, callsign Stiletto. We're getting you out"

"W-Wonderbolts?" the mare whispered in disbelief: "I... I thought you all left somewhere..."

"Not all of us" Shadow nodded: "Hang on, we're-"

"WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO!" A gravely voice suddenly yelled from the crystal.

"Oh my god - No!!" the mare cried: "NO PLEASE!!! AAAAAAAAAAAGHH" her screamed was suddenly cut off as the unmistakable sound of a striking sword rang from the crystal.

Shadow gritted his teeth. He grasped the crystal so hard, his knuckles turned white.

"Stilettooo..." a gravely voice called from the crystal: "Come in here before we run out of hostages..." raspy laughter from the crystal was interrupted by another blood chilling scream.

"BASTARD!!!" Shadow roared and smashed his hoof into the wall.

* * *

The warehouse was a large building with a very tall ceiling. The shelves with various boxes were pushed against the walls and several dozen civilians sat in the middle. Frightened, shaking, they tried not to look at the two of their friends who laid motionless, some distance away. Four figures in heavy armor were patrolling in a circle around them.

Some distance away, a large opening was seen in the floor, revealing a wide set of stairs leading deep underground. Sometimes, muffled noises of explosions and lightning rang from down there and the ponies in the warehouse shivered in fear.

Suddenly, every window in the warehouse exploded. Several ruptured bags of flour flew in and the area became briefly engulfed in a white cloud. Shadowy silhouettes flew in from the top and came crashing down on the enemies. Panicked shrieks filled the warehouse. The civilians screamed and rushed to the door. Just as they did, the doors opened and Sky appeared in the entrance:

"RUUN! THIS WAY!" She motioned the ponies to follow.

"Shadow!" Storm yelled: "I can't find the last one!"

The clouds began to settle and Shadow turned pale as he saw Rahzor laying on the ground, some distance away. His chest was moving. He was still breathing but another armored figure suddenly stepped into view. It locked eyes with Shadow, then looked at Rahzor and smiled. And instead of bringing his sword down on his comrade, the enemy suddenly tackled a civilian in the crowd.

A mare. She fell hard to the ground and stared in horror as the enemy figure approached.

"MOMMY!!" a filly's voice called and a small foal ran out of the crowd

"No!" Lily! Stay back!" the mare screamed, turned around and saw the sword flash before her eyes.

Shadow froze. Something was trying to make sense of it all in his mind, but it never did.

Why.

Why like this.

Why are they so cruel.

He gritted his teeth. The enemy pony smiled before he suddenly flinched and his fur caught fire.

"BASTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!!!" Storm was shrieking at the top of his lungs: "I WILL END - ALL OF YOU!!!" His eyes began turning red. His body was starting to get engulfed in a dangerous light. The old scar on his chest suddenly shined bright red, right through the uniform.

"...Storm.." Shadow quietly called: "Storm-"

"I WILL BURN YOU ALIVE - ALL OF YOU!!!" Storm shrieked, red strips of light began dancing over his body. His voice was saturated with venom and uncontrollable rage. The last enemy pony cried with indescribable pain, stumbling blinding throughout the warehouse before he finally fell down and went silent.

"Storm! Stop it!" Shadow screamed but the lights around Storm only grew brighter.

"Monsters... demons..." he quietly whispered: "I will burn you off the face of the planet. This is why I was born" Storm muttered, his voice started to change, becoming more low by the second: "This is why I survived" he looked at the scar on his chest. It was shining bright red, just like the Medallion did, on the day Shadow saw their own village burn.

Storm was slowly rising above ground, scanning the area for anything moving, fresh fires beginning to dance over his hooves. And then he froze.

A filly's soft cry made him stop. He looked to the side and noticed Shadow, holding a small filly. He was shielding her, from Storm.

Storm closed his eyes. The flames around him vanished and he slowly stepped back on the ground. The filly kept crying and Shadow gently patted her head: "Shhh, its ok, its ok" he whispered: "Everything's ok now"

Sky slowly approached and Shadow nodded to her, then looked at the filly: "Whats your name?"

"...L-Lily" the filly quietly sobbed.

"Lily" Shadow smiled: "This is Sky, she will take you away from here now, ok?"

"...Ok" the filly quietly said. Sky picked her up and looked at Shadow: "What are you gonna do?"

"There's still twenty hostiles downstairs" Shadow grimly replied: "After the noise we just made, they're probably rushing back up here. If they come out of that tunnel, they will kill everyone" Shadow blinked: "Someone needs to hold them back, long enough for all the civilians to flee"

"S-Shadow..." Sky shook her head, turning pale: "There's twenty of them"

"Its ok" Shadow laughed: "You don't have to worry about me. But I think Rahzor was badly hurt" he looked to the side: "Can you ask a few civilians to help get him out of here?"

"I... I will" Sky nodded: "Shadow" she started to tremble: "... this is suicide. You are going to die"

Shadow's face slightly darkened but he forced out a smile: "Its ok... we are the Wonderbolts. Everything will be fine. Tomorrow, a new day will come... you'll see" he smiled.

Sky waited another moment in silence, before she nodded to a group of civilians. They lifted Rahzor and all of them ran out the door.

Shadow slowly stood up and walked back to Storm. Storm was staring at his hooves, deathly quiet. Shadow quietly approached and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"...I really messed up... didn't I" Storm quietly said: "I thought I could control it. I thought it was sealed but... that damn thing... the Masters Medallion... it seeps into my soul, looking for the darkest thought it can find and then lets it loose. I really thought that if I seal it, the thing would never affect me again"

"Its ok" Shadow quietly said with a smile: "It all worked out in the end"

"Shadow..." Storm quietly looked at him: "We're going to die now... you understand that don't you?"

Shadow's face darkened and he waited a moment, before shaking his head with a smile: "Storm... I thought you figured it out by now. Its not about whether we die or not. Its about if fillies like Lily can have a normal life one day. We can save her" Shadow firmly grabbed Storms shoulders and looked into his eyes: "We can save her. The villagers, Sky, Rahzor. Everyone" he laughed:

"Even if we're not Wonderbolts yet, even if we're still weak and useless, we can still do this one thing" Shadow firmly nodded: "Twenty guys are rushing from down there, right now. We can hold them off, long enough for others to flee. We can do this Storm. Without the Medallion"

"You're right" Storm nervously smiled: "You're right. And, once they kill me... the Medallion will fall apart and... no one will ever use it again"

"Right" Shadow nodded with a smile.

"Storm... please don't forget...

We are the Shadows of Katsura..."