The Shadows

Trepidation didn't answer their question right away he just continued to set of the tents. Once all the boys were tucked away in the tent except Unknown and Phenomenon, Trepidation fell to the ground in tears. Unknown couldn't keep still and winced at his older brother's sudden display of emotion. Phenomenon on the other hand squatted next to him and placed a hand of his back.

"Trep what is the matter?"

Trepidation sat up, "I'm so weak. I couldn't even help u guys he swatted me so easily I couldn't kill Harmony if I tried."

"Nobody blames you for anything."

"I blame my self," Trepidation stood' "i'm supposed to protect you guys the most I've been to you guys is a mother."

Phenomenon and Unknown stood silently and watched. Unknow rolled his eyes and walked up to Trepidation and punched him in the arm.

"Knock it off. Nobody wants to hear you whine about how weak you are."

Trepidation rubbed his arm, "Ow. why did that hurt so much?"

"I didn't even hit you that hard."

"I remember you have 'super' strength."

A smile spread across his face. "I do don't I."

Phenomenon pushed him aside. "Back to the matter at hand. Trep don't you think a compassionate  figure is what they...we...need? Some one has to look out for us. I couldn't do it and I know Unknow would fail but you have the right attitude and patience to handle all 6 of us. You proved that on day one."

Unknown threw Phenomenon aside. "Slinky over there is right and you looked so cool with that staff."

Phenomenon used his levitation and threw Unknown. Unknown stopped over and had his brother in a headlock but Phenomenon was to.....slinky and slipped away and used his magic to bind Unknown. Unkown managed break free and readied a bow at Phenomenon chest his orange eyes burning holes into Phenomenon. His blue aura surrounded him Phenomenon's blue hair and tail danced playfully in the light breeze. Despite the intensity of the moment Unknown lowered his arrow and Phenomenon lossed his aura. Both boys bent over with laughter.

They slowly returned to their original forms. Unknown's short hair and tail fell back into its curly position. Phenomenon's long tail almost dragged on the ground  and his hair rested at his shoulders. Phenomenon stood taller than Unknown but still shorter than Trepidation. Trepidation was incredibly tall especially for a young man expected expected to be no more than 19. His light green eyes seemed to shine happily in the moonlight but sparks of concern and worried visible.

Phenomenon sat on the ground, "Trep I still do not understand our purpose. Were we not just concepts, why did we need physical forms. Wouldn't we live on no matter what. A person, not even Harmony, can get rid of pain or death or the unknown. He can stop phenomenons or the future from happening. And won't the past always be there?"

"If were just concepts," the youngest of the Shadows,Pain,walked to were his much older brothers were sitting. He seemed to be twitching almost and his seeming glowing red eyes were sagged with sleep but curiosity still bubbled in them, "where did you come from Trep?"

Trepidation placed a hand on his chin. All of their black complexion almost made them invisible in the night. "Well when we first met I just appeared almost in front of you. I had this voice in my head that said 'protect them' and I know you guys were made from Shadow. I wasn't ignorant but I was not familiar with the time. Its rather hard to explain."

With that last note Trepidation lead Pain back to the tent and place the 14 year old back into bed with the other snoring boys. Death was curled up in a ball in the corner he was cuddling with his long tail. His royal purple line barley showing throw the black. What better color to represent death. Future and Past were together sleeping in a ying yang position with Future smelling Past's feet. Future had straight short hair with a matching tail. Past had a long tail that had one big curl at the bottom, his hair had the same feature. Both had the same yellow streak. Trepidation felt a smile spread across his face has he watched his younger brothers.

"See my point is proven," a mischievous smile was placed on Phenomenon's face, "you are that compassionate fatherly figure we need. Who else is going to make sure we eat and that we go to sleep?"

"Well...I...,"a red shade miraculously appeared on Trepidation's face despite his pitch black skin tone, "ypu really think so?"

Unknown's orange eyes widened, "yeah and you make it clear that your aren't afraid to go into battle for us."

"But I was terrified. He had you all trapped and I couldn't do anything about it. Harmony could have killed Pain right there if it wasn't for you two." Trepidation started to pace back and forth. "And I still have no idea what to do next. Do we run and hide or out rightly fight Celestia. I don't want to do that. We are not doing that. But I don't want to hide. Oh I wish Shadow could at least help us."