Luna's Chosen Few

Chapters

Chapter 1: Greetings
Chapter 2: A Place Called Home
Chapter 3: Welcome to the Family
Chapter 4: Family Outing.
Chapter 5: Keep moving forward
Chapter 6: Plans in the dark
Chapter 7: Elements
Chapter 8: Happily ever after?

Chapter 1: Greetings

The setting was perfect. No wind, There were guards but they had specific intervals, here two minutes there four minutes later then gone for ten minutes before coming back. The route was simple and they were sure to take an estimated 22% longer when the guards changed which if the paper in the guard post was correct would be in just minutes. The target was plainly sitting, watching the sun set with yet another target. The stallion was just another run of the mill snob unicorn incapable of looking down or even straight ahead, at his side was a beautiful mare. Most likely his partner, in more ways than one. The briefing had only vaguely gone over her. The basics was another 15% for her so long as it was done quickly. There was no need for disposal of the bodies. That part of the contract was left blank.

Keen eyes scanned over the surrounding ponies. The only thing that was constant was one young filly fussing over the contents of a box with a shopkeeper, one young stallion in the corner, and somepony that could have been a guard but had long since vanished into a nearby shop. The young one was dressed messily with what could have only been peasant clothes and was obviously upset about the contents of the box she was just sold. The stallion wore a simple cloak and not much of his face could be seen though he was most certainly asleep. The other was dressed like a plain middle class merchant, however his posture was too good, he was well muscled, aware, and his clothes were dirty but not worn.

A cloaked pony sat up carefully remaining in the shadows. He had been watching for hours and this was going to be his best chance to do what he was being paid for. He notched an arrow and loosened the blades at his sides as he took in a deep breath.

A sharp whine nearly ruptured the shop keepers eardrums. “BUT THEY ARE SOGGY!!! I didn’t give you my last ten bits for SOGGY COOKIES!!!” The little filly stamped her hooves angrily growling at the old earth pony.

“Hey, you paid me, you got the box. Get over it kid, there is no refunds…”

“Do you know what happened to the last mother bucker who tried to cheat me on my cookies...?!?” She glared with her soft brown eyes, the shopkeeper got the shivers. It was as if he was unsure whether she would be too cute to actually harm him or if she was as crazy as she sounded.

Barely lifting his eyelids the young stallion tried to shut out the squeaky voice. He had gone this far away from his home, he was not going to stop until he made a name for himself, a fierce mercenary that people would fight over just to hire. Legend was all that anypony thought of when his name was spoken. But that would be later, now was time for sleep if the whiny filly would stop threatening the shop keeper’s life.

A quill gently dipped into the ink and quickly whipped across the page. Despite having to write with his mouth and keep an eye trained on the duo just outside chatting it up he was confident he was onto something. The two there were talking very oddly, every word he scribbled down exactly. Notes indicated the pause between each word and even the accent used or the subject. If it was a code then he would have everything, and in addition somepony else here was listening to the code, there was a spy right there listening in to everything. It was most likely not the filly, she had only just arrived moments ago and had not stopped yelling yet. There were precious few others present though this stallion had his eye on the young stallion ‘sleeping’ in the corner. All shadowy and hooded, he must have been a novice spy. No pony could outwit this guard, his powers gave him this lead and he would not let his princess down now.

His eye twitched waiting for the perfect moment, it came and in utter perfection. The little filly leaped up and to everypony’s surprise little bat wings spread to elevate her even higher as she brutally head butted the shopkeeper and continued to clobber him biting like she was a predator of the wilds. There was a soft twang of the arrow loosing from the bow. Like lightning he nearly raced the arrow down towards the target, his bat wings flashed out from under his cloak carrying him forward as his mouth clamped down on the hilt of the sharp dagger. The unicorn looked back, it was probably the lowest he had looked in his entire life as the arrow met his face passing into then out of his skull. The beautiful mare barely had time to scream as she was knocked to the ground and a blade lodged into her throat and dragged quickly down to her chest.

There was a sudden flash of steel as the young stallion drew his blade. A polearm, an ahlspiess with a slightly shorter handle, it was cheaply made but sturdy and it was clear in the young stallion’s mind that if he was going to be a hero at any time, this was a perfect chance to do so. He charged forward, his bat wings holding the polearm in place, he was clearly a novice but the form was not that terrible. He still did not even get to cross blades with the assassin as somepony leaped out from a nearby building and clobbered him. The assassin quickly took to the skies but his eyes went wide with shock and annoyance as the young stallion bit onto his tail. He was not going to let his chance to be a hero slip by even if he was being clobbered by somepony else.

Very quickly it turned into a three way brawl as the three bat ponies bucked, swatted, and kicked each other in a gravely disorganized pile of pony and bat wings. Quickly this was added to as a little filly was thrown head first into the pile by an angry shop keeper. Almost unaware that she was a pony the assassin scooped her up and was ready to smash the young stallion over the head with her when he heard the sound of cold steel being drawn. They were utterly surrounded by guards. Spears leveled at them from every angle and Pegasus glared down at them from above.

“Whoa. Um... hey I’m.. I’m not with them…I am actually a guard, just like you guys…”

“Oh that is a load of crap, I was jumping in to take on that assassin and you jumped me, OBVIOUSLY you are helping him…”

“MY COOKIES!!! YOU WILL ALL REGRET THIS DAY!! YOU FAT STUPID MEANIES!!!”

The assassin remained silent looking for even an ounce of lax within the formation so he could make a run for it but alas, the opportunity never presented itself.

One Unicorn in heavy armor trotted up as the others readied. “Alright, you are all under arrest, and yes, that means you too Waking…!”

The bat pony guard’s eyes opened wide in shock. “B… but… wait… WHY?... I was here on a mission… I am one of you guys!!!”

“Riiiiiiiiiight…. And it just so happens that you… one of the only bat ponies in the guard ‘fails’ at protecting high value targets that is taken out by what is obviously some sort of bat pony separatist group, so yeah, I don’t care who you think you are or what you were doing… all of you are going to the dungeons…”

Out came the shackles and with one short trip nopony, not even themselves thought they would see the light of day again.

Deep in the dungeons the dropping water alone was driving the young stallion crazy. “I can not believe you would just clobber me as I try and take out an assassin!!!”

“Oh for the love of Celestia do you even know who those two unicorns were...? Somepony just killed two traitors to the throne and you are the first to jump up and defend them…”

“HEY...!! SHUT UP! Because of you guys I can’t even get SOGGY COOKIES!!!” The little filly grumbled angrily.

“Wow… you must really like cookies… I mean you didn’t even notice this guy kill those two unicorns.” He gestured to the assassin.

“Well DUHHHH… cookies are kinda my thing… it’s even my name.” She smiled happily. “I am Cookie Chip… and you guys owe me cookies ok?”

The young stallion laughed “Sure thing squirt… I am Abyssal Dart, but you can call me Dart. I was just passing through. I was going to sleep behind the walls of the city and be gone the next day… I have no idea about all this assassins and crap…”

The now most likely ex-guard sighed. “Well… considering the circumstances that was well established; you really looked like a spy… and even if everything that happened didn’t, I’d still have arrested you for loitering… not that it matters now… but still… bleh…” He paused and looked at the others. “Oh to Tartarus with it… I am Waking Glory, you can call me Waking. How about you assassin? I think it’s fair to say this is all your fault… anything to say?”

The assassin looked over at them. “Not that it matters in the least… but I am Shadow Strider…and I accomplished my goal… but because of you fools I am here…”

Waking chuckled. “Oh come on…seriously...? Why so gloomy. No doubt Princess Luna herself already heard about what is going down and is fast on her way to come and break us out…”

Shadow glared at him. “Perhaps you have way too much faith in the regal sisters… they have only just barely risen to power…I highly doubt that they will even notice you dead…you do know what they do to assassins right...? And those who help out in the assassinations?” He drew a hoof over his neck with a smirk.

“Whoa!!! Whoa whoa whoa...!!! Hey… I had nothing to do with you… they can’t kill me!” Dart shrank back a bit afraid.

Waking just sat and stared blankly. The idea of being killed without even doing anything wrong was a travesty. Luna herself knew him. He had a destiny. Why would he be killed over something like this?

Cookie just sat there angrily as if she didn’t even hear what was said, still angry at the loss of her cookies.

“I personally have no affiliation with your Luna… but make your peace… come sunup… we won’t be alive…” He sighed, eerily he did not seem to have any emotional response to the oncoming death. Which disturbed Dart and Waking even more. Though they could not possibly comprehend what was going through his scarred and tattered mind.

Cookie wrinkled her nose and turned to Waking and let out an annoyed sigh. “…You...! Glory guy… who is Captain Shaw Jaw?”

Waking gave her a confused look. “Um… my… superior officer… how do you know that name?”

“That ugly unicorn who arrested us is talking about him…” She held up a hoof to tell them to be quiet which snuffed out Waking’s desire to ask how in Celestia’s name she could hear somepony speaking while they were all the way down in this dungeon. “Hrmm… he’s complaining to somepony that the ‘plans are ruined’… something about Captain Shaw Jaw being failed because some nosy bat pony caught on to the plans…”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed and he spoke calmly. “Hey… little filly… listen carefully for the name Morning Dusk.”

Cookie smiled proudly “Oh… they already said that name a few times…” Her ears pivoted like sonar dishes as she giggled happily flapped her wings despite the heavy shackles on her legs just like the others.

Shadow’s emotionless face betrayed a small smile. “Your captain is a traitor… and I was sold out…”

Waking’s eyes shot wide and he stuttered as if trying to find something to say.

“Calm down… it doesn’t change anything…I was hired to kill those two by a third party. My handler was given the order and I was assigned to the job… then my handler must have been given a lot of money… because if they are talking about him… then he told them who the target was…In turn they took action and have decided to get rid of me and you… these two clowns are here simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time… but it works for your captain even better… Us bat ponies are not really well known for being loyal to the sisters… he and his traitorous supporters can gain favor in the sisters eyes by claiming we all were a radical group that that planned on killing high class citizens in revenge for the mistreatments of our race. That is far far easier to believe than a group of completely unrelated strangers who happen to be bat ponies all converging on the same spot by chance when only one of us is a murderer…”

Waking stood up quickly, his shackles clanging about. “WE HAVE TO TELL SOMEPONY… this… this is an outrage…”

Shadow gave a mocking sigh. “Oh yeah lets get right on that… the four of us ‘murderous’ terrorist bat ponies are obviously telling the truth about the evil conspiracy... Tell you what… in about two hours the sun is up… you can tell the stallion who cuts off our heads all about it… Im sure he will be shocked and happy to save us…”

Waking and Dart’s hearts sank. “W-well what can we do...? I mean... I only just left home a month ago… I can’t die here… not yet…”

“Oh come now, stop whining… I died a long time ago… this is just my body catching up to my soul…and anyways… we are chained into place under the castle with a few hundred guards overhead and no pony for miles will believe us…. Just get over it… death is as natural as life… it comes for us all... it’s not a matter of if but a matter of when… and this is it for us…” He sighed but froze when he heard a clang of shackles hitting the ground in a mess. Looking over Cookie was replaced with a pile of loose shackles

Yawning loudly the little filly smoothed her hoof over various spots on the bricks before turning and giving a sharp kick that to everypony’s surprise lead the wall to cave in revealing a small cavern.

“…What in all of Tartarus..? H-how…wh-what...?” The other three bat ponies stared in disbelief at the little filly.

“What...? You never picked a lock before.” She scooted up and with a small pin she plunged into the shackles working them with ease. In just seconds everypony was free.

“…Well that takes care of one problem… but we are still going to die… there are dozens of guards we would have to kill without making a single noise before there is even ONE free way out.”

Cookie laughed and looked up at shadow. “These dungeons are not dug out… they are natural caves… and as such most of the time they are dug out by water or lava… this one is water…I can hear it bubbling away down there which means that it connects to the waterfall that goes out just a little ways down south… it's a quick swim and we are out… and last I checked… we all had wings right...? Let’s go… but ALL YOU SUCKERS OWE ME COOKIES!”

No pony had any reason to object. No one thought that out of the experienced assassin, the royal guard, and the young merc a filly was going to be the one that single hoof’idly would get them out. Shadow gave what passed as a grin for him and spoke. “Little one… I will get you more cookies than you can eat… let’s get out of here.”

All of them nodded in agreement and ducked into the hole in the wall.

Chapter 2: A Place Called Home

The water bubbled and out burst a gasping Abyssal Dart his cloak sopping wet and weighing him down. He dragged himself to the shore gasping and groaning as if he was half dead. Quickly Dart was followed by a happy prancing and just fine Cookie, water dripping off her soft brown coat and damp mane. She sat down next to him giving him a poke or two as she giggled. Shadow and Waking came up at the same time, oddly neither wanted to move ahead of the other. A silent mistrust between assassin and royal guard as the watched each other without betraying a sign of even moderate interest. Waking was only slightly out of breath from the swim while Shadow seemed right at home holding his breath for three minutes straight.

Without glancing in Dart’s direction Shadow spoke. “Still alive over there kid?”

Dart tried to steady his breath and he got to his hooves trying to shrug off the near death experience. “I am just fine… it’s just not something I do all the time…” He nervously faced the other way trying desperately to be quiet and controlled with his heavy ragged gasps.

Waking peered over at Dart and smiled. “Dart, you don’t have to try and impress us… just catch your breath. Oh and you would be better off ditching that cloak. It’s waterlogged and will slow you down, not to mention it’s so ragged that you will easily be picked out of a crowd by it.”

Dart’s eyes widened and he coughed. “Ah… um… n-no I’m good… I can keep up. This cloak is um… special to me… plus, you are talking to Abyssal Dart… this guy right here... I am going to become the number one merc in all the land… a wet cloak is something I can handle.” He puffed out his chest proudly almost in time to start shivering in the cold morning air.

Shadow bit onto the cloak and pulled it off of him quickly. “If ever you want to amount to anything, then put your job ahead of your personal possessions.” With a flick of his head he tossed the filthy worn old cloak into the river as Dart’s panicked eyes shot wide.

“No no no give it back... ah what... arrrrgh… why?” He shied away from the others nervously until Cookie burst out laughing pointing a hoof at him.

Waking gave a confused look and came closer to see what she was looking at. Dart’s flank was bare. The little filly now rolling on her back laughing hysterically had a small cookie with a cute little bite out of it as a cutie mark but this young stallion was markless.

Red with both anger and embarrassment Dart growled “There is a damned reason I wear a cloak you jerk.”

Cookie laughed even harder “Hahahahaha! You are like five years older than me and you still don’t have a cutie mark? That has to be some sort of record!”

Waking shook his head. “Come on Cookie it’s not nice to laugh some ponies get their marks later than others…”

Dart looked like he was about to start yelling when Shadow’s hoof bopped him over the head. “Shut up all of you… there are far more pressing matters at hand. It will not take long before the guards figure out this is the only way we could have left. We have to leave… and no one cares if you get a stupid mark boy… grow up. If you want to be a damned mercenary then you will have to stop caring about such foolish things…”

Waking frowned. He would have put it a little more delicately but he was right on both accounts. “Where in Tartarus are we going to go? We have no safe haven… Once the word gets out we will be wanted. Moreover, The Sister’s castle is way too far from here, eliminating it as an option.”

Shadow’s eyes peeked up, left, and then right as his thoughts churned. But his mind was quickly made up. “Go wherever you like… I have to go and repay the kindness my handler gave me. It’s been real but I have my work to return to. I’ll come back eventually… I still owe the little one some cookies, but that is ALL I owe. Good luck to you all…” He quickly leaped up and took off into the early morning sky, flying low and between the trees to avoid patrols as he was used to.

Dart was tempted to try and stop him simply because he had developed a strange trust with these ponies. He had just escaped death and was currently deluded enough to grow attached to these few ponies he shared his new found freedom with despite the fact that they were the ones that got him into the same trouble, and made fun of him, and caused him more troubles. It was all thrown behind him in his happiness to be alive even if that was interrupted with his rather blank flanks being exposed.

“Well, good riddance to that one…” Waking nearly smiled watching him leave. “But he was right… we need to get out of here and get somewhere safe. I will contact the princesses but we are still unsafe here and honestly I only just got to this region a little while ago… I have no idea where to go…”

To very little surprise Cookie popped up with a smile. “I have a place… it’s a great place and its really really really really safe...” Her every movement seemed to add to her verbal communications. Bouncing and giggling as she droned on.

Waking looked at her then to Dart who gave a shrug. “Ok… well if nopony else has any ideas lead the way Cookie…” He flapped his wings steadily as Dart still uncomfortable and feeling a tad naked extended his abnormally long wings and joined him in flight.

With very little effort Cookie joined them and took off to the north.

-------------------

Shadow weaved quickly through the crowds, it took him mere hours after separating from the others before he found one of his safe houses and gathered gear before quickly setting out across the land. His hood pulled even tighter over his head as he noticed wanted posters with relatively well drawn portraits of himself and the other three. He grimaced, they had clearly angered a very powerful group if they were able to spread wanted posters this fast. This was more than just a problem to Shadow. He relied heavily on being able to just not be noticed as he went about his work. Now everypony in all of Equestria would know his face. This was a very large monkey wrench in not only his plans but his in total, lifestyle.

Rounding the corner he quickly pulled the hood lower and sat in a pile of trash holding his hooves out like a beggar as two guards came through ignoring him. The second they passed out of view he shot up from the garbage pile and continued onward deeper into the underbelly of the city.

He knew well that he could not undo this damage on his own. If those wanted posters stayed up for very long he would lose his ability to freely travel without caution.

Triple checking the shadows he opened the door and stepped into the small run down building. He had rounded just two corners before he came to a halt. The lookout was not there, nor was the old mare who swept the halls. He focused and breathed in deeply through his nose. The smell of blood touched his senses as did the scent of cheap lamp oil, a lot of it. “Duskey… you poor bastard… I am sorry I thought you were a traitor…”

Shadow gave a short moment of silence not bothering to go any further into the building to set off the fire trap or to see Morning Dusk’s dead, tortured body. Shadow’s well honed survival instincts told him exactly what happened, and now all that he could do is try and take on this problem head first. He had no chance to doing it all alone. If he tried to get help from anypony he would just draw more attention to himself and to the problem. He needed somepony that was clearly not on a potential payroll and perhaps already knew the problem. He sighed pulling a small hoof crafted flare from his pouch and tossing it into a pile of rags watching it quickly ignite and start to spread. He had to go back to the others, he could not pull all of it off alone and though it was painfully obvious that Waking did not trust him in the least, he did seem like the honor bound type and would potentially give him a “second chance” if he helped the group out.

His hooves barely hit the stone floors of the market place before the fire hit the mass of oil within Morning Dusk’s building causing an echoing boom. Only one thing was on his mind.

He needed a lot of cookies.

---------------------

“Ok guys… we are almost there!” a sweating and out of breath but still somehow hyper Cookie kept flapping her wings as she pointed at a massive tree just under a mile away.

“How is that a safe spot? You can see it from halfway across Equestria!” Dart angrily stared at her with his bright copper eyes. He was still a little more angry than he should have been at her laughing her tail off at his lack of a cutie mark.

Waking sighed, he almost agreed with Dart but Cookie was very confident and this was the same filly who broke them out of an inescapable prison without so much as a break in her stride. “Don’t worry Dart… I’m sure this will work. I mean its Cookie after all, have a little faith in her.”

Dart just let out a ‘harrumph’ and Cookie continued to lead the way. It took almost all day but one thing Dart was happy with was his strength as a flyer. His long wings made long distance flight even easier for him than walking. Despite this strength he was still happy to start walking again as they landed at the base of the tree. He quickly noticed the massive tree had a hollow inside and a large opening on the side. “Ok… so nice tree... but how is no pony going to find us here?”

A massive hulking bipedal wolf landed just feet from them and let out a ear splitting roar which nearly made Dart wet himself. Waking stood staring wide eyed up at the beast silently cursing at his lack of weapons and only just barely noticing the young filly happily walking past the massive wolf who utterly ignored her. “Oh they can find us here… but they won’t ever have the guts to come in and get us…”

Another landed right in front of her growling menacingly as it leveled itself to stare her in the eyes. She happily smirked and spoke. “Luk’ta…. Esh ben vansi Tesh’tsu bvan kaara chaqu….” The massive beast nodded and she giggled fluffing her hoof against the thick fur on his muscle bound neck. He seemed resistant as she playfully fluffed his fur but soon her gave in rolling back happily panting as she clobbered him and playfully rubbed his belly. There were around another dozen of these seven foot tall beasts all inspecting the newcomers. Suspicion in their eyes they silently spoke to each other.

“…Ah.. Cookie? How in the sweet name of Celestia did…err.. do.. um.. how do you…what is going on?!?” Waking slowly and cautiously moved past the first of the wolves who stared at him with mistrust.

“Oh... these guys are the Taratak… it’s their tribe… they own this tree and it’s their home. They are friendly but are too used to ponies trying to tell them to leave so they get angry every once and a while and trash a town. But they haven’t had to do that in a long time. No pony ever comes near them, they think the Taratak are dangerous and mindless. But they are fun, kind and they love to play. Heck they can even speak like 14 languages they just find other languages guttural and bland. Come on… I have a spot I sleep up there just don’t stare at them it’s their way to disrespectfully challenge a foe.”

Dart kept his eyes forward nervously walking along avoiding all eye contact, just wanting to live long enough to get out he followed Cookie. Waking too followed with the same amount of caution. “Um… Cookie? Do you live here?”

“Nope, this is just one of my favorite spots to play. Why in the hay would you think I live here? Jeeze.” She flew the short distance with them to a small area that seemed to be dug out of the tree. Reinforced with stone and wood, it was like a small camping spot complete with a cobblestone oven and several boxes of cookies and supplies for making cookies.

Waking sat down wary and tired as Cookie plopped down into a large nest like spot, Dart too sat down nervously. Cookie downed a few chocolate chip cookies and plopped down. She was asleep before her head hit the nest. Waking looked back at Dart. “We are… I guess you can call it safe for now… get some sleep we have plans to make in the morning. I have a meeting to attend with some high class members of society…”

Dart gave him a confused look as Waking smiled. “Don’t worry about it… just get to sleep.” Dart nodded and Waking lay down comfortably closing his eyes finding his comforting thoughts. Sleep quickly found him as an ancient magic flooded his body.

In an instant he was standing among the stars in a beautiful darkness. He bowed low and humbly looked up. “Your majesty… I bring dire news….”

A shadow moved before him as the Princess of the Night looked favorably upon one of one of the last of her chosen children. “Stand… and report my Dream Walker…”

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Family

The dark sky whispered beautiful songs of renewing life, the darkness was put off by the beautiful moon that shined brightly in the sky. All of this complimented her beautiful flowing mane.

“I am confident that we can root out the problem. I just doubt that Shadow will come back… and I doubt he is even trustworthy if ever he does…”

Luna let out a soft sigh signifying her deep thoughts. “We do not believe this was a coincidence. I know your heart is right… We see who you are and I know you hold nothing from us. But we ask of you, please have the same faith… I will come to know my new children. Fate did not lead Shadow Strider to us without reason…”

Her words echoed as her image faded and Waking’s eyes batted, The smell of old cookies and wolves woke him. He sat up, He was to enjoy the rest of her beautiful night and wait until she welcomed her new children.

The other children would not let up. She could hear their jeers and tears flowed from her eyes. Wiping egg from her mane Cookie sniffled, the other children spared no expense at reminding her of her parents deaths. That her wings proved she was something that did not belong.

“Go back to the night freak!” The pain shot straight to her soul. They stole her food, her blankets, put tacks on her bed. Not even the adults wanted to have her around. She could feel the tears streaking down her face as she ran through the woods at night. She ran so fast and so far, but she could still hear their voices, feel them pulling on her wings.

To be different was wrong, it meant you didn't belong. Pain and loss was the punishment for not being like everypony else. She wanted more than anything to have pretty feathery wings, but alas even seeing herself with feathers was beyond her, all she could see was their laughing faces, all she could hear was their accusing hateful voices. She cuddled into a heap pained and scared. She couldn’t even remember her mother’s voice just the soft smell of cookies. But here even that was tainted.

She saw them coming closer, their eyes seething with hate, their mouths filled with anger. She did not belong. To be different was wrong. She was wrong.

“ENOUGH!!” The seething darkness shattered, the pain washed away with the sickly darkness. Their faces were gone and a hoof pulled her in. A warm loving embrace. Cookie could not cry. Somepony else was crying for her, taking her pain and holding her close. All Cookie could see was a soft beautiful blue of a noble form. Soft feathered wings scooped around her and a glowing horn continued to tear away at the hate and the pain until she could not even remember what it felt like.

“Cry not child. you are here with us, and you are loved… my precious beautiful Cookie, you don't have to hurt anymore. You belong to the night… and the night belongs to us, nopony will EVER hurt you again…”

Cookie looked up. Her drying eyes could see finally. All she saw was her mother’s face. she cuddled deeper into the soft blue coat and she could smell it. Her mother’s smell. She heard her mother’s heartbeat. It didn't matter who or what happened before. The past did not exist anymore. Her mother held her and at that moment that is the ONLY thing that would ever matter.

Dart tried to duck but the training weapon swatted him square in the face. “Too slow! You can’t farm, you can’t fight, for the love of the night you cannot even cook. What in Tartarus are you good for?”

His father loomed over him as his brothers laughed. Even his younger brother had his mark already. Combat was the way of the Abyssal house. Set apart from the other bat pony tribes, the Abyssal house and its vassals had tamed Dark Island, they found comradery with the storm spirit that lived here. They were masters of the night. All but one. Even the most disappointing of vassals had mastered the first tier combat forms after two years. This was Dart’s third year of training and he kept tripping over himself. His oversized wings threw him off balance every time, his sharp eyes picked out the blow far before it happened yet every time he flinched. Every time he would fail. Of all of his father’s sons, and his Father’s Vassals and their sons, Dart was the most well known failure of all Dark Island.

He could feel the bruises that cast over his limbs over the years. Hear his father’s disappointed sighs until he was deemed so unworthy he would not even be permitted to see his father. Nopony on the island would even talk to him, not even the pegasi in vassal house Chime. It was painful to be alone, but the bit that hurt the most was his utter lack of potential. It did not matter who or what he came to. His father was right, the best he could be was a meat shield for somepony more important. He looked back at his awkwardly oversized wings. A thousand times over in his head he remembered the actions of that night. He picked up the polearm again just like before. His wings extended and he shivered. Tears seeped from his eyes. “These damned wings… they make me weak… father... weakness is a curse… it is… then…” His body quivered like a coward and tears touched the ground. “...Why can’t I remove my weakness?”

“Those are very beautiful wings… if your father will not have you then let us have you…” He turned quickly looking at the new comer. The pain and rejection was gone. As if his father no longer existed.

“W-What…?” He looked forward, she was not from the island. Nopony from house Chime was that beautiful. And furthermore she had a horn as well as wings. He had never seen this before.

“We are saying, your wings, they are beautiful. And your blood is noble, if your foolish family is willing to overlook such potential and refuse you glory that is your birthright… then come, be mine, you are strong whether that stubborn mule wants to believe it or not. Those wings are your strength… a fool who cannot understand what real power is will surely look upon your potential and spit. But a fool is a fool.”

Her voice was majestic. She was beautiful and her very pose struck him as a sign of majesty and power. “Y-You… want me...? But… I’m weak… I am a coward… I ran... I ran from home because I was worthless. I achieved NOTHING but deluded dreams of being everything I am not.”

“Worth is not determined by you… nor is it determined by a fool who cannot see past his own muzzle. Come, we care not the opinions of the weak, fly with me and we will be the apex of the night. You have value, you are one of my children and as such you are precious to me even if the blind continue to choose blindness over who you really are. Your dreams mean everything and more to us.” Dart’s heart warmed and a smile came to his face. This was not Dark Island but it most certainly was home.

An eye opened calmly, there was not even a noise other than Cookie smacking her lips in a happy dream and Dart’s steady breathing. “Impressive, I honestly thought you were just some lowly guard for those passing fads of a royal excuse…” Shadow’s form gave up on stealth and he landed dropping his boxes.

“You did not exactly make it hard carrying 80 lbs of cookies, Honestly I am just surprised that she was right, but I am glad you are true to your word, however, I am not sure that is a safe amount… that little filly is a monster of surprises and she might just be able to eat more than that…” Waking laughed as Shadow retained his soft grim featureless stare. “Right. Well, I will let the others know you are back… but I have somepony else to let know of your arrival, give me a moment would you?”

Shadow starred not letting his confusion show as Waking closed his eyes and his head nodded gently into slumber.

Returning into the same Ethereal world he was so used to he was somewhat surprised to see her smiling so brightly. “Your majesty… um.. he is-”

“Waking…! Manners! We are having a royal tea party…” He looked at Luna with a great deal of confusion before panning over to see Cookie giving him a death stare, her nose scrunched up as if she could glare into his soul for interrupting her precious tea time.

Dart fidgeted. “Honestly Cookie, I don't see how I am supposed to hold these cups. I mean I’m going to be a knight… not really a tea and crumpets sort of stallion...” Both Luna’s and Cookie’s wings came into a playful swat over Dart’s head. This brought a smile to his face and a chuckle to his lips as he tilted the cup up to take a sip.

“...We know of him, yes… please let him know We are ready to see him Waking. He is of the night, and he will know his Princess whether he is to meet us in love… or fear.”

Waking nodded and bowed as he left.

His eyes opening again he stood and smiled. “Well Shadow… its your turn. Our Princess awaits to meet with you, do not lie or cower, she knows you inside and out. The night is her domain, whatever is in your past… she will know you and you will be accepted.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Do not think you know me soldier... and do not pretend she will either…” His eyes flickered as ancient magic flared inside him. She was calling to him. Soon he gave in willingly. If she wanted to see him so damned badly why not give her a good long look.

Blood. All there was here was blood. In his eyes in his mouth, the taste, the smell, the feel of it. His father lay in pieces, his mother had just stopped breathing. He could feel the heated metal hooked prongs pushing past his skin. He knew what happened next. Fear and pain but unlike most others, he knew it too well. A grin plastered across his face as he altered the dream forcefully. Tearing free the twisted darkness was met with his own dark powers to match. There was no words to describe the horrors that even his young form performed in this forced dream.

Her glossy hooves dipped gently into the blood as his small form was left heaving. In anger. Tears streamed from his eyes. If only he was this strong back then. His power was not in his body. “There... have you seen enough…? Is this what you wanted…?”

Her sorrow filled eyes looked at him. He felt it and it tore away at his soul. She was supposed to be afraid, supposed to be sickened. He was a monster, the only thing that could beat the darkness was an even darker shadow. He was that shadow.

“SAY SOMETHING!!! This is what you wanted isn’t it…? Are you not enjoying yourself…? SPEAK!!! Go ahead, like all the others… tell me what I am… tell me who I am…”

His soul snapped and cracked. She was not afraid, nor was she sickened. Her eyes were filled with tears. “Our… beautiful… child… we do not lay blame at your hooves, darkness created you, darkness of the soul. We care not what foul taint wants to claim you… You belong to the night, and we ARE the night, we love you for who you are...”

Her hoof gently touched his young colt face. “Scars and all.”

Chapter 4: Family Outing.

Cookie, Waking, and Dart all happily conversed, talking about Luna. While Dart and Cookie, being younger spoke of her like a new mother, Waking kept speaking of her more professionally. The goal that he had for them was to train them well enough and through this small team, resolve the corruption and conspiracy against Luna and Celestia.

Shadow sat gently in the corner. His mind ablaze with new feelings. He was in no way ‘repaired’ but despite his still and emotionless face, there was a joy inside him he had not felt in years. They all had it, love in their hearts. Luna had just recently left but she had made it very clear how precious they were to her. She gave them what nopony ever even would have thought of giving them. It was a grace that went past most of what he thought ponies were even capable of.

“Hey, Shadow!” He shifted his stare from the wall to Dart. “How did you find us? I mean we flew for hours…?”

Shadow looked back at the wall again. “Yeah… you flew north west. The little one, Cookie, she has sequoia sap and wolf fur on her hooves, there is a very small amount but it was clear. All I had to do is figure out the closest redwood forest to the northwest and look for wolves.”

Dart chuckled, he loved how smart the stallion was and could not wait until the initial shock of grouping up wore off. He was eager to see if the assassin would help him learn to fight. Waking already agreed to give him private lessons, but his mind overflowed with excitement at the thought of learning from both a knight and an assassin. He would be a masterful fighter in no time. Or at least these were the thoughts that clouded his mind.

“Waking... how long are we stuck in this bloody dream land?”

Waking turned and looked back. “Luna gave this area to us. So long as I am asleep at the same time as all you I can drag you here and we can do whatever we wish here, all while we sleep. So just be patient. Your body is getting rest. If you need to be alone just go through one of these doors. You will go to your own private dreamscape. But I wont be able to link with you and your dreams will vary. I cannot guarantee that you wont have nightmares.”

Shadow scoffed. “I am not a child… I do not need watching or saving from myself. Just call to me if Luna comes back; I was a little taken away by her gifts and wish to ask her questions…”

Waking nodded. “We will see her often, do not worry about that. Though when we all wake up we will have to find out our next move.”

It almost seemed as though Shadow ignored him as he walked through the door without a second thought.

“Cookie, finish your tea. Celestia will raise the sun in another few hours. That should wake us up… well rested and all, we will then start up a plan and training regime that will help us in the long term.” He chuckled and watched as the filly happily gobbled up crumpets and downed tea. It was refreshing to see such childish wonderment. Cookie got to have a tea party with an actual princess and much like other young fillies she was overjoyed and happy as could be.

Dart was unafraid to explain why he was happy. He had purpose, it was a little obvious he was just young and stupid without any real cause to fight for. Now he had one and was overjoyed. Waking had not seen what his dream was he only knew that Luna had very little trouble bringing him out of it smiling ear to ear. However Shadow just seemed uncomfortable. Waking could tell he was happy, but it was like he was unhappy that he was happy. Not in his element. Waking chuckled and phased out of the dream world waking up and staring into the dark skies waiting for Celestia to raise her grand sun.

The full moon shined a grand bright light over most of the castle save for one small piece of the walls where the light did not touch, a shadow reached from the mountains to the wall. The guards stalked along staring down from the dark wall. Holding firm one such pegasus stared into the darkness trying to make out what he could barely notice was a darker shadow. Instantly a crossbow bolt glided through the air. The iron bolt firmly popped into the wall behind the guard killing him before he even had the chance to hit the ground.

The two others gasped turning about. The furthest of the two, a unicorn quickly brought a horn to his lips before a brown blur plopped down on him biting his ears stamping small hooves down onto his face in a quick flurry of light blows that to the adult stallion were more annoying than anything else. The other, another pegasus quickly made his way over bringing out his spear trying to wait for a precise moment where the brown filly was holding still just long enough.

He never got the chance. Waking pushed down on top of him and his blade pushed through the pegasus’s heart, just as fast he continued over the wall. Shadow dropped down stabbing the unicorn that Cookie was having a swat fest with before following Waking. Before Shadow had even flapped his wings once Dart zoomed in snatching up Cookie and followed the other two.

It was indeed true that they lived in a time where death was in abundance, despite the efforts of the Regal Sisters to create a loving peaceful and harmonious nation, it was still rather easy to find yourself at the end of an axe or spear. Even with all of this the group were all still rather confused and a bit concerned to see how little their youngest member reacted to the often gruesome deaths of their foes.

“Shadow! Go in from the top, everything that tries to leave dies. No exceptions. Cookie, you are our eyes, you know what to do. Dart, you are with me”

Cookie giggled and blasted off into the clouds only just barely poking her eyes out to see who went where. Shadow moved swiftly into the upper floors of the tower. Waking and Dart quickly darted through the lower levels speeding up the stairs. Waking’s eyes panned through each doorway trying to find their target. Pivoting on his front legs Waking’s hooves smashed down the door at the top of the stairs just in time to catch a face full of hammer sending him back. A familiar grinning Unicorn in heavy armor chuckled. He had caught Waking by surprise but the surprise would go two ways this time.

By a miracle the inexperienced Dart ducked barely low enough to miss Waking as he flew back. The unicorn’s hammer flew out to try and bash down the young stallion just before Darts large wings extended like a parachute stopping him in one quick motion before he twirled and slashed out with his polearm. Waking popped up just in time to see Dart’s eyes wide.

“Waking! I did it… ha! Awesome!” It was thanks to his oversized wings creating odd off balance movements and his rushed attack that his blade now fit firmly through the unicorn’s throat. He was a little put off from his first kill but remembering his father’s lessons, there were more important things ahoof. More specifically the pegasus in gold and red armor off in the back the room. He did not seem surprised at all or concerned.

Waking came back up the stairs rubbing his nose from the impact. Giving a soft pat on Dart’s back before standing before the pegasus who lazily opened his eyes and stood.

“Captain Shaw… In the name of the regal sisters you are hereby under arrest for treason and conspiracy to commit treason…”

The pegasus smiled tracing his hoof over the sheathed weapon sitting on his desk. “Waking, why did I just know you and your foolish notions would bring such annoying troubles back to me...?” He glared angrily but showed no fear.

“Give it up… Celestia and Luna will surely grant you a reduced sentence if you give up all your contacts…” Waking stood firmly against the pegasus whose piercing glare gave Dart the shivers prompting him to move a little further behind Waking.

“You see Waking… what you don't get… what your petty, annoying, weak kind will NEVER get... is the power of the tribes. We were our own empires on our own. We do not need two freaks guiding us what with their foolish notions of trying to make creatures like you and your kind into actual ponies.The three tribes is all there are and when this is all over, it is all there will ever be…”

Waking grimaced. He knew that Shaw was a traitor but he hoped it would not be for such a shallow minded cause. Any further words would be lost on the ignorant mind. Waking’s blade readied, and though he did not show it he was plenty concerned. Waking had only heard of the captain’s unrivaled swordsmanship. His eyes watched the slender fine blade slide out of the sheath. Nervously Waking stepped forward when suddenly an odd bronze colored egg with a winding key rolled between the captain’s legs from behind. Hardly two ticks of the mechanical device sounded before it rang out with a powerful high pitch blaring assault on the ears, so powerful it even rattled the inner ear causing nausea and balance issues. Before the sound was even finished in the quarter of a second it took for the captain to react Shadow’s armored forelegs pushed aside the thin blade. The firmly connected dagger fitted at his ankle however was knocked free by three decades of war veteran reflexes. Inches away it was hard for Shadow to ensure that the next move was not a killing blow.

Instead of his heart, the captain’s blade lodged into Shadow’s left shoulder from the front just as Shadow tossed up a small bottle with his right hoof. All in the same motion the now chest level hoof smashed into the thin blade shattering it. Flesh and bone rending on the shattered blade protruding from his shoulder, Shadow whipped about giving a solid buck to the Captain’s chest while biting onto the broken blade and yanking it out. Continuing with his twirl he let loose the broken and bloody blade, watching it pass through the now falling bottle and into the captain’s neck.

“Well if that was not surprising… nothing was… you stupid beasts don’t know when to sto- whoa… di-dizzy…” The captain swayed gently. The blade had hardly even cut him, but his vision was blurring badly. He glanced down at the broken bottle that the metal shard had passed through and it clicked. Shadow had poisoned him. His vision faded and he fell to the ground.

“Took you long enough Shadow…” Dart was never so happy to see the assassin. But Waking seemed nervous. He took what looked like a very painful blow. Though he had to remind himself how seemingly invincible the bat pony was. Simply picking up one of his daggers and holding it in the flames for a short moment before searing the bleeding wound shut without so much as a peep, he looked at Waking.

“He is still alive just like you requested… what is the plan now?”

Outside a sharp pair of eyes and an even sharper pair of ears scanned for trouble. It had been a few minutes since Cookie had landed in the clouds and she listened carefully as her eyes finally saw what she was told to look for. In the bright moonlight the soldiers rushing towards the tower were easy as could be to pick out. The bright moon made their shadows long and obvious, even if their clanking armor could not be heard from all the way across the base. Taking in a deep breath her little lungs let out a high pitched squeal that could be heard from miles around. She then instantly flew directly into the heaviest clouds and took off back towards the north.

Inside the fort Cookie’s alarm reached their ears. “Whatever the plan was is unimportant now Mr. Leader, we were not fast enough. What is the NEW plan...?”

Waking stood in thought for a moment before smiling. “Shadow bind the captain’s wings and pick him up. Dart, you are going to have to carry me. I have to bring the dear captain to Princess Luna.” He grinned wide and Shadow nodded as the Dream Walker magic flared up in Waking’s eyes and he simply plopped to the ground.

Shadow slung the Captain over his back. Thankfully the Captain was rather small for a pony, casting off the heavy armor made him easy to haul around. Dart lifted Waking, Thankfully his large wings helped him lift far heavier loads. “Uh… Shadow? Exactly what do we have planned...? How are we supposed to get out of here with the soldiers coming in?” They pushed to the balcony just in time to see the soldiers entering at the base of the tower. Most of them were pegasi. With both of them carrying another pony they knew they would never outrun the soldiers.

“Ok I know you are new at this but shut up. Everything was planned, even this. Don’t whine at me…” Shadow flexed his injured shoulder rolling it about testing to see just how badly he was injured.

“We planned on getting surrounded with no way out...? What kind of a plan is that?” Dart’s eyes wide and panicked he hardly had time to react as Shadow gestured for them to take to the skies and start flying. Dart followed Shadow’s lead as the moon shimmered and shook. Suddenly the sole light in the night sky rocketed down beyond the horizon. Vanishing completely The pegasi struggled to try and get enough light to bumble around and the unicorns did their best to try and get the sky lit back up at a loss as to why the moon had just so suddenly vanished.

Dart quickly flapped his wings following the injured Shadow. Thankfully the Dream Walker magic flickered and died letting Waking return with a snort. “Aye… let me help you Shadow. Princess Luna is starting the interrogation right now… let’s get back home before anypony has to ask her wear the Moon is…”

The bat pony’s bright sharp eyes easily picked a direct path through the darkness as all other pony kind ran into walls or just fumbled about aimlessly.

The first mission of Luna’s Chosen was a success.

Chapter 5: Keep moving forward

Blades crossed in quick succession and blood spurted from freshly severed arteries, lightning arced and burned flesh, the air was hotter than the blazing fires of Tartarus, ice cold water filled his lungs. All of these things blasted on and still he did not give in.

“Is this the best you have Princess?....oh you filthy beasts have so much more in you Im sure...you with all your nightmares and darkness… you know nothing…. NOTHING!!!”

The darkness clamped shut over the pegasus’s mind and sealed him away until the next night. The sun would rise soon and she would not have enough power to focus on him until she slept once more through her sister’s day.

“My princess...any news?”

Luna looked down at her ever so loyal Soldier. Waking looked up at her eagerness and fear in his eyes. But alas she looked away. “He is a monster… I can feel it… a deep darkness within him...it's protecting him it is giving him strength to resist… I loathe having to use my powers to make somepony else talk, but this is…. this is something else… I don't know what it could possibly be…” She sat, her wings folded and her eyes cast downward.

She had done this all for their world, something evil was coming and this was all she could do. So many already thought her a monster. This was not something she enjoyed.

Her thoughts were pushed away as Waking’s armor clanked. “My princess… he does not have to talk to you…. we already know the council is responsible...It is no surprise that a hardened veteran that is being boosted by some dark power can resist….just get me into a room with the council and I assure you they will tell us everything that we will EVER need to know..”

“Waking?....” She looked at him with pain in her eyes. “...These are still my people...bringing them dread and pain is not what I wish to do. Waking responded with a visible flinch and a shake of his head.

“Then don’t, we are yours… we will protect you to our dying breath… and we will protect your Sovereignty all the same.” His eyes remained level, looking up to her.

Waking’s eyes opened and Cookie let out a sharp “eep” falling back.

“Told you Cookie… you shouldn't get so close to others when the sleep.”

Cookie stuck her tongue out at Dart who chuckled as Waking stood. Noticing the seriousness in his Waking’s eyes Shadow stepped forward. “Then we have orders?...”

“Yes… and no… but we are moving… gear up… we are arresting the council…”

He walked to the armory that they had set up in a hurry. The forest was a fortress to be sure but they needed more. And so with some string pulling there was an order of weapons, armor, and general supplies dumped in the middle of the forest. The wolves had taken it all quickly and with a quick chat with Cookie they not only gave it to the group but helped upkeep the weapons. She had only just vaguely mentioned something about respect for sovereignty before she went on about when the next meal was.

The two younger ones flinched and the wolves below growled in protest as a hoof slammed into the wood blocking Waking’s way. “They are guarded by a bloody army… how are we going to get in? I ask because not only am ‘I’ a survivor… but despite my best efforts… I actually like you guys alive...so old fool… you going to drag me and two children into a slaughter for a slight chance that we will get to see those who are opposing us before we get slaughtered?”

Waking grit his teeth and pushed past Shadow. “There is a way… I just don't know it yet, I know its there. We will win this.”

Shadow’s eyes glinted in the setting moon’s light. “She didn’t notice did she?... nor you either… Ill bet at least one more of us have…”

Waking stopped and looked back. Shadow gave a rare smile and spoke up as he gestured towards the thick metal cage housing Shaw. Dart… you feel it don't you?.... what do you feel when you look at him?...”

Dart’s eyes widened in a little bit of discomfort. “Well… um… he's… kinda scary…”

Shadow grinned and stepped forward. “Yes… exactly… fear...but Dart… look at him… he is half your size… I mean yeah hes fast and powerful.. a skilled warrior… but still.. “

Dart’s eyes shivered as he swallowed still looking over at him. “Hes…. still scary…”

Shadow laughed. “Exactly… scary…. but its not HIM you are afraid of… look at me… how many bloody things do you think I am afraid of?.... Ill give you a clue… in general its somewhere between 1 and negative 1…. yes whatever it is around him… it inspires fear and caution in my heart…” He stepped up to Shaw’s unconscious form. “ Its like… there is something… right here… something powerful.. and frightening…”

Waking’s eyes widened as he looked over. “His armor… take off his armor…”

Shadow chuckled with a smile. “and now you get it… finally, we are not fighting against the council… we are fighting against something like me… only… much… much older….”

Dart opened the cage slowly and carefully while Shadow cut the armor off of Shaw who shuttered as if gaining strength and regaining his consciousness. But when the chest piece came off his whole body shuddered and shivered before he began whimpering in his sleep. Shadow smoothed his hoof over the inside of the chest piece and broke something off the interior. His eyes seemed hypnotized as he glared into what appeared to be a vibrant red gemstone. His lips moved with a quiet whisper “...violence…”

“What?...” Waking took a step forward and Shadow dropped the gemstone onto the table.

“Its magical...it was feeding him power… a lot of it.. I honestly have no idea what it is…” He rubbed his eyes and his wings flapped twice, his eyes seemed to surge, but no one noticed.

“Waking… drill Dart and Cookie… I will do a little recon… we are NOT doing a suicide mission… we are going to have a valid plan… and trust me… I think our princess will have no problems yanking answers from our little captain now…”

“Shadow!.... what is it you are not telling me?... what is this?...”

He turned to face Waking. “I told you… its something like me… just much much older…”

Chapter 6: Plans in the dark

The training blade bounced up high, and Waking’s sword popped Dart on the head, firmly making him drop the polearm.

“OW! Do you have to hit me so hard?”

Waking sighed and swatted him again. Cookie snickered before Waking glared at her, and she went back to loading the crossbow and carefully aiming it.

“Yes, I have to hit you that hard; I should really be hitting you harder. Nopony on the battlefield is going to just bonk you. You keep throwing yourself way off balance. You have to forget what your family taught you about fighting.”

Dart rubbed the bump on his head before picking up the weapon again. “The bat ponies of Dark Island are some of the most feared warriors in known world. There is nothing wrong with their fighting style.”

“I know—it’s an amazing fighting style. It covers all defensive points and lets you exploit weak points in many other styles. It is quite a worthy style indeed. BUT!” he nearly growled getting closer to the very uncomfortable Dart. “In order to use it, you have to be EXACTLY the size, and balance of the average pony. The reason you always trip over yourself is not because you are clumsy—it’s because the techniques you try to employ dont work with your body type. I wouldn't teach a filly to use a giant war hammer, and I would not give the largest pony under my command a letter opener for a weapon. When you move, it’s like you don't even know you have wings. Look, spread your left wing out all the way, keep your right one in, and stand on only one hoof.”

Dart stood for a short while with a confused look but quickly took to just one hoof, easily balancing before he spread his wing. Before he could even get his wing half way out, he simply fell to one side.

“You see? Look at your wings. Come on, spread them and lets take a look.”

Dart stood up and spread his wings, opening like heavy sails on a ship. “I don't see what’s the big deal—yeah, my wings are bigger than everypony else’s.”

Waking shot his hoof out and covered Dart’s mouth, shutting him up. “Look! our wings are easily twice the size of mine, and you are not even done growing. Already, the bones here at the lead of your wings, look at this. Your radius and your humerus in your wing—you could knock a pony out with that; they are HUGE. Not to mention, look how thick your wings are. I’ll bet at a hundred yards, an arrow would not even make it through your wings.”

Dart’s eyes went a bit wide. He was not used to getting such positive reinforcement. Nor was he so used to ponies complimenting his wings. The first had been princess Luna. The mere remembrance of the dream that she invaded made him blush a little before Waking swatted him on the head again. He snapped back to attention, keeping his wings out. “Well, I guess you are right. Of all my brothers, I am the one who never seemed to get his wings hurt, and I have taken some serious crashes. My brothers have even suffered rips in their wings while I have never once been unable to fly.”

“Exactly. Your wings, you may have thought or even been told that they are a weakness. To a point, it’s true. But you should never try and move like your brothers with wings that size. You have to learn how to fight using the power and weight in your wings. You always flop about because you are trying to turn too sharp or trying to fly like you weigh less than a feather.”

Waking chuckled, taking a few steps back and rummaging through some old scrolls at his new desk. The wolves down below stared up at them occasionally but didn’t seem to notice until now.

Up came a rather large and hefty one. Cookie smiled and waved. “Hey Tanku, what’s up?”

The big wolf snatched up one of Waking’s scrolls. He looked like he was going to protest, but instead, he just let it slide. They had been quite kind and patient all on behalf of Cookie, although they did take some supplies when they needed it. His claws whipped about over the scrolls, leaving dark marks from berries he had just mashed up with the long, dangerous extensions to his fingers. Soon, he set the scroll down before Waking. Over the empty pages, he had drawn a complete copy of the basic guard training scroll reworked to correct balance issues specifically for Dart.

“Wow, this is actually amazing!” He looked it over, and felt a little annoyed; not at the intrusion, but at the fact that the only way these wolves knew the basic guard’s training in the first place was if they had gone through his things and manually studied the scroll. But still, just as Cookie had said, these wolves were no beasts. They were highly intelligent and excessively skilled. To learn a whole martial art skillset and adjust it to fit a specific individual when they were incapable of even performing the art in the first place was astounding.

“Wow, I’m glad you guys are on our side.”

The wolf grunted back at him, almost annoyed “We were tired of you wasting time with the stupid one; teaching war is a sacred duty. You should not waste so much time.”

Waking stared almost unbelievingly. “I… see. I will make sure I do not waste any more time.”

Cookie laughed, and Waking took the scroll to Dart, who eagerly took it, beginning his study. “I honestly believe I have seen everything now. Well, lets hope that Shadow is doing his thing well enough.”

The pegasus fell into the puddle of blood pooling below him as Shadow continued to walk with the utmost calm. The old unicorn stepped back, sweat dripping off his brow, beside him his last line of defense stood fear stricken but not surrendering. The female unicorn leveled her horn and let loose a blast of magical power which blasted down the direct path. Shadow whipped out of the way caring a sharp path back and forth with a blur of his dull skin tone. She could just barely make out his glaring eyes as her horn flared with power reversing the gravity in hopes of tripping him up. Though another look and she could see, he was already upside down. It was as if from the front door to the innermost sanctum he knew every last surprise and move that all inside made.

“Cute, but I have seem much better.” Shadow’s hoof blurred over and her horn let out a loud audible crack as it ripped clean off. She screamed loudly before his hoof came to her chest and a fine spray of blood replaced the air in her voice. Whipping about again he snapped her neck and let her fall to the ground, her magic vanishing. His hooves touched down easily, and his red eyes leveled at the old unicorn.

“Shadow Strider, I should have figured. But this… this I am amazed that you could do this much, how did you get so powerful?” For every step Shadow took forward the unicorn seemed to take two steps back. Though Shadow did not seem to mind. He just calmly kept stepping forward.

“Violence.”

The unicorn looked at him blankly, confused and baffled until his eyes snapped open and he began to shiver and shake. “You know? How did you know?”

Shadow grinned and took a fast step forward. “I took it off Shaw Jaw, but I have to know. Why give it to the council? You know very well what they were going to do with it. What any stupid old world fool would do with it. Oh wait, the answer is pretty bucking obvious, isnt it?”

The unicorn shivered looking into his eyes.”It was a LOT of money. But still, how did you get it from Captain Shaw?”

Shadow grinned. “How do you think? But honestly I'm not here to brag, and I don't have it on me.”

“Then how are you using its power?” The old unicorn’s back legs found the wall and he shook in fear scrambling to back up further.

“Did you forget who I am? I could easily use half those things, I just absorbed a bit of the power, speaking of these lovely little toys. Where are they? The other five. Don’t bother lying. There is no point in it for you and I already know most of the legend.” He grinned taking another step forward.

“W-wait! now now Shadow, I think you know that I am far more cooperative if I have your word that I am free AND safe after I give you some information.” He nervously stepped back further finding the corner of the room as Shadow reached to the side and toyed with the dead mare’s head. Along with her there was another seven dead ponies in the room with them.

“Oh you are so silly, don’t you remember? I just said there is no point in lying.” The unicorn’s eyes widened much more. “There you go, yes no matter the outcome here, I am going to kill you. The only thing in question is how fast you are going to die. Give me what I want to know and I can get out of here fast, I will even make it painless, but if I feel you are not giving me what I want to know or you take too long and well, I take longer.”

He sweated profusely and shivered in dire fear. But with a swallow he accepted his fate. “They already bound Violence to Captain Shaw and revenge to somepony called Early moon. The others are being restricted to be bound to other ponies. They know how powerful these things are and the council doesn't want the ponies they give them to, to be able to have their full power. Otherwise they would just take it and leave. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.”

Shadow grinned closing the gap between them smiling right into his eyes.

“...where?”

A customary bow preluded the three ponies who looked up at the mare who had given them all such wonderful purpose.

“Your majesty, training goes very very well. Though we have seen no trace of Shadow Strider. If I am permitted to ask, how is the captain? and did you identify the object he was possessing.”

Luna held a hoof up calmly. “Waking, remain at ease The captain was received two days ago and I have learned much about the council from him. Though we cannot act upon any of it just yet. We do not yet have the support needed to simply make these decisions. Also, just this morning the council took him into their own custody, They responded far too quickly Waking. They know, I don’t know how but they know and they knew we had him. You must be very careful.”

Luna noticeably flinched, then smiled. “It looks like yet again your doubtful nature is not paying off Waking.”

Her horn let off a deep glow and Shadow appeared next to them with an odd, unfitting, almost creepy smile.

“Goodness, dont do that Shadow. I can never sleep well when you smile. And you have been gone for days, you had better well have a good exc…”

“Yeah shut up please Im in too good of a mood, lets just talk family for a sec aye?” He chuckled and spun around to Cookie. “You getting a hold of your archery little one? If you can one shot the target at 50 yards Ill bring you back some fancy chocolate.”

Cookie grinned. “Oh I can do that, you better bring the goods” He chuckled and panned to Dart.

“Hello now, Don't you look a bit better, you figure out your balance problem yet?”

Dart’s eyes twitched. “IF YOU KNEW MY PROBLEM WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME?”

He laughed loudly and nudged him. “Then you would not have learned, I know you trust me but you look at Waking, and I can tell that when he speaks you know he is telling the truth or at least not trying to lie. You have good instincts kid, and you are strong of heart. You live for the honor of battle. I see good things in your future.”

Dart happily nodded quite enjoying the post Luna experience Shadow. He made a mental note to put more trust into him.

Shadow turned to Luna and bowed low. “Mother, I have found what we seek, and everything about it. Though allow us to locate them first. I will lead us to them and we will cripple the enemy with one strike”

Luna nodded and smiled.”Take the family with you and we will find victory”

He nodded back and bowed low, his wings splayed. He turned and faced Waking who gave him a small untrusting stare.

“What? I went out to find something, and I found it, lets all wake up so I can train these two, we will leave in the morning.”

Cookie and Dart gave their loving happy gaze and bow to Luna before closing their eyes and vanishing. Shadow quickly followed, but Waking stayed behind. “your majesty, I do not trust him. He knows only blood and death.”

Luna shot him an unapproving glare.”You are more at fault for your shortcomings and painful past than he is, far far more at fault.” He bowed his head in shame remembering the painful memories. “He did not ask for the path he was given, and despite your mistrust of him he is still your brother under my name. Trust him, I do”

She smiled warmly. These ponies, her children gave her an odd joy that he never saw her get from any other source. It made him beam with pride to see him giving her such joy. He saluted and began to fade until his eyes opened and his ears were full of Dart and Cookie’s laughter.

He stood up and felt his face noticing an odd feeling across his cheeks and lips. There was an odd sticky feeling, he quickly looked into the water storage at his reflection to notice there was an ink moustache and elongated side burns painted crudely on his face. “Cookie!...”

Cookie shook her head but still laughed, Waking’s eyes shot to Dart who did the same. His eyes quickly found Shadow with a confident smirk on his face. A paintbrush still rested in his hoof. “What?. you told me to lighten up, this is me lightening up. Hey, at least I didn’t kill you in your sleep”

The following was very close to the very same event which got all the four ponies arrested the first time they met.

Chapter 7: Elements

The trumpets sounded and royal banners could be seen from the Unicorn's desk. He looked out and grit his teeth in annoyed anger. "So that is how it is then..." He looked up at the sun, still high in the sky. Taking a deep breath he put on his smile and looked back at the door to his office then rang the bell.

"You called Sir?" The earth pony looked up at the unicorn as if her fate was being judged by some God.

"One... or both of the royal sisters is at the gate, fetch my robe."

"The new silk robe sir?" The Mare tried to look as pleasing as she could but flinched as his hoof smashed down.

"No! The usual one... and as soon as you can, spread the news and make sure the other council members know. Lastly, go and tell the guards; there better not be a single spec of dust anywhere in this fort!"

The mare nodded quickly and dashed off leaving the unicorn stallion staring at the banners outside. ‘And just what tipped you off you little freak?’

Opening the doors to the main hall Unicorn representative head Councilor Platinum Star stepped in dressed in what looked like a simple dark gray cloak. The guards, head to hoof in heavy armor all stood at attention save for one near the middle whose armor looked scuffed, it almost looked like he forgot to polish it so he just hoped that the ceremonial colored banners would cover it without anypony noticing. Star Phase would have torn the pony apart at the lack of detail, verbally of course, and perhaps physically as well. However, the doors boomed open and in strode a dark blue pony accompanied by royal guards with one of the most foolish uniforms he had ever seen. He made a mental note to make sure the foolish guard would be punished, but in the presence of all the brightly colored ceremonial guardsponies perhaps it was not a complete disaster, if the 'princess' of their new nation Equestria had tastes this bad for armor far preferring form over function then even that pathetic guard was worth two of this fool's guards.

"Hello and welcome Princess Luna. I do say, I am quite surprised. Did forewarning get lost in the mail? We would have had a feast and celebration just waiting for you..."

Luna smiled and waved a hoof about leisurely. "Oh nonsense, I am the Princess of Equestria... I need to spend more time among my ponies do I not? I know I would not want a leader who thinks she can just KNOW by default what a nation needs while never leaving her home."

Platinum Star did his best to wear a smile. "But surely; you have other things you must do... for somepony as young as you, why would it not be your sister who would come?" In his heart he was thanking the moon it was not Celestia. Though these two were still not technically fully grown, Celestia was older and being turned into the most powerful leader under the tutelage of none other than Starswirl the bearded himself. If the witnesses accounts were true, Celestia was already on par with most masters of magic, not to mention the inborn alicorn power that let her chuck the sun across the sky. Luna was easily less dangerous.

"Oh my sister has control of everything back at our castle and our lessons have been going well enough, I am just taking a short vacation to see the ponies of my nation." She smiled leveling her sharp blue eyes at him.

"I see. Well, I guess we can sit and chat. I’ll call for dinner." he gave an overly illustrious bow and Luna smiled. With just a few moments notice half the guard was dismissed and redistributed to other stations. The tables were pulled out and a small feast was whipped up in honor of Luna's tour of the countryside.

The eating had only just began as Platinum Star glanced about to notice he was not the only pony who had not started to eat. Just a few places over in the circular piece of the table Princess Luna smiled over at him. "I must say even for my sudden appearance, your troops are tip top shape... not to mention a few other things around here. Just look at that bookcase; I can spot two or three I have been looking to attain for our own collection..."

Something did not sit right with Platinum Star, he was quickly catching on, but he entertained the game the young alicorn brought to the table as a few of the other nobles and 'important' townsponies ate happily. "Yes... I do have a taste for the finer things in life. Anything that can liven the place up to my expectations, not to mention my Mother's legacy."

"Your mother? Oh yes, I remember, the noble Princess Platinum of which was one of the founding members of the council... How is she?" Luna stated and patiently listened for a response.

"She is fine... retired from the world and handed this position off to me. Do not mean to boast but I have really taken to the council's duties and done very well alongside the other councilors... We have big plans to make. This new nation something nopony dare to consider anything but… perfect..." He grinned staring at her with calm unrelenting eyes.

"I see... a valid reason to take up the finer things in life then. If you surround yourself with the best you will in turn output the best..." Luna's eyes peeked up to spot a dark purple Pegasus with light skirmisher armor, though what concerned her was that it was not standard issue from the guards. It looked older. Her mind clicked and she placed it. It was the original General's armor from the Pegasus tribe. Due to the Mare's age being still on the younger side of adulthood Luna assumed it was more or less a symbol of tradition or more likely a hand me down.

"Indeed, I pay handsomely for rare books gems or artifacts whenever and wherever they pop up..."

Luna smiled and cleared her throat. "Oh... you must be quite well informed then... It is indeed difficult to pick out the meaning and purpose of ancient artifacts... especially the more powerful ones....if I may..." Star Phase tilted his head as he watched Luna dig through her travel bag. "I just recently got my hooves on this rare beauty... I cannot quite tell what it is, but it is an obscene amount of magical power pouring out of it. But my researchers cannot make heads or tales out of it... perhaps you can give it a look."

The back and forth had caught a few pony's attentions, even more so when she dropped a perfectly shaped vibrant red gemstone on the table. Instantly Platinum Star's gut wrenched into a knot. It too caught the Pegasus's attention drawing her closer to the balcony overlooking the makeshift dining area. How in Tartarus did she get it? I have to reclaim it, damn it all, they said they got Shaw back... why was this not with him?. Swallowing the obscene implications he forced his heart rate down and smiled playing a decent level of interest as he sipped his wine. "Oh... fascinating... I have quite a few tomes on similar objects... perhaps... yes... perhaps I can help... " His pale blue magic formed over the stone which was quickly and surprisingly overpowered with a dark blue glow.

"Oh.. be careful now... It is very powerful and we already had one researching experience quite a nasty trauma, a fit of some kind... So far I am the only pony able to hold it safely... Alicorn magic is just very powerful I guess..." She grinned staring into his eyes with the obvious message. Come, play, tell me more.

Suppressing a growl he wore his most convincing smile and leaned back. "I see... Well then, thank you for stopping me... that could have been quite a blunder... though my offer still stands... I would be glad to give it a safe look see with the best and brightest minds in all of Equestria...."

"Oh I would appreciate that... I do not suppose they can come to our castle?... I instructed them to put together a research center. As such I took the opportunity to go about the kingdom as I have previously stated, but also it gives them a chance to finish and tidy up the research center, and me time to look for some good hoof picked research ponies.... Though somepony back home actually thought we should use it as a weapon....silly foal... can you imagine it?" She looked at him, her grin spreading wider. "Of course wanting some obscenely powerful unknown weapon of war only years after our nation was formed is so foolish... only the most dense of ponies would try and destabilize the nation with something that would surely result in petty power grabs so soon after our beautiful nation was founded. Or maybe.... perhaps..." Her grin faded and she glared at him. "He was going to be even more of a foal and was planning on using it for himself... grabbing power directly to take MORE power... of course I put him in chains... Anypony plotting to throw our nation into chaos like that certainly deserves the gallows do they not?"

A few ponies present tried to keep up, but lacked the mental capacity. Some laughed it up at the idea of a single pony using an artifact to forcibly destroy their new nation and control it, as others frowned noticing the tension in the air. Platinum Star stared blankly at the Princess with contained anger. "My dear princess... it was fun for a while... but can we stop playing games?... I grow tired of it...." He grinned at Luna who grinned back. "You made a mistake coming here Princess... "

Luna snickered standing up. "We will see now wont we Platinum Star ..."

"That we will Princess.... Early Moon!" The Dark purple Pegasus shot down from the balcony with speed that would put anypony Luna knew to shame. She did not even get a chance to react as the blade at the mare's ankle shot out towards her face, then knocked to one side as one of Star Phase's own guards leaped up and force fed Early moon an armored hoof at nearly the exact same speed.

Early Moon knocked back violently but found her hooves as the nobles and other ponies who gathered began to run in panic. "I thought it was you... only Moon name I know attached to the council... Early Moon... the daughter of general Hurricane of the Pegasus tribe..." The armored pony cast off his helmet and smiled, casting his red irises into her eyes. "Its always good to meet a pretty face... the name is Shadow Strider it will be a pleasure killing you love..." He grinned as absolute chaos erupted in the room with them.

All of Luna's guards instantly engaged all the guards present, and to their great surprise, what the Royal sister's guards had in form was more than made up for in the excessive enchantments on their armor. Instead of 100 lbs of steel strapped to each pony, they had a small outfit enchanted to coat the entire body in an aura that would deflect nearly anything any normal pony could throw at them from 360 degrees. However, these fully armored ponies could still smash one of the guards in the face with a heavy mace and it would not exactly tickle.

Luna did not even bother standing up, instead when Platinum Star leaped across the table when another of his guards exploded out of his armor and swung a blade down between them. Fully dressed in the armor of the night guard Waking Glory smashed his blade in down in his path in defense of his princess who calmly tossed the red gem up and down like a toy in her hoof.

"Nice try you little freak... but you have no idea what you are messing with..." There was an odd pulse from Platinum Star's cloak, Waking's vision blurred and he began to receive a horrible case of deja vu.

To this Luna instantly responded, leaping up onto the table and wrenching waking from his place as his facial features went blank then were struck with horror. "Children! he has one of the artifacts on him!"

His magic flared and he threw a hoof foward as if to commanding the spell to come forth from his horn. A massive blast rocked the room and Luna skid to a halt cradling Waking in her hooves quickly digging into his mind with her magic. A small red gem spun in the air and landed in Star's waiting hoof. "Two now... lets see how much power this gives me...."

He cast his eyes over towards Early Moon to see her clashing with her foe violently. He weighed his options and cast his gaze on the downed Luna who had not gotten up. "I guess I’ll just stomp out this problem right here...."

The blade of an ahlspiess punched into Star's back, his reaction speed enhanced by the artifacts, he managed to roll to one side avoiding what would have been a lethal blow, but he cursed in pain and annoyance as he saw the knight with the dirty armor he spotted earlier. From under the colorful banners across his back sprouted massive bat wings. "You won't lay a hoof on her.... Not now, not EVER!"

There was a soft twang and he jumped again being skimmed by a crossbow bolt as a little brown bat pony glared down from the rafters nearly hissing as she spoke. "Stay away from my mommy! I’ll cut your mother bucker… Ill cut you to the bone!"

Star growled looking at the two, trying to work himself into a position where he could keep an eye on them both. He took up the gem and prepared to take it into his body with a spell that would literally meld it to him. However, at that moment he noticed that the object in his hoof was a carefully carved stone with a rapidly diminishing glamour charm. He could still feel the gem's power but he could not pin down the location.

On the other side of the room Shadow met Early Moon's moves blow for blow. She glared in anger obviously enraged that he could keep up. He kept the same soft smirk still feeling the gem below his armor as his body fed off its power.

He remembered seeing the air blur then everything started to go dark. Then it hit him like a runaway carriage. He could feel every last bit of it. He saw her face, the mare he admired from afar. The pain after his moment of weakness. He thanked the moon that he failed, but the pain on the inside was more than he could bare. He felt sick, he searched for his blade as she continued screaming. No matter how tightly he clenched his eyes he could not stop seeing the actions of his foolish young self. Desperately reaching and trying to find a weapon to stop the pain. If the images would not go away he would cut them away. Whether it was his eyes or his throat, he was confident he would stop seeing the pain he caused if he slashed out one of those two.

Like a strike of lighting a voice boomed. "ENOUGH!!!! Waking Glory.... come to me... I am your Princess... COME... I demand it... come to me!.." He struggled trying to find his way, stumbling and falling. He could feel her on his hooves, it made him retch. He fell to his knees and refused to move. The memories were too much, all he wanted was an escape. Even if it was the freedom of death. Quite suddenly there was a burst of light that filled him with strength and Luna's voice broke out again. "Take it!....take it and be whole... THAT is not who you are... You are my right hoof.... you are the righteousness... you know the pain of the darkest paths a soul can tread....you repented, you became pure... you understood the pain it caused and did what was right.... now you are mine.... you are sworn to do what is righteous... be that righteousness..."

His eyes snapped open and he saw he was face to face with Luna. A gold colored gemstone pressed against his chest by her hoof. "I found it when that stupid guy was blabbering at dinner..." He looked over at cookie who beamed with pride. "There was three of em in there...."

"Yes..." Luna stood up helping Waking to his feet. "Righteousness..." She smiled looking down at the golden gem that looked like it had melted into his armor. "... Honor..." She gestured at Dart who stood ready for any other attacker who would show up, a dark cats eye gemstone in his chestplate. He seemed very focused on standing ready for combat but only one fight was still going in the room.

But before his eyes could make out what that was, Cookie happily pushed into his view with a small necklace adorned with a white gemstone. "I found the preservation one... it’s mine!... MINE!!! it’s so pretty" She giggled happily as Waking looked back past Cookie and Luna at Shadow fighting the purple mare.

"You have Shaw's gemstone don't you?" She breathed in short ragged gasps. She was used to fast bursts of skilled combat, as was he though he was older and much more conditioned for prolonged combat.

"Violence.... yup... and you have Revenge.... which means your boy toy who just ran off a few moments ago has the last one.... it will be all the funner when I gut him and wrench it from his cold dead hooves..."

She growled and whipped out another hoof blade. Gathering all her stamina and surging into the power of her element she lunged with a roar. Though he did not so much as flinch as his blade past through her foreleg and wrenched to the side causing the most pain he could, her roar turned to a scream and died in her throat as his other hoof lashed in a perfect line severing her windpipe. Her eyes had not even stopped blinking when his hoof smashed through her armor and tore out the purple gem.

"The interesting thing... these puppies were meant to be used by ponies who embodied their power... you never lost a damned thing in your life... you can never properly represent Revenge.... hence why they had to bind it to you for you to even touch its power... and why you still could not use it to even a fraction of its actual glory..." He turned about and bucked her hard, knocking her down where she would never return to her hooves, then slipping the gem into his armor, he took off even faster than before ignoring Luna and the others as they called for him to wait up.

"Shit!... moon damned freaks.... Early moon had better have stalled them for at least a minute." He pushed the door open and cursed even louder. His safe was open and the other elements were gone. Now, out of six he had only the one. He unfolded the neck of his cloak to reveal the pitch black stone.

"Moon damned freaks!.. what can I leave with now?... I’ll have to leave Equestria entirely, years of planning up in smoke..."

"You can start by leaving the castle... but I think it will be one piece at a time...." Platinum Star looked up to see Shadow staring down at him with a smile on his face.

Star wasted no time instantly activating his gemstone and launching the attack. Shadow's eyes blurred but his body crackled with energy from the other two stones and he laughed. "I didn't even need the elements I have...you may be able to use that element... but let me tell you little foal....Nopony in Equestria understands the element of Abomination better than me...." His glare was accompanied by a heavy grin that carved utter horror into Star's gut.

"Wait! wait.... just hear me out...I think I know you... you are the assassin... you kill for money... do a lot for money.... it just so happens th-"

"Let me stop you right there little one....I don't kill for money.... Money is just a happy coincidence...I kill because you lesser creatures took my family...ponies like you made me into who I am... I am just returning the favor... and boy is it sweeter than honey...."

Star seeing it was obvious that he would never make it out alive any other way, lashed out with his magic. The assassin may have been many times more powerful and capable of using the elements but this was HIS castle, HIS house, and HIS room. His magic tore out his researching supplies from their carefully packed up spots, Iron oxide met powdered aluminum. A spark from his horn and there was a blast of heat that instantly ignited every flammable substance in the room. Shadow grunted in pain that would make any lesser pony scream and leaped back using the new power in him to halt the damage, repair what he could and further himself from the blazing inferno. This was made all too easy with how much he desired to get revenge, violent bloody revenge. Everything that strengthened his place with the elements of Violence and Revenge.

Star teleported out and dashed forward blazing his trail in fire. Trying to get out of the castle grounds as fast as possible. Though this became difficult when an arrow he barely managed to dodge made him aware of the two stallions blocking his path. "Guards!!! to me!" His calls were answered by the various ponies coming out of the woodworks to answer the call of their leader. One by one they began to drop dead with a crossbow bolt in their necks from above as cookie fired from the safety of the clouds. Those who did get past her aim were quickly engaged by the young mercenary Abyssal dart. His desire to honor his oaths, to fight for what was right, all fueled his element.

Platinum Star cursed loudly staring at the only enemy he now had, the dark armored figure of Waking Glory. "I thought I snagged you in the illusions of your greatest pains?"

"You did... but you did not account for how badly I desire only to do what is right and just..." He tapped the gem planted in his chestplate.

"You degenerate little freaks don't know when to quit! Your kind should have stayed in their damned caves... you and your freak leader... We did not ask to be ruled by some petty disgusting THING.... we the three Tribes did that just fine!"

Waking zoomed up faster than he knew he could and delivered a hefty headbutt, Platinum Star shrieking in pain as cold steel crashed against bone. The Unicorn barely had time to react before an armored hoof slammed into his jaw sending him flying.

Star growled as he raised himself off the ground and swore, “You damned guano brained freak!” His horn glowed violently before he unleashed a beam of raw magic at Waking Glory, “DIE!”

The beam struck the dark knight square in the chest and erupted out his back. Star grinned triumphantly, assured of his victory.

At least until the hole in Waking’s chest began to glow and disperse into motes of light, the bat pony’s body dissolving away.

“W-What?!”

Waking’s voice echoed from every direction as Star began to realize his fatal error, “Rosa tried to explain it to me, but I never did understand how you Noble Ponies could be so overconfident all the time.” The world around Star twisted and shifted, in every direction the panicking unicorn looked there was only one thing, Waking Glory.

The infinite Waking’s looked at Star and smirked, “You remember now right?” He asked from all directions, “Who I am?”

Star replied with a high pitched wheeze as tears of fear began to stream down his cheeks, realization having long since embedded itself. His mistake? Making eye contact.

Waking’s voice boomed with righteous fury, “I am Waking Glory, first of the House of Glory. Duke of Glory-Rosa! Right Hoof to Our Princess Luna, Last of her Dream Walkers! The Righteous Sword of Equestria! I am a Pony! I AM A THESTRAL!!”

In an instant Star screamed from the depths of his soul as countless Waking Glory’s descended on him from all sides.

As Waking Glory returned to the world of the awakened he turned his gaze to his opponent. Platinum Star was nothing more than a twitching, drooling mess on the ground. The Price of losing a Dream Duel was one’s mind, the strain would cause the mind of even a seasoned Dream Walker to shatter if they lost. And once shattered that mind could never be restored.

Although the body lived, Platinum Star was dead.

Waking stared down at the fallen foe with pity in his eyes. “... We, Luna’s chosen few, we are the children of her night, and so long as we draw breath we will protect her night from monsters like you.”

He turned about and smiled at Luna who arrived freshly at the scene, Cookie came down from her cloud settling on the ground next to Dart whose smile was bright. However, it was short lived.

“...S...Shadow?...” Dart’s voice was stuttered with uncertainty and as soon as it had echoed Waking came about.

He stood over the body of Platinum Star. Driving his hoof blade into his still beating heart he grinned. Fresh burns over his forelegs, chest, neck, and face. He seemed to derive a great deal of pleasure defacing his fallen foe’s corpse. But the thing that drove fear into the young Dart and uncertainty into Luna herself was Shadow’s eyes.

The red iris bled into the whites until they were perfectly round crimson discs, soon the pupil began to expand. The cloak on the dead unicorn rippled and shed from the corpse like fluttering bats, latching onto its new user, the power seeped into him. The power of three elements coursed through him. The dark black of his pupils loosed an inky darkness that bled into the crimson of his eyes and he smiled. Looking at his brothers, sister and new mother. He simply smiled, taking one step forward Waking stepped firmly between Shadow and Luna.

Luna’s voice spoke sternly but she could not hide her concern or fear for her child. “Shadow!... Shadow please.. Listen to me, those are too powerful for just one pony. They will hurt you and everypony you care about.” She strode forward much to Wakings disapproval. He tried to keep between them but she intentionally moved closer ignoring his actions. “Shadow, my child, please… listen to me.”

Shadow’s eyes stared with a disturbing calmness as he appeared to measure and weigh the value of this new power versus the loyalty he swore to the princess of the night. When he moved, all flinched. But in both relief and in confusion his movement was not violent, nor was it immediately obedient.

Shadow kneeled before Luna. “Thank you mother, you took me, a lost soul with no meaning or value. And you made me alive once more.” He pulled the chestpiece off and lay it before her. On the inside the red gem had fused and on the outside the dark purple gem had as well. Though he did not remove the cloak adorned with the black gemstone. “I cannot change who I am any more than you can mother, I am the element bearer for these elements, and so long as my heart beats, it beats for you, I will serve your well being with all my power.

Luna breathed easy once more, as did the others. Dark rushed up, still a little hesitant but none the less very grateful that his brother did not betray the family. “Whew, I thought we lost you there for a moment.”

“I won’t lie Dart, you almost did… the elements have a powerful pull…”

Dart grimaced at the thought that followed his brother’s words, but he distracted himself quickly.“Oh right, I was meaning to ask, what in Tartarus are these things?” He tapped the cat's eye gem in his breastplate. All he knew was that when Cookie had come back out and gave it to him, he could move faster and stronger, overall he simply felt more at ease on the battlefield and had much more confidence in his every move.

Luna smiled and patted his back pulling the elements of revenge and violence to her with magic. “This is revenge… the element of revenge, the never ending cycle of retribution. And violence, the element representing force and aggression, two of the three pieces of darkness…”

Shadow tapped his black gemstone. “Abomination…. The will and intent to do whatever can be done to force a victory, no matter the cost. Dark intent without moral restraint to shock and fear the enemy into submissiveness or fear so they cannot conjure the strength to fight back. This completes the darkness…”

“Then why are you wearing it if it's so damned evil hrmm?” Cookie gave him the stink eye.

“Because it’s who I am, I did not choose this path, but nevertheless it is mine. He sighed deeply running a hoof over the element.

“And these things?” Dart gestured to himself, Cookie, and Waking.

“Preservation, the desire to protect everything held dear, perfect for the little filly whose sole desire is a family.” He smiled patting her head. He was rewarded with a happy Squee. His eye shifted to Dart next. “Honor, abiding by the codes, morals, creeds, and oaths of the warrior's way. The standard of a proper warrior. To NEVER surrender or give into temptation or despair. Made all the easier for a naive sucker like you, I’ll bet you never bucked a pony while they were down in your life” He laughed and was rewarded with another stink eye, this time from Dart.

He gestured to Waking but he spoke before Shadow could. “Righteousness. Never letting go of what is right and just. No matter the cost, no matter the state of the world, right is always what is right, and wrong is always what is wrong. And I will fight and die for what is right no matter how trivial. Only in death does the duty of the righteous end.”

Shadow smile extending his hoof to his brother who smiled and followed suit. They had spent days, even months in half trust. Though now it felt like they could trust each other.

“But what could possibly be so contradictory? What has this much light and this much darkness? What is so evil and at the same time so good?... these are elements, yeah… but what the buck are they elements of?” Dart’s question was pushed out in aggravation. Though Luna quickly answered.

“War. War is neither good nor evil, while at the same time it is both evil and good. You can be honorable in war, and you can be righteous, you can protect or you can commit acts of abomination… violence and revenge...It is one of the oldest and most powerful sets of artifacts our world has ever known… I don’t know how they got their hooves on it but it is now safely in our keeping where they will never be abused again.”

“The legends said a lot about the elements and the aspects they belonged to.” Shadow stared at Luna in with his half question still hanging in the air.

Luna looked about and sighed. “A story for another time…” The other guards began to emerge from the fort now fully on fire from Platinum Star’s previous escape attempt. “We have some business to attend to, and I feel that this is not nearly the last of this family’s adventures.” She smiled and four smiles returned to their most loved mother of the night.

Chapter 8: Happily ever after?

To their relative surprise, the building was rather full. Despite the known heroism at play, the past was not that far away and not many wanted to go to the awards ceremony that honored a bat pony and nothing else. It was still a hard time on their kind. But all of house Abyssal showed up as did all the vassal clans from Tsun, to Chime as well as the main house. A small handful of other ponies were there, whether they were ordered to be there or actually cared.

Waking stood, his wings stretched and flapped gently to take weight off his prosthetic foreleg. His long since gray hair and lightly wrinkled face was all that even suggested he had aged a day. He could still whup any of Celestia's guards with his eyes closed. Though it had been years since he had to. Years even since he surrendered his position to another and began to teach the royal guards. Beside him stood a happy brown mare, her belly swelled with her third child. Hair up in a bun, Cookie had not seen combat in even longer but still imprinted her hoof in more plot than anypony else in the guard.

Celestia knocked her hoof on the podium which was responded to with instant silence throughout the room. "We the royal sisters are here to recognize the work and bravery of one of our own. The bravery and duty of None other than commander Abyssal Dart. Father, commander, and something of an heir to greatness." She cast a troubled glance at Luna before clearing her throat and continuing. "For his actions in holding off the chaos and power of Discord, for going above and beyond the call of duty to his nation and his Princesses, we present to Commander Abbysal with the title and rank of Captain general and for the first time we announce the formation of the Lunar guard. The apex of this Lunar guard shall be his own hoof picked soldiers to become the Knights of the night!"

There were cheers and a set of 'huzzahs' from those who saw past the petty prejudices and saw the warrior he was. Luna completed the ritual by lowering a master crafted glaive over his shoulders one at a time. "Rise Captain General Dart, and take the proof of your station." He rose, and the element of honor, bound to his armor gave off a glow, raising the new Lunar Glaive to his side. He gave one last bow and smiled, leaning in he whispered.

"Love you too mom..."

The two smiled and the celebration began.

"I just wish we all could have made it..." Dart sighed looking back at his cutie mark, pole arms over a starry night. "Shadow should have been here, he missed so much...."

Cookie laughed smashing an elbow into her husband's ribs. "Oh shush! You know he is proud wherever he is. Just focus on what YOU got… I mean look at you! Captain General, lead of the Abyssal house… I’ll bet your dad’s head is still ringing from that blow that ended the match when you challenged him to reclaim your inheritance! And of course most of all you got me" She giggled snuggling up to him.

Dart's devastated cough was masked by Waking's laugh. "Well boy, she’s right, you have it all, and you're in charge now, I know you will do right by our princess. Just remember..."

Dart smiled and they both spoke at the same time reciting the creed. "Only in death does the duty of the righteous end!"

"Honor until death my brother..." Waking extended his metal hoof and met Dart's muscle bound response with a heavy clang.

"So now honey!!" Cookie snuggled up in the crook of Dart's neck. "Where we gonna live? you can't fly from the castle on Dark Island to the barracks every night... and if you try I'll headbutt you into next year..." It was still unerving how much ease was in her voice when she spoke such things, and everypony at dark island learned very fast that she did not bluff.

He laughed and looked over at Waking and grinned. It took him a moment but Waking’s eyes widened a bit and he coughed. "What?...oh hell no, just because I have a mansion doesn't mean I need you two and your little ones prancing about. I was not a general in the royal army for all those years just so I could be turned into a glorified babysitter. It was hard enough raising my own AND fighting a war… your crazy kids will drive me to an early grave."

Dart chuckled “Early grave? You are older than any war veteran I have ever met older still than any guard Equestria has known..”

“That’s what I do boy! Set and break records...I’ve got the record and I want nopony ever to break it.”

"Fine fine fine!... hrrmmm Isn't that house right across the street from your place on sale?"

"Oh that sounds wonderful!" Luna stepped in with a smile. "I can just visit all my children in one fell swoop"

"And mommy approves! It’s a done deal Waking...." Their laughs out shined Wakings sigh.

"Mother?" Dart stared up into Luna's blue eyes, just as he spoke she turned to him seeing the look in his eyes.

"We did not all make it, but we all lived up to our destinies. He would be proud of you Dart... we all are. Equestria is safe and everything that could endanger it is sealed in stone or locked away for good." She stepped closer. "We all miss Shadow, all we can do now is our duty. I could never have asked for better children than you. My precious precious children...My chosen few, and the few that chose me."

~~~The End~~~