A Rise from Darknessby Phantomslayer230ChaptersPrelude: Repressed MemoriesChapter 1: From the beginningChapter 2: Early yearsChapter 3: The Darkest TimeChapter 4: Special TalentPrelude: Repressed MemoriesIt was clear Sunday night. As the clock ticked ever closer to 12:00, most ponies decided to call it quits and get some shut eye. Four ponies remained in the living room of the large penthouse which acted as the Vengeful Guardians HQ. Crescent, Ruby and Vanessa were sitting together, letting their conversations eat away at the time of the passing night. "I remember back when I was just a colt." Crescent said to the two mares. "I was such a messed up kid. Fighting other foals in a pit just to get by. It sucked." "Well your parents were killed when you were little. It must have been rough." Vanessa said." "We've all had it rough at some point. But things always get better." Ruby said as she sipped away at the glass of water in front of her. "You don't have to tell me twice. I remember the day I met you like it was yesterday." Crescent said to Ruby. Out of his peripheral vision Crescent spotted the fourth pony in the room. A bat-pony with a dark red coat and a black mane with a silver strip running from the tip of his mane to the base of his tail. His cutie mark sported a full moon with a double-edged sword running from the top right to the bottom left. He sat on the floor gazing out across the city lights that made the stars particularly difficult to see. "What about you Specter?" Crescent called to the bat-pony. "Any part of your past you remember more then others." "I can recall much of my past." He said not even turning to face Crescent. "Though I would rather not spend my time remembering it." "Why not?" Vanessa asked. "The only part of my past that I wish to remember is the memory of my mother. The other 24 years can burn in hell for all I care." "Specter, what happened to you that was so bad?" Ruby asked. "You don't want to know." "Actually we do." Crescent said drawing Specter attention away from the window. "Specter we've known you for years yet all we know about you is what we've seen in the few years. How can we help you if you don't let us in? How can re trust you if we don't know what you've done?" Specter was silent, so Crescent continued. "Bad things have happened to all of us and trust me, I know that some things you just want to forget. But sometimes the only way to move on is to run back through what happened, and to let your friends help you." Specter sighed as he looked between his three friends. "You not gonna let me out of this are you?" All three of them shook their heads. "Fine." Specter said as he took a seat at the table across from Crescent. "But I have to warn you. Your probably going to cry at the beginning of this story. Then by the end, you'll probably be scared for your life." "Come on Specter, your not a demon." Vanessa said. "That opinion may change." Author's Note The Vengeful Guardians is a collaborative story created by Nocturnis Comics. Specter was created for this story. The concept of the Vengeful Guardians is Nocturnis's, not mine. Chapter 1: From the beginningScreams. Pain filled, agonizing, bone chilling screams. Screams were all that filled the corridors of the Manehatten City Hospital's Mareturnity ward. In one of the delivery rooms, doctors and nurses worked at a frantic pace to deliver a child and put a stop to the screaming mothers pain. The mother's name was Moonlight Breeze. She was a fairly young bat-pony mare with a deep violate coat and a sleek silver mane and tail. Her cutie mark portrayed a bright blue eight-point star with a white crescent moon in the center. Moonlight continued to scream as the procedure went on. No pony by her side to hold her hoof, to tell her she would be alright, to share this wonderful moment of her life. She was alone save for the doctors, but that would change in a matter of moments. After twenty minutes of labor, the pain finally subsided. Moonlight was exhausted. she was covered in sweat and she was still in a bit of pain. But not as much as before, just a lingering sting. As the mare rested, another sound filled the room. A sound that was far from the doctors moving about and the medical equipment beeping. She heard crying. The most beautiful, innocent crying that ever met her ears. After a few minuets a nurse came to her bedside with her newborn child wrapped in a small white blanket. "Congratulations Ms. Breeze, It's a boy. A healthy baby boy." The nurse said she laid the foal down with his mother. The child had a dark red coat and black mane with a single silver streak. His black bat-like wings were tucked against his side. He had ceased his crying and was looking up at his mother. His deep red eyes that were unnatural among normal ponies, though quite normal for a bat-pony. His retinas were large and his pupils were long horizontal slits. Moonlight nuzzled her child lovingly, as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. "Welcome to the world, Shadow Wing." Moonlight whispered to her son as another nurse walked by. "Sorry to disturb you ma'am, but I was wondering if I could get the name of the father?" Moonlight didn't have a chance to respond before a deep voice call from the doorway. "I'm the father." A large pegasus stallion with a vibrant yellow coat and a jet black mane said as he walked in. "Name's Lightning Chaser." He seemed slightly off balance as he walked. The nurse wrote down the name and trotted off down the hall. Moonlight looked up to her husband. She could tell he was drunk. He was always drunk, at least a little bit. At least tonight he had the decency to not show up totally wasted. Or even show up at all for that matter. Lightning walked up to Moonlight's bed. "How you holding up?" He asked. His voice sounding as though he really didn't care. His eyes were locked on the blanket in Moonlights arms. "I'm fine. We're fine." Moonlight said looking down at Shadow. "Can I see him?" Moonlight nodded and handed Shadow to his father. Lighting sat on the floor and held his son. Only Shadow's face was visible out of the blanket. The foal had snuggled as far into the warm cloth as he could. Lightning smiled a little as he looked over his son. Gently, Lighting pulled up some of the blanket to get a better look at Shadow. Lighting saw the bat wings, and his smile instantly faded. "What's his name?" Lighting asked Moonlight. "Shadow Wing. Is that a problem?" "Nope. That's not the problem at all." Without another word, Lightning gave Shadow back to Moonlight and walked out of the room. At least this time, Moonlight wasn't totally alone. **************** "My father wasn't the best stallion in the world. Not by a long shot. When I was young I didn't understand why I could never seem to please him. No matter what I did or how hard I tried, he didn't care. Not once in my life did he ever say he loved me, or he was proud of me. Mom told me one day that dad was a very particular stallion, and that only really liked certain things. Wasn't till later I found out what she meant by that. "Apparently I wasn't the son my dad wanted. Apparently one day he got the idea that when he had a kid, it was going to be pegasus colt. So I fulfilled one part of his expectations. But it was the other part that really mattered. To him I wasn't a child worth "wasting" his time on. I barely saw him. Mom said he just had to work a lot. Which wasn't a total lie. He did work a lot. But he started working more after I was born not because we needed the money. He worked more so he wouldn't have to see me as much. "But that's not the worst of it. Things only went downhill from there." Chapter 2: Early yearsThings never got easier for Shadow growing up. Going through school, he was insulted and picked on nearly every day. His days were always the same. Wake up, go to school, get picked on all day, go home, go to bed, and repeat. Although, as bad as school was, home wasn't much better. Shadow's father was never home during the day. He always came home late at night. And every night when he came back he was drunk. Shadow couldn't remember a time when his father wasn't at least a little intoxicated. Shadow would have trouble sleeping at night because he could always here his parents fighting about something. Sometimes it was money, other times it was Lightning's alcoholism, and sometimes it was just about how they hated each other. Despite how horrible of a father Lightning was, Moonlight never left him. She couldn't. He was their only source of income, even if he did use half of it on booze. If Moonlight left she wouldn't be able to keep a job and take care of Shadow. If she told anyone she could lose custody of her son, and she couldn't do that. She was all he really had. Or at least she was for a little while. One day at school Shadow was being picked on again, but this time was different. For the first time the bullies at school physically harassed Shadow. They shoved him down the hall, threw him into walls, and kicked him on the ground. But for the first time, somepony stood up for him. In the midst of the bullies assault on shadow, a young pegasus mare threw herself between in front of Shadow. She was a few years older then Shadow and slightly taller. She had a neon green coat and an electric blue mane. She wasn't strong enough to stand up against the bullies, but the look in her sharp blue eyes could strike fear into a dragon. "Are you alright?" The mare asked Shadow as she helped him to his hooves. "Ya, I'm okay. Why did you help me? No pony has ever helped me." "I couldn't just sit by and them do that. By the way, I'm Emerald Blaze." She said holding out her hoof. Reluctantly at first Shadow slowly shook her hoof. "Shadow Wing." Emerald was Shadow's first taste of friendship. The two were nearly inseparable. Only willingly leaving each others side in order to go home after school. Shadow's mother was ecstatic that her son had made a friend of his own. Even his father seemed happy he had a companion. A pegasus filly no less. Emerald grew to be another glimmer of light in the darkness of the world that surrounded Shadow. Right next to his own mother. Unfortunately, Not all great things can last forever. And just as the sun passes at dusk to make way for the night, a bright time in Shadow's life passed. Just to make way to the darkness to follow. **************** Emerald was the first pony aside from my mother who ever showed me any kindness. She didn't care if I was different. In fact she like it. She just couldn't stand to watch me in pain. If she knew how things went at home, She' probably try and beat my dad herself. Despite that fact he was five times her size and strength back then. A little while after meeting Emerald, my mom gave me some advice that I've never forgotten. She called into the living room one night and sat be on her lap and said, "Son, you may not like it, but I'm not always going to be here to help you. It's important that you find other ponies who you can trust to help you with your troubles. I know I haven't met your friend Emerald but from what you've told me I can tell that is a true friend. If you keep looking, you can form an entire new "family" of friends." If she only knew where that advice got me before I found you guys. Emerald may have been my first real friend, but you guys, you're more then friends. Your family to me. And just like back then, you've brought light into my life. Those days so long ago were some of the best in my life. The light they brought was breath of fresh air I had yet to experience. The warm embrace of comradery and friendship isn't a feeling you ever forget. However, where there is light, there will always be darkness. And sometimes, that darkness grows and consumes the light that tries so fruitlessly to overwhelm it. And when that light is finally gone, we are lost. Left to wander and wallow in our own sins and sorrows. The blackness that fills our hearts cuts deeper then any knife can. And its shear presence pulls us ever further into the void. And after a while, you can't get out. I remember my time in that bit. I remember it like it was yesterday. Not just because it was the darkest time in my life. But also because it was my first time taking a life. Chapter 3: The Darkest TimeLife carried on like normal for the next three years. Or at least, it did. Up until that one fateful day. Shadow had just turned six not a week prior. The night started like any other. He ate dinner with his mother, she put him to bed, his father came home and yelled at his mom, then everybody went to sleep. However, tonight was a little different. Whenever Lightning would come home he would always be drunk. But tonight, he wasn't. Shadow could hear his father yelling before he even walked in the house. Walking inside Lightning slammed the door shut with an audible crack. Lightning proceeded to yell at Moonlight. But tonight wasn't like the others. Despite the alcohol in his system this wasn't one of Lightning's drunken ramblings. This was purposeful, and hatefilled. Lightning started yelling at Moonlight about why she's been spending so mich time and money on Shadow. All the while the six year old colt listened as he slowly walked down the toward the living room. Despite his agressive tone Moonlight tried to talk Lightning down in her soft motherly voice, but to no avail. Several times Shadow heard his father slap Moonlight, each time making the colt wince and cry just a little bit more. Deciding he couldn't losten anymore Shadow turned and headed back to his room. As he approched the door to his room he heard his mother scream, followed by a loud "thump". Shadow turned tail and flew as fast as he could to the living room. And what he saw would haunt him for the rest of his life. Moonlight Breeze, shadow's mother, sat on the floor in a growing pool of red as a kitchen knife purtuded from her chest. She was dead. Shadow's mother, his only true friend and companion, laid dead at his hooves. Lightning himself looked shock at his actions. Father and son faced each other. The elder with a look of shock and fear, and the younger with a look of anger and unfathomable pain. "You killed her." Shadow said. His voice weak and sorrowful. "I didn't mean to. We were arguing and it just happened." "It just happened!" Shadow yelled. "How does somethings like this just happen? You killed mommy!" "Son please listen to me." "You not my daddy anymore." Fueled by anger and sorrow, shadow galloped to his father. Along the way gripping the hilt of the blade that killed his mother in his mouth. Jumping in the air Shadow plunged the knife into his father's neck. Lightning fell to the ground in agony as Shadow pulled the blade from his father and shoved back in. Then he did it again. Then again, and again. Until he felt nothing but the loss of his mother and the blood of his father on his coat. Pained by his actions, Shadow turned and flew out the back door to his home, and looked back only to see tye remnant of the life he planned to leave behind. **************** That night was the first time I ever took a life. But it certainly wasn't the last. You guys should know that better then anyone. After that, I ran off. Lived on the street for a long time. Did whatever I could to move on. I hated what had become of my life. Sitting on the side of the road and begging didn't get me anything. So I had to steal to get by. Life really sucked after that. More so then it did before. I spent the next twelve years on those streets. every day scavenging and steal just to make sure I didn't starve in my sleep. But just as things couldn't get bleaker, and old friend showed up. Chapter 4: Special TalentIt was a quiet evening on he Manehatten city streets. Few things happened at this hour. Every now again you'd see some pony walking walking down the sidewalk or carriage was run past. Or if you listened, you could hear the sounds of ponies who didn't have a home or a purpose. Some sat against a wall begging for bits, others simply slept in their piles of trash. However there was one who was different. One who, at this very moment, was rummaging through a nearby trash can looking for food or other useful things. Shadow had lived on the streets like this for the past twelve years. After his parents deaths, he had no where else to go and he was to scared to look for help. It was rough at first but he got used to it. He learned that this life was rather simple. Scavenge what you can, and if it's not enough, you get more. Shadow didn't like stealing but sometimes it had to be done. Today he was souring a trash can for anything he considered edible. finding a half eaten apple Shadow took a bite from the uneaten end and instantly cringed. "Tastes like garbage." Shadow laughed at his unintentional pun. And despite the taste he took anothe bite of the apple and kept searching. As Shadow rumaged through tye garbage can earning sideways glares from the other ponies he made sure to losten closely. It would be the first time some stallion would try to rough him up for being homeless. Shadow concluded his search as he put a few more edible food stuffs into his rugged saddle bags and walked further into the alleyway he was in. Dusk was approching and as the sun creeped toward the horizon the light of day continued to fade. Shadow marched through the dim walkway until he heard something coming from another turn off. It was faint and Shadow couldn't quite make it out. It was hardly noticable. But being a bat pony Shadow could hear better then most others. Curious, Shadow turned and walked toward the noise. Soon Specter arrived in an opening to see a mare a bit older then himself. She was pinned to the wall by a burly earth pony stallion. There were three other stallions there to. A pegasus, and unicorn and a second earth pony. All three had knives with them. The other earth pony and the pegasus watched down the alley while the unicorn spoke to the mare. "A pretty girl like you shouldn't walk around this part town alone. It's pretty dangerous." The four stallions chuckled a bit as the mare struggled. "Now you've got two options here. One, you give us all your money and valubles and we let you run off. Or two, we kill you and take what we want anyway." Shadow ground his teeth together. Stallions like that really pissed him off. Selfish low lifes that prey of the weak for their own personal gain. He couldn't let them get away with this. Sticking to the darkness Shadow crept toward the nearest thug. The second earth pony who was holding a knife in his mouth. Once he was close enough Shadow quickly grabbed the stallion and pulled him into the darkness and out of site as his blade fell to the ground. As the blade his the ground the other three thugs turned to see their friend missing. On guard the unicorn cast his gaze around the alleyway. "Stone? Where did you go?" There was no answer. Instead the Pegasus was silently pulled into the shadows as well. Turning to see another friend gone, the unicorn stallion began to worry. "Come of this isn't funny assholes." Clutching his knife in his magic the unicorn watched as another blade flew from the darkness and struck the other earth pony through the skull. Releaising the mare that he held. "What the hell is going on here?!" The unicorn yelled as he felt two hooved on either side of his head. "Option three." Was all the stallion heard before his head was twisted to the left with a audible snap. With the thugs delt with Shadow moved to check on the mare. "Are you alright?" Shadow asked as he helped the mare up. She was a pegasus. She had a bright green coat and a bright blue mane and tail that seemed all to familier to Shadow. Her cutie mark depicted a dark green flame in the shape of a pegasus wing. "Ya I'm good." She said as she rubbed temple with a hoof. "Assholes jumped me and pinned me to tye wall before I could fight back. I'm lucky you showed up when you did." "I couldn't just sit by and let them do that." Shadow said as he helped her to her hooves. The mare looked up at Shadow and her smiled turned to a look of shock. "Sweet Celestia. Are you who I think you are? Shadow Wing, is that you?" "How do you know my name?" "You don't remember me? I'm Emerald Blaze." Shadow's eyes shot open at the realization "Emerald?" "I heard about what happened to your parents twelve years ago. I was so worried about you. When the police didn't find you everyone thought you had been kidnapped or killed. Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back home?" Shadow turned away. "I don't want to talk about it. That's a night I'd really rather forget." Emerald could tell it was touchy subject so she decided to change it. "So, what have been to lately?" "Nothing. Just trying to get by." "Do you have a job?" "No." "Well I think I can help you with that. The way you took out those thugs; you have some real skill in combat. I work for a military branch that's completely devoted to covert operations. I think you would make a good addition." "Really? You in the military. I'll admit that's not what I expected. But what make you think I would fit in your devision? I'm a homeless, jobless bat pony without a bit to his name." "Because E.C.O.S could use your skills." "E.C.O.S?" "It stand for the Equestrian Covert Operations Squadron. I can tell your stralthy and you can take out mulitiple armed assailants at once." "I don't think it's the place for me. Sorry Emerald, your gonna have to look for someone else." "Really? Your cutie mark begs to differ." Shadow looked to his flank to see his cutie mark. It was a full moon with a broadsword through the middle of it. Shadow hadn't had his cutie mark before. He didn't know what to make of it either. Shadow was lost in thought until a hoof rested on his shoulder. "Come on Shadow. This is your chnace at a new start. A clean slate. Don't you want that?" Shadow smiled and gave his old friend a hug. "Thanks Emerald. Now when do I start?" **************** That was the day I joined the military. I spent the next few years honing my skills under Emeralds tutelage. Pretty soon I one of the top soldiers in E.C.O.S and I was promoted to Captain. I was given a squad of my own. We called ourselves Hells Rejects. We all had a callsign. There was Banshee, Ghost, Phantom, Wraith, and then there was me, Spectre. We were top of the class. True brothers in arms. Finally things had gotten better for me. I had a job, friends that I could call family, and Emerald and I grew pretty close as well. Most considered us a couple but we didn't really know if we were or not. Unfortunately life just through another curveball in my face. And I was betrayed by those you I cared about most.
Prelude: Repressed MemoriesIt was clear Sunday night. As the clock ticked ever closer to 12:00, most ponies decided to call it quits and get some shut eye. Four ponies remained in the living room of the large penthouse which acted as the Vengeful Guardians HQ. Crescent, Ruby and Vanessa were sitting together, letting their conversations eat away at the time of the passing night. "I remember back when I was just a colt." Crescent said to the two mares. "I was such a messed up kid. Fighting other foals in a pit just to get by. It sucked." "Well your parents were killed when you were little. It must have been rough." Vanessa said." "We've all had it rough at some point. But things always get better." Ruby said as she sipped away at the glass of water in front of her. "You don't have to tell me twice. I remember the day I met you like it was yesterday." Crescent said to Ruby. Out of his peripheral vision Crescent spotted the fourth pony in the room. A bat-pony with a dark red coat and a black mane with a silver strip running from the tip of his mane to the base of his tail. His cutie mark sported a full moon with a double-edged sword running from the top right to the bottom left. He sat on the floor gazing out across the city lights that made the stars particularly difficult to see. "What about you Specter?" Crescent called to the bat-pony. "Any part of your past you remember more then others." "I can recall much of my past." He said not even turning to face Crescent. "Though I would rather not spend my time remembering it." "Why not?" Vanessa asked. "The only part of my past that I wish to remember is the memory of my mother. The other 24 years can burn in hell for all I care." "Specter, what happened to you that was so bad?" Ruby asked. "You don't want to know." "Actually we do." Crescent said drawing Specter attention away from the window. "Specter we've known you for years yet all we know about you is what we've seen in the few years. How can we help you if you don't let us in? How can re trust you if we don't know what you've done?" Specter was silent, so Crescent continued. "Bad things have happened to all of us and trust me, I know that some things you just want to forget. But sometimes the only way to move on is to run back through what happened, and to let your friends help you." Specter sighed as he looked between his three friends. "You not gonna let me out of this are you?" All three of them shook their heads. "Fine." Specter said as he took a seat at the table across from Crescent. "But I have to warn you. Your probably going to cry at the beginning of this story. Then by the end, you'll probably be scared for your life." "Come on Specter, your not a demon." Vanessa said. "That opinion may change." Author's Note The Vengeful Guardians is a collaborative story created by Nocturnis Comics. Specter was created for this story. The concept of the Vengeful Guardians is Nocturnis's, not mine.
Chapter 1: From the beginningScreams. Pain filled, agonizing, bone chilling screams. Screams were all that filled the corridors of the Manehatten City Hospital's Mareturnity ward. In one of the delivery rooms, doctors and nurses worked at a frantic pace to deliver a child and put a stop to the screaming mothers pain. The mother's name was Moonlight Breeze. She was a fairly young bat-pony mare with a deep violate coat and a sleek silver mane and tail. Her cutie mark portrayed a bright blue eight-point star with a white crescent moon in the center. Moonlight continued to scream as the procedure went on. No pony by her side to hold her hoof, to tell her she would be alright, to share this wonderful moment of her life. She was alone save for the doctors, but that would change in a matter of moments. After twenty minutes of labor, the pain finally subsided. Moonlight was exhausted. she was covered in sweat and she was still in a bit of pain. But not as much as before, just a lingering sting. As the mare rested, another sound filled the room. A sound that was far from the doctors moving about and the medical equipment beeping. She heard crying. The most beautiful, innocent crying that ever met her ears. After a few minuets a nurse came to her bedside with her newborn child wrapped in a small white blanket. "Congratulations Ms. Breeze, It's a boy. A healthy baby boy." The nurse said she laid the foal down with his mother. The child had a dark red coat and black mane with a single silver streak. His black bat-like wings were tucked against his side. He had ceased his crying and was looking up at his mother. His deep red eyes that were unnatural among normal ponies, though quite normal for a bat-pony. His retinas were large and his pupils were long horizontal slits. Moonlight nuzzled her child lovingly, as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. "Welcome to the world, Shadow Wing." Moonlight whispered to her son as another nurse walked by. "Sorry to disturb you ma'am, but I was wondering if I could get the name of the father?" Moonlight didn't have a chance to respond before a deep voice call from the doorway. "I'm the father." A large pegasus stallion with a vibrant yellow coat and a jet black mane said as he walked in. "Name's Lightning Chaser." He seemed slightly off balance as he walked. The nurse wrote down the name and trotted off down the hall. Moonlight looked up to her husband. She could tell he was drunk. He was always drunk, at least a little bit. At least tonight he had the decency to not show up totally wasted. Or even show up at all for that matter. Lightning walked up to Moonlight's bed. "How you holding up?" He asked. His voice sounding as though he really didn't care. His eyes were locked on the blanket in Moonlights arms. "I'm fine. We're fine." Moonlight said looking down at Shadow. "Can I see him?" Moonlight nodded and handed Shadow to his father. Lighting sat on the floor and held his son. Only Shadow's face was visible out of the blanket. The foal had snuggled as far into the warm cloth as he could. Lightning smiled a little as he looked over his son. Gently, Lighting pulled up some of the blanket to get a better look at Shadow. Lighting saw the bat wings, and his smile instantly faded. "What's his name?" Lighting asked Moonlight. "Shadow Wing. Is that a problem?" "Nope. That's not the problem at all." Without another word, Lightning gave Shadow back to Moonlight and walked out of the room. At least this time, Moonlight wasn't totally alone. **************** "My father wasn't the best stallion in the world. Not by a long shot. When I was young I didn't understand why I could never seem to please him. No matter what I did or how hard I tried, he didn't care. Not once in my life did he ever say he loved me, or he was proud of me. Mom told me one day that dad was a very particular stallion, and that only really liked certain things. Wasn't till later I found out what she meant by that. "Apparently I wasn't the son my dad wanted. Apparently one day he got the idea that when he had a kid, it was going to be pegasus colt. So I fulfilled one part of his expectations. But it was the other part that really mattered. To him I wasn't a child worth "wasting" his time on. I barely saw him. Mom said he just had to work a lot. Which wasn't a total lie. He did work a lot. But he started working more after I was born not because we needed the money. He worked more so he wouldn't have to see me as much. "But that's not the worst of it. Things only went downhill from there."
Chapter 2: Early yearsThings never got easier for Shadow growing up. Going through school, he was insulted and picked on nearly every day. His days were always the same. Wake up, go to school, get picked on all day, go home, go to bed, and repeat. Although, as bad as school was, home wasn't much better. Shadow's father was never home during the day. He always came home late at night. And every night when he came back he was drunk. Shadow couldn't remember a time when his father wasn't at least a little intoxicated. Shadow would have trouble sleeping at night because he could always here his parents fighting about something. Sometimes it was money, other times it was Lightning's alcoholism, and sometimes it was just about how they hated each other. Despite how horrible of a father Lightning was, Moonlight never left him. She couldn't. He was their only source of income, even if he did use half of it on booze. If Moonlight left she wouldn't be able to keep a job and take care of Shadow. If she told anyone she could lose custody of her son, and she couldn't do that. She was all he really had. Or at least she was for a little while. One day at school Shadow was being picked on again, but this time was different. For the first time the bullies at school physically harassed Shadow. They shoved him down the hall, threw him into walls, and kicked him on the ground. But for the first time, somepony stood up for him. In the midst of the bullies assault on shadow, a young pegasus mare threw herself between in front of Shadow. She was a few years older then Shadow and slightly taller. She had a neon green coat and an electric blue mane. She wasn't strong enough to stand up against the bullies, but the look in her sharp blue eyes could strike fear into a dragon. "Are you alright?" The mare asked Shadow as she helped him to his hooves. "Ya, I'm okay. Why did you help me? No pony has ever helped me." "I couldn't just sit by and them do that. By the way, I'm Emerald Blaze." She said holding out her hoof. Reluctantly at first Shadow slowly shook her hoof. "Shadow Wing." Emerald was Shadow's first taste of friendship. The two were nearly inseparable. Only willingly leaving each others side in order to go home after school. Shadow's mother was ecstatic that her son had made a friend of his own. Even his father seemed happy he had a companion. A pegasus filly no less. Emerald grew to be another glimmer of light in the darkness of the world that surrounded Shadow. Right next to his own mother. Unfortunately, Not all great things can last forever. And just as the sun passes at dusk to make way for the night, a bright time in Shadow's life passed. Just to make way to the darkness to follow. **************** Emerald was the first pony aside from my mother who ever showed me any kindness. She didn't care if I was different. In fact she like it. She just couldn't stand to watch me in pain. If she knew how things went at home, She' probably try and beat my dad herself. Despite that fact he was five times her size and strength back then. A little while after meeting Emerald, my mom gave me some advice that I've never forgotten. She called into the living room one night and sat be on her lap and said, "Son, you may not like it, but I'm not always going to be here to help you. It's important that you find other ponies who you can trust to help you with your troubles. I know I haven't met your friend Emerald but from what you've told me I can tell that is a true friend. If you keep looking, you can form an entire new "family" of friends." If she only knew where that advice got me before I found you guys. Emerald may have been my first real friend, but you guys, you're more then friends. Your family to me. And just like back then, you've brought light into my life. Those days so long ago were some of the best in my life. The light they brought was breath of fresh air I had yet to experience. The warm embrace of comradery and friendship isn't a feeling you ever forget. However, where there is light, there will always be darkness. And sometimes, that darkness grows and consumes the light that tries so fruitlessly to overwhelm it. And when that light is finally gone, we are lost. Left to wander and wallow in our own sins and sorrows. The blackness that fills our hearts cuts deeper then any knife can. And its shear presence pulls us ever further into the void. And after a while, you can't get out. I remember my time in that bit. I remember it like it was yesterday. Not just because it was the darkest time in my life. But also because it was my first time taking a life.
Chapter 3: The Darkest TimeLife carried on like normal for the next three years. Or at least, it did. Up until that one fateful day. Shadow had just turned six not a week prior. The night started like any other. He ate dinner with his mother, she put him to bed, his father came home and yelled at his mom, then everybody went to sleep. However, tonight was a little different. Whenever Lightning would come home he would always be drunk. But tonight, he wasn't. Shadow could hear his father yelling before he even walked in the house. Walking inside Lightning slammed the door shut with an audible crack. Lightning proceeded to yell at Moonlight. But tonight wasn't like the others. Despite the alcohol in his system this wasn't one of Lightning's drunken ramblings. This was purposeful, and hatefilled. Lightning started yelling at Moonlight about why she's been spending so mich time and money on Shadow. All the while the six year old colt listened as he slowly walked down the toward the living room. Despite his agressive tone Moonlight tried to talk Lightning down in her soft motherly voice, but to no avail. Several times Shadow heard his father slap Moonlight, each time making the colt wince and cry just a little bit more. Deciding he couldn't losten anymore Shadow turned and headed back to his room. As he approched the door to his room he heard his mother scream, followed by a loud "thump". Shadow turned tail and flew as fast as he could to the living room. And what he saw would haunt him for the rest of his life. Moonlight Breeze, shadow's mother, sat on the floor in a growing pool of red as a kitchen knife purtuded from her chest. She was dead. Shadow's mother, his only true friend and companion, laid dead at his hooves. Lightning himself looked shock at his actions. Father and son faced each other. The elder with a look of shock and fear, and the younger with a look of anger and unfathomable pain. "You killed her." Shadow said. His voice weak and sorrowful. "I didn't mean to. We were arguing and it just happened." "It just happened!" Shadow yelled. "How does somethings like this just happen? You killed mommy!" "Son please listen to me." "You not my daddy anymore." Fueled by anger and sorrow, shadow galloped to his father. Along the way gripping the hilt of the blade that killed his mother in his mouth. Jumping in the air Shadow plunged the knife into his father's neck. Lightning fell to the ground in agony as Shadow pulled the blade from his father and shoved back in. Then he did it again. Then again, and again. Until he felt nothing but the loss of his mother and the blood of his father on his coat. Pained by his actions, Shadow turned and flew out the back door to his home, and looked back only to see tye remnant of the life he planned to leave behind. **************** That night was the first time I ever took a life. But it certainly wasn't the last. You guys should know that better then anyone. After that, I ran off. Lived on the street for a long time. Did whatever I could to move on. I hated what had become of my life. Sitting on the side of the road and begging didn't get me anything. So I had to steal to get by. Life really sucked after that. More so then it did before. I spent the next twelve years on those streets. every day scavenging and steal just to make sure I didn't starve in my sleep. But just as things couldn't get bleaker, and old friend showed up.
Chapter 4: Special TalentIt was a quiet evening on he Manehatten city streets. Few things happened at this hour. Every now again you'd see some pony walking walking down the sidewalk or carriage was run past. Or if you listened, you could hear the sounds of ponies who didn't have a home or a purpose. Some sat against a wall begging for bits, others simply slept in their piles of trash. However there was one who was different. One who, at this very moment, was rummaging through a nearby trash can looking for food or other useful things. Shadow had lived on the streets like this for the past twelve years. After his parents deaths, he had no where else to go and he was to scared to look for help. It was rough at first but he got used to it. He learned that this life was rather simple. Scavenge what you can, and if it's not enough, you get more. Shadow didn't like stealing but sometimes it had to be done. Today he was souring a trash can for anything he considered edible. finding a half eaten apple Shadow took a bite from the uneaten end and instantly cringed. "Tastes like garbage." Shadow laughed at his unintentional pun. And despite the taste he took anothe bite of the apple and kept searching. As Shadow rumaged through tye garbage can earning sideways glares from the other ponies he made sure to losten closely. It would be the first time some stallion would try to rough him up for being homeless. Shadow concluded his search as he put a few more edible food stuffs into his rugged saddle bags and walked further into the alleyway he was in. Dusk was approching and as the sun creeped toward the horizon the light of day continued to fade. Shadow marched through the dim walkway until he heard something coming from another turn off. It was faint and Shadow couldn't quite make it out. It was hardly noticable. But being a bat pony Shadow could hear better then most others. Curious, Shadow turned and walked toward the noise. Soon Specter arrived in an opening to see a mare a bit older then himself. She was pinned to the wall by a burly earth pony stallion. There were three other stallions there to. A pegasus, and unicorn and a second earth pony. All three had knives with them. The other earth pony and the pegasus watched down the alley while the unicorn spoke to the mare. "A pretty girl like you shouldn't walk around this part town alone. It's pretty dangerous." The four stallions chuckled a bit as the mare struggled. "Now you've got two options here. One, you give us all your money and valubles and we let you run off. Or two, we kill you and take what we want anyway." Shadow ground his teeth together. Stallions like that really pissed him off. Selfish low lifes that prey of the weak for their own personal gain. He couldn't let them get away with this. Sticking to the darkness Shadow crept toward the nearest thug. The second earth pony who was holding a knife in his mouth. Once he was close enough Shadow quickly grabbed the stallion and pulled him into the darkness and out of site as his blade fell to the ground. As the blade his the ground the other three thugs turned to see their friend missing. On guard the unicorn cast his gaze around the alleyway. "Stone? Where did you go?" There was no answer. Instead the Pegasus was silently pulled into the shadows as well. Turning to see another friend gone, the unicorn stallion began to worry. "Come of this isn't funny assholes." Clutching his knife in his magic the unicorn watched as another blade flew from the darkness and struck the other earth pony through the skull. Releaising the mare that he held. "What the hell is going on here?!" The unicorn yelled as he felt two hooved on either side of his head. "Option three." Was all the stallion heard before his head was twisted to the left with a audible snap. With the thugs delt with Shadow moved to check on the mare. "Are you alright?" Shadow asked as he helped the mare up. She was a pegasus. She had a bright green coat and a bright blue mane and tail that seemed all to familier to Shadow. Her cutie mark depicted a dark green flame in the shape of a pegasus wing. "Ya I'm good." She said as she rubbed temple with a hoof. "Assholes jumped me and pinned me to tye wall before I could fight back. I'm lucky you showed up when you did." "I couldn't just sit by and let them do that." Shadow said as he helped her to her hooves. The mare looked up at Shadow and her smiled turned to a look of shock. "Sweet Celestia. Are you who I think you are? Shadow Wing, is that you?" "How do you know my name?" "You don't remember me? I'm Emerald Blaze." Shadow's eyes shot open at the realization "Emerald?" "I heard about what happened to your parents twelve years ago. I was so worried about you. When the police didn't find you everyone thought you had been kidnapped or killed. Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back home?" Shadow turned away. "I don't want to talk about it. That's a night I'd really rather forget." Emerald could tell it was touchy subject so she decided to change it. "So, what have been to lately?" "Nothing. Just trying to get by." "Do you have a job?" "No." "Well I think I can help you with that. The way you took out those thugs; you have some real skill in combat. I work for a military branch that's completely devoted to covert operations. I think you would make a good addition." "Really? You in the military. I'll admit that's not what I expected. But what make you think I would fit in your devision? I'm a homeless, jobless bat pony without a bit to his name." "Because E.C.O.S could use your skills." "E.C.O.S?" "It stand for the Equestrian Covert Operations Squadron. I can tell your stralthy and you can take out mulitiple armed assailants at once." "I don't think it's the place for me. Sorry Emerald, your gonna have to look for someone else." "Really? Your cutie mark begs to differ." Shadow looked to his flank to see his cutie mark. It was a full moon with a broadsword through the middle of it. Shadow hadn't had his cutie mark before. He didn't know what to make of it either. Shadow was lost in thought until a hoof rested on his shoulder. "Come on Shadow. This is your chnace at a new start. A clean slate. Don't you want that?" Shadow smiled and gave his old friend a hug. "Thanks Emerald. Now when do I start?" **************** That was the day I joined the military. I spent the next few years honing my skills under Emeralds tutelage. Pretty soon I one of the top soldiers in E.C.O.S and I was promoted to Captain. I was given a squad of my own. We called ourselves Hells Rejects. We all had a callsign. There was Banshee, Ghost, Phantom, Wraith, and then there was me, Spectre. We were top of the class. True brothers in arms. Finally things had gotten better for me. I had a job, friends that I could call family, and Emerald and I grew pretty close as well. Most considered us a couple but we didn't really know if we were or not. Unfortunately life just through another curveball in my face. And I was betrayed by those you I cared about most.
