Shadow Flame (The War of Azgaren)

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Fall of a King and The Rise of Darkness
Chapter 2: The Struggle of Acceptance
Chapter 3: Decisions
Chapter 4: Welcome Home
Chapter 5: A Mission in the Dark

Chapter 1: The Fall of a King and The Rise of Darkness

Shadow Flame

(The War of Azgaren)

Chapter 1: The fall of a King and the Rise of Darkness

The Sounds of war rang out throughout the land, the noise of swords clashing, spells flying, and the screaming of ponies in pain. The King was running through the woods swiftly, the gleaming battle axe on his back was reflecting the hellish dark red sky back at its horrid self.

"How, How could all of this happen so fast…. the planet…..my Queen, I'm sorry there was nothing I could do. I...I'm all but powerless against this foe, even this ancient weapon…all but powerless…."

"Hahahaaa…." A female voice of dark power laughed.

"So you've followed me here have you?"

"Why yes…I couldn't have you just taking the axe, you know it's the one thing that could even scratch me."

"I will fight you if I have to, no matter how dark and twisted you are, you are my daughter and I believe it is through me that this horrible atrocity happened to you. Your sister is pure she is inclined to the throne! Look at yourself you will never be able to rule this planet peacefully!"

"Peacefulness means nothing to me "Father"! I am going to rule this planet through fear,power, and war!"

The king took the axe off his back and raised it high into the air with one arm, powerful orange magic started swirling around it into a vortex. It then shot a beam high into the air, lighting the dark night. It seemed to stretch on into the heavens.

"Listen now Ponies of Azgaren Darkness is going to set over this land. But do not lose hope for this planet will one day again return to the peaceful place it once was. Never give up, your king loves every one of you and the true princess and heir to the throne still lives. She will return I swear it! When she does look to her for guidance follow her every command unwillingly and through you and her this planet will be saved! Never give up the fight! Now my Ponies….FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING YOU LOVE!!!!!"

The kings voice rang throughout the entire planet, inspiring all able warriors to fight the darkness and madness surrounding the planet and giving an extra boost to the ones that already were.

The king now clutched the axe with two hooves looking onto his daughter the Princess of darkness. she was the ringleader of all this fighting.

"I must protect my people and if that means that I have to attempt to strike down my own flesh and blood so be it!"

The princess looked at the axe and smiled

"Well I don't think you need to worry about that, you should be more worried for your own life old man!"

As she said this two tendrils of dark energy erupted from her shoulders and went flying towards the king. He was able to cut one out of the way but the other straightening out to the point of a spear and pierced his left shoulder.

"Argh!" shouted the king in pain as he lifted the axe and cut the tendril, as soon as the tendril was severed it disintegrated into the air. He took an offensive stance and charged the princess clearing the distance between them almost instantly, he swung at her head. The axe cut through the air making a fast swishing sound, then crashed into the ground. he missed.

"Too slow old man!" said the princess mockingly

"What?, UGH!!-"

The king looked down to see a dark point sticking through his chest. He fell to his knees still gripping the axe, he turned to see his daughter standing there with an evil grin on her face.

"No..No I won't let you destroy my planet, I WONT!"

The king forced himself up squeezed the axe tightly and started swinging viciously at his daughter. She dodged all of the blows with ease. She teleported away from him and grew 5 tendrils out of her back all instantly formed a horrifically sharp point.

"Surrender the axe old man, you've been bested."

"You will have to pray it from my cold dead hooves monster!" shouted the king.

"Fine then!" the princess lunged towards the king with the 5 points forward, the king swung into them in an attempt to parry, but the tendrils opened and the axe swung clear through and hit into the ground. The 5 points then quickly reformed and all pierced his chest.

"AARRRGHHHUGH! No……" cried the king in pain. The tendrils started fading into the air.

"Never you will NEVER have this axe!" He raised the axe again with one arm, it started glowing a faint orange color.

"Only the true savior of this planet may wield this axe, their heart and mind must be pure. Let me hope that they, unlike me can be strong enough to stand against corruption."

The king slammed the Axe into large stump,

"Let only ponies true to the cause here. That is my final wish Eclipse..Please for me…make it come true! I give you what is left of my power!"

A haze of black and orange magic started forming around the king and the axe.

"……….so be it………." Whispered a distant shadowy voice

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" shouted the princess as she rushed towards the axe.

A magical force immediately expelled her, knocking her into the air. The axe was now glowing with a faint orange barrier around it. It started flashing and emitting pulses of power that knocked the princess back every time it released energy.

"AGHH, You damned fool!, I will claim what is mine in time to come!" shouted the princess as she flew from the forest.

"Thank you old friend, for making my final wish come to life."

"…I'm not your friend, I do what I wish for whom I want. You realize that what you have done here to the forest will make it nearly impossible for anypony to enter and they will most likely die trying to get to the axe."

"I know" the king coughed and blood shot from his mouth.

"That will also keep the evil ones away from it, and I'm sure the one true hero will be able to retrieve it and save this world."

The king coughed again and fell onto his back, looking up at the dark red sky through the thickly overgrown woods, his eyes started to close as he said,

"Sacred…. I Believe in you, Eclipse told me a long time ago that our planet would be plunged into terror and that you along with a hero of great power from across the stars will together be able to vanquish the dark and return our planet to peace one day."

He clasped a green amulet that he'd been wearing around his neck, on it was a nordic Rune and the letters S.W inlaid with gold.
"Sacred....I love yo...."

The kings eyes closed and as they did the axe began arcing beams power in all directions corrupting everything around it. The trees of the forest grew quickly spitting out wild razor sharp vines, sharp enough to cut a pony to the bone instantly. The ground itself was being corrupted the grass turning a faint dark red color, the once beautiful forest was now a place of terror and corruption.

Even the dead body of the king was taken by the corruption, darkness swirling around and entering it.

"Hmmm a risky option but an effective one…." Said the shadowy distant voice.

The kings body rose, the hole in his chest still bleeding. The blood shining from the light given off by the moon. His eyes now glowing with a vicious red stare, he was taken by the darkness and completely under its control.
He couldn't leave the forest though for it was too thick and if he got too far away from the axe he would fall and be lifeless once again.

"Now we wait" said the shadowy voice

"RRRAAAAAAGGHHHHH" screamed the voice of the newly risen king shooting red dots of blood into the distance.

"NO! The king has fallen and we are ferociously outnumbered retreat!!!" Shouted soldiers from the battlefield surrounding the forest.

"Chase them! Leave no survivors!" Screamed the princess.

As she said this hordes of Ponies wearing dark armor with glowing dark purple manes yelled and charged forward and started obliterating the kings army.

"What are these things?!, they look just like our friends but…but evil! " shouted one of the warriors on the battlefield.

"I'm not sure but their destroying everything, run! They each have the strength of 5 stallions and the skill to match!" Yelled one of the kings infantry .

"Retreat we have no choice! Run to the hills!"

The army of darkness chased what remained of the kings army far from the forest and even farther from the castle where the new princess Ruled over the planet through fear, murder, deception, and war. She sat calmly on her throne as her army of darkness ravaged the land, killing anypony that opposed her.

"Ha father, you were wrong. Look at me now! I'm in control and the whole planet obeys my every command!"

A small band of warriors were hidden, waiting to fight back the darkness each one having special abilities or powers that allowed them to live this long, all they are waiting for is the one true princess to return.

Chapter 2: The Struggle of Acceptance

Shadow Flame

(The War of Azgaren)

Chapter 2: The Struggle of Acceptance

It was the night after shadow underwent his ceremony to become a guard, exhausted from the event he walked into the guardhouse past a few guards who did nothing but glare at him. Shadow walked over to one of the bunk beds and crawled to the top one, he laid down and quickly fell asleep.

Shadow awoke from his sleep at the sounds of guards in the house yelling and making other noise.

"Could you guys please keep it down I have a busy day tomorrow, a lot of work to do."

"Shut up!" said one of the bigger guards in the room as he walked over to shadows bunk and ripped him off to the ground, smashing his face into the floor.

"How do you like this Shadow? This is nothing compared to what you did to some ponies." He pushed his face harder against the floor.

Shadow thought to himself,

"I deserve this…I've caused this place so much trouble. I need to let them do what they want to me as long as it makes them feel better."

"I deserve this" said Shadow softly

"No…you deserve much worse! Pick him up boys!"

As the big guard said this 3 other guards grabbed Shadow and dragged him outside. They threw him against a tree near the guardhouse and then began to tie him to it.

Shadow did nothing he just sat there excepting their punishment. It wasn't long before he was securely tied to the tree.

The big guard punched Shadow in the gut as hard as he could
.
"URRRGHHH!" coughed Shadow as spit flew forward.

Shadow now hung there fastened to the tree his head was hanging down but his red eyes staring fiercely at the guard.

"Do what you wish... I deserve every bit of punishment you all throw at me."

The guard smiled as he said, "Have at him boys."

All the guards behind him started grinning and laughing as they all lined up to take turns brutally beating Shadow. This carried on for about an hour. After every guard had finished their turn the big one stepped up to him. His head was still hanging miserably.

"Had enough punishment for one day?" he asked smiling

Shadow didn't respond. But his eyes still stared at the guard.The guard grabbed Shadow by the hair and raised his head. He then reached to his side and pulled out a sharp sword.

"You killed my father that night you went on a rampage. This is his sword, don't you see it fit that it should cut your throat?"

He put the sword against Shadows neck but he said nothing still. Blood now slowly started running from his mouth down his chest dripping onto the ground from the guards assault. His red eyes still had an unbreakable glance at the guard.

"Damn you!" said the big guard. "I'd kill you right here , but I'm sure I'd get kicked out of the guard for doing it."
He lowered the sword but still had a grip on Shadows hair.

"By the way…if anypony asked what happened to you, just say you fell or started the fight ok?"

Shadow was still silent

"URRRGHH talk damn you!" the guard punched him across the face with force enough to instantly knock him out.

"Humph, leave him here over night we'll remove him from the tree in the morning."

"Yes sir!" the other guards responded as they saluted him.

"Now let's get to bed we have a big day of work tomorrow."

The guards all piled back into the guardhouse and closed the door. The wind started to pick up and a slight sprinkle of rain started to fall.

Shadow slowly came to and lifted his head, his vision was blurry at first the guardhouse was swaying left and right in front of him.

"I just want to make things better…but I don't know if I'm able to do that, I've wronged so many ponies."

Shadow looked around it was down pouring outside his long hair was wet against his body mixing with all the blood on his chest. Drops of water were falling from his hair to the ground making a small red puddle under him. He was still stuck to the tree.

"I have to get out of here or I might get sick from the rain or die from my injuries, damn it I need to use my magic….im sorry Celestia."

Shadows horn started to glow, the rope that held him to the tree slowly caught fire at the knots and fell to the ground and so did he. He fell into the puddle of blood and water. He got up but then paused when he saw his own reflection in the dealuded crimson puddle.

"I'm not a monster am I?"....

Shadow looked at the guard house doors "I don't dare show my face in there again."

Shadow then looked to the woods.

"Well, it looks like I'm camping out tonight."

An arc of lighting flashed in the sky and thunder sounded. Shadow slowly made his way into the forest , the pain from his injuries was growing with every step. When he finally made it to the woods he quickly gathered some twigs and started a fire with his magic. He then laid down against a fallen tree.

"Ok time to try some medical magic….I wished I would've studied into this a bit more, but some knowledge is better than none."

Shadow started focusing, his horn glowing with an eerie red color as he tried to heal himself. Nothing was happening.

"Urgh I guess my magic is only made to destroy not to mend….."

Shadow put his head back against the tree and looked up into the sky. The rain had started to let up but was still falling.

"Maybe its better I die here in the woods….Equestria would be very happy to see me dead and it would put an end to my suffering..."

While Shadow was saying this to himself he noticed something in the sky, it was red and falling fast, very fast a trail of smoke following behind it.

"What is tha-!!!!"

The object flew into the woods with a loud Crash. It hit with force enough to knock over at least a dozen trees and leave a hole in the ground.

"What in the hell is that?!" said Shadow out loud as he slowly made his way towards the crash site. As he got closer and closer he noticed a familiar smell, the smell of fire. He got closer still and then couldn't believe what he saw.

In the middle of the hole there was a pony laying on her side, fire was almost entirely surrounding the hole.

"Hello!" yelled Shadow "Hold on I'll get you out of there!"

Shadow focused a stream of magic under the pony in the hole and slowly levitated her towards him. When she was about one arm's length from him he gently sat her on the ground. Now he was more shocked at what he saw she had a unicorn horn…and pegasi wings.

"YOU'RE AN ALICORN!" he yelled

The light tan alicorns eyes slowly started opening revealing that she had beautiful green eyes.

"Who…who are you?" she asked in a very soft kind voice.

"M my name is shadow Flame", what's your name?"

"My name is Princess Sacredwind, but you can call me Sacred for short."

She extended her left hoof for a hoof shake and Shadow started to raise his left hoof but then the wound from his battle with Nightmare Moon caused his arm to fall and for him to make a groan in pain. He then started swaying from side to side and fell to the ground. The last thing he remembered seeing was the alicorn moving towards him.

Shadow opened his eyes and looked to his right and then to his left, he was back at the small campfire he had started. He was confused.

"Who was that beautiful alicorn?" he said out loud

"Did I just fall asleep and have a dream?"

Shadow looked straight on and saw that all the trees were knocked over

Then jumped when he heard a female voice from behind him.

"Hehehe beautiful alicorn huh?"

Shadow turned to see her sitting behind the log. Now shadow got a better look at her. She was smaller than the other alicorns he had seen. She had a light tan coat and her long mane blew majestically in the wind it was blue in color with lowlights of a darker blue accenting it. Her cutie mark was a silver buckler shield with a green rune in the middle of it that meant "Dagaz" or dawn.

"Oh uh.... hello there" said Shadow blushing

"You were in pretty bad shape when I got to you, you were almost dead." responded the alicorn.

"Yeah…how am I alive right now?"

She Grinned, "I healed you up silly, do you think I would've left a pony there to die?"

"Well I thank you Kindly Sacred, I owe you my life."

Shadow looked at his arm "Oh and sorry about the hoof shake this arm is almost useless to me now."

"Let me see it." she said with her soft voice

Sacred put her hoof over the scar on Shadows left arm and her horn started to glow green with magic and then before shadows eyes the scar disappeared, he could move his arm freely again. He looked at his arm in amazement and started moving it up and down.

"That's unbelievable! It's like I never had an injury there in the first place! Thank you so much Sacred!" said shadow as he bowed to her.

"Oh no please don't bow shadow I was inclined to do it, but we are almost complete strangers, tell me about yourself...and about his place. Ok lets start off with this Shadow, where exactly am I."

"Your in the forest outside of Canterlot, in Equestria."

Sacred seemed slightly confused but she nodded her head anyway. She had another question ready for Shadow

"I see...How did you get your cutie mark Shadow?"

Shadow looked up at Sacred.

"Well I come from a royal bloodline that specialized in combat magic especially fire. So naturally i got my cutie mark while...following family traditions. How about your cutie mark Sacred?"

"I too come from a royal bloodline my family rules over Azgaren and-"

Sacred was cut off by the voice of an angry colt yelling,

"Shadow what are you doing here?!"

"Oh no" said Shadow, "Not him again…"

Chapter 3: Decisions

Shadow Flame

(The War of Azgaren)

Chapter 3: Decisions

The forest smelled faintly of smoke, the campfire shadow had made earlier still smoldering and the fire caused from Sacred still burning. The rain would inevitably put them both out but for now they were both burning brightly.

"Well well, look at this boys" said the big guard that caused all the problems earlier in the night to a squad of guards standing behind him.

"Looks like Shadow here was practicing his magic to me and look what he did…He summoned an alicorn!"

"Wha- no! She fell from the sky and if it wasn't for her I would've died from you guys!" yelled Shadow

"LIES! Kill this traitor and kill that alicorn too!"
Sacred had a look of terror on her face as she stepped back, Shadow seeing this stepped forward.

"I don't care if you guys hurt me…but if you so much as damage one hair on her mane, I will make you regret ever being brought into this world."

The big guard burst into laughter "You think you could hurt me Shadow, you're weak!"
He raised his hoof at Sacred and yelled "Attack!!!"

"I warned you" said Shadow, his eyes closed and his horn started glowing with a dark red color.

4 guards charged at Sacred, their razor sharp spears were pointed directly at her. the guards all reached her quickly.

"Oh no!" screamed Sacred as she put her arms over her head and ducked. While she did this her body started to glow wit ha faint red outline.

The guards spears all met Sacreds body, but something strange happened. As they hit her the heads of the spears seemed to melt into a pool on the ground, The wooden handles of all the spears burst into flames causing the guards to drop them.

The guards then all fell to the ground. They weren't moving or showing any signs of life, they were dead before they hit the ground. Sacred looked up from her cover, she was confused at what just happened.

"I shielded you with a new spell I've been working on" said Shadow

Shadow glanced at the guards "Remember the barrier I had around Celestia? Well I can also reverse it into a shield that incinerates on coming attacks and after your guards were unarmed, I charred their hearts...a quick painless death, which is much more than you all deserve."

The big guard had a look of extreme anger on his face as he drew his sword.
"I'm going to kill you Shadow and I'm going to tell the princess it was because we found you practicing your magic and that you attacked us."

The guard smiled "She will believe every word of it."

Shadow looked into his eyes. "You want me to Practice my magic….FINE!...Try me!"

The area surrounding everypony was immediately surrounded by fire that reached high into the air, high enough so that pegasi in Cloudsdale could see it.
The big guard grabbed a spear from one of his infantry stallions standing to the left of him and ran towards Shadow.

He threw the spear and it was in a pin point accurate shot towards Shadow ,but as soon as the spear was within range of him Shadow extended his hoof and the spear went into a portal of fire and disappeared.
But the spear was only a distraction now the guard was standing in front of him, he swung his sword. Shadow saw the oncoming attack and smiled, he quickly summoned a sword made completely of blue fire. He raised the sword to block the guards attack. It did a lot more than just block it, the guards sword fell in half as it passed through the blue fire weapon.
The guard now had a look of fear in his face as Shadow grabbed his neck and looked deep into his eyes.

"Now look into my eyes and see your fate..."

The guard was powerless against the gaze of Shadow's fiery eyes. He saw within them a vision of himself surrounded by fire an endless torture awaiting him, his body being cut slashed and torn asunder repeatedly, then seeing himself standing on the top of a cliff above a pool of lava he slowly fell forward into it with a big splash. The only thing left floating in the pool was his skull as it slowly sank into the Scolding depths.
Shadow released the guard from his stare and pushed him forward. He fell to the ground shaking his eyes were glassy and big.

"You...you are going to let me live?" he asked trembling.

"After what you did…I may have let you live, but you just killed yourself."

As shadow said this a small portal of fire opened above the guard and the spear he threw earlier came rocketing down through the his head pinning his now dead body to the ground.

Shadow looked at the other guards and said "Run..." and they did

He released the inferno of fire surrounding everypony and the guards all ran back towards the guard house, and the castle.
Shadow turned to Sacred,

"I'm sorry you had to see that, if it's any consolation I will probably be executed for what I have just done" Shadow looked at the ground "I just can't win..." he fell to the ground, looking down in sadness.

"But you saved me Shadow" responded Sacred

Shadow looked at Sacred,
"This is the first time I've fought for…a friend. It's a lot different than fighting for myself...I didn't care what happened to me as long as you were ok Sacred."

"But shadow….did you say you will be executed for what you did to protect me?"

"Most likely, but I don't care, I've never felt as strong as I did protecting you, I only wish I could live to protect you further..."

A tear formed in Sacred's eye, but she quickly wiped it away she walked in front of Shadow knelt in close and kissed him. This moment seemed to last an eternity for shadow, making him feel warm and loved, a feeling he almost never knew.

"That's also the first time anypony has risked their life for me, Shadow I can't have you be killed for what you did on my behalf…would….would you follow me back to my planet?"

Shadow paused, he looked at Sacred and then bowed to her,
"Sacredwind, My Princess I will follow you anywhere, be it hell and back. I don't care as long as I am by your side"!

Sacred smiled and helped Shadow up from the ground.
"It's settled now lets go home Shadow"

Sacreds horn started glowing with a green flare as the ground under her and Shadow lifted up and started floating into the air slowly going farther and farther into the sky.

"There they are!" screamed the voice of a male pegasi, when he yelled it caught the attention of other pegasi in the area. Some of them were equipped with bows which they started to use to fire at Sacred and Shadow.

"Uh-oh" said Sacred as an arrow flew past her and Shadow "I can't focus this magic while avoiding these arrows."

The 2 were very high in the sky at this point, they just passed the level of Cloudsdale

"We almost have them!" yelled one of the pegasi

"Damn it" Thought shadow "They caught on to us so fast…..but I have a plan that just might be crazy enough to work…"

The ground under Shadow and Sacred was crumbling and riddled with arrows. Shadow turned to Sacred and asked, "Can you produce air with your magic so we can breathe in space?"

"Yes I can."
"Good, now you have to trust me on this. wait here!"

"Wait Shadow, what are you doing?"

Shadow looked at her and smiled "Don't worry, i'll be back in a flash."

Shadow jumped off the side of the floating mound of earth leaving Sacred looking over the edge in fear at him.

Shadow was falling quickly, he passed the majority of the pegasi that were chasing him and they all turned around to look at him, a few flying towards him.

As shadow was falling he thought to himself, "C'ya Equestria, I'm going to start off new and I'm going to protect MY princess."

The pegasi almost reached Shadow but before they could smoke and ash hit them in the face as Shadows blazing wings of fire appeared behind him. He looked at the Pegasi and said,

"Catch me if you can!"

Then he exploded into the air with the force of 3 dragons blowing fire as hard as they could in one direction, he rocketed past the pegasi burning their wing and causing them all to fall to the ground.

"Nooo the spell! I can't hold it!" yelled Sacred as she opened her wings and jumped off the side of the mound that had started falling to pieces.

"But where is-!!"
Sacred didn't get to finish her sentence before Shadow grabbed her in midair rocketing towards the sky.

"Miss me?" He smiled at her. Sacred smiled back at him.The 2 ponies manes was waving through the air majestically as they rocketed higher and higher into the air. They eventually broke the sky and entered the great blackness of space.

"Sacred now the air!"

"Right!", Sacred horn started glowing green again, when it did it formed an air tight bubble around herself and Shadow sealing in the air she was magicly producing.

Shadow flew towards an asteroid in orbit of his planet and landed on it with Sacred,
"I think this is a bit more stable than a patch of ground."

"I'm going to have to agree with you Shadow, Wow we made it out of there without a scratch!" she exclaimed

"Speak for yourself" said Shadow as he showed her an arrow that pierced clean through his right leg.

"Oh no Shadow! I can't heal you if that arrows is still in there!"

Shadows wings of fire closed and then blew away as ash into space.

"Sacred I can get rid of the arrow, but you will have to heal me fast or I might bleed out."

"Alright Shadow, I promise. I won't fail you."
Shadows horn charged with magic and the shaft of the arrow flashed and was gone.

"NNRRGHH" screamed Shadow as the arrow disappeared, blood now pooling in the hole.

"Hold still now" said Sacred, she put her hoof over the hole left by the arrow while her horn was glowing, it quickly mended in a matter of seconds.

"Sacred your healing ability is amazing-" the 2 caught themselves locked in each other's gaze. Sacred's eyes were shining like the world's most precious emeralds and Shadows like that of a candle in the dark, both of their heads started slowly moving towards one another as they exchanged another kiss. This one longer and more passionate than the first.

After the kiss the 2 were laying down cuddled next to each other when Shadow said,
"Now, you never got to tell me about yourself back on Equestria, I'm sure we have a lot of time to talk now, if you don't mind I'd like to hear first why you fell out of the sky."

"Oh yes" said Sacred "Here's my story."

"I am Princess Sacredwind of the planet Azgaren. My father,the king rules the planet. Everypony loves him for he is a kind and loving king who lets everyone speak, he took everyponies opinion. But what I don't understand is this, it was the day before I was to be crowned as the heir to the throne over my sister. I felt bad because I knew she wanted the throne very badly, but my father said she wasn't pure of heart and that she could never rule to his expectations…. Anyway my father burst into my room breathing hard and told me this."

"Sacred I'm sending you far away….return as soon as you can, trust me it is for the good of the planet that you do this!"

"Next thing I remember is blacking out and waking up in space just before crashing into that place you called Equestria."

"I sure hope everypony back on Azgaren is alright….I shouldn't have to worry though my father can handle anything!"

Chapter 4: Welcome Home

Shadow Flame

(The War of Azgaren)

Chapter 4: Welcome Home

It was the early morning on Azgaren, dew drops lightly kissed the ground. The day was gloomy, fog rolling through as thick as blankets and the sky as grey as forged steel.
A squad of the evil princesses dark soldiers was patrolling a field when suddenly a strong female voice yelled "Golden sun! now!"

The squad of soldiers immediately turned to the voice and charged, when they were able to get closer they saw 2 mares standing there one earth pony holding a huge sword smiling , the other a pegasi who was slightly knelt over her orange wings glowing.

"Now!" shouted the earth pony. As she did the pegasi's wings flashed in a brilliant flare blinding the squad of soldiers.
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Yelled the earth pony as she jumped into the air with a huge sword lifted above her head, she brought it down clear through one of the soldiers and began cleaving them down one by one.

Some of the soldiers began to run, still blinded by the orange pegasi's attack.

"Night Surfer pick off the stragglers!" yelled the mare with the sword.

"Already on it Ritzia!" shouted back the voice of a male pegasi.

One of the soldiers that was running got sky dived by the pegasi, as he landed on the soldier he quickly pulled out 2 daggers and stabbed them into his targets neck, killing him instantly. He turned and threw one of the daggers into another soldiers back, dropping him where he stood.

"Ha-ha got em!" he exclaimed but his joy was short lived as he looked forward to see another squad incoming. Then he turned around and saw a soldier with a dual sided axe raised in the air about to come down on him.
He quickly put out his wings and faded into the fog.

"What the!!?" yelled Soldier as he looked around

"Whew that was close, Thyme! Can you clean up this mess?" shouted Night Surfer, the pegasi who just vanished.

The voice of a well-studied mare called back,
"Alright you all had your fun now, let's finish this!"
A white unicorn stepped out from the fog, her horn glowing with magic as she looked into the sky and said,

"Now fall..."

Just as she finished these words dozens of shining stars fell from the sky cutting and impaling the soldiers. The force of the attack also cleared the fog revealing the bloody battlefield.
The mare with the huge sword had just cut the head off of the last surviving soldier. her massive sword was now covered with blood. Now that the fog was cleared everypony could see each other.

Thyme a white unicorn with long silver hair, she wore half of it in a braid and let the other half fall free. She was the oldest of the group more mature and taller than the others. She had light purple eyes and her cutie mark was a waxing crescent moon with 3 stars around it.
"Great job everypony, are you all ok?" she asked

"Yeah! Yelled the mare holding the huge sword "Better than ever!"
Her name was Ritzia she was a ball of pure fury and energy. She had a solid red mane, her coat was a very light grey. The most notable feature of her though was the huge sword she dragged around, she possessed unimaginable strength for it would take at least 10 strong stallions to lift that sword. Her cutie mark matched her weapon and personality, a sword with 3 wispy blue balls of energy surrounding it.

"I'm fine" whispered Golden Sun the orange pegasi in a quiet voice. She was always pretty quit, she had a dark green mane that she wore tied up. She was the youngest pony in the group, her cutie mark a flash surrounded by darkness. Her special ability enabled her to take in power from the sun or moonlight and amplify the brightness through her wings causing a flare that could stun all surrounding forces. It was a useful trick.

"Not even a scratch on me!" said Night Surfer the pegasi as he seemed to appear out of thin air. He was smiling as he wiped his hoof on his dark blue coat. He had a light blue mane that was accented by sea foam green in strands. His ability was that he could shift in and out of the visual light spectrum through balancing energy through his wings, enabling him to sneak around undetected. His cutie mark is a crescent moon with a cloud behind it.

The group was rejoicing their victory over the 2 squads of soldiers when Golden Sun happened to notice from the corner of her eyes something falling from the sky.
"Everypony look" she said quietly as she pointed at the object that was falling at high speeds.
The group watched as the object crashed into a distant field with a loud explosion. They immediately noticed massive amounts of the dark soldiers moving onto the area.

"Wow", said Thyme "Whatever that is they seem to have quite the interest in it, do you think we should investigate?"

"Yeah we better check it out" said Night Surfer as he looked at Thyme "Do the trick?"

She smiled "Yeah" she shot a beam of magic at Night Surfers wings and the group disappeared from site, still there just unseen from the combination of Thymes magic and Night Surfers skill.

The group was approaching the crash site quickly, the 2 pegasi of the group carrying the others. Thyme being carried by Golden Sun and Ritzia by Night Surfer, her sword was dangling as she held it with one hoof, drops of blood were occasionally dripping off of it as the group flew towards their destination.

Shadow and Sacred looked at each other as they were speeding towards Azgaren. They had been in space for what seemed like the length of at least 4 months.

"Here we are! oh I can't wait for you to meet my mother and father!" shouted Sacred

"It will be an honor" responded Shadow as they broke the atmosphere of the planet. Shadow and Sacred both used their magic to shield the meteor as it sped to the ground.

Before they knew it they met the ground. Hard. The meteor crashed into the ground with force enough to kick dirt high into the air. Shadow and Sacred were fine, a bit shaken but fine.

"Rough enough landing for you?" Shadow said jokingly. The 2 slowly climbed off the meteor to reveal that they were In the middle of a field surrounded by trees except for one path heading in front of them and one path behind. In the distance they could see a squad of soldiers rushing towards them.

"Ah I'm sure that's my father's army here to greet us, they are very kind Shadow."

Shadow looked forward with his magic to see that the squad had weapons drawn charging at them, they didn't look friendly, not only that Shadow turned around to see another squad running at them too.

"Sacred hide by the meteor, I don't think these are the ponies you think they are."

"Umm ok?" Sacred knelt down by the meteor hiding herself from the approaching armies that were now about a stone throw away from Shadow.

The 4 ponies had reached the field to see that there was a flaming meteor in the ground and that one pony was standing in between 2 huge enemy forces charging at him.

"Should we help him?" questioned Night Surfer

"Given the numbers I don't think we would stand a chance" responded Thyme

"Well we could at least try!" Shouted Ritzia

"Shhhh we don't want them to hear us" said Golden Sun in a whimper.

While the group was talking both groups merged onto the pony seeming to overtake him in a matter of seconds.

"See, sadly we couldn't have done anything " said Thyme

"Wait look!" shouted Night Surfer

The spot where the pony was standing began to glow red, brighter and brighter until an eruption of fire exploded into the air obliterating at least a quarter of the army in seconds. A voice rang out that caught the attention of everypony. He said,

"RUN SACRED!"

The group saw a light tan pony emerge from behind the meteor and all looked at each other in shock.

Thyme was the first to speak "Th THAT'S THE PRINCESS! We have to fight now! No matter the cost!"

The group rushed to the aid of the grey pony and the princess.

Both armies were almost within range of Shadow he had his eyes closed his horn glowing very faintly he was focused, so focused that he was almost out of touch with the world itself. The spell he was charging would be…quite explosive.

The soldiers seemed to surround shadow like moths to a well-lit lantern, storming and rushing about him in every direction.

An axe was raised but before it could have a chance to come down shadow released the spell. The ground around him glowing red and then a flash, the area surrounding shadow ignited instantly incinerating everything within a 20 foot radius.

As soon as the flash cleared he had one small white fire dagger in his left hoof and a red fire long sword in his right. He turned to the meteor and yelled,

"RUN SACRED!"

Sacred got up from behind the meteor and screamed back at him.

"NO I won't leave you here to fight alone!"

"You aren't alone princess!" said a familiar voice to Sacred, she turned to see her longtime friend Thyme smiling at her.

"Thyme! She yelled "I've missed you so much!" Sacred jumped at Thyme hugging her.

"I've missed you too Sacred but we have to help your friend here before we catch up."

Sacred turned back to look at Shadow and saw him fighting alongside 3 other ponies 2 pegasi and an earth pony with a massive sword.

"Heh nice sword it looks like a toy compared to mine." said Ritzia as she killed 4 of the dark stallions with one swing.

Shadow smiled as dodged an arrow "No it's much more than a toy…watch this."

Shadow threw the sword in the direction of more on coming attackers it landed in the middle of them and exploded shooting tons of mini dagger like blades of flame in all directions, dropping a group of soldiers dead in their tracks.

"Pfft parlor tricks!" laughed Ritzia as she rolled her eyes.

The forces began to retreat back the way they came and that was good most of the group was exhausted from all the fighting. Shadow sat on the ground breathing heavily.

"Well I guess I can assume that were all friends-"

He was met with the point of a huge sword inches from his face. Ritzia began to speak in an angry voice, "Maybe, tell me why were you with the princess in the first place?"

"Ritzia put that thing down! Shadow here saved my life on a distant planet and this is how you repay him?" Shouted Sacred.

Ritzia lowered the sword and said "I'm sorry, I guess you're more of an ally than I knew."

Shadow got up and bowed to all the other ponies. Then he began to speak,

"Greetings to all of you, my name is Shadow Flame. I am from a distant land across the stars called Equestria. I have sworn my loyalty to your princess and would like to speak to the ruler of this planet."

The 4 looked at each other and then to Sacred.

Thyme was about to talk but she was cut off by Sacred.

"Who were those savages who attacked us anyway?"

Thyme took a deep breathe, "Sacred I have some terrible news for you...umm...Well….your sister is now the ruler of Azgaren."

"Oh that's not a problem, whatever my father sees right is ok with me, how is he? Is he proud of her?"

"Sacred…..he's ....dead…your sister killed him in a bloodthirsty attack and took the throne by force, she raised an entire army of darkness and decimated the planet. There are very few survivors."

The group of ponies all looked at the ground. Shadow had a blank stare on his face as he looked at Thyme.

Sacred's eyes filled with tears and she tried to say something, it didn't come out. She felt a lump in her throat and then she lost grip on herself and fainted.

"Sacred!" Shouted Thyme as she caught her, she quickly handed her to Night Surfer who was the fastest and stealthiest flyer in the group and gave him commands to fly her back to the refugee camp far to the south, he nodded and took off into the air holding onto Sacred with both hooves.

Shadow then approached Thyme.

"You seem to be a very well-studied unicorn Thyme, please fill me in on what happened here."

Thyme looked at the sky and saw the sun starting to go down.

"Sure thing Shadow, but we need to talk on the go we just fought through most of the afternoon and trust me the forces only get stronger in the night."

Shadow nodded "Alright."

The group started the long walk to the camp as the sun began to set on the gloomy day. Thyme told shadow about everything that had happened, the king's slaughter, the takeover, and about the axe in the woods. The axe in the woods….

Chapter 5: A Mission in the Dark

Shadow Flame

(The War of Azgaren)

Chapter 5: A Mission in the Dark

The night gripped Azgaren, there were no clouds in the sky and every star could be seen. The moon of Azgaren hung silently lighting the dark night. Thyme pointed into the sky and began to speak

"See those stars there shadow?"

Shadow looked up into the sky where she was pointing and responded with a nod.

"That's the constellation for hope" she drew imaginary lines in her mind, the connected stars forming a pegasi wing.

"Where almost to the camp" said Ritzia

Shadow looked forward to see a slightly wooded area, but it looked empty this confused him.
"Wait I don't see anything, are your numbers really THAT few?"

"No Shadow watch this." said Thyme

Thyme placed her hoof near her mouth and made a whistle of a bird. A bird responded and then Thyme repeated the noise 3 times quickly, just as she finished a magical opening formed and 2 armored stallions stepped out.

"Wow! An invisibility spell powerful enough to hide an entire camp, that's amazing!" exclaimed Shadow.

The group walked through the opening of the spell to reveal a big camp full of tents and even a few crude building built into trees.

The group headed toward the tent with a big red medical symbol on it, Thyme was the first to enter. She started a conversation with the nurse on duty and shortly after she waved the rest of the group in.

Inside the tent was princess Sacredwind laying on a bed with 2 guards at her sides. She propped her head up to look at the group.

"It's true….so this means I have to do the unthinkable…I have to fight a war with my own sister so save this planet. I'm scared and…I don't want to hurt anypony, I don't want to fight this war!" cried the princess

"Then you don't have to…I'll do it for you Sacred" responded Shadow

The group all looked at shadow like he was crazy but then the princess motioned for him to step forward.

"Shadow you know this task won't be easy and you are putting yourself in danger in order to save a planet you barely know correct?"

"Yes princess, this place is my home now. I swore my loyalty to you"

Sacred smiled as she pulled shadow closer and kissed his forehead.

"Now listen everypony, you will all listen to Shadow and Follow him as if you were receiving orders directly from me, Is that understood?!"

Everypony in the room saluted the princess.

"Good now let shadow rest and explore the camp while you spread the word."

Everypony nodded including the guards as they all left the tent, now leaving shadow and Sacred together. They looked at each other as an awkward moment of silence passed Shadow cut the silence by saying,

"Sacred I'm going to do some planning I'll return to you when I'm done."

She nodded as Shadow left the tent; he walked a ways and looked around the camp. Shadow then started charging some magic in his horn, attracting the attention of a few ponies walking about.

Shadows horn stopped glowing; a large group of black and red butterflies were summoned. They all started to fly away in different directions as shadow said out loud,

"I see what you see and I hear what you hear. Now go my scouts and bring me what I need to know."

Shadow noticed the group of ponies watching him, he smiled at them for a second and began to walk away, as he was walking he heard a mare's voice say

"That was a neat trick."

Shadow turned to see a white female unicorn with a bright red mane sitting in a cage. She had a red cloak on, shadow couldn't see what her cutie mark was, but another feature stuck out on her. She had green eyes that seemed to stare into his soul.

"Why are you locked up in a cage far away from everypony else?" asked Shadow

"I am too evil in their eyes" she responded

"How can that be? You don't look evil to me; may I ask your name?

"My name is Raise Sapphire."

"It's nice to meet you Raise, My name is Shadow Flame. Now tell me why they locked you up."
The unicorn in the cage looked down to the ground and then back at shadow, she moved her cloak to reveal her cutie mark. It was 2 sapphires with a halo floating above them. As she removed her cloak she began to speak,

"Don't let my mark deceive you… my special talent is too raise the dead and use them as I see fit. I've caused a lot of pain and suffering in this place in the past, but now that I look back at it…It seems like it was useless. I feel like I might have been able to do something better with this power. But it's too late now."

Shadow put his hoof on the cage and starred at Raise with a serious look on his face.

"No…it's never too late to redeem yourself, don't look at your power as a burden instead look at it as a chance to help others. I'm a lot like you Raise, I once caused great harm among many ponies and I can never forgive myself for that...but I'm doing my best to erase my past and paint myself a bright future"

Shadow melted the lock off of the cage holding Raise.

"Now Raise Sapphire will you accompany me in my quest to help save this planet?"
Raise stood up and starred at shadow.

"No pony has ever really talked to me…..and if you say your past is similar to mine…… Shadow Flame I will help you."

She walked out of the cage and stood next to shadow, as she did it immediately caught the attention of a large group of ponies, one of them running towards them.

"What are you doing with her Shadow?!" yelled the familiar voice of Ritzia.

"Calm yourself Ritzia, She swore herself to the cause and I myself will be watching over her, now could you do me a favor and send Night Surfer and Thyme to me? I need to have a quick word with them."

She nodded and then walked away in the direction she came from. Shadow then turned to Raise and began to speak to her.

"I have a special task for me you and the others Raise, after you help me do this I'm sure everypony here will have forgiven you for what you have done in the past and become your friends."

Raise nodded and smiled a little, "That would be……nice."

Thyme and Night Surfer were now approaching Shadow and Raise. Shadow looked at them smiling; he could tell they were both looking at Raise.

"Is what Ritzia said true? Is she on our side now?" asked Thyme.

"Yes don't worry Thyme, now I asked you and Night Surfer to come here for a reason."

"Yeah what do you need Shadow?" questioned Night Surfer.

"So Thyme according to what you told me this axe resides in the woods a ways away from camp and that some of the kings final words were talking about how this axe could only be wielded by a hero that could save the planet correct?"

"Yes" responded Thyme

"Well here's your hero right here." Shadow said as he pointed to Raise.

"Wait?! You think I'm going to be the one to save everyone?!" Raise said shocked

"Yeah and when you do it everypony will forgive you" Shadow said smiling.

"Now Thyme, Night Surfer, and Raise I have a special mission for all of us to carry out. Now listen up cause this is the plan."

"Thyme you will use your magic along with Night Surfers ability to hide all of us as we go to the forest, when we get there I can cut paths through the forest with my fire and when we get to this ancient weapon Raise will pull it free and use it to take back this planet!"

"Ok Shadow your plan seems good but one question. Why aren't you having us bring additional guards or at least Ritzia and Golden Sun?" asked Thyme

"Good question Thyme, The reason I don't want Ritzia to come along is because I want this mission carried out silently and well from what I've seen of her she isn't the silent type…as for Golden Sun the poor girl would probably have a heart attack if we made her go in these "Terrifying" woods. Do you see my reasoning?"

Thyme nodded and looked at Night Surfer who did the same.

"Ok are you guys ready to go?" asked Shadow

Everypony nodded and the group left the camp hidden from the combination of Thyme and Night Surfer. They left without telling anypony where they were going.

The group approached the dark forest, the trees where huge stretching high into the sky they seemed…unnatural , twisting and growing in weird ways. The forest was black just entering it the light of the moon was barely visible. But the group has come too far to turn back now; they would press on into the darkness.

A little way into the forest Thyme stopped the stream of magic to Night Surfer and the group was once again visible. Shadow who was leading the group turned and began to whisper,

"Ok everypony, I don't know what threats if any are here so please keep your voices down and be on your guard."

Everypony nodded, Night Surfer pulled out a dagger and held it in his mouth. Biting down on the handle, the blade shining from what moonlight was able to break into the forest.
Raise's horn glowed with a bright green color and suddenly the ground next to her began to crack, 2 ponies raised up from it. Both badly decayed, bones showing with rotten flesh barely clinging them. They held crudely sharpened swords made of bone. They both stood next to Raise.

Raise saw that when she summoned them Night Surfer and Thyme cringed. Shadow had a slight smile on his face.

"Don't worry they won't bite…any of us anyway" said Raise with a smirk.

Shadows horn was glowing as a cone of fire flowed in front of him burning down trees in his paths, he quickly put out the flames once his path was made. When suddenly he stopped and held his hoof in the air to signal for the others to stop.

He turned quickly and started whispering

"I saw the reflection of something from my fire up ahead, be ready for anything."

"I'll take to the air, I can't fly quickly here but at least I can attack from a different point if need be." whispered Night Surfer

"Good idea" responded Shadow as Night Surfer faded into the darkness and flew up high.
Thymes horn was now faintly glowing with a dark blue color; light blue runes seemed to dance around as she was channeling the magic.

"Ok", said shadow, "On 3, 1……..2…."

"3!"

The three unicorns along with the 2 undead minions on the ground jumped forward all the horns of the unicorns glowing ready to attack whatever was in front of them but when they landed and looked forward they all stopped the channeling of the magic in their horns to gaze in amazement at the site in front of them.

In front of them was an ancient looking axe stuck in a huge tree stump. There was a perfect beam of moonlight cutting through the woods and hitting the axe making the weapon look like something that no mortal pony should touch. This was the ancient axe of Azgaren.

"Wow……that is an old weapon" said shadow. "Looks like getting this axe will be easier than we thou-!"

Shadow was cut off by a scream above him he looked up and saw a dagger fall and land in the ground in front of him.

The three on the ground all immediately looked up as Thyme yelled

"Night Surfer are you alright?!"

Shadows horn started glowing and small fire flies were summoned they started flying high into the branches of the trees.

Just as the fireflies got to the top of the trees they revealed that Night Surfer was tangled in dark red tree vines, he spit a vine out of his mouth and yelled ,

"It's a trap, look out!"

Just as Night Surfer yelled a thunderous roar seemed to shake the air behind the ponies in the group, they all turned to see a big colt who seemed to be made of pure muscle and evil. Dark power was emanating off of him. His flesh was worn scared and damaged. He had dark red glowing eyes.

He was almost directly behind them. His arms rose and came down obliterating Raise's minions, smashing their skulls into the ground. Cracking their heads into a million pieces, sending skull fragments and coagulated blood flying. Then he charged at Raise herself. Before anypony could respond she was sent flying into a tree, she hit it hard and then hit the ground. She then laid their motionless.

"No Raise!" yelled Shadow as he charged a fireball and quickly fired it at the monster, he aimed for the center of his chest. The fireball passed right through a hole in the creature's chest.

"What in the hell is this thing?!" screamed Shadow

Thymes horn was intensely glowing and magic runes were pouring off of it. "Almost" she said

The creature Lunged forward in an attempt to swing his arm at shadow, but luckily shadow was able to jump back far enough to avoid it, his horn now charging another spell. But this left Thyme within the creatures range.

He grabbed her and lifted her into the air as he laughed with a dark evil voice, he was slowly strangling her to death the veins in his strong arm showing from the strength of his grip.

"Shadow!" choked Thyme through the creatures grip

"I won't miss this time you monster!" yelled shadow as the fire started to visibly form around his horn.

The creature looked at shadow with his blaze red soulless eyes and Let out a screech that was ear shattering.

Shadow dropped to the ground in pain.

"No…….NO!" Shadow stood up and began to fire the spell he was channeling.
But nothing happened

"What?!"

Shadow Tried again but still nothing. Then a sudden horrifying realization hit him. The creatures scream must have disabled his magical abilities.

"NO! I'm not going to let my friends and I die here!"

The creature was still choking Thyme, whose eyes now looked very glassy as she was attempting to gasp for air.

Shadow looked around quickly and saw the axe, he ran to it. Placed his hoof on it and said,

"I know I am nopony special and this axe is meant for a hero but please….LET ME USE IT TO SAVE MY FRIENDS!!!!

As shadow yelled those lines and pulled upward the axe it started to glow orange and shoot flares of dark orange magic into the air and then the stump under it seemed to explode. Leaving the Axe free in shadow hoof.

Shadow turned holding the ancient weapon of power, orange swirls of energy encircling his arms and body like a rhythmic heartbeat of power given off of the axe.

Shadow lifted the axe high into the air and looked the creature in the eyes and said

"Prepare to die"