Project Induction

Origins

“Shade before you leave for the town you, shouldn't you at least look at who is going to be there and why you are going there?” said the princess while sitting on her throne
“Truly princess i simply had confidence in you but if you insist i will.”
“Alright here is the dossier it has everything you could want to know inside.” with a motion of her hoof a guard wearing restricting armour came out from behind a door on your right “little flashy princess you could of just handed it to me wi...” she cuts you off with a chuckle saying
“i used to but this way is a bit more... flashy not to mention fun, anyways you can browse over that as much or as little as you want everything is explained in there.” a guard comes and whispers something into her ear all you can make out is “Sonic Rainboom”. The Princess gets up and rather hastily states that she has to leave, you nod and start to look over the dossier.

Project Induction: (well i see even with all of her spare time she still can't find the time to think of good names) Go into the Everfree forest and start a town. The reason for this is to expand our borders there will be little to none outside influence to your town the only contact will be a small caravan once in awhile and possible the occasional pony lost in the wild. you may accept anypony into town at anytime if and only if they chose to live there those who settle are stuck until my word states otherwise. (how odd normally she is more carefree about these things hmmm She seems serious about this i think i should actually pay attention to the dossier this time.) The town is be equal all ponies doing their fair share aiding others when they can and always looking out for the welfare of the town, there is to be no currency used. You shade are to send me anual letters about the town i want to know everything if you took in anypony, built a house, fires, wildlife, death, life, anything and everything once a month.

Fail-safe: Upon the slightest turn of events you are to chose a successor to your task in the case of your death.(just like the princess to make me feel safe about my job) In the case of a town member losing their sanity you are to send me a letter as soon as possible so i may contain your location with my magic; we can Not have any slight meeting with others if there is a possibility that somepony might give into his/her bloodlust during the meeting. If i do not receive a letter for 2 months i will presume that the town has been taken over and all documents of this mission will be destroyed, and all of the members of the town will be titled as traitors to canterlot.

Members: In order that they were accepted into the mission.
Name: Shade
Gender: Stallion
Appearance:
Earth pony, Pure black coat with a thin Tri-Line of crimson red going from the tip of his head to the bottom of his tail, Crimson eyes.

Reason for accepting mission:
Simply laughed and said because “I am your slave my princess.”(hmmm if i knew she would have written that down... ehh no matter to late now)

Talents:
The Embodiment of the jack of all trades, is proficient in Construction, Metallurgy Blades, Commanding, Tactics, Expert at CQC, all forms of Persuasion, able to Inspire others to do practically anything, (aww you flatter me princess... alright enough of this i don't need to know my own talents)

Notable Occurrences:
Since birth has been loyal to the princess and has done countless Deniable operations never stays in one location long enough to get to know anyone or rest always finishing the job than leaving.(well when you put it like that...) Very rarely he is seen walking around town gathering supplies or threw the woods hunting for supplies; only has been to one large social gathering and that was to protect the princess when there was a threat made on her life. Has only had one love and that was another similar to him, they were sent onto a mission...
(i remember this all too well this report doesn't have nearly enough info into what truly happened the princess had to hide the majority of the details... to grim for the majority of her staff to understand.)
It was three years ago me and Lilith were on our way to do our retiring job we were going to end it all with one final mission we said our goodbyes made our peace and were headed off to our last mission, after this we planned to go to some town where canterlot was in view... i believe she had her hopes set on Ponyville. I didn't really care as long as we were together i would of been happy. The Majority of the trip was smooth it was only at the halfway point that things got rough...
“Shade!” Lilith called out
Coming...(I can still remember the way she looked on the top of that peak with the sun over her. she looked like a goddess legs firmly planted into the ground her red mane waving in the wind as her white fur Shined like a thousand suns...)
“Something is off about this place” Lilith stated while looking down into the forest below pointing at a clearing “That is supposed to be where our objective is but the encampment is gone... granted we don't have a good view point but...” i cut her off saying
“i'll go scout it stay behind me by a mile, i may be coming back in a hurry” and with that i jumped into action jumping and running down the mountain as quickly as i could to get into the cover off the trees. once i made it into the trees it was odd as i galloped i could only hear my hoovesteps i wondered what it was but then it hit me... silence, absolute silence... not a noise to be heard. I had to slow down my pace drastically once i realized, i got to where the encampment should have been crouched down in a nearby bush and silenced my breath... from what i could tell it was pure and utter slaughter this didn't make sense there was 110 trained guards here; what could have done this their bodies were strung up everywhere slit down the middle to let blood and organs flow out freely possible for a warning or maybe... a ritual? All the skulls look like they were removed and the stench... normal dead don't smell like this everything was wrong about this. we were the only ones who were sent to this base to wipe it out the princess didn't tell anyone about this... not a soul was in sight so i decided to report my findings to Lilith but the moment i turned around lilith was looking straight at me, with those piercing red eyes she asked
“You slowed down drastically.. why? Normally you would have been here and back by now”
“The forest...”
“what about it?”
“Listen.”
“ohh” i could see the expression change from curiosity to battle ready in a second...
“The base that we were sent to destroy has been burnt to the ground except the group of buildings in the back... There's almost nothing here and the bodies of the guards...”
“Mutilated.” she said with satisfaction in her tone...
“Good saves us the trouble now lets go back before we overstayed our welcome”
“We can’t.”
“why? this looks alot like our work?”
“Its nothing like our work the bodies were mutilated after death as in they were sacrificed and the markings... i have never seen them before... we have to investigate.”
“Fine but if anything goes wrong on our last mission i swear...”
“Yhe Yhe i know you'll kill me. Get the left side of the base i'll get the right we will regroup at what would've been the Command Center at the opposite end of the base.”
“got it!” she said while taking off with so much speed it was if she was trying to do both sides with enough time to get back to canterlot so we could start our lives before the day was over...
With a chuckle i walked around examining the corpses the stench was starting to get unbearable. all had the same means of death a direct slit in the neck or a stab in the spine avoiding certain areas like the heart... with all of them the majority of the bones were missing except the ones that were damaged. only specific organs were taken out i noticed the heart the liver the lungs and the brain... this had to of been planned no way it couldn't of been far too precise for animals... I counted a total of 56 corpses all in the same exact condition. I finally make it to the Command Center Lilith was waiting for me. She states with satisfaction
“Don't know why you took so long all dead all in the same way nothings different”
“The devils in the details my dear, now how many dead on your side i counted 56”
“37” she states rapidly
so a total of 93 thats odd there should be 110 soldiers...
“Before we continue i found something, i think it was one of the people who killed off this base...” she states with concern
“Show me”
she led me to the corpse out of out of 93 trained soldiers they only got 1 it makes you wonder how hard and fast they hit.
“He looks like he was killed by overcasting himself” she stated
“You mean blood magic?”
“Yes... i think i know who did this now that i look at the corpse more closely...”
“How so?”
“In my studies i ran across ancient cults that used blood magic, but it was at a great it toll on the bodies it's not uncommon for them to die while casting”
“Do you know which group it is?”
“I think it may just be rogues they outfit that he's wearing doesn't match anything i have seen before”
i then lifted the hood from the cultists dark robe and what i saw was shocking
“HIS FACE!” Lilith screamed
its been torn apart and drained of everything you can see that the flesh literally was torn off like it was trying to escape the horrors that he was casting...
i removed the rest of his outfit...
“His whole body is the same. This was intentional he didn't overdue himself he meant to sacrifice himself...”
“Crap... we just stepped into something that we shouldn't be anywhere close to. Come on lets get out of here it's our last mission lets not throw our lives away lets go and live together come on! i don't want to risk one of us dying now!” Lilith was practically screaming
“im sorry Lilith... but i can't turn away not now im going in if you don't want to follow i'm fine with that go back and get help i'll attempt to contain them here.”
“fine if you insist on staying... i can't let you do this alone...” she was much more calm now.
As we marched towards the Command Center we were gearing up for war readying our weapons and sharpening our nerves. when we reached the door to the command center i stopped Lilith and said
“look if we don't make it out of here...”
she cut me off and stated “Now dont talk like that i trust that you know what you're doing and we will get out of here fine” and with a smirk she opened the door...

The door swung open and the sight i beheld was one of the most exhilarating sights i have ever seen.
“WHAT IS THAT T-THING!!!” Lilith screamed at the top of her lungs
“A blood golem!” i said with a smile on my face
“you know what it is?!”
“yes i have encountered them before but none of this size... it looks like a worthy foe!”
as i took a closer look at it i can see what they did with the organs and bones they made a mangled mess the flesh looks like it was reformed to suit the golems needs and the bones look like they're constantly moving inside the golem.
“Glad you could join us Shade” i heard the voice coming from behind the golem a hooded mare stepped out from behind
“I did this all for you and your little pet you know” the hooded mare stated
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PET!” Lilith looked as tho she was about to lunge right threw the golem and rip the hooded mares head off herself.
“oh i'm sorry you didn't understand i meant you Lilith” She chuckled a little after she said that
(i had to restrain Lilith at this point)
“How do you know who we are and that we were going to come here?” i asked
“oh now why does that matter your bodies will simply be sacrificed into my little puppet anyways” the hooded mare said confidently.
i immediately looked at Lilith and stated “you can kill that cur if you want but first we must deal with the massive golem thats blocking us you take right and i'll take the left hit it hard and fast, knock out the legs and the body will fall than we will destroy it”
“got it! but...” i had to cut her off there
“but what?!”
“its 5 times our size if i was standing on your head!”
“the bigger they are” i laughed a little it seemed to calm her down. We readied our weapons me drawing my double edged/sided claymore and her drawing her scythe she always said that she enjoyed it with the mobility and the ability to hook into and swing around cutting them in half while moving tactically makes sense but not my style....
“OH HAHA so you're going to test out the might of the Golem Very Well Let it Begin!!!! Sanguinem Golem PRÆCIPIO VOBIS ad Solvite haec stultis!!!”
And with that a growl came from deep inside the golem that kept getting louder until my eardrums felt were going to implode, and then the sound of bones snapping occurred. The golems arms were replaced by Bone claymores Covered in spines and spikes it appeared that the golem was moving all of his bones to cover his flesh. i looked at Lilith expecting to have to calm her down but instead she looked excited i was never as proud of her than at that moment she had the same bloodlust in her eyes that i get. the moment was perfect so i shouted.
“ALLRIGHT THIS IS IT LETS TAKE IT DOWN!!” and before i could finish she was already on its legs slashing down bit by bit...
“ON IT!” She Proclaimed
The Golems right leg was being hammered by Lilith's relentless attacks i went towards the left leg as fast as i could all my experience kicked in. i dove into its leg with a hard slash the Golem blocked it with both of its swords it was focusing purely on me. he thought of Lilith as a pest with her scythe while my weapon was recognized as a threat...
“Lilith!”
“YHE!” she replied tiredly
“FALLBACK AND REST!” i jumped next to her
“I'll distract it for a bit.” she fell back outside the Command Center
“ALL RIGHT YOU BASTARD! LETS SEE HOW TOUGH YOU REALLY ARE!!”
I jumped and lunged straight into its chest it moved both of its swords to block. Our blades clashed and i was face to face with a cracked bone blade... noticing its damaged blade it tried to repulse me but i persisted i hammered its right blade. The Golem actually looked like it was feeling pain? I stepped back and watched the Golem protect its injured blade like one would a gaping wound. I gathered all of my strength and lunged straight threw its exposed left leg bits of bone and flesh flew everywhere i quickly slid and aimed straight for the golems now exposed right blade while the golem was wounded and stunned i lunged towards its right blade the room echoed with the sound of bones snapping and shattering. i used the time i gained to regroup with Lilith as i left the Command Center the golem was howling constantly.
“What did you do?” Lilith inquired
“crippled it... its a golem tho so it will recover soon and it will be enraged...”
“What do you need me to do?” She looked as if she was back at full potential
“I need you to distract it i’m going to try to kill it outright by lunging straight threw its chest and while it's stunned and reforming the gap we cut it to pieces.”
“Allright i'm set are y... look who's here...” the hooded mare was standing in the doorway while removing her hood she stated.
“You may have hurt my creation but you will never be able to destroy it” her face was just as drained as the other if not more... she called for her puppet and it came out crashing through the wall.
“Lilith NOW!”
She charged straight at its head and with one swipe swung around its head and launched into the air plunging her scythe into its head causing outstanding damage to its head definitely drawing its attention.
“NOW’S THE TIME SHADE!” Lilith shouted
I lunge straight for its chest using my blade to force a spiral it readied itself for me ignoring blocking full on offence... it was enraged and i was spiraling towards it. it slashed at me nicking my rear leg, and my chest but still deep enough to bleed. With a thundering sound i made impact the Golem was downed and i was covered in blood and bone. i went to motion to Lilith to end it but i could barely move in fact my whole body was felt like it was being weighed down... all i could make out was Lilith cutting the golem to shreds and chuckling from the mare
“Poison. your power is being drained your life force is being emptied... your mine now come to me!”
my legs were moving on their own i couldn't even speak all i could hear was Lilith scream
“Shade STOP don't do it!”
I knew what was happening my mind was racing... i needed a way out but she was inside of me moving me against my will i had to make her lower her guard so i could break free even for a second...
“awww look at you wounded and bleeding like a stuck pig now kneel at my hooves...”
god this is degrading.... is all i could think while i kneeled down like a dog at her command.
“HAHAHAHA it's almost like you're giving into it now look at your pet she's almost in tears now how about you go finish her off” as i looked up all i could see was Lilith almost crying shouting at me but i couldn't hear her. the sight crushed me i couldn't do this. i had to break her control and now!
“yes my mistress” i stated in a complacent tone
“WONDERFULL you've given in completely” she said and then i started to grin
“and look at that, you like this as well end her and make it slow.”
“oh i will end something but it won't be Lilith” i said while stabbing my blade straight threw that curs head.
“SHADE DON'T DO THAT! I thought you turned on me. i-i... i almost broke down!”
“tsk tsk tsk you should've know that i would of never turned my back on you... GET DOWN!!!!” the golem regenerated and was gathering the little strength it had remaining to end her i used what little power i had to leap into the air and slash the golem in half... without the mare controlling its armor and tactics it was simply an enraged beast flailing wildly. The Golem was finished and i stood in the middle of a pile of blood and bones my sight faded and i collapsed all i could hear and feel was “SHADE ARE YOU ALLRIGHT! SHADE ANSWER ME!” and her soft touch on my chest. It was at this moment i blacked out my last sight was of Lilith staring at me with tears in her eyes... it was kind of peaceful honestly i thought that if this was the end and i was to die here i would be happy saving my love, finishing my last job... closure... i thought about my time with Lilith my service to the princess and all the ways that the mission could've gone better i thought about how behind we were in returning to the princess and how she's reacting to it i assumed that she sent a clean up crew or another team to finish the job... and then i came to...

Lilith was sitting down reading something she didn't notice that i awoke yet. i looked around we were in the Command Center, again... this room wasn't blood covered it was the captain's room probably. i looked at what i was laying on blood stained velvet, yup captains room... wait bloodstained! oh yhe i took a few hits when the golem went bezerk... i glanced at my wound deeper than i thought the poison must of cut off more senses than i thought.
“Lilith” i said
“Shade! You're awake i thought you were going to die on me your wounds were terrible at first. I thought that it was the Golems blood that you were covered in but after i cleaned you off i realized how deep your wounds where most wouldn't of survive that you know...”
“yhe... you would've survived this as well you know i trained you to be just as good as me. What are you reading?”
“that mare’s journal she was so cocky that she was going to win that she wrote absolutely everything down. you still look like you've died and come back, go back to sleep.”
“na im fine just have a terrible headache. how long was i out?
“about 16 hours...”
“16 hours!!” i was shocked nothing has ever made me pass out for more than 10 minutes at most.
“the poison was strong and your wounds were deep it's a miracle you broke her control and managed to kill the Golem let alone survive the night. now get back to sleep unless you want me to make you pass out again...”
“like you could...” i didn't believe she would do anything
“is that a challenge?”
“yes in fact. yes it is” she stopped reading the journal and walked over to me
“ill continue reading this and inform the princess's other team that about our situation and get them to bring back a medical team and a large group to come secure the area for you” as she said this a smile was growing on her face...
“i have a bad feeling about this... wait what are you?” she then turned around and kicked my wound... in the brief moments of consciousness i had left i heard her chuckle and saying
“nighty night Shade i'll be waiting for you when you come to...” i was out again... this day couldn't get any worse... This time while i was out i thought about how everything was finally over and how i will be able to live my life in peace and boredom... (what little did i know at time)

I awoke in the same room the sheets were changed so i glanced at my wound by the looks of it a professional medic came by and patched me up i should be able to move around properly, not back at 100% but about 70%. i got up and out of the bed the journal that Lilith was reading was gone. A little off balance i took a couple of steps with my wound pulsating with pain every step i went out to look for lilith. the hallways had some dead guards still in it they must of been the remnants of the guard their bodies are fully intact just some odd markings on them. I continued to the main hall and i spotted lilith standing outside through the hole that the golem made when it crashed through the wall.
“Lilith” i called out to her but she didn't turn around or answer me something is wrong... i moved closer to her slowly and staying hidden. then i saw her readying her weapon than a mix of skeletal pegasus wearing armor and wielding blades and hooded unicorns started assaulting her recklessly. the pegasus acting as vanguards to the unicorns who maintained their life force and occasionally tossing a spell or to they never focused with threw off their accuracy by a mile. Lilith was handling herself very well considering there was a horde of at least 20 of them assaulting her, they didn't even come close to her level in skill they did have numbers tho so the occasional flailing around randomly managed to nick her. she could control the crowd very well with her scythe every time a pegasus would fly by she would catch it with her scythe and hurl it into a magic bolt or at the casters themselves i decided to watch her in work normally when fighting with her side by side it's rare that you ever see each other in action. There was about 12 of them left she just got finished with a mage unfortunately that gave the opposition time to react to her and regroup and reform 7 skeletal pegasus and 5 mages remind they were focusing now harnessing all of their power to add spectral armor onto their loyal vanguards the vanguards flew at her with the ferocity of Hell Hounds out for the thrill of bloodshed nothing more Lilith simply stood there waiting for them as they drew closer she started charging she noticed their varying speeds decaying flesh doesn't fly well it seems she grabbed two with her scythe in one swipe and slid through the hole while sliding she moved her scythe upwards slicing one in half and forcing the others to obliterate the two on the blade taking the opportunity that she had she lunged straight towards the few remaining mages killing 1 outright in her charge she threw the corpse towards another distracting him while she cleaved another's head clean off stunned by the slaughter the mages tried to regroup but only led themselves into a butchery she jumped in the middle of them and span around the blade on her scythe fully extend cleaving the remaining mages to shreds the skeletal vanguards without anyone to maintain their life force crumbled. i walked into the open and announced my presence with “ Glad you're on my side Lilith”
“Shade I see you're up, feeling better?
“yes in fact i am my wounds are aching but they won't slow me down much. who where those people?”
“do you remember that mare that you killed? she called herself Harbinger and she wanted you dead seems you pissed her off somehow...”
“in our line of work that happens more than we would like, you know that...”
“These people where her followers her goal was that if she couldn't kill you or control you that her followers would assault her in waves and surround us” she was face to face with me at this moment i could see that she was at this for a while she was scratched up and tired i could tell...
“you were defending me... how long where they at this? and if we're surrounded how did i get patched up?
“They have been assaulting since the sun went down i kinda lost track of time... and the unit that celestia dispatched was a pegasus unit they had a medic with them so i called them down to patch you up and tell them to bring reinforcements some of the soldiers stayed but they were wiped out... only a few of them got away...”
“where are all the dead you said you were defending since the sun went down right it's almost dawn?
“there all advanced in necromancy they call the dead and make them regroup back at their lines...”
“Have you scouted their lines?”
“yhe... they have well over 100 bodies waiting...” when lilith said this i could almost see some of her hope leaving her...
“where being stalled... they could have wiped us out entirely in one blow...”
“i know we have to wait for reinforcements tho we can't break the lines now...”
“Lilith, thank you”
“for what?”
“for protecting me for this long i know you can't handle drawn out combat with your style and i don't want you to overdo yourself... so please do us both a favor and stand down and rest i'm up now you don't have to guard me any longer” she interrupted me with
“NO! your injured and i refuse to let you go out there alone you cant be back at full with those wounds even the medic said that you shouldnt of lived before i stated that you were also poisoned!” i went to go get my blade and my gear on i attempted to stop myself from limping but to no avail.
“i can't let you go out their alone... shade your not going out there alone you're injured and even without armor and your blade you're limping...” she was right i was in such a haste to prepare i didn't think about how i would fare in full gear...
“look” i said “i know i'm injured but if anything happened to you it would tear me apart worse than any wound...”
“AND HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL ABOUT YOU!”
i was startled... she never raised her voice when we were talking she always kept her calm and loving voice... now that i think back on everything tho i always put myself in front of her My body as a shield...
“im sorry...” i said “i never thought about it till now but i'm always throwing myself in front of you trying to save you but i never stopped to think about how you felt about me and what it must look like to you when my body gets torn to shreds in front of you...”
“Its fine” her voice returned to normal “whatever happens from now on we do it together from now on ok?”
“allright. now help me get this gear on.” she moved over and helped me get my armor on (well most of it i had to have some spots open because of the wounds” as i watched her help me... i couldn't help but stare into her eyes the same loving yet piercing eyes that i can always turn to for aid... i couldn't help myself my body just instinctively said “I love you Lilith, no matter what... you know that right?”
she smiled and said “of course and i love you shade” she hid her face i assumed she was tearing up... she calmed herself and said “alright that should do it for you... now lets get out their and end all of them.”
“after you” i said as we walked out the door into what seemed to be our final battle field...
The wave that Lilith just finished off where waiting outside to haunt us the corpses that were not completely annihilated and could still stand came back not to mention the remnants of the skeleton vanguards either reshaped or gathered the bones of their fallen comrades to rebuild themselves. lilith cut in while i was watching
“they do this wave after wave it was tough having to kill some of them more than twice...”
“you do have to admit tho it is a good strategy allow your soldiers to fight on even after death...” i stated
“And that is what makes you such a brilliant commander you're willing to do what it takes to win even tho it may be frowned upon”
“yes but if you remember i left my command to many people disliked my strategies”
“and if you remember you never lost a single battle and your soldiers rarely died...” she rebutted
“Look i will gladly discuss my tactics or reasoning later when we're sitting around with nothing to do right now i'd rather focus on the growing number of opponents ahead of us”
the skeletal vanguards even had time to go above and beyond with their repairs they took the parts that they couldn't use for their structure and used them as armor.
“so how are we going to do this?” i asked
“aren't you normally the tactician?”
“yes when i'm at my full at the moment i'm focusing on nulling the pain and how i'm going to kill them, and also you have had more practice against these troops.”
“fine lets see... i'll draw the vanguards while you hit the mages, call out if you want aid.” basic but still effective i thought... but then i realized she's been fighting for hours and hasn't had the pleasure to sleep or eat it appears she's tired and worn out as well...
“Are you ready?” i asked
“yes but are you?” she asked looking at my wound
“it won't slow me down, and yes i am ready i always am! you lead and i'll follow.”
she lead the charge i only had a glance at their formation planing is not my position now tho im meant to cover the leads back no matter what while keeping a steady pace its a basic yet effective strategy. the formation that they had skeletal soldiers in front with blades waiting to meet us while the now undead mages sat back at casted everything they had i assumed that because of their lack of control and desire to live they would cast more suicidal spells... we were nearing them i had to focus...
Lilith was hit by the front guard in the charge but she hit back at least 10x as hard the front was obliterated i only had to quickly swipe at two to finish them off.
“Shade quick left!”
i lunged left and slid we were to take out this line from both lines and meet middle. the skeletons barely stood a chance their bodies were frail and their armor weak i didn't even have to swipe at some of them to end their pitiful existence. Lilith and i clashed blades in the middle using the force we divided and played the third line by pretending to use the same tactic only with one difference Lilith's weapon had a allure to her no matter what happens as long as she lives her scythe will always return to her in a spinning wheel of death that i had the unpleasant occurrence of running into once... needless to say the third line was ground into bone meal with their own tactic of circling and altering their gaps.
Fourth line i thought mages i went to lunge towards it to follow Lilith's lead but my leg jammed up... “Damn Wound!”i yelled in pure annoyance as i said this Lilith replied with a quick
“Stay back i got these” she then proceeded to throw her scythe mid air impaling a mage directly in the head diving towards her scythe it returning to her mid air landing and with one slash annihilating any hope of those living corpses coming back... this may have been my bloodloss but that was one of the most gorgeous things i have seen in my existence... quickly running back to me she said “Don't stand near them they explode after death if the body is too far gone” and practically on cue their remnants of the mages flesh exploded leaving their bones scattered around aimlessly...
By the time we caught our breaths the second wave was incoming fast... this time they brought some of their more powerful soldiers probably because they noticed that i was awake... Our opposition this time was a few regular blood Golems compared to their master one tho they were nothing, some skeletal vanguards grouping up above the golems they only numbered around 8 these looked more vicious tho, then what i assumed was their true shock troops came heavily armored troops covered in bone armor using their magic they made some sort of spectral armor around themselves and it seemed they used the bones of their fallen foes to improve their weapons what i assumed was the leader had the largest most “elegant” design.
“Lilith, the plan?” i asked
“i'll hit the air, you hit the ground troops when i'm done i'll assist you”
This time they were the ones to charge putting us on the defensive or at least they thought i met their Golems head on slashing at two of their legs the two that i slashed were prepared and lunged their swords backwards flipping backwards they may not have the strength of the larger one but they have ability to make up for it. after they flipped my charge led me straight into them again i had no choice but to climb one, they were persistent slashing towards me their swords met so i ran up onto the one on the right and used its body to propel me towards its ally on the left i impaled its chest with my blade the impact was beautiful the splash of blood, the crack of bone and the howl of a dying golem. Using all my strength and the golems own body as a grip i pushed my sword threw its chest ending its life i dismounted it and quickly turned to face my adversary’s it seemed that the shock troops caught up to us and were surrounding me four went at me surrounding me i could feel their magic trying to subdue and it was growing more intense as they moved in i looked around to find the weakest link but there was none as i readied myself i heard the sound of Lilith's scythe impaling a skeleton the shock troops looked up to see Lilith riding a skeletal vanguard directly into the one infront of me i used the opportunity that Lilith gave me to break their hold i dashed left and decapitated one of them swiftly their focus shifting to me Lilith drove her scythe directly into the head of the one she chased into. Their magic bronken they tried to retreat casting bone spears towards me i shattered them using my blade and swiftly executed the cowards. All that remained were the two Golems Lilith and i both went for the one on the right i shouted
“Jump!” she instinctively jumped and landed straight on the right side of my blade i launched her towards the Golem. With deadly accuracy and flare she caught onto the golems chest and twirled around it until it lay there in half the last Golem was retreating and had already made it into the tree line so i let it go...

I went to talk to Lilith she was still trying to dislodge her scythe from the golems spine.
“any chance that this bases supplies have any food in them?”
“probably you go check i'll stand on guard, i'll shout if i see anything” i could see her realization that she hasn't eaten since we set out come over her face
i went to the bases supply shed
“jackpot” i said to myself and grinned... there was a crate full of apples that was untainted by the necromancers filth there was also i prepared two serving appels and called Lilith over she came in and a large smile was on her face.
“this happy for food?” i asked
“not just the food, i saw the beginning of the princesses army start to cross the peak of the mountain they'll be here in a couple of hours”
“than eat quickly once our opposition notices they'll become more desperate” as we ate Lilith couldn't stop smiling she noticed that i was wondering about it and she said
“i was starting to think that we were going to die here i'm just... so unbelievably happy that we're actually going to be able to make it out of here alive!”
“i understand... you know i have been on more missions like this than i would like to recall” we finished up our meal and went outside to face the hordes

The remaining forces were standing outside waiting for us their numbers have dwindled but still... more than we could handle their mages were doing something but it was impossible to see they had far too many soldiers guarding them... then a familiar hooded mare started walking towards us she left her soldiers behind her she had chains that were sustaining her spirit in her body she unveiled her self... fresh face fresh body how could this be their new leader?
“well well well... your little pet handles herself well holding off my forces for quite a while... its a pity that i didn't run into her she would've made an excellent necromancer.”
“Who are you!?” i demanded
“my my... so feisty well if you insist... I AM HARBINGER!”
“lies harbinger is dead” Lilith said
“HAHAHA you think i'm bound to one body like all of you are no... when i die i simple get my followers to capture my spirit and put it into one of their bodies.”
“So those chains are for what exactly”
“oh. these i'm so glad you noticed their not to bind me into this body if thats what you think... you see i'm sucking out all of the power from my followers to destroy you... speaking of which” she turned towards Lilith “there almost fully drained...”
i turned towards lilith and said “if she does anything run... just run towards our forces and dont look back...” she cut me off with a quick
“NO! we started this together and we are going to end this together no matter what happens!”
“allright then charge her!”
we went at her full force cutting left and right in our movements to avoid any attacks... it was to no avail tho she simply waved a hoof at us and knocked us back with pure spiritual energy
“HA! you actually think you can beat me when i'm on my guard you simply got lucky last time you killed me now you don't stand a chance... i'm at my full power not to mention the power i have drained from my followers.
“i won't let this happen...” i said...
“oh what are you going to do about it”
“END YOUR MISERABLE EXISTENCE!” i shouted charging straight at her
“oh really now.. come entertain me!” she attempted to push me back with her spectral force i cleared it by using my blade to launch me upwards landing close to her she shouted and the souls of the damned came forth to repel me slashing and clawing their way towards me i jumped left to avoid them they predicted i only had one option go through them... i flattened my blade to protect my body and lunged i made it threw.... my armor torn and my flesh ripped i continued onwards towards her the chains that were connected to her where breaking slowly there were only 4 left i couldn't let her drain all of her minions! i continued my advance towards Harbinger she laughed as she did the ground rumbled throwing off my balance she managed to hit me with a blast knocking me back to where i started from i could see Lilith Charging Harbinger as well... Harbinger picked her up and hurled her into the Command Center. i went towards her again charging she grabbed me as well i could hear screams from the souls that she could command as i struggled to get out she made the spectres push inwards i felt as if my body was going to implode, after a minute of her torture Lilith came around behind her while she was distracted and went for her throat... she noticed her action and pushed herself upwards releasing me from her grip she only had a single chain left on her at this point... she was laughing still airborn i called out for Lilith
“Lilith same tactic as the golem!” she jumped i caught her with my blade and launched her straight at Harbinger she went into a spiral Harbinger realizing her situation panicked and sacrificed her back half of her body for a chance to still continue the fight... the front half of Harbinger landed in front of me lilith landed a short ways away...
“i would kill you but you would simply spirit away again its best you live in that husk for now...” i said while walking away from Harbinger and towards Lilith... “Lilith, it's over...” the screams of pain and torment coming from Harbinger stopped and were replaced with a growing laughter
“YOU THINK THIS IS OVER DO YOU?!? WELL I'LL JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU THE PER*cough*SISTENCE OF MY WILL!!!” she screamed while coughing out blood and then proceeded to laugh again i turned to her and said
“your army is weak and your plan failed now just quit while you keep what is left of your life if you struggle anymore you will lose what remnants of life force that body has left...” her laughter stopped and a scream that that sounded like the very bowels of hell were let loose upon this world erupted from within her.... the last chain broke... a Specter emerged from what was left of Harbingers current body and went straight for Lilith... i watched in horror as the specter drove itself into Lilith as she screamed in pain as her very soul was being destroyed. the screaming stopped and was replaced with laughter
“she's strong she's fighting for control even tho i expelled her from her bodie...”
“HOW DARE YOU! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU DEFILE LILITH'S BODIE YOUR FILTH!!”
“oh now now is that any way to speak to your love?”
“YOU ARE NOT LILITH HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO CALL YOURSELF LILITH!!!”
“hmmm odd her weapon isnt responding to me....”
“THAT SCYTHE IS CONNECTED TO LILITH NOT YOU!! EVREN IT CAN SENSE YOUR FILTH!!!”
“no matter i can still use it in its basic state now come on... fight me fight your love!”
and here i was... the body of my love charging at me i could do nothing but defend as i watched in horror as she slashed and attempted to end my existence... i couldn't take this i have to disengage i thought... i launched myself up onto the nearest rooftop and watch Lilith's body attempt to end my life... she stopped her attack and said
“come down here shade be with me we can go live out our lives just like we planned...”
“NO! YOU'RE NOT LILITH...”
“well you certainly won't fight me, come down here and be with your love” i don't know what came over me magic... desperation... sadness... loss of will... hope that it could still be Lilith... but it was something i jumped down and walked towards her with my blade down...
“aww you're just as cute as i remember you all depressed and pathetic... you know what i'll give you a treat...” she dropped her armor and exposed herself to me
“come mount your love!” she said in a longing tone
“i refuse... you're not lilith” i said...
“You still refuse me?! hmmm no matter i tried to be nice but if you continue to refuse i'll just have to end you. so i'll ask you one last time will you come and mount your love?”
“NO! Just end my life and my misery please i beg of you” tears came over me... i couldn't control it my life had no meaning to me at this point...
“so... you want your pain to end... very well i believe i can oblige that wish after giving me this outstanding vessel...” she started to charge at me scythe readied... my mind was blank and pure instinct took over my body was controlling itself. i could only watch in horror as i was fighting my love... Lilith... our blades clashed agin and agin and agin... every time they did i was staring face to face with her looking into those eyes which once held so much love for me now only desire to witness my death... the fight raged on and as i stared at her i couldn't help but think of all the times that we fought together all the times that i would give my life for her.... than she stopped moving... “SHADE IF YOU HAVE ANY LOVE FOR ME AT ALL END THIS AND KILL ME!!” she shouted
“LILITH!!! I CAN'T KILL YOU.... i just can't...”
“END THIS PLEASE I BEG OF YOU IT FEELS AS IF MY VERY SOUL IS BEING RIPPED APART” she said with tears in her eyes... i said nothing...
“SHADE I COMMAND YOU TO KILL ME!” she shouted
my mind went blank and i lunged at her my blade piercing her chest... in utter horror i walked back slowly trying to realize what i just did... i watched her body fall to the ground lifeless...
“thank you shade... and i'm sorry it was foolish of me to be hit... i love you shade...”
“LILITH!! don't be sorry it's fine you just have to live. LILITH do you hear me don't die on me!!”
“you know that i can’t live from this it's allright... i don't blame you... just do me one favor?
“Anything Anything at all just name it!”
“Live” she used her last breath to say this...
and here i stood in the middle of death and destruction standing over my now deceased love that i killed... i looked around... the princesses army was already here and the battle was almost won... i picked up Lilith's body and walked straight through the battlefield... the princess herself was here waiting in the back of her army like the coward she is... i walked towards one of her guards and said
“i demand to see the princess...” he readied his weapon and said
“you have two options die or walk away.” he motioned for his allies to come near him
“Do you have any idea who i am...”
“No why would i your probably some radom asswhole who wandered onto a battle feild! and who's that slut you're carrying...” i sliced his throat and slaughtered his allies and walked towards the princess... motioning her guards to back off she staited
“Ah shade you're still alive glad to see it... what's wrong with lilith?”
“Shes dead...”
“what happened?”
“you'll have my full report later” i walked away. she called after me
“Shade i did not dismiss you... and you will give me your report now!”
“Princess!” i said turning around “if you want my report i'll write on your mutilated corpse with your blood!” her guards readied themselves
while waving for her guards to back off she said “very well... if thats how you want this go on... i'll clean up this mess.”
i walked over the mountain and into the forest... carrying Lilith and her weapon...
Lilith always said that if she ever died i was to lodge the scythe into her bodie... she hated the idea of her being food for magots. so i did as she requested of me i stabbed her scythe into her body the scythe absorbed her and its colors dulled... it two was mourning over the loss of its master... i made my peace and went back to canterlot licked my wounds and went out on any mission that i could get my hands on...