Once A Shadow - From the other side

Well, I think that turned out better than expected. I now have an immortal and a necromancer as a marefriend. Maybe fate decided not to fuck me over this time. Ha, I bet it's just waiting for the right moment, waiting for me to be at my happiest, and then make things go very bad very quickly. Aggh, better not think about it. Last thing I need is for things to go wrong on a day like this. I sheepishly got out of bed, making sure not to wake the white unicorn that was there. Spitfire had apparently left, and from what happened last night, I assumed she was still in a good mood. I trotted downstairs to find everybody, including Shadow standing there. Well, now is a good time as any to deliver that all important news (of which I almost forgot about). I trotted up to Spitfire and began to whisper in her ear.

"I just got some intel about the Black Hoof. They're hiding out in a fortress on the outskirts of the San Palomino desert. I'm going back upstairs to grab my gear, and to clean up that mess you made with my whiskey."

She giggled. As I turned to head back upstairs, I looked at Shadow. It doesn't seem like he remembers my face, at least well enough to remember who I am. I don't even think he knows I'm a member of the Mones yet either. Ah well, one thing at a time, I'm sure he'll find out eventually. I went up to my room and found Crystal up and about, already cleaning up the whiskey spillage.

"Oh, hey. Morning Hornet, how was your sleep?" She asked with a sweet and caring voice.

"Just fine, thank you. I'm going out on a mission with the others. Could you be so kind as to finish cleaning up for me?"

"No problem, just be sure to come back in one piece could you? Also, I haven't heard from my father. I'm afraid that he may have been caught, so if you could keep an eye out for him that would be great."

I grabbed my gear and headed back downstairs, finding everybody already gone. What the fuck. Oh well, I already know the location, so I might as well go there. If I'm lucky (which I probably won't be) I'll beat them there and take down half the place before they get there! Ha, yeah right. I flew for about an hour till I found what I was looking for, a fortress in the middle of the fucking desert. To be honest it wasn't that hard to find, which seemed to be true for the rest of them as they were already there. I flew over to them and landed right beside Blaze.

_we came across what looked like an old European style fort. Like something you would see in a movie, complete with drawbridge and moat. Oh wait, the moat is filled with blood, so nevermind.

I took a look at the moat. "Well that's cute."

"Yeah, it doesn't look like he'll get a good resale value for that." Soarin said.

"Alright, that's enough jokes. We came here for a reason, so focus." Spitfire said.

We cut the chatter and flew over the fort, but we were blocked by a magical barrier.

"Now what? I don't think we can get through this thing, it seems pretty solid." I said.

"Ah, here are my guests. How are you doing everypony?" A voice said from inside the barrier. Just then, a pony in a black robe trotted out on top of one of the towers on the corner.

"Is that-" I started to say.

"Sorrow Curse." Spitfire said.

"Don't act so sour Spitfire. I thought you would be happy to see me."

"Come out of that barrier and I'll show you just how happy I am."

He laughed. "Violent as ever I see." He shifted his gaze towards me. I couldn't see his face, but I could see the red eyes
glowing in the darkness created by his hood. "You must be Shadow Flash. A pleasure to finally meet you."

"Oh, the pleasure's all mine."

"I see you finally decided to recruit somepony with manners Spitfire. It's about time, I was wondering if you were planning on always being rude."

"Enough of this! Soarin, break the barrier down!" Spitfire yelled.

Soarin flew up to the barrier, and readied himself to punch it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Sorrow said.

"And why is that?" Soarin asked.

"Because I have a hostage. A sweet mare, this one. It would be a shame if her blood was on your hands."
Soarin looked at Spitfire.

"If you want a shot at beating me without killing the hostage, you have to play by my rules."

"And how do we know you aren't lying about the hostage?" Spitfire said.

"Of course, how silly of me. How can I expect you to play along if I don't have any proof of the hostage? One moment please." He said before lowering his head. I saw his horn glow under his hood, and just then, an earth pony mare appeared. She had a tan coat with silver hair. She was tied up and had tears in her eyes.

"You sick bastard..." I said.

He smiled. "I appreciate the compliment. I found this one wandering too far from Appaloosa and figured I could put her to good use. So now that you see I have a hostage," He said before teleporting her away. "you should play my game if you value her life in the slightest."

We looked at Spitfire for an answer. "...We'll play your game."

"Excellent! Let me lower the drawbridge so you may enter." He said before disappearing.

We flew down in front of the drawbridge as it opened._ -chapter 27-

"Well, so glad I didn't miss the party." I said

Spitfire turned around to see me. "Hornet! Sorry we took off without you, but we were in a bit of a hurry."

"Ahh, don't sweat it. Now, are we gonna kick this guys ass or what?"

"Right, We are going to go in there and see if we can't rescue that hostage. However, I want you to see if you can find a back door or secret entrance somewhere. If you can, get in there, grab any intel you can find, possibly rescue the hostage, and get out. Preferably undetected. Good luck."

"From what it looks like, you're the one who looks like they need the luck. See you on the far side."

As they headed over the drawbridge, I trotted over to the moat, which aforementioned by Shadow, was filled with blood. "Charming, although I don't think I'll be swimming in that any time soon." I said to myself. I kept walking around the edge of the fortress trying to find a way in, and sure enough, I found it. it was a small tower at the back of the fortress, with noone there to stop me. Only one problem remained; the barrier. I paced up and down, trying to think of away to get past it, when a necromancer came out of the tower, probably to get some fresh air. This guy was obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, as he leaned quite close to the barrier, almost about to fall off. This somewhat deactivated the barrier in his area, and seizing this opportunity, I flew straight at him. He barely managed to turn halfway around when I grabbed him from behind and got him in a choke hold. Trying to fight back, he lashed out with his teeth, not realizing he could have used this moment to call for help, and possibly save his life. As he struggled even more, I realized that I had no other choice but to snap his neck. It let out a sickening crack as I twisted it, leaving his head half backwards. Now this is where my knowledge of stealth games comes in handy, as I took off his necromancers robe and put it on me. I then threw his body off the rail and into the moat, where it became devoured by some ungodly creatures seconds later. So glad I didn't decide to swim. I put the robe's hood over my head, creating a menacing look where they would only be able to see my blood red eyes and my scar. I headed into and down the tower, into a corridor with doors on either side. One by one I cautiously opened each door, checking to see if there was anyone or anything in there. Finally I managed to find a semi open door with a necromancer cleaning his hooves, standing next to a dead pony with their stomach cut wide open. As I snuck through the doorway, I slowly pulled out my knife. When I finally got close enough, I grabbed the necromancer and put my balde to his throat.

"What the, who are you?" he blurted.

"Landlord, rent's overdue." I joked

"Very funny, now what do you want with me?"

"Information. What were you doing down here?"

"I was cleaning up a failed test subject when you arrived."

"Where's all the others?"

"They're headed elsewhere to deal with the other intruders, I'm pretty much alone down here."

"Okay, last question. Where's all the notes and data on what you're doing here?"

"My notes are on the desk over there, the rest are in the archives, but that area's restricted. Shouldn't be a problem for you though."

"Obviously not."

"Oh please don't kill me, I only got the blood off my robe from the last beating I got."

"You're kinda gutless, aren't you?."

"Hey, you're the one with the knife."

"Good point." I said as I slid the knife across his throat. I then grabbed the body, picked it up and put it in a cool storage container full of body parts. After cleaning off my knife, I picked up the notes and put them in a bag I grabbed in the corner. I peeked through the doorway, and walked through the corridor, trying to find the archives. Surprisingly, they weren't that hard to find. Signs were placed on walls, easily pointing out the way to the archives (they're probably for the more mentally challenged of the lot). As I turned the corner, I found myself in a large room, with a solitary necromancer standing there silently. Then somehow, as if he knew I was there he spoke up.

"Come on now, don't be shy. Come in, you must be our new initiate. I am Necro Fillyiac, Sorrow Curses' second in command. Your name is Blood Raven, correct?" I silently nodded in compliance. "Well come on, we don't have all day. Get over here, I want you to watch something. He pointed to a portal like object on one of the wall, before activating it with his magic. "We have intruders in our midst, and you get the opportunity to watch them all DIE." As the portal flared to life, I tried not to imagine what horrible things he had planned for the team, more importantly not trying to blow my cover. "These intruders are pathetic, they have no hope of surviving, just watch." Just then the portal split into separate screens, each of them showing a member of the team. Soarin was fighting some kind of abomination, with Blaze doing reasonably the same. Spitfire was apparently nowhere to be seen, much to the annoyance of the necromancer next to me. Shadow was facing against some kind of dragon, although knowing that it was created by necromancers there was probably something else mixed in with it. "You see," he spoke up "nopony could dare to even hope to defeat us, especiall with our creations. what do you think of them by the way?"

"They're interesting, to say the least."

"Well, I'm glad you think so. Now, shall we finish watching these pieces of trash die?"

"Actually," I piped up "I'd rather watch YOU die." Before he could respond with anything, I pulled out my knife and rammed it into his chest, doing so several times to finish the job.

"But...why? You traitor!" he blurted.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you actually though that I was one of you? Shame on you." I said as I pulled my robe off "Surprise motherfucker, hope I didn't scare you." As I walked away, I turned around to say a few final words "If you're the second in command, then I should have no trouble taking down Sorrow Curse."

Suddenly he started laughing maniacally. "Don't be too sure" he said pointing at my back. I looked around, and found there was a knife sticking out of the back of my neck.

"Son of a bi-" I said before falling to the ground. My vision started to fade, and as it did, he trotted up to me. "I would enjoy making you suffer, but it looks like you're going to die now." As my sight finally faded completely, I could hear his menacing laugh drift away. Well fuck you fate, I'm gonna kick your ass next time I see you.