Mercenaries Of The Shadow

"Sister, I bring unfortunate news regarding the elements of harmony." Luna says as she runs into the throne room. Celestia sat on her throne resting her head in her hand with a look of despair. Celestia looked at Luna for a brief moment before closing her eyes again.

"What is it Luna?" She said flatly.

"Chrysalis has captured them, they tried to retrieve the elements but were ambushed before they could."

"Where are Cadence and Shining Armor?" She asked still not looking up.

"Well... im not sure what happened to them, they just disappeared." Celestia rose off her throne and approached the window to assess the damage that has been dealt to Canterlot. building have been set ablaze, bodies lie all over the streets, ponies have been taken hostage, and a large battalion is approaching the castle.

"Luna, I have and idea but this needs your entire attention and for you to leave here. This may be our only chance to defeat Chrysalis and save Equestria. Do you remember the team you secretly created without my permission?" Luna thought for a moment and nodded "You must find them, they may be able to defeat chrysalis."

"But sister, I do not think this a very good..."

"DAMNIT LUNA, DO YOU NOT CARE FOR OUR SUBJECTS AND THEIR SAFTY?" Luna backed away slightly before lowering her head.

"I will do what I can 'Tia." Luna kept her head down as Celestia approached her and held her in a tight hug.

"Be safe Luna, I will guard the palace while you are gone." Celestia gave a quick kiss on her fore head and backed away. Luna looked up at Celestia who was walking towards the door.

"Don't worry sis', I will return with help." Luna thought about where she was going, she could see the alley behind a bar, and a pony being shoved out through the back door. She kept spiritual connection with this one pony in case she needed him. She focused her magic and in an instant she vanished.

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"All right buddy, you've had enough." A bouncer said as he escorted somepony out back.

"Fuck you man, I'll tell you when I've had enough." The pony said stumbling trying to stand up straight as the bouncer closed the door. He was a midnight blue pegasus with a plain black mane wearing a thin pinstripe black jacket over a plain black shirt with a red tie tucked in, he had black fedora with an image of a skull on the left side, he had plain black dress pants and dress shoes. "Do you know who the hell I am? I'm mother fucking..."

"Morbis Soul." A pony said stepping out of the shadows, she wore a dark black cloak with a hood that hid her face "And my word, who in the world taught you to speak like that?" Morbis stumbled his way toward the pony "Is that what you've been doing these past years, drinking away your hard earned money?" Morbis collapsed next to a dumpster and began to vomit, 'how charming'.

"Pretty much. How do you know who I am, are you spying on me?" He asked looking up at her before he continued emptying the contents of his stomach.

"No, I've just been keeping track of you. Equestria need your help, along with the rest of your team." Morbis turned his head quickly facing her. He stood up almost flawlessly.

"I don't know what your talking about, but you better leave that subject alone or else." He said as he drew out an S&W 500 magnum from his jacket and aimed it at her.

"Morbis its fine." Her cloak faded away into bats "It's me, Luna." Morbis dropped his gun and quickly got down on one knee bowing to her.

"Please forgive me princess Luna." Luna giggled at his behavior.

"It's alright Morbis, there is no need for formal behavior, but we do need your assistance." She said as she went from an entertained expression to completely serious.

"You know I would be ready to give my life for you, but if you remember my squad has been disengaged for about five years now." Luna chuckled and pulled out a scroll "Whats this?" Morbis grabbed the scroll and unrolled it.

"I was prepared for you to say that, but if you read the fine print which you missed when you signed this." He cleared his throat and began to read.

"By signing this form your squad will be disengaged and will not be given missions unless either princess gives direct orders for your team to assemble when war is in effect."

Fucking fine print "So im guessing your calling us to arms?" She nodded with a smile. He tucked the scroll in his jacket, put his feet together leaving a forty five degree angle in between, he made a fist with his right hand and laid it across his chest making a light thud sound, and placed his left arm down at his side "Captain Morbis Soul, Squad leader of M.O.T.S. reporting for duty." Luna smiled at how ready he was for orders, and the fact that she is making progress.

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Luna and Morbis approached a large factory set up in the outskirts of Manehatten "Who is here?" Luna asked getting a sigh from Morbis.

"Starlight, If you don't remember he was our sniper, could shoot somepony from two miles away right in the eye." They entered the factory and began looking around. It seemed empty but there was signs of recent activity such as warm machinery. "HEY STARLIGHT, WHERE THE HELL ARE YO...." Morbis was cut off when a knife impaling into his shoulder making him fall. He pulled the knife out and threw it on the ground "Did I mention he's a damn good knife thrower?"

"Come any closer and the next one goes right in your eye!" Starlight yelled from somewhere in the factory. Morbis stood up and began looking around.

"Come on Starlight, It's me Morbis, we got a job so get your pansy ass over here!" Starlight dropped down from the rafters landing ten feet away from them holding a combat knife. He was a black earth pony with a white hair on his neck in the form of a star and had black hair with a white stripe on the left side. He wore blue overalls which were the uniform for the workers, he wore a baseball cap backwards and had tan boots.

"How can we have a job when your dumb ass ended our team?" He asked staring at him with narrowed eyes. Morbis handed him the form and pointed out the fine print. you could tell he refrained from leaping with joy, he handed the form back and crossed his arms "Why should I do anything for you, you split the team up, and Is there even a war happening?"

"Then do it for me." Luna said as she stepped forward out of the shadows and removing her cloak. Starlight dropped down to his hands and knees lowering his head. "And yes a war is coming."

"Princess Luna, please accept my apologies, I did know." Luna knelt down in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"It's fine, but we do need you and the rest of the team."

He nodded "I will only help under one condition. I get my rifle back." Luna nodded. He stood up and did the same motion Morbis did when he agreed to help "Starlight, sniper of M.O.T.S. reporting for duty." Luna smiled pleased with her progress.

"So where to?" Morbis asked Starlight.

"I know a team member is in Las Pegasus, but I don't have a car or anything to get there."

"That is fine, I will be teleporting us." Luna spoke up.

"Are you sure you can teleport us all around?"

"I can for a short while, but it will stress my body and mind after a few times."

"So who will we find here?" Luna asked Starlight as they approached a casino in Las Pegasus.

"Shade." He replied flatly

"Oh. My. God this is going to end awesomely." Morbis said way to thrilled getting a glare from Starlight. Luna looked at them with a questioning look "Starlight and Shade used to date for a while after our team ended and he fucked up badly."

"What did he do?"

"Trust me, you do not want to know." They entered the casino and headed for the back room after an employee told them where to find her.

"Will it be safe?" Luna asked as we entered the room.

"Well at first she may be a bit..." Starlight was cut off when a scythe with a half circle blade with what looked like smoke but was actually shadows emitting from it impaled in to the wall only centimeters in front of him "...hostile."

"You got a lot of balls showing your face 'round here starlight, to bad your about to lose em." Shade said flipping out her butterfly knife. She was wearing a tux like uniform that the people who work at the game tables usually wear. She was a dark purple unicorn with a navy blue mane that draped over one of her eyes.

"Easy there shade, we just want to tell you something that may interest you." Starlight said nervously while holding his hands in front of him.

"And what may that be?" Shade asked crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at him. Morbis pulled the form from his jacket and handed it to her. She skimmed over it and handed it back. "So your having us go to war?" She asked looking at Luna who gave her a nod "Give me one good reason why I should do this." Morbis thought about a good reason to convince her. He remembered the first time they met, she was hired to kill him, her main motive was money since she used to be an assassin.

"The pay is good." Shade quickly looked at him with wide eyes.

"Give me my gun and we got a deal."

"Why the hell do you need your gun, you can make weapons with your magic." Morbis said.

"Only melee weapons, remember?" Shade said putting emphasis on the 'remember'. "Just give me my gun and we got a deal." Luna nodded and smiled. Shade rolled her eyes and went through the motions "Lieutenant Shade, team strategist for M.O.T.S. reporting for duty."

"Have you stayed in contact with anyone else?" Morbis asked. Shade thought for a moment.

"Two people to be exact, they work together."

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They all walked along an edge inside of the infamous Ghastly Gorge. "If im correct they should be here somewhere." Shade said keep her voice low to avoid avalanches.

"Someone mind telling me why they would be here?!" Starlight yelled getting Shade to punch him in his mouth making him shut up.

"Do you want to get us killed?" She asked in a stern voice. Starlight shook his head quickly getting Luna and Morbis chuckle. A rock about the size of an average male hand landed next to them causing them to jump and look up.

"Were here because of the resources this gorge offers." The pony from above yelled. Because of the suns position, all that was visible was his silhouette "Here, take hold of this." He said as he tossed the end of a rope down. one by one they climbed up the side of the gorge.

"Don't you realize you could have killed yourselves by yelling like that?" They all looked towards a tent a saw a cyan earth pony with a black mane with an eye patch and a few scars on his face sitting a lawn chair drinking a beer. He wore a white shirt with a light blue denim jacket, tan cargo pant and dark brown work boots.

"Scorch, is that you?" Shade asked walking closer. He nodded and took a drink. "You look... different." He shrugged and got up and walked towards her.

"Tends to happen when you've been to hell and back, literally." he had an unamused look on his face showing he remembered exactly what happened. Shade found herself laying on the ground. It happened so quickly, Scorch roundhouse kicked her out of no where getting a shocked expression from Luna. Luna looked at the group and noticed something odd, they just stood there with vacant faces watching Scorch and Shade. Luna felt as if she had to do something, she raised her and a faint blue aura formed around her hand. Just as she was about to encase them in a telekinesis spell, her wrist was grabbed from a pony behind her. She looked back and saw a very vacant yet familiar face.

"Don't stop them, this is how we handle issues between each other." It was scary that she looked almost just like luna when the elements returned her to normal. The only difference was that she didn't have a horn, her mane was a few shades darker and it was long and straight. Luna quickly wrapped her in a tight hug.

"Blitz, I thought you were..."

"Dead?" Blitz finished the sentence. Luna cringed slightly at the word, the thought of Blitz, let alone anybody part of M.O.T.S. troubled her. Blitz returned the gesture "Its fine Mam', I'm alive and well." Luna thought back to the day during the attack on the royal wedding Luna left to assemble the team.

Their main objective was clear the way for the Twilight and her friends so they could obtain the elements of harmony. Everything went well with Starlight giving cover fire from a tower, Morbis giving suppressive fire as Blitz made her way to the room with Shade assisting her with her scythe. Scorch stayed with the royal guards in the town assisting them. They would have been able to finish their mission if Blitz didn't burst through the door so carelessly. She kicked the door in and was about to fire the standard issue Glock 17, but someone with a sniper rifle inside was quicker to the draw. A bullet tore through her right side grazing her heart and exited out her left side. Her body went limp and she collapsed. She laid there in agonizing pain as blood leaked out of both bullet holes.
Shade rushed over to her and put up a protective barrier to shield them from the onslaught of bullet directed at them. "We need to leave now!" Shade yelled into her ear piece while looking down at her friend who was slightly twitching from the pain, she gripping on Shades sleeve tightly and coughing up blood. Shade looked around and saw several changeling soldiers approaching "Hang on Blitz, were getting out of here." Shade whispered into her ear as she held her close. In a split second they teleported to the edge of the everfree forest "Come in team, this lieutenant Shade, sergeant Blitz is in critical condition. Our location is the edge of the everfree forest near a small town, over." Shade waited a few seconds until there was a response.

"This is captain Morbis Soul, M.O.T.S. rendezvous to lieutenant Shades position, over and out."

Luna was snapped out of the memory by hearing Morbis telling Shade and Scorch to stop fighting.

"You both have fought enough, and we're wasting precious time." Shade and Scorch looked at each other and nodded. "Scorch, do you have a vehicle of some sort, Luna's getting a little exhausted from teleporting us around." Scorch motioned them to follow him, he brought them around back of the tent as walked up to a garage. He unlocked the latches and opened the door to reveal a military humvee.

"My baby, there you are." Shade said as she ran up to it and began hugging and stroking it. She looked up and noticed something that bothered her "Where the fuck is the turret?"

"I work a civilian job, I can't show up to work with a turret attached to my vehicle." Shade turned around and glared daggers at him.

"That doesn't answer my question. Where is my gun?" She said through gritted teeth as she stared him down.

"I-I sold it." Her eyes went wide as platters when she heard him. A shadow stretched towards him and grasped his ankle lifting him into the air.

"You got ten seconds to tell me who you sold it to."

"It's no use, I sold it to a chop shop." Scorch was instantly sent flying out of the garage by the shadow tentacle. Shade started to approach him until she was held in place by something.

"We have wasted enough time, where is the last member?" Luna asked as she held Shade in a telekinetic grasp.

"Last I heard, Haze was in the Badlands fighting for money." Scorch said climbing to his feet. Luna picked up everyone and put them in the humvee putting Shade in the drivers seat with Starlight next to her and put herself with the others in back.

"Lets get a move on." Luna said with a hint of anger in her voice. Shade put the pedal to the metal and began driving towards the Badlands.

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As they drove down a windy path leading up a huge rock formation they noticed a poorly built fort made of sheet metal, wooden planks and other miscellaneous materials. "What is this place?" Blitz asked.

"It used to be a base for a resistance about one hundred or so years ago, but now its used as a fighting ring where people from all over come and place bets and watch people get shit beat out of them until they forfeit or die." Shade said getting looks from everyone. "what, I used to come here every once in a while." They pulled up to the gate and noticed two minotaurs guarding the gate. "So whats the plan?" Shade asked. They all looked at her.

"Aren't you allowed to just go in there?" Scorch asked.

"Well....it's kinda frowned upon to tear a judge in half because of what they thought of the fight."

"Great now we'll never get in." Shade thought for a moment.

"Alright, watch this." She climbed out of the vehicle and walked up to a Minotaur. "Well hello there big guy, how 'bout you let my friends my friends and I inside and I'll make it worth while." she said as she stroked his chest with her finger.

"No can do Mam, I know for a fact your not allowed to enter." The guard replied.

"well how about this." She grabbed his neck and pulled him close so she could whisper in his ear. "If you don't let us in, I'll blow your dick off with this here gun." He looked down and saw a magnum pointed at his groin. "So, do we have a deal?" He whimpered and nodded. She let him go and motioned for the group to follow.

Morbis patted her shoulder as he walked next to her. "A woman's charm eh?"

"you know it captain."

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As they entered the fort, the sound of silence was broken by cheers and jeers from the battle arena. They walked to the stands and looked down at the arena and noticed a certain pony in combat, Haze was standing in front of another pony who was covered in scars and bruises. "DO YOU WANT A SHOW!?" Haze yelled presenting a broad sword to the crowd causing them all to cheer. He grabbed the pony by his mane and pushed him up against the wall. With one swing of his sword the ponies stomach was sliced open. The laceration began spraying blood on the ground and on Haze. Haze gave a psychotic smile as he reached inside and began tearing out his organs making screams of pain emit from the dying pony. He tore out a length of intestine and through it into the stands.

"This shit really fucked his mind up." Morbis whispered to Starlight. After Haze left the arena they followed him into the barracks.

"Hey Haze!" Haze turned around and saw all of his old team mates and Luna and glared.

"What the hell do you guys want." Haze was a turquois unicorn with black hair on his chest making what looks like claw marks and a grey mane. He wore only a pair of urban camouflage cargo pants still stained in blood.

"My friend we're going to war and your coming with whether you like it or not." Starlight said while smiling getting Haze to narrow his eyes at him.

"No." Haze said flatly as he turned around and climbed into his cot.

"Why the fuck not?" Shade asked "We get to kill as many sons of bitches as we want, whats not to love about that?" Haze rolled over and looked at her.

"Im done with all this war bullshit, if you guys want to go get killed like what almost happened to Blitz over there." He said pointing at Blitz. "Then be my guest, but I for one am not getting killed on a battle field." He sat up and motioned to the surroundings. "This is my home, my battlefield, and the people love me so its gonna take a lot to make me leave."

"Fine, if I kick your ass, you come with us." Morbis said making everyone look at him.

"Alright deal, how 'bout right now?" Haze said getting out of his cot.

"Your on."

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Luna and the team, excluding Morbis and Haze, sat in the stands to watch the fight. Morbis and Haze stood at opposite ends of the arena staring each other down. There was no one but them in the arena.

"Ready to get your ass kicked little man?" Haze asked while cracking his knuckles.

"Nope, you ready to get beat into a bloody pulp?" Morbis asked while rolling his shoulders trying to loosen up.

"Not at all."

They waited for Shade to ring the bell to start the fight. At the sound of the bell Morbis and Haze rushed at each other. Morbis tried a spin kick only to be dodged by Haze stepping to side and thrusting his palm impacting on Morbis' stomach causing him to get knocked back making him fall. Morbis rolled and recovered just as Haze jumped and was about to punch. He rolled out of the way and swept his legs just as he landed. Haze thrusted himself up with his hands and ran at Morbis. Haze began attacking with an onslaught of kicks and punches only for all of them to be dodged or blocked. Haze charged his magic and blasted him straight into the far wall. Morbis lounged to the side just as Haze kicked the spot right where his groin was. "What ever happened to a good old friendly match eh?" He asked sarcastically. Haze chuckled and rushed at him with his magic charged. Morbis braced himself for the impact and waited. Before he could block, Haze used his magic to dash at him and thrusted up sending Morbis into the sky. Haze focused his magic and used it to launch himself into the air next to him.

"I win!" He said said with an evil smile as he slammed the heel of his foot square on his chest sending him straight at the ground. As Morbis flew towards the ground, Haze followed suit. As soon as Morbis collided with the ground Haze landed on top of him with his feet on either side of him with a fist right at his throat. "Despite the fact you lost, you wont last a second without me." They both chuckled as Haze pulled him up. "Come on, lets get Shade to fix you up." As Haze turned around, he was struck in the chest by a tentacle made of shadows sending him into the wall. The tentacle quickly wrapped around his neck and dragged him back.

"What the fuck is your problem Haze, you think you can just kick our captains ass and get away with it like nothing happened?"

"Shade its alright, he's on board with us." Morbis said as he stumbled towards them holding his chest. "He said he will help us."

"Oh." Shade released her grip and dropped him on the ground. "Sorry I strangled you."

"Its all good, I had it coming." Haze said between coughs and gasps for air. He stood up and looked at Luna and very sloppily went through the movements. "Second lieutenant Haze, Combat specialist of M.O.T.S. reporting for duty Mam." Luna nodded and he saluted, she returned the gesture and turned her attention to Morbis.

"Morbis, get your team into formation and await orders." Morbis saluted and ordered his team to fall in. They all lined up facing Lunas' general direction at the position of attention. "Alright soldiers, we are on the very brink of war. Chrysalis has assaulted Canterlot and as we speak she is more than likely taking over." Everyone stood stoic and listened intently to Luna. "We do not know what her motive is, nor do we know what she hopes to accomplish, as far as we know she is looking for something within the kingdom. She has kidnaped the elements of harmony, Shining Armor, and Cadence as well. I have been ordered by my sister to bring you all back together, you are the best chance we have to stop Chrysalis and keep Equestria safe." The team looked at her with shocked expressions. "Our primary objective is to free the city and make sure that princess Celestia is safe, our secondary objective is to find the elements of harmony, Shining Armor, and princess Cadence." Luna looked upon her team of mercenaries and felt a sense of hope that things will be fine. "You are the best of the best, and I have absolute faith in each and everyone of you. You all make me proud to call you my soldiers. On the command of fall out, get into the vehicle, Fall out!"

"HOO-AH!"

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They pulled up at the outskirts of the palace and sat there in total silence for a good few minutes.

"Why are we just sitting here? Why don't we go in and kick ass?" Haze spoke up breaking the silence.

"Have you forgot your training already?" Morbis said while lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag off it. "Look at the sky and tell me what you see."

"Hell I don't know, a sunset?"

"Exactly. We are the Mercenaries Of The Shadows, we fight in the dark, we are the things that go bump in the night and strike fear into the very hearts of our enemy. Besides, if we go wandering around in the day people will know who we are, the day of the wedding was a fluke and wont happen again. Patience is a virtue we live by, good things come to the ones who wait." He looked into the sky and looked at the horizon and smiled, it was about and hour from night time. "But you know what. I love getting started a little early."

Author's Note

I realized I messed up a little bit on creating the characters so I did a little bit of editing. (12/10/12)