Shadow Mark

“WAIT I need something from my quarters.” Shadow shouted while they were trotting in that general direction.

“Ok let’s go we may be late if we don’t hurry.” Luna said

Rolling his wheelchair as fast as he could he said “I wish i didn’t break my wings. This would have been much quicker.”

“No you didn’t break them Shadow you shattered them.” Luna said with a smirk

Giving her a look he said “Don’t be picky. Oh there is my quarters wait out here.”

“Fine don’t take too long though.” Luna said slightly impatient

A short time later Shadow came out in full uniform. “Why are you dressed up?” Luna asked curiously

“I cannot be too casual; I need to show my rank.” Shadow said

“Fine.” Slightly annoyed at the formality Luna looked at the clock in Shadows room. “WELL BE LATE! WE CAN’T BE LATE!” Then picking up Shadow with her magic she ran at a gallop in the direction.

“NOT AGAIN!” Shadow shouted slightly afraid

Luna was breathing heavily when they got to the entrance. She was about to walk in but she forgot to set Shadow down. Then she just dropped him. “Ow.” He landed with a bang

“Sorry but hurry in and be formal. Sit next to me.” Luna said holding the door open.

The board room was a large room with a huge map of Equestria 18’x10’ the map was made of some hard leather, the table itself oak, the room  was full of ponies about twenty in all. All sitting in formal clothing signifying their rank and position, besides Celestia and Luna. They were all looking into the map. Until they walked in they merely glanced over Luna. A familiar face, but Shadow, foreign, new, unknown. Their eyes ate him as he moved his chair next to Luna’s.

Seeing everyone silent Luna leaned over to Shadow and whispered. “They are all wondering who’s going to make the first move. If you speak it tells something about you. Just remember don’t speak unless you tell me what you’re going to say first.”

Shadow nodded as Luna explained who he was. “This is my new guard and…” looking to Shadow for confirmation to tell their relationship he nodded. “…stallionfriend. His name is Shadow Mark I believe a few of you may have heard of him. Well he has been injured in a crash recently and has been in the hospital so for a change of scenery I brought him here.”

Shadow then noticed Tenebrae in the room and nodded to him, Tenebrae nodded back with a slight smile. “Well, let the meeting begin.” Said Celestia with the royal Canterlot voice used only if one of the royal family decided it necessary.

“Why are we meeting here today and what are we meeting about?” Asked one of the ambassadors

“I was getting to that Silver Saddle.” Celestia said then continued “We are meeting today to discuss the arrangement and placing of our troops as well as the matter of young Shadow Mark here. Any questions about any of the subjects?”

“What is your talent Shadow Mark?” asked a pony with decorative clothing

Looking at Luna and she nodded so he continued “If you want to know then take my blade and stab me.” The pony looked sullen at this. “No I am fully serious with you. I will not feel it till later.”

The pony walked over around the table to Shadow then Shadow grabbed at the void and the black tendrils shrouded him. Then handing the earth pony his gauntlet. The pony stabbed Shadow in the gut.

“Oh you stabbed me? Try again.” Then the pony turned around and bucked Shadow in the groin.

“You had to hit my Achilles' heel the only place I can feel pain.” Shadow staggered. The only reason he was able to get out of his seat was because of the void.

Then sitting down in the chair he activated it and slightly winced at the pain. Trying not to seem weak. “How did the blade not hurt you? Do you not feel the pain now?”

“Yes now I do...ergh…after the shadow of the void leaves me I feel the pain that was inflicted upon me fivefold. *grunts* so I feel now the blade five times over. As well as in my loin.” A slight chuckle went around the room at this “Although I can’t die from anything when I have the shadow with me. It almost temporarily heals the wounds and then makes them worse when it goes.”

“I also have a question.” Tenebrae said quite loudly. “One how did YOU of all ponies end up with Luna. Two, how well do you fight?”

Shadow laughed and said “I have no answer for either question. Especially the first, the second I’m just being formal and modest.” Once again many chuckled. Although some of them stared in pure anger at him.

Looking to Luna to ask her if she knew why. She said “Ahh those are some of the stallions who tried to get together with me and were turned down. Yet I came and asked you first so they are even madder about that. Just ignore them.” Nodding Shadow did just that

“Ok I believe those are enough questions. Let us continue.” Celestia said causally

“Agreed most divine princess. May I begin the discussions?” Tenebrae asked.

“Don’t overdo it. But yes.”  Said Celestia and Luna nodded in agreement as well.

“Brilliant, now to begin we have gotten reports that there have been assassinations on members of the royal family. Shadow meaning not the princesses you dealt with that but family of them. Old brothers and sisters. That type of thing. Now as I was saying, many of them have claw marks around their necks. They all have their gut cut open and the acid poison them. We suspect griffins. Especially because of the locations it has happened in. Feathers were also on the scene. And we found campfires in caves nearby. I suggest we move troops over to the border and stop all griffin income to Equestria.” Tenebrae said

“That’s a bit extreme don’t you think General Tenebrae?” The ambassador named Golden Hoof said.

Shaking his mane Shadow spoke out of turn. “No Golden Hoof. It is not extreme enough; do you recall the same thing happening about ten years ago? Then you only took action after the griffins had raided Coltsdale my family died because of that. None others shall.” Shadow finished angrily though mixed with sadness.

Another pony asked. “Well what would you suggest we do?”

Then looking down at the map Shadow smirked with his black mane shielding his eyes with the white streak in the middle. “Tenebrae where have the assassinations been taking place, who, when? This is all important.”

“Well exact locations and names. Times to?” Tenebrae asked Shadow nodded then looking on a list Tenebrae began. “Mostly royals a couple of servants and guards. Four in the same night here. Three mares and one butler stallion. Two more a week later, one foal and her mother. Then over here two weeks after that three were killed. Two guards and a closer relative to the line a prince in fact. Then we have on the next night the mayor and his entire family and guards, servants even pets they burned the house to the ground. No evidence.”

“Can you give me information on the bodies?” Shadow asked beginning to form the plan.

“Yes I will use my magic to transfer the image of them to you, I must warn you though. It is disgusting.” Tenebrae said

“Do it.” Then beginning to get the image in his brain he knew he saw a similarity on all them. First, all of them had been cut on the neck. Then the entrails had been spilled out. Third, all had relatively bloodless bodies. Drained before cut into perhaps? Wait is that! IT IS!

“Something about the bodies has been brought to my attention. First it is defiantly the same organization doing it. Two, none of the bodies are bloody they must have been killed by other means. Then the most disturbing and troubling fact. In the 12 years after my parents death (making him 20 so far) every summer was spent in griffin territory, studying them making friends with them, just finding out if they were planning another attack on Equestria. That is the signet of their top clan of soldiers. Thirty griffins answering only to their king and queen. I made friends with one of them. He told me “Shadow is wary, be vigilant, I’m not allowed to be your friend. But I want you to know that, our clan is responsible for that attack that killed your parents.” Then he gave me this signet. I heard screams during the night. And when I woke, he was being crucified as a traitor. They each bear the symbol. The king has marked these royals dead probably all of them. We must stop them.” Shadow said with sadness and anger as well as remaining calm.

Gasping the ambassadors around the table debated.

“BLASPHAMY!”

“THIS MEANS WAR!”

“No we must remain calm and speak like civilized ponies.”

“We must hide they could be coming for us!”

“QUITE!” Shadow said slamming his hoof on the table. “According to this map. There is only one other town that is in the area where the killings have been held. Last time this happened the same things were done. First just killings then burn one house, then an entire town. That is the town where it will happen. It will happen within the next two weeks. If the rest of you approve then I will gather my squad together and leave imdiantly.” Shadow said intent on doing just that, he wanted revenge.

“All who approve of this raise their hoof.” One pony said raising his hoof

Most others followed. Luna stared at him longingly as if asking him not to go, she gave up and raised her hoof with a single tear shed. Celestia then said “Then it is decided. Shadow once the meeting is over you may go you have permission to do anything that does not break the law. I don’t want to hear of any riots but if they happen deal with them.”

Nodding Shadow said “Then let us continue.”

“The next subject is about you Shadow. It has come to my attention that you have made a second oath in service to my sister and your friends have done it too. You call yourself The Lunar Dominion am I correct?” Celestia said leaning forward in her chair

“You are indeed Princess.” Shadow said showing the mark he carved into himself as well as the amulet he wore which Crafter had given them all once they formed the dominion.

“Well I also heard Luna was planning on making you a H.Q. without the permission of the board.”

Luna blushed then tried to defend herself. “I was planning on telling you. How did you find out?”

“Tenebrae was mumbling about it. Now on to the current subject, I do approve of this. I think it motivational to people, we need someone of the people for the people to look at in awe not us. So that way they can feel it’s not a tyranny.”

“Never thought of it that way.” Luna said

“All who agree raise their hoof and we will move on to where the H.Q. is located.” Celestia said

Ponies were hesitant about this one but most agreed seeing no harm in it.

“Ok now we were planning on it being right here.” Said Tenebrae standing up and trotting to the position “Nothing is there but forest and we were planning on it being underground with tunnels as the sewers as well as quarters here, here, and here…” once again trailing on Tenebrae discussed it for the rest of the meeting.

“I must go now everypony I need to stop the griffins.” Shadow said strolling out

Luna followed him out shortly then asked him bogglingly and crying “Don’t go Shadow, what if your wrong and you get killed. PLEASE DON’T GO!”

Looking into her eyes her beautiful eyes he said. “I will come back, for you my Princess for you is why I’ll come back. Now I must call my men together." Shadow said slowly troting off in sadness he couldn't stay