Shadow Mark

“HAUL ASS! MEET OUT ON THE PORCH IN TWO HOURS!” Shadow shouted waiting for Cerebrums witty reply

“Tibi a nice unum.” (You have a nice one) Cerebrum shouted back followed by “EWWWWww” “Disgusting gutter rat” “You dog.” And from swift “What did he say I DON’T SPEAK LATIN!”

“Just get out here we have a mission!” Shadow shouted rolling back to his room to get his weapons.

He then headed to the doctors to see if he could fly. “Mrs. Could you please tell me where your head doctor is. The one that healed me?”

“Over there.” She pointed

Nodding Shadow trotted to him. “Ahh Dr. Gondren just the doctor I wanted to see. I was wondering, could I fly yet my wings feel great but you are the doctor so?”

“Ah ha Shadow. Yes I suppose you can fly how great of a distance are we speaking. You wouldn’t ask for nothing.”

“To griffin territory. Or the border I have a mission to save some residents there.”

“Here let me check your wings and then wrap them in special gauze and cast them partly so you can fly that great of a distance.” Dr. Gondren motioned to a room.

An hour later Shadow was able to fly around. “I give you my thanks. Did you treat Cerebrum too? The white alicorn.”

“Oh yes I heard you did that to him. He is your friend well he will be able to make the journey. And hurry to the town, from what you tell me that is where my family lives. I don’t want to lose them.”

Nodding Shadow rolled off not wanting to use needed energy. Might as well relax for an hour before leaving. In fact it could be my last.

Meeting his group of friends they all new the way and without a word they took off. They flew through the night. Looking at the landscape beneath them, the trees basking in moonlight. Enjoying the sight of night Shadow relaxed while flying.

Sunrise

“There it is the town.” Red Talon said pointing.

All landing outside the front gate, and Shadow rolling in, they went up to the guards in the entrance.

“How many griffins have you seen enter in the past day or so? This is urgent, no more may enter and be wary of the ones inside. Do not be alarmed me and my team will deal with it. We have direct orders from Celestia and Luna. You will do as I say.”

“Not many. I will do as you ask as long as it protects the residents of this town.” The guard said.

Nodding Shadow turned to his team and said. “Go inside the town, then go to the tailor ask for cloaks with hoods any color you want just get me a black one with a white streak. I will go and scout around. After you speak to tailor, find the royals and tell them of the danger and make sure they are safe. And make sure if there are any griffins nearby they don’t bear this mark.” Shadow said holding a sign.

Nodding they went about their tasks. Shadow went looking for a camp that was recently used. Eventually he came to a cave. “Perfect, griffins love to hide.”

Rolling in quietly, looking for branches, twigs, traps, anything. Wow this is a large cave. Then he came to a fork in the cave system. Maybe they have a fire. I just have to reduce the light in here.

Then he extinguished his lantern, and slowly he saw what he suspected. YES! They have a fire.

Following the light it opened to a room, large, with a fire in the middle. There were thirty or so griffins. He recognized about ten of them. The ones who held the execution for his friend. The leader he hated the most, black griffin with eyepacth. He did not need it he just liked looking like a villain. He also had blood stained feathers.

He heard them talking so he silenced himself. “Ahh gonna be fun killing the entire town. Haven’t seen so much blood since…that raid ten years or so ago.” A white female griffin said stretching her claws.

“Silence, wait for tonight. Then you get your violence out on those ponies. They need to respect their superiors. As well as bow down to our king.” The leader said with his mysterious sounding voice.

“Still none of us can wait to shame the princesses. I heard that Luna sent her new guard after us. I can’t wait to slit his throat.” Another said this one brown with a white head.

“When did you hear that? And how could the princesses know where we were?” The leader asked

“About a week ago. And you’re right the princesses are too ignorant to even know we were attacking.” The brown one said.

I have got to leave and prepare the defenses.

After he donned his cloak and explained to his friends the situation. All of them went into frenzy. “Calm down and listen I know what to do…well I know generally but Cerebrums the strategist.”

Cerebrum then got a twinkle in his eye and said in English for Swifts benefit. “I thought you would never ask. Now sit over at this table.”

They all sat and Cerebrum laid out a map of the town and started explaining while his eyes moved rapidly intakeing what he saw. “Ok there are two entrances, Crafter how fast can you build a barricade?”

“Quickly though I’m not sure quick enough, if I could have help that would be good.” Crafter said

“Ok take Swift, Red Talon and Straight go up and make it rain, hard. Make it hard to see it will help griffins do not like water from what I hear. Then when it comes down to it, Shadow and Swift will defend front entrance. The rest of us will defend the back. But for now Shadow you go prepares the guards I will warn citizens. To stay in their homes and to not come out. GO!” They all set out in a cold sweat hoping they could get done quick enough to save the town

Sunset.

The rain was still coming down as hard as when it began. Standing inside the barricade between the gate of the walls Shadow and Swift stood waiting. “How many do you think are going to come to us?”

“I don’t know but run if you need to. Look in the skies they could be there.” Shadow said calmly the hood of his cloak shielding all but the tip of his muzzle from the rain. Then he got out of his wheelchair.

“Shadow you need it, you can barely stand.”

“No it shows weakness, we must remain silent. I think I hear them.”

They heard a slight flap of wings. And looked up seeing two or three griffins. “GUARDS KILL THEM!” Shadow shouted

The griffins heard it and began their charge. One went down and Shadow and Swift went to meet them in combat.

Flying into the larger one he pulled out his blade and attempted to stab the griffin. Then the griffin struck the blade and with her other claw struck Shadows face. The hood feel and the griffin gasped.

“I see I am not forgotten, Aalis (medieval French name for Alice) remember just last year when it was your blade, YOUR BLADE that killed Alexander.” Shadow held his blade against her neck and the griffin began to cry

“No don’t kill me, please don’t kill me. I am sorry Shadow I will never do violence again I will leave the clan. PLEASE!” The griffin begged

“Tell me the truth. Do you mean what you say?” Shadow asked brining the blade closer.

Looking into his eyes Aalis said “Yes, I loved Clay we were discussing if he should leave the clan just so we could be together. But then I would still do anything for the king. Now I say the king is rotten and corrupted.”

“Then go and hide your clan will kill you if they find out.” He said letting go of his grip.

“NO I WILL AID IN THE FIGHT! I WANT TO AVENGE THE WORTHLESS MURDERS IVE DONE!” Aalis shouted at Shadow

“Fine, HURRY FIVE ON THE GROUND!” Shadow shouted and the three of them dive-bombed towards the griffins landing in the middle. They always gave them a chance to surrender. But they always declined.

“Shadow I must tell you. I saw you in the cave today, but I need you to know what you saw was only a fraction of our forces. The main part of that force is attacking your friends to distract the guards. Then about fifty will come from this side with the rest so in all about seventy.”

“I have an idea lets go meet the force they will drop all they are doing to kill you and me. Me because they know me I know your secrets, and you do as well. Swift you should be safe. But we need one more Swift hurry go get Red Talon.” The rain drenched them.

“How long before the main group arrives?!” Shadow shouted to be heard above the rain.

“Ten minutes or so. I hope your friends are all right.” Aalis said while fighting off a few straggling griffins.

“They will be.” Shadow said

Red Talon came back with Swift a couple of minutes later.

“Follow me.” Aalis said.

They went over the hill and Swift and Aalis gasped. Shadow donned the Shadow and Red Talon activated his blades. “That’s more than seventy.” Swift said

“You think.” Said Shadow

“That’s at least two hundred THAT MUST BE OUR ENTIRE CLAN!” Aalis shouted

“Well we must kill them.” Shadow said shooting a beam of magic into the sky. Red Talon and Swift followed his lead. The rain thundered down on them.

Stopping the beam then flying forward with the speed of a hero from an epic. His friends behind them shouting at the griffins, curses and taunts. They filled the sky, his heart sank but he had to overcome. Charging into the middle of it he shouted at them. “Come and kill me you feathered bastards or do you not think you can kill me. I TELL YOU, I WILL FIGHT MORE THAN ALEXANDER!”

Hearing the name they all converged around him, he recognized some, but they all knew him if not personally by word of mouth. The only pony to make friends with one of their clan and then escape an execution.

Blocking furiously and stabbing back when possible, as well as flipping around in every direction constantly. He was surrounded, but his spirits did not lower. “YOU SHALL NOT PASS INTO LUNA’S DOMAIN!” He shouted before he was smacked upside the face and countering to stab and block

“THEY HAVE SURRONDED HIM! HE’S GOING TO DIE!” Aalis shouted crying

“Die no but we had best save him before he becomes cripple!” Red Talon shouted to them.

“Hey look the others are behind us!” Swift shouted pointing at their friends figures flying towards them.

As soon as they got there Straight stared at the scene while flying towards it. “What in the blazes is that? WHERES SHADOW!? Oh what has he gotten himself into now?” Staring at the sphere of bird like creatures surrounding the pony inside.

Grunting Shadow pulled his blade out of the skull of the giant bird letting the body fall to the ground. Then flipped onto the back of the one lunging at him. Grabbing the claws he jabbed them into the griffin’s chest and the creature screamed falling down to its death. Wiping the rain from his brow he bucked one in the face while stabbing another. Taking the wing of one and breaking it then cutting another across the face. Then cutting them with his wings, as well as setting loose all the knifes under his wings.

Then blocking a near fatal blow from a griffin smashed his gauntlet. With a grunt he punched the griffin in the face and It feel like a stone. Then used magic to shoot another. “How many more?!” He asked no one but said it to lower moral.

They seemed to not stop coming, then he heard the battle cry of his Dominion and a shrill scream. Finally. He thought to himself deflecting another blow breaking his other gauntlet. Then he grabbed the griffins arm and broke it and kicked him in the groin.

Nonstop for what seemed like hours. Shadows strength began to fade, and the void with it. “No…cannot…give…up…now!” he said grabbing the neck of a griffin and snapping it. Using more might then he thought needed, but he had never fought except for once without the void.

Then he cried out for aid from his friends “FORM TOGHTHER! BACK TO BACK!” they gathered around.

“Still about a hundred left, if not more.” Cerebrum said stabbing at one of them.

“I know. But we cannot give up. We must hold steadfast!” Shadow shouted.

Then Aalis saw their leader and cried out at him. “YOU! YOU MADE ME KILL HIM!” She charged at him

Shadow tried to stop her but he could not. She killed at least five on the way there and then when she got to the leader she decapitated him with a single blow. She dropped dead as a stone only seconds later shouting out “It was…worth…it!”

“NOOOOO!!!” Shadow shouted in agony then going into a frenzy time seemed to slow and he felt a new strength in himself.

The rain finally stopped and the sun began to shine through. The battle is still far from over. “Everypony run I will distract them!”

He took off against his friend’s wishes and all the beasts followed seeing that he was the leader. He flew long and hard until he was at the top of a mountain. Standing on the small area he said to himself. “Goodbye Luna I have not the strength to live.”

Then with unimaginable speeds he flew up at the crowd of griffins. Then using his last amount of strength to use the void knowing it would not hold long but still delay death. Even before the void he had a black streak behind, and then with the increased speeds he flew up and broke the sound barrier in the middle of the crowd.

They were screaming at the sudden black wave and noise that deafened them. Then as the speed wore off Shadow noticed all of them had died or fell to their deaths unable to see or move because of the event. He then said to himself no one to hear. “My wounds…overtake me…I go now…to be…with…my family.” And he gave up fighting and just let himself fall. Without a word…silent, and dead.