Shadow Mark

Waking up slowly, saddened by not coming up with a solution to his problems. He looked out the open window and enjoyed the breeze that rolled in. With the moon rising in the sky.

“Ahhh pure beauty, the night, it’s just remarkable.” He said to himself getting up from the bed.

“It’s about midnight. I have that skirmish tomorrow, so what I should probably do is scout out the area we’ll be sparring on. Although I have all day to do that. So I could just walk around.”

Opening up the door to his room he began to trot around the castle. Generally he was greeted with surprised looks from the night guards. “Sir what are you doing up so late? Do you need to visit the doctor?!”

“No its fine I just much enjoy the night over the day. Beautiful is it not?”

“Yes general sir. I suppose it is.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed and he begin to shout not angrily but just to get the point across. “CAPTAIN NOT GENERAL WHY DOES EVERYPONY MIX THAT UP!?”

“Captain that’s not what General Tenebrae told us. We were all informed you were his equal as a General not a captain.”

“Tenebrae. I wonder why he told you that. Do you have any idea?”

“Perhaps to make you more respected. Well umm…permission to speak freely.”

“Granted.”

“Well most of us are a higher rank then captain at least in the officer branch. The enlisted soldiers are lower rank either way. As I was saying, I think he wanted us to think of you as a superior and not as a lesser. Probably because your rising through the ranks so quickly and are to be promoted soon. Right? Another reason may be for Luna’s sake, so that way it doesn’t seem like her liking to you being why she treats you so well but your rank.”

Nodding he said “I suppose that’s possible. I’ll speak with him. And if most of you are a higher rank. What rank are you?”

“Well sir I’m an enlisted soldier not an officer. But on a different note are you ready for the annual skirmish tomorrow?”

“Annual I thought they happened weakly? Is this one special somehow?”

“Oh you don’t know. Well once a year we fight a skirmish without the restrictions.”

“Meaning you can kill?”

“Well let me revise there are rules just no restrictions. Meaning that normally if you stab someone they just won’t die. But now they don’t have this magic field and it’s possible to die. But if you do kill you will be punished. But injury or serious wounds are not uncommon. There are always a few deaths but generally those are from the explosions or crashes. This battle is also longer instead of dawn to dusk it’s until the other team surrenders. Tenebrae has won the last two hopefully he’ll give us another victory.”

“But Tenebrae told me I was commanding the skirmish tomorrow.”

“Really well I wish you luck. You’re still recovering from your injuries. I’ll not argue with his decision but I hope he’s right.”

“Well I’ll leave you to your duties. We still have tonight and then the day then the battle.”

Trotting off paying attention only to the night. After a while he saw trotted around and noticed the forge was in use. “Hey Steel Hammer why are you up so late? You admiring the night like I am or are you really working this late?”

“Shadow? Well it’s a little of both. I do have work to do but I still have free time. What do you need?”

“Nothing I was just walking around. But perhaps if it’s not too much trouble, although maybe not right now, if I could learn to smith as you do.”

“Hmm, sure I have time. Grab that hammer you start now.”

*two hours later*

“YOU MAY BE IN CHARGE AROUND HERE BUT THIS FORGE IS MY BATTLE GROUND AND YOU’RE IN BOOT CAMP! STRIKE FASTER AND HARDER!”

“Why is this so difficult?” Shadow said drenched in sweat

“The blades too thick! Use the mold to hilt!”

“Ok I’m try…” just then he smashed his hoof with the hammer and heard it smash.

“CRAP MY HOOF! I need to stop now!”

“DENIED KEEP WORKING!”

“Ergh.”

“Ok let’s stop the blade work go to armor.”

*6:00 am*

“Ok it’s been six hours can we stop my hoof really hurts?”

“What have you accomplished? I haven’t been watching you for the past hour.”

Looking at what Shadow made Steel sighed “Well it’s not bad. IF YOU WERE TRYING TO MAKE A WORTHLESS CHUNK OF METAL!”

“Hey I said I was taking a break not that I’m done. And have you finished fixing my armor I’m going to try something.”

“Yes I have. And if you really want to I’ll guide you but you’ll do it all yourself.”

“Fine let’s get working although less difficult and with five minute breaks when I get tired no more six hour straight work.”

“Fine. THEN GET TO WORK!”

*4:12pm*

“Steel Hammer have you seen Shadow. I’ve been looking for him all day. Oh and you may want to clean up around here. Especially that rag over there it smells and looks terrible.” She pointed at a torn up wet lump

The lump, being Shadow, raised his head looked towards Luna and said “Thanks I appreciate being called a rag. Lifelong goal and all. I just love lying here.”

“Oh umm Shadow umm you look great umm.”

“Help me up.”

Reaching out a hoof but then hesitated “Umm why do your hoofs look like they have been smashed?”

“Cause they have been.”

“What?”

“Yup been working slightly more than twelve hours. And I got a couple of rewards for it. Like broken hooves.”

“Shadow how many times have I told you don’t get yourself hurt. Especially now tomorrow is the annual battle and you’re going to be the general of the battle if you’re this weak then you won’t survive.”

“Thanks I feel so much better.” He said

“I’m sorry Shadow I meant no offense.”

“It’s fine you don’t have to apologize you’re the princess.”

“But I…wait why are you on the ground if you’ve been working?” The question was more directed to Steel Hammer then Shadow

“Cause he decided to take a nap and just fell down asleep.”

“Need to continue working.” Getting himself off the ground and grabbing the hammer he began to smash the metal into the shape he wanted.

“Shadow you need to stop, you’re bleeding.”

“So?”

“Shadow please stop your overworking yourself.”

“No I need to work I can’t go easy on myself.”

Looking at the ground she began “Shadow pl…” Then she looked back at him and realized that Red Talon had walked up to Shadow and then punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

“Princess.” He said with a bow before he ran off dragging Shadows body behind him.

“Wha..wh..what just happened?” She said confused

“That happens. If you look around you’ll see that Shadow gets dragged around quite often. Which is why he’s always injured.”

“Often, how many times this week?”

“Ok its Thursday so…eleven, eleven times this week that I’ve seen.”

“Eleven? But he’s been in the hospital.”

“That doesn’t change things.”

“Ok well I’ll be going to find out what they’re doing.”

“I wouldn’t suggest that. You know umm in Shadows weekend state he kind of cant control his feelings so his friends come by and knock him out when their afraid he’ll reveal something or insult you ummm ,sexually, probably.”

Luna blushed and then said goodbye and walked away.

*6 hours later*

“So you’ve finally woken up. You should probably armor up the fight will begin in two hours. Just enough time for rallying speech.” Said Swift

“Where are we?” Shadow asked

“The middle of the battlefield.” Straight said

“Armor up.” Red Talon said holding out the armor modified earlier that day

“Fine, is there a doctor nearby I want to know if I can fly?”

“EM, me scitis amicus Cerebrum.” (Ahem me your friend Cerebrum.)

“Right you are a doctor. Or at least a little.”

“Could you speak English for the convince of the rest of the team.”

“Fine, as I was saying you can fly I have healed the wounds or at least sped up the healing. Now go make a speech this is the first time in ten years that Tenebrae didn’t command. First time in 100 years that someone as low as the rank of captain commanded.”

“That better have not been an insult.” Shadow said angrily.

“Well let’s go wing a speech.”

“You mean you haven’t prepared one.”

“I didn’t know this match was special until last night.”

“You’re kidding right.”

“Not at all.”

They all facehoofed and then walked up with him to the small platform prepared for a speech. Standing up there he realized and said to his friends. “This is the entire army.”

“Yes except for the personal guards. So have fun being general for a day.” Said Crafter

Scratching his head Shadow said activating his horn to amplify his voice. “Well ummm I have no speech and not much to say. All I really have to say that counts as a speech is. Let’s go kick Celestias army’s ass! But as a strategy…” he took a slight pause for breath “Well just follow a few rules 1: make sure to woop some ass 2: cause all the chaos possible through fire and the sort 3: work as an individual and together. If you feel that you can do more good in the skies or from a range go with Straight Shot, stealth Swift Hoof, blades Red Talon, Crafting and strategy Crafter and Cerebrum. Anything else come with me or go individually if you want. 4: Have fun.” He said jokingly

To his surprise most of them chuckled. He turned and asked his friends if it was time to start. And it was

“CHARGE!!!!!” He shouted and they all charged crying out in the name of Luna. And ready for a battle...