Shadow Mark

“CHARGE!” the ponies charged forward chanting and yelling. The unicorns lighting shrubs, trees, and anything flammable alight.

All of them slowly formed into groups and followed the leader of their choice. Many of them followed him. Going at a full gallop forward he soon slowed. Seeing explosions and smoke in the distance, he thought perhaps he should leave the completely direct assault to Red Talon.

The troops following him slowed as well one of them asked “Why are we stopping?”

“We need a strategy. Give me only a moment I think I have one.”

Nodding the soldier fell back into line knowing it would be best not to ask or try to help. Shadow began thinking to himself “Hmm how do I get to win this with the least damage to my team as possible. I could try to find the general. Mabye Tenebrae gave me a hint when I spoke to him earlier. What did he say? Nothing of use all he said was ‘Remember Shadow this battle is different. But that gives you a way to win.’ He put emphasis on different but I don’t see how that helps.”

Then it clicked in his mind and a smirk crossed his face. He said aloud to his team that it was ready to go but never told them his plan. The rhythmical sound of the explosions and the crackle of the fire. It became a music to him. Forgetting entirely of the team behind him. He just rushed forward everything seemed to follow a slow rhythm giving the illusion of slow motion.

The battlefield became his entire world. A magical bolt of lightning came towards him. Rolling away from it, it made a large explosion on the ground. Two ponies were hit and for a moment his attention wavered to them. Both seemed to be floating in the air. He flew into the air after them. He carried them on his back knowing he couldn’t tend the wounds here.

One of them was still awake and said to him “General Shadow Mark leave me I’ll slow you down. The medical team will treat me.”

“Fine but I’ll at the very least treat your wounds.”

Quickly setting them both down he ripped his leather garment and dressed the awake one’s wounds. Then when he went to the other he was filled with sadness and anger. The pony had lost a wing and was bleeding out. If he didn’t do something quickly he would die. He had no medicine and he had no training to deal with this type of thing. He wrapped his entire garment around tightly to slow the bleeding.

The pony awoke but in more of a dream “I can still fight I can still…fight.”

“No just rest. You’ve lost your wing just lay down and rest.”

The pony passed out again and Shadow looked around noticeing most of his squad was fighting or tending the wounded. “FOLLOW ME!”

They finished their battles and tied off the bandages then followed their charging commander. Ignoring their own wounds and only caring of the battle. Rolling and diving into foxholes bushes whatever acted as cover.

“Go raid that bunker over there I’ll look for their commander.” The men following him ran in and began to fight.

Then he put his crazy idea into plan and plan into action. He turned from the battle, and headed straight for the princess…

It then clicked in his mind. He knew what was different about this battle. Unlike EVERY other skirmish the princesses were ON the battlefield sitting on pedestals unlike the usual were they sat in their chambers looking out the window or from a very far distance or not even watching at all. But they always ALWAYS had their entire personal guard of 40 soldiers not now where they only had four. FOUR. He knew, that plus the hint from Tenebrae. It was too much to be a coincidence. Although if it was, then he’d be killed without a second thought. Well maybe not. At the very least he’d be imprisoned.

He then called upon the void and the black tendrils surrounded his body. 30 meters 25…20…15…the guards then noticed that this wasn’t just a mistake of direction. They held out their spears on the defensive “That’s it they would have killed me already if they were seriously guarding her…that or they just suck at guarding.”

He leaped into the air and glided over them. Unsheathing his blades and landing right behind the princess. He heard her say between clenched teeth “This is depressing I was hoping it last longer. Well what do you say we work it a bit. Do you want me to start or you?”

He dispersed of the void and started to speak “SURRENDER OR THE PRINCESS…ergh…”

“Wow you’re a terrible actor.” Celestia said, then realized that he didn’t grunt from hesitation but from the spears piercing his side. Her guards had gotten their act together and stabbed him. Five spears one pony. “I thought I told them not to kill anyone unless it’s a serious threat. They should have surrendered. I could have been killed because of this.”

He was using all his strength to keep himself up. Both his blades were around her neck “Forgive me…princess…I cant move…my…arms…from…your…”

He fell over and because of it the blades began cutting through her skin. He became a dead weight cutting through her throat. If she shifted it would just shift Shadow’s body into the position that would cut her main artery.

“WE SURRENDER TAKE YOUR BLADES FROM THE PRINCESS!” the general shouted

Then her guards realized she was being cut. Which they reacted to by panicking. Then from the corner of her eye she noticed a blur. Then the blades were taken from her neck. She could breath again. Both armies were gathered before her. “Princess.” Red Talon said

“Your Shadow’s friend correct?”

He nodded and then grabbed Shadow’s body and flew away. Then the army noticed what had happened. And started laughing about it while the medical team rushed for the princess.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU JUST SURRENDERED TO AN UNCONSCIOUS BODY!”

“SHUT UP WILL YEAH SHE WAS IN DANGER!”

“WHY DON’T YOU GO COWER IN FRONT OF SOME DOLLS NOW?”

“I SAID SHUT UP!”

Just then Tenebrae walked out into the middle of the field “INOWOFFICALLYPROCLAIMTHEANNUALBATTLEOVERYOUARENOWFREETODOWHATYOUWISHGOODDAY!” and they all broke out into a fight

Red Talon landed on the corridor and began dragging Shadow’s body calmly through the corridor leaving a trail of blood behind. He walked by the forge while on the way to the hospital. He stopped for a moment  nodded and said “Steel Hammer.”

“Red Talon.”

And he began walking again. Luna teleported beside him. “OH MY IS HE OK? I WARNED HIM. IS HE GOING TO BE ALRIGHT HIS WOUNDS *hyper ventilates and begins to calm down* please tell me he’ll be alright.”

“Princess.” Was all he said

“Well at least pick him up and carry him. He’ll bleed out.”

“He’s fine.”

“But it will make a mess.”

“There’s servents.”

“But I but there’s…”

“Your overreacting he’s had worse.”

“Fine. I’ll make preparations at the hospital.” She flew ahead in a semi panic although knowing Red Talon was right

When Shadow came too it was already late day. With some effort he asked aloud “What happened?”

“Well you won the battle. More or less.” Said a voice that didn’t sound familiar

“But then what’s the fighting out there?”

“The way you won caused great anger in many of Celestias army. So they rioted against your army  for a rematch.”

“How bad are my injuries.”

“Compared to the normal pony or to your previous vists?”

“I don’t care I just want to know when I get out of here.”

“Well you got beat up pretty bad. I think I know what your planning though.” The doctor said

“Well I didn’t hear refusal of what I’m doing in that statement so I’ll be off.” Shadow said rising from his bed

“Wait one moment. You may go on one condition, after this you will actually listen to the medical staffs orders.”

“Fine.”

Then Shadow jumped out the convient window ,that was in every room in the castle, and flew towards the riots.

Upon landing in the clearing he shouted trying to get the attention of the ponies. No such luck. However his friends saw him and trotted next to him. He asked them how to get the attention of the fighting ponies who paid no attention to the one who was the source of their anger.

Before he finished his question Cerebrum shouted “LOOK SHADOW MARK’S RIGHT HERE! HE’S INJURED TOO!”

“Damn it. Cerebrum are you trying to get me killed?”

He nodded then backed off from the hundreds of eyes gazing at Shadow.

“LETS GET HIM!”

“Well,” he said turning his head back to his friends “We’re dead. I don’t have enough strength for the void. I didn’t think this through.”

Just before the hundreds and hundreds of angry ponies charged into him. Including some of Lunas army because they wanted a longer battle or they thought it was unfair.

He heard a crash and saw Luna standing there and then her horn began to glow. The light blinded him after only a few moments.

When he got his vision back Luna was gone and everypony on the field was unconscious. “What the hell just happened?”

“Why are you asking us you’re the one who did that.”

“No it was Lu…I’ll be back soon.” Taking off with questions filling his mind.

Landing outside Luna’s quarters he neglected to knock and just walked in. She was about to undress. She blushed “Umm hello Shadow.”

“Sorry Princess. I just wanted to know why you saved me earlier and then run off. They think its me who knocked them all unconscious.”

Her eyes widened “You were able to see me?!” she slammed the door when he nodded and then said “You shouldn’t have been able to see me. No one else saw me thought right?”

“Seeing as Cerebrum didn’t probably not. He’s the most observant. Is something wrong with me being able to see you. Did you do something?”

“I’m not supposed to use too much of my power. It could say…blow up the world.”

“Are there rules against it.”

“Yes.”

“Then promise me not to use it again unless its within your permission.”

She lowered her head “Yes Shadow. Now go back to the hospital I can already see the bandages ripping and the blood soaking them.”

“Yes my love. I shall see soon.”