Shadow Mark

Landing outside the porch of his quarters he trotted to Tenebraes quarters. He was awake and staring over the map of Equestria although to Shadows surprise Luna was there to.

Quickly bowing out of respect more than what was told for them to do. She noticed him and then said “Rise Shadow…what is on your fur?”

“What?” He asked turning around and then realized what it must be. “Oh well after I killed the bandits I went to the inn to get my gang and well there was a drinking contest and I fell asleep in ale.” He looked at her slightly embarrassed

“So you got the task done.” Tenebrae said

“Yes I did are there any other tasks?” Shadow asked

“Well yes Shadow, well Shadow it has come to my attention the separate oath you and your friends made.” Luna said then glancing at the scar that was completely visible. “Well it may be best if we support this dominion publicly. You would become the heroes who saved everyone and helped selflessly. Like the old tale Stallion Hood.” Luna said

“So we were thinking of a base of operations. Right here” Tenebrae pointed to a bare section on the map. That is where all the sewer systems connect you can use them to get everywhere unseen and unsuspected. Now what we will do is put drainers between the doors so it does not flood and it will just go below your H.Q. and we can make a separate housing over there and there for new recruits.” The general then grabbed a quill and started jotting blueprints aimlessly

“So Shadow how do you like it here?” Luna asked

“It’s a great place. A little too fancy but still good. I prefer it a bit more rustic. Say imagine this all grey instead of whitewashed and old looking that is the way I like it. Not to be insulting I wouldn’t change the palace if I had the choice but…” Shadow tried to apologize but Luna cut him off

“It’s alright Shadow I understand the meaning. Are you liking being a high ranking officer, many don’t?” Luna asked

“It’s great though not meaning to sound selfish which it is but I need to be even higher in the ranks to go from royal guard to personal guard.” Shadow said slightly nervous about answering

“Hmm well I do think in a few years you’ll be right at my side. But for now you have to be three doors down.” Said Luna

“Well thanks for the encouragement. I will go and train out in the field while Tenebrae is whatever the heck he’s doing.” He said the princesses face grew slightly sullen at this Shadow did not notice but Tenebrae did.

After Shadow had trotted out Tenebrae asked her “So you have decided on your feelings. You realize he’s going to get suspicious if you….”

“No Tenebrae I must wait but when the time is right I will.” The alicorn said sullen almost regret that she had not told Shadow already.

While training Shadow noticed something different about himself. He had acquired a new taste for murder, blood, and violence. No this is not me. I do not enjoy killing. But I do…NO!! It must be the shadow corrupting my mind. I must not use it unless necessary or maybe train myself with it channel it so it does not take over. He thought to himself as his deep blue mane blew in the wind and covered his eyes. Well let us see how long I can train without it. He thought then brushed his mane out of his eyes and activated the hoof blades and began to attack the dummies.

Celestias sun was beginning to set so Shadow decided to head back to his quarters. The sweat dripping from his face as he slowly trotted back. He was surprised when he received bows from guards on watch signifying they recognized an upper officer. Each time he told them it was unnecessary and waved them off. He did not like this new respect, from villagers is one thing but Royal Guards is different entirely.

Reaching his room he opened the ornate oak door and looked around the fancy room. Ornate rug, intricate windows, fancy furniture, expensive…everything. Ahhh I wish it was more bland more modest. I do not like this fancy room; it was assigned so I will live with it. But I will not sleep in that bed WAY too soft. I will take rocks over it but the shingles of the room will have to do. The black alicorn thought as he opened the door to the balcony and flew up on to the top of the ramparts.

Lying there listening to the steady hoof steps of the guards below the covering. Gazing up at the night that had just begun. Luna’s night. Pure beauty, so….perfect. Ahhh I remember when I first decided to become a guard. It was when that guard saved my parents by giving his own life. Best not to dwell in the past. He said then lay his head on the shingles and fell asleep.

“Ergh…” He grumbled when he woke up at the noise of a bird “I wish I weren’t such a light sleeper. Well I got a good six hours of sleep it is about two in the morning now. Well I suppose I’ll just watch the sky and listen to my surroundings.”

Listening to the occasional bird or growl of a dog and the constant trotting of the guards as well as the breathing. Then all of a sudden the trotting stopped just stopped. Then the breathing.

This cannot be good. Shadow quietly lifted off the roof and flew lower to see what happened. “No….” He gasped at the sight. Two guards lay dead or alive he could not tell but they had lost a lot of blood. He went to the first which after only a second’s glance he knew this stallion was gone without hope he had been pierced through the head.

Then he went to the other slumped against the wall with a trail of blood. He heard faint raspy breathing. Yes so at least one is alive. “Sh..Sh..Sh..adow…Is it you…hurry...princess…danger…leave me it’s hopeless.” The guard said Shadow had recognized the voice “No John…no you can’t die.” Shadow said already attempting to heal the wound in John Silver Tongues chest.

The pony still coughed up blood. “No you must go…its over for me…but I need a…favor a last request.” He choked out. “I’ll do it whatever it is.” Shadow said tears forming in his eyes. “Will you really?” Shadow nodded “Good good...i need you to finish me Shadow use my blade. This…pain is unbearable…just let me die in peace…please Shadow do it.” The pony coughed more blood and handed Shadow his gauntlet.

“NO I WON’T!” Shadow cried and shouted “I WONT DO IT!” He looked into the pained eyes of John as the pony said his last words.

“You must…” He used his strength to put the gauntlet on Shadows hoof and then repeated “You must…” He said longingly

“NO!! YOU CAN STILL LIVE!” Shadow screamed at John

“REMEMBER ME SHADOW!” as he grabbed the hoof of shadow activated the blade and plunged it into his own heart. His eyes narrowed at the acute pain before they softened and he said faintly “I see my children my Lucy my beautiful Lucy.” With that all life went out of him and he fell back against the wall a slight grin on his face.

Shadow pulled the blade out of the ponies’ chest and wept briefly before remembering the killer and ran in the direction that the blood trailed. “No he’s going for one of the princesses.” Increasing his gallop he saw the assassin and then slowed down. I have not been noticed yet might as well tail him.

Then his heart sank as he saw the killer begin to open the door to Lunas chambers. Only five hoofs behind him he heard the rasp of metal on metal. The assassin’s blade was out.

“Stay your blade assassin or feel the bite of mine.” Shadow said menacingly pointing his right hoof blade at the figure. He wanted revenge.

“You really think YOU can stop me.” It was a mare’s voice and she stepped into the moonlight and unmasked herself. “Rumors of your skill have spread far. Yet even if you kill me our order will still kill your precious princess.” The white mare with a grey mane spat on the ground.

“You nor any other shall even touch the princesses in a hostile fashion WHILE I STILL BREATH!” Shadow was now aware that Luna was awake watching but was wise enough not to move or change breathing.

“Maybe Luna but what of the assassin after Celestia.” The mare laughed. “If you had not already made vows we might have recruited you. But now your princess must die.”

“NO!!” Shadow said lunging towards the mare as she was turning to stab Luna he tackled her and brought her face close to his. Holding both his and johns blade just under her chin. “I told you to stay your blade. But now you die.” He said as he activated both blades and punctured into the mare’s brain.

He then turned around and bowed to Luna then asked franticly “Where are your sisters chambers?!”

Luna responded fearfully “She’s two rooms down after you take the corner to the left as you walk out of the room.”

“Thanks.” He then looked at the wall and sprinted for it smashing through it into the next and then repeated the process.

When he got to Celestias he heard the breathing of multiple ponies. Lowering his head and charging at the wall and broke through the thick stone. Then shouted noticing the assassin was beginning the approach on Celestia. “Halt assassin your comrade is dead. Do you want to end the same?”

The assassin laughed. It was a stallion “Even if you kill me I will kill her.” The assassin pulled out a crossbow and quickly aimed at the princess

Shadow lunged at the stallion and nocked the bow. Making it only hit Celestias leg. Only then did she wake. Just as he was about to kill the assassin the stallion said. “Ha that bolt was poisoned with the Altendergrey leaf.” The assassin choked out

Having been skilled with medicine he understood imdiantly “DAMNIT!! YOUV’E KILLED HER! STAY STILL PRINCESS I CAN STILL SAVE YOU!” Shadow shouted and dropped the assassin but beat him on the head.

Running over to the princess he noticed it was looking bad it was lodged in between the bone it had cut a few veins. “Crap. Stay still princess it will travel faster if you move.”

The princess began to panic thrashing around. “Help Help!” Worried that this might end up killing the princess he took the knock out liquid and poured it down her throat.

“That should slow your heart, as well as prevent bleeding out.” He mumbled to himself. Working feverously he pushed the bolt through and cut off the tip and pulled it out. Then he went up to her shoulder and cut it so the poison could leak out. He saw most of it go out. The green slime apparent amongst the red blood.

If only there is some Arcamadis (btw those words are just made up not Latin) to make a chemical reaction to turn it into a weaker substance that will only provide a stomach ache.

Looking around for some he saw it on the table thank goodness it was a bright pretty plant or she would not have had it. Quickly mashing some of the root up and then making an incision near her heart and cutting the vein and dropping the root it. It has to work it must.

He saw the green slime connect with the brown and then react into a pink sludge. Oh thank Celestia and Luna that worked. Then he heard a chuckle behind him. The assassin had gotten up and loaded another bolt. He fired it straight into Celestias stomach

“No you have killed a monarch of the throne. You must pay.” Unfurling his wings he reveled the knife belts of ten knifes each pulling out every single one and surrounding the assassin with them and skillfully flung them were it would make his death the most painful. Though Shadow had placed another poison on the knifes and it reacted…well badly with stomach acid and made and explosion with one of the knifes. Shadow averted his eyes from the scene and returned to Celestia.

Using his blade he cut open her abdomen to get working space. Pulling out the bolt for there was nothing else to do he put the brown mush on the injection the acid ate it away but it had done its work. Now to stop the acid this is tricky.

Lowering his horn into the stomach of Celestia and felt the acid creep over his face and burn away his flesh. He used his magic to heal the wound it slowly healed. He had done it he had saved the princess, although now he was dripping in blood and acid.

This is the worst part I have to sow her wounds before she bleeds out.  If Luna informed the staff there should be doctors on their way but she would bleed out. Needle...needle AH THEARD. Quickly sowing the stomach then the gash he had made to see then the one near her heart and finally the leg.

He heard the doctors and guards charge in just as he was finished. He then realized he had neglected the shadow the entire time he felt the burning of the acid on his face. Looking in the mirror of Celestias room he saw that he had gashes from running through walls and he saw his ghastly white bone of his muzzle and forehead caked with blood around it. He then fell on the ground screaming in pain and accidently lied in the remains of the assassin. But he didn’t care he was going to sleep