The man finally emerged from the shadows, to the wolfman's eyes he appeared human. "Now tell me your real name." He stood roughly six feet tall, medium build, shoulder length blonde hair. The woman was wrapped around his arm, tall lean and well toned with waist length hunter green hair to match her eyes.

"It is customary to introduce yourself, when asking others the same."

"My apologies, you may call me Man Who Wears Mask," He held pride like that was his real name. "My friends call me Marcus."

"Drake Cutlass," A slight German accent permeated his lips.

"Now what would you need to take this Tora boy out of the picture?"

"Are there any packs here?"

"Wolves no, but as a gesture of good will, I can give you a pack off shape shifting soldiers."

"But those are my soldiers." The woman whined.

"Petty women cry, pretty women go shopping."

"Oscar Wilde." Drake furrowed his brow and replied.

Back at the castle...

Celestia led me through the vast halls of her castle. "You have a large castle, so empty though."

"Seems that you are in need of a home."

"Get out of my head."

"I am just assuming, you carry yourself like a nomad, always ready to leave."

"You can give me a home?"

"I do rule Equestria."

"Her ego is as big as her butt." Philomena whispered as she landed on my shoulder.

"But it's nice."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"What exactly are you."

"Human,"

"Humans have been lost for years."

Morgan if you gave me a time travel spell. "Oh Shit Morgan, she's dead because of me." I had completely forgotten. "Damn dogs, she just wanted to help." Tears began to fall from my eyes. I didn't know her all that well but I don't want any more blood on my hands.

"Morgan, that name sounds familiar, Morgan le Fey, french sorceress."

"Yeah that's her."

"Starswirl mentioned her frequently, have you ever heard the legends of cats having nine lives. It is said that you must kill a witch nine times for them to truly die." Her tone took a somewhat comforting sound.

"So there's a chance she's still alive?" Thank whoever's up there.

"Very much so, now I must warn you, my sister is not of right mind but her magic is still bar none powerful." She led me into a large room much like a stadium, bleachers lined the walls and weapons were hung neatly on a back wall under a tournament scoreboard. "This is the Training Grounds, I only accept the best of the best at the academy. I can still hold my own against any opponent but why leave families hungry and in the streets when I can give money and confidence to them through the Guard Academy."

"Why are there so many seats?"

"Sometimes I hold Charity Tournaments bets are placed giving citizens some extra bits in their pockets and purses and a large pot awaits for the winner to give to a charity of their choice. Raises morale and just between you and me I love a good scrap."

"Any special reason you showed this place to me?"

"I wish to know your limits, I have arranged a small test, you will be facing three of the strongest guards, in my employ."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No It's a tea party invitation."

"Any rules?"

"No killing, or fatal injuries, they have families to go back to."

"I see your point."

"You must keep honor and fight fair."

"Easy,"

"And no Armor."

"What," That last one was a little unnerving.

"No cloak either,"

"But,"

"How would we know if you are cheating if you are hidden. besides my Sister's magic will render any armor enchanted or not totally useless."

"What about this" I go for my mothers necklace.

"What does it do" she seems rather interested in it's design.

"It has a small image editing magic stored in side"

"I see no reason why you can't where it" at least they won't be able to see my scarred past all over my body.

"I accept your terms," Reluctantly I aggreed, the no death blow rule might be a challenge but what can I say I like a challenge.

"You have one hour to prepare, use your time wisely."

"Gaah." Marcus cringed as he grabbed his head. His left hand fell over his eye. "Not now,"

"What is the meaning of this?" Drake asked a little shocked at Marcus' sudden fit of pain.

"I haven't been in one body for this long," He staggered before falling to his knees.

"One body? You have multiple?"

"There is no time," Marcus' flesh began to rip itself apart. The shadows concealed him for only a second but when they dispersed a different creature stood is his stead holding the skin in it's claws. It stood roughly six and a half feet tall, with sage green hair. "Such a waste of a pretty face." It's voice was eerily similar to Marcus'. "However your species does look quite good on me."

"And what Species would that be?" Drake asked point blank.

"Changeling." The woman replied.

"The Switch at birth demon?"

"Well terms like Demon are a vicious stereotype, we don't harm the abductees, they are treated with the utmost care."

An hour had passed and I proudly strutted into the arena shirtless. The three Guards stood by the weapon rack talking and laughing with each other. Two were clad in run of the mill light armor, the third was clad in an ornate armor that parted around what I assumed was his horn. I turned my head to find Celestia in the stands with another like her who's face was a darker red than her coat. And a Unicorn who seemed just plain disgusted of me. The guard I assumed was higher ranked focused on me with a curious look. "So this is the recruit, you seem strange, but who can judge a warrior by the color of his skin, when obscured by fur." He's actually being nice to me. "Shall we begin?"

"Not yet." Celestia landed in the center of the arena. "Any reason why you have opted to fight without clothing?"

"Tradition,"

"And weaponless?" The other Woma..re landed next to her and asked, her face still a darker shade of red than her coat.

"I think I can answer that," The Unicorn guard spoke up as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "A warrior is never without his weapon, any opponent you can't outmuscle you can outsmart. Besides his way of standing, he excels in hand to hand combat,"

"You can tell that by looking at how he stands?" The pink one's face had turned to the right color finally.

"I'm impressed," I honestly reply. This guy knows his stuff but can he use that in the ring.

"Princess Celestia I must ask that any more questions be answered after pencils down, and Cadence this might take a while," The two left and flew back to the stands. "As per instructions you shall be tested on speed, strength, and ability to keeep eyes on multiple opponents."

"Multiple opponents?"

"Yes, this is a test on both your and our parts, while I wish to help my sister personally I have been ordered to stay behind and test you."

"So whoever wins gets to go?"

"Yes,"

"So what are we waiting for?"

"Morning Star, Morning Glory!"

"Yes Captain," The two saluted.

"Assume Alpha Formation."

"Affirmative."

Fists are about to fly...........Go Wild!
Tora VS Team Armor

(Tora VS Team Armor Theme)

"Tell me how the dirt tastes, Eden's Embrace!" The ground beneath my feet became loose as Morning Star, and Glory charged. Glory took her spear and pole vaulted over me leaving her spear straight up out of the ground. Next two hands wrapped around it and Morning Star swung around delivering a very muscled knee to my neck. My body was unphased but Motherffffffffffffffffffffffffffff. It took all my strength not to scream to high heaven.

"Fall back!" The Captain shouted. "Lambda Formation!" They fell back into a different formation. Morning Star took point.

"He should've felt that!" Morning star growled.

"He did, he's trying to bluff us." Goddammit he's right.

"His poker face is perfect." Glory huffed. "He didn't even try to counter he just stood there." I could see her look of realization from this distance. "Exactly.... in... that.. spot."

"His legs!" That Unicorn in the stands shouted.

"They end at the floor." Morning Star questioned.

"You are no ordinary human," The Captain shook his head and smiled.

"He's a monster, unfit to enter the ring, unfit to waste our time." Ignore the total dick and get through the fight without getting out of control. I lunged into the air while grabbing the spear.

"Round two." After a bit of twirling I swung it around to my side. I charged this time one foot before the other. Morning Star swung downward as I raised the Spear to block. "Look at the craftsmanship on these things." He threw his shield into my gut and Glory Roundhoused me sending me to the ground. "In the Air my trust is true, Shu grant me strength anew."The wind picked up letting me know that my call had been answered. "Where are you looking?,Eden's Grasp!" I dug my fingers into the ground as a hand grabbed Morning Star's ankle. The ground beneath his hooves split open, swallowed him up to his neck.

"He's an Elemental, Soulless beast!" The Dick once again shouted, as I regained my footing. "Worthless Construct," I leaned down and removed Morning Star's helmet.

"Look who's talking!" I fastballed the thing at his face, knocking him over the bleachers and out cold. "Not you cuz yer unconscious!" I turned my head back to the battlefield, where Glory was digging out Morning Star.

"Morning Glory, get your brother and leave the arena." Brother?

"But Sir."

"That's an order lieutenant."

"Affirmative." She took Morning Star and walked out.

"Now it's one on one." The Captain drew his sword but stabbed it into the ground. "It wouldn't be fair if I used a weapon against a seemingly unarmed opponent."

"So Fist to fist?"

"And Magic to Magic." His horn lit up and his entire body was covered in a thick Pink aura. He bolted forward but in a flash a fist flew through my stomach. The attack came out of nowhere and had some kick to it. I dropped to one knee and pebbles moved along the ground and gathered around me. "Nice to see the effort." He went through me? "Do you yield?"

"Never!" The Pebbles stuck to my hand and went up my arm. "Eden's Tears!" I threw my arm back and the rocks flew at him but were stopped mid flight.

"Shining Starlight!" He lept into the air and encased himself in a ball of that same pink aura "SilverWind!" The ball began spinning and gaining size. It began to break apart and send out blades in my direction. This is it!

"Eden's Avalanche!" The earth under the ball molded itself into a bowl and shut around it. Seconds later it shattered and he stood in the rubble unscathed.

"I yield, You are indeed a warrior worthy. But that doesn't mean you're better than Me."

"Did, did I, win?"

"I said the words I Yield didn't I?"

"But there's not a single scratch on you."

"True but my loyalties lie here, I can trust you with my sister's life."

"Really?"

"Of course and the naming your attacks, kinda stupid."

"I thought it would be fun, and you did it too."

"You're right it is fun." He chuckled and looked over to the Unicorn that just climbed back onto the stands. "Hey Blueblood, nice catch!"

"Shut up you pompous windbag." He kept a tone of just plain asshole.

"You want to try mine on for size!?" The Captain shouted as he threw his helmet harder than I did, actually sending the Dick flying across the room. "Show respect to your superiors, and your family."

"You're related to that guy?"

"Not yet, I'm dating his cousin." He waved to the pink one he called Cadence, who like Celestia was trying not to laugh. "We could use you in the guard, even though you clearly lied about your species." He whispered with a somewhat demonic smile.

"You know?"

"You practically spelled it out, I don't know what you are but it's not what you say you are."

"How long do I have before I need to leave?"

"I'd say about an hour or so."

"Great, good night." The damage and drain finally hit me, I fell to my knees with one thought going through my head,Well this is weird but all of my abilities have been amplified....I hope i can control this new strength.Then the bitter sweet embrace of sleep hit me....HARD!

He has gotten stronger, but is he strong enough?

No, He'll never be powerful until he has passion.

In time he will become more powerful than any other before him.

Hey let's draw a mustache on him while he's asleep!

The garden is vast, but the flowers have wilted, where have our children gone?

The flowers have wilted under the cold, not just to pounce on unsuspecting, as of old.

Author's Note

Who/What is Man Who Wears Mask, Is Blueblood in the story just to be a punching bag for our heroes, The world may never know.

Who or what were those mysterious voices and why does one of them want to draw a mustache on Tora's face?