A Single Question

by deathnote9847

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Romance, Random, Adventure, Human
Length: 7347

Shadowfire was betrayed, saved, sealed, and then freed. What will he deal with in his quest as a god of Insanity, Blood, and Art? Will the brief contact he has be enough for him to see who he is?

Shadowfire was betrayed, saved, sealed, and then freed. What will he deal with in his quest as a god of Insanity, Blood, and Art? Will the brief contact he has be enough for him to see who he is?

This is an original story, and my first fanfic. I retain all character right, excluding; Anglemoon, Darkforge, Necromancer, and the cannon characters from the MLP:FIM universe. Chapter will be posted here after I gather enough shorter chapters from my fanfiction.net account (where all parts will be posted first. Love you all. Peace /)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-31 03:00:02 UTC

To the First Corruption

Part 1: Breaking Away

"Who are you?" The single question ringing across the battlefield in her silken voice. The question burned through the iron defences around my mind. All before had simply tried to force me to be what the tought of me; not caring that I was an intelegent being. Just like the General always telling me to fight harder, train more efectively; never once did he consider that maybe my path was not that of war.

Even my own mother "You mst become a great warrior to make your father proud, and to end that weak nation of Equestria that controls the distant land." never once did she see my talent in art and magic. The memories continue to wash over me stealing time as I stand there shocked. "Why do you fight on the side of the Half Dragons?" she asked.

"It is the side I grew up on. I know nothing else." I replied feeling an offer coming.

She smiled and said "Perhaps if you defect you can learn another way." "I always have been a eager student." I said mischevously, and then I walked across the no-man's landto stand with the forces of "that weak land Equestria". As I walked I heard the general "You can't do this Shadowfire." I stopped and turned around "Well father try and stop me." I then continued to walk coming to a stop beside the misterious female. "Shadowfire, so that is your name, but is that who you are?" "That remains to be seen, but now I am at a disadvantage,

for I do not know your name." "You may call me Princess Luna" She said "Just be sure not to die in the comming battle, and we may yet have time to talk."

Part 2: Crumbling

As I stood there beside the one who had called me to the other side,

she told me to fall in. I complied and, knowing the battle would soon be joined,

I drew my scimitar. I had enchanted the blade in secret keeping it from both the general and the troops around me. "Ha," I thought to myself, " None of you relize the power I wield this is the price of not paying attention." and with that I activated the dorment enchantment. Black and gray flames sprang into existence, somehow on the inside of the blade, causing it to glow with its own inner light.

I held the blade in an easy position waiting for my new commander, a harpy whose name was Lighntnigfall, to give the order to charge. The catalyst on the back of my hand began to simmer, again with black and gray fire, in preperation for the spells I might have to cast. Then, suddenly, I saw the general, the half dragon I refused to call my father, cast a spell causing a wall of fire to sweep over the battlfield incinerating everything in its path. I steped forward already casting a spell of my own design; my catalyst flared sending a pulse of the "shadowfire" for which I had been named into the oncoming wall. Both armies watched in awe as the fire changed color,

slowed, crystallized, and shattered almost instantaneously. I smiled fiercely at the result as I fell back into line to the awed looks of the Equestrian army. Meanwhile,

the half dragon army, expecting the counter attack, fell into a defensive position;

their general not daring to try another spell for fear I would cast on of my own. My hate filled gaze focused on that coward that was the general. The order to charge was given, and I charged forth the runes on both my scimitar and my catalyst flaring.

As my vision became red and narrowed I focused completly on my target letting the hate wash me away as I ran.

Part 3: Dust on the Wind

The main head of our charge smashed through the defences of the half dragon army. I was near the front of the charge right behind Commander Lightningfall. As we ripped through the first half dragons barely seeing them my gaze focused even further,

and I began brutaly cutting down everything in my path. My scimitarcut easily through the wepons and armor of the enemy due to the intense heat of the shadowfire inside my blade. Allowing me to forge my way through the half dragons in a straight line to the general. As I came up on the general I turned around to see my work. A gruesome road to hell awaited me, the blade had cauterized the wounds leaving some of them alive only to be trampled by the small group of Equestrians led by Lightningfall coming to my aid. Wincing, I turned to the general who was staring at me in shock. "I think you know why I came for you general." I said as I threw him to the ground using telekinesis. "It won't hurt." I snarled and beheaded him. Turning away from the anticlimatic confrontation, I finnaly felt peace; and, for the first time I can remember the hate faded away to be replaced by a warm satisfied feeling. I would leave with the Equestrian army and begin a new life; one where war something others, not me, could worry about. I smile at the thought, feeling content untill the enemy army senses what transpired. I then relize that I was seperated from the main Equestrian army with only thirty or so troops around me. Quickly assessing this situation I cast a shield around us so the half dragons could only come at us ten at a time.

Smiling, Lightninfall came up to me. "You didn't waste much time killing your father did you?" "Please don't call him that." I called over the din of battle. "Whatever" Lightningfall responded as he began to fly up to the roof of the dome. "Hey could you open a hole so I could get out?" I opend the hole letting him slip out. "Wonder what he is up to?" I thought to myself. As I waited to see what he would do, one of the half dragons came at me with his spear. I hooked my scimitar around the spear, pulling it to the side. Then, sliding in close, I slashed his chest and face exposing his beating heart to the air. The half dragon dropped, like a rock from a great height, as I turned away I looked up just in time to see Lightningfall come down from the heavens, Wreathed in lightning. As he came he continued to gather speed. He drew a naganata just as he broke the sound barrier; sending a ring of blindingly, intense lightning rippling above our heads. I was to busy looking at the ring I didn't notice him hit the ground, but I saw the aftermath. He had thrown bodies every where, leaving a ten meter radius where there were no living beings. We continued onward, weaving a pattern of fire and death in our wake, painting the canves of the world with blood. The battle was easily won from that point; as the half dragons had no leader to cordinate them. As the battle drew to a close, Princess Luna ordered me to come to her side. "You fought well." she said, "But my sister will not trust you and I can not make a dicision without her." "How will she make up her mind about me?" I asked. "I have no idea, just pray it isn't the same way as the last guy."

Part 4: The First Notes

The march to the Equestrian capital of Canterlot will take a week, a week that I will be tearing my hair out worring about the parting word from my last conversation with Luna. My squad from the half dragon army, whom I found among the prisoners and promptly petitioned for their release, were also freaking out about meeting this "Princess Celestia". "She sounds like a real bitch from what I hear." Said Crystalwing my squad's seductress.

"You are hearing different rumors than me then," said Serpent-tounge our poet "Because I hear she is a fair judge who understands her people's needs; unlike Lady Crysallys." "All of you are taking this much to seriously, all we need to do is look nice, act nice, and dress up a little." Came the comment from behind a massive fire. "And that would be Ironhelm" I thought as a large half dragon roughly two thirds my size walked out from behind the fire holding a sword. The sword immediately caugt my attention, it was a very long and thin blade with a slight curve causing an overall look of speed and precission. I stood up and held out my hand. "May I look at it?" "Why not, I was planning on giving it to you anyway." Ironhelm said with a daemon like smile that sent ice through my bones. As I took the blade I relized just how light the blade was; It was one sided with a flat edge that lent stability and strength to the overeall length of the blade which seemed to be designed to both slash and stab. Taking the sheath I turned to Knife-edge our warrior, "Do you have any soul gems from the battle?" "Even better, I got the General's soul. I take it you need them for enchantments?" "Of course I do this sword deserves the best." After getting the General's soul I began to go a distance away from the fire so I could begin the enchanting process. Before I could begin however, Princess Luna came up to me, "Shadowfire." "Yes My Lady?" I asked the years of conditioning branded into my brain from adderssing Lady Crysalys my mother taking over. Luna winced at the formal title "Please don't call me that." In that moment she looked so cute it was unbelievable. "What are you thinking Shadowfire? You are techniclly her prisoner you can't develop feelings for her!" "What would you like me to call you?" "Just Luna, or Princess wichever you are more comfortable with." "This is not the conversation you cam to me to have is it?" "No I came because I was curious, your race are widely known as half dragons right?" "Yes." I replied sensing where this question was headed. "Well what the hell is the other half?"

The following is a brief lesson on the history of half dragons.

"The race we know as half dragons today are a cross breed between two ancient races, one of which is currently extinct. The extinct side of half dragon heratege is the succubi (singular succubus) who had inate powers of seduction, shap-shifting, and magic. All of which are displayed by their draconic offspring. Virtually the only features they gained from the draconic side of thier heratage is their wings which they used to hunt prey in their early years,

but later these wings were adapted for military use causing them to be on equall terms when they invaded the Griffon Homelands. Much like their Succubi ancestors the half dragons fed off of emotions; however, unlike their Succubi heretage they were not limited to the emotion of love though it remained their favorite. All in all their numerous millatary achievements leave them a threat to all." - Prof. Bookworm

One mindf*** history lesson later...

"And that Princess is how my race was made." I concluded. "Wow, so one more question. Why are you the tallest half dragon I've seen?" "Why are you the tallest person I've seen in the Equestrian army?" "You're a GOD?!" "You catch on quick." "Well I didn't see that one coming." Luna said with a sarcastic face that she put up to cover her shock. "So that would make the General a god as well wouldn't it?" Now it was my turn to wince, "Yes, but killing him just felt right; like I was breaking away from my past." "I know, and I'm sorry." Luna said as she put her hand over mine. "I shouldn't have drug up such painfull memories when the corpse hasn't even cooled yet." Then, Incredibly, inpossibly, she kissed me. The kiss went on for almost thirty second our tounges playfully wrestling for dominence, when she suddenly broke of, "You should get some sleep we march at dawn." Then she ran off back to her tent, I enchanted the blade and went back to my squad who were bunking with Lighningfall wondering what I felt about that encounter.

Part 5: Sealed Away

The rest of the week went by slowly. Eventually however, the tall golden spires of Canterlot came into view. As we approached the great city it reminded me of another city I had entered with my squad. The great Griffon city of Fallendale.

"Where are you guys?" Crystalwing called as she walked into the clearing.

She spread her fearsome draconian wings, with their beautiful red and black scales,

and their peach colored her hair and eyes left violet trails matching their color as she shot into the trees to review her surroundings. The atypical geometric shape of her eyes left the impression that she was eternally angry at the world; an impression that would not be far off.

"Relax dear sister, we are here." Her brother Rosethorn said as he unfolded from the tree he was leaning against; unnoticeable despite having no camouflage for this type of environment. His appearance differed greatly from his sister, as did his profession His wing scales were predominately white and gray, while his membrane was solid white. His hair made you wonder how he hid at all; being crimson with golden streaks that simmered in the slightest light. His eyes, also the atypical geometric shape, were a calming forest green that welcomed victims of his assassins trade in.

Ironhelm and Serpent-tongue walked in without comment, but their appearance said enough in words stead. Both were five and a half feet tall, with almost the exact same coloring and shapes. The only real difference was their eyes. The normal ovaloid shape, Ironhelm's eyes were a steel gray. Meanwhile, also the normal shape,

were Serpent-tongue's eyes that sparkled black, with fire of darkness.

"Let us do the job we came to do." said Demoneyes. His only striking features were his eyes. Eyes which seemed to flow like water within his skull. Inviting you to lose your soul in their depths, and if you believe the stories you would do just that.

"Yes lets" I said as I walked into the clearing behind Demoneyes. I stood there in all my glory, with my eyes ablaze with shadowfire and still firmly in the grasp of my fathers lies. "The city before us is the Griffon Capital city of Fallendale." "Our objective is to rip the Intel from the minds of the city officials." "We will infiltrate from the east and sneak to the city center." "Move out."

As we crept through the side alleys on our way to city center, I began to notice something strange. The city was compleatly clean. There was no dirt dust or sewage, nothing. I continued to ponder this as we dodged patrols. We made it to the city center without any major incident. As we approached the house of our first target I reach out with my mind taking the data and beginning to sift through it as Rosethorn slipped in to the house to eliminate the target. The first thing I learned was that the Griffons were using alchemy to transfer grime and trash into small amounts of gold to fund their kingdom. The second thing learned was the true reason the Half Dragons were going to war.

The flashback ended right as we walked into the Royal Canterlot Palace.

I hadn't even noticed our walk through the city; however, by the looks of my squad's faces it hadn't been pleasant. We all stopped in front of the throne room.

"For both our sakes let us pretend that kiss never happened." Luna whispered to me right before the doors opened into the throne room. As we approach the throne Luna goes ahead and talks to her sister, the magnificent Princess Celestia.

My squad and I stop halfway down the throne room and kneel to show our loyalty and willingness to accept whatever fate befalls us.

Celestia mulls over what her sister has told her. As she is about to make a decision however, another elf walks from a side passage and begins whispering to her while throwing suspicious glances our way. This newcomer was black with orange eyes.

These same eyes were now trained on us as Celestia nod in agreement with his logic.

I can read those eyes. He is sarcastic, with a huge disrespect for authority. He is most like an imp, but he is misguided by his loyalty.

I was snapped out of my analysis by Celestia Speaking.

" I have decided your fates." She began ominously. "As we can have no true idea where your loyalties lie without invading your minds, and you are extremely dangerous. We shall freeze you in stone until such time as we have finished analyzing you."

This news was perhaps the best we could hope for. The guard formed ranks around us and relived us of our weapons The last I saw of them they were being taken to a store room. As we made our way into the dungeons I saw a cell built for housing an insane genius one who had no remorse and even less moral inhibitions. We finally made it to the bottom of the dungeon where they lined us up against the wall. The last thing I herd before time stretched, ripped, and fell away, was the sound of Serpent-tongue beginning to sing.

Part 6: Timelapse Poetry

Serpent-tongue's pov-

As they led us to the dungeon, I beckoned princess Celestia, the goddess of the sun, to my side.

"I would ask a favor before you seal me in stone," I said as we dropped back from the main group.

"I would like to sing a song, then cast a spell that would allow anyone who placed their hand upon me to hear the song just how I sang it. It would also keep me conscious through the whole time I was a statue."

"I will grant this request." Celestia said in response, "Though I warn you if it takes a long time for me to come to a disision you might go insane."

"If that is what it takes to keep my music here I will do it." I replied.

We broke away as we entered the lowest room in the dungeon. I watched the rest get frozen, and just before Shadowfire went under I smiled and began to sing.

Here I lie again tonight, In my world of recollection.

I see them again tonight, They are my transgretions.

I will fall before the light, My shadow casting over.

I won't see the morning light, before my life is over.

Falling through the darkest night, I hide within my mind.

I run from my life, the saddest part of freedom.

As my song finished I released the spell and closed my eyes. The darkness swelled around me, and I felt at peace.

The world spun for many days,

The first hand upon me lays,

I feel it now, its silent shout,

Longing for brighter days,

It feels my sadness,

and anger to,

It see them clearly,

And my great love to,

It rejoices,

Returning everyday,

To hear my song,

As the hand upon me lays.

A new hand joins the first,

Smaller, tender,

it throbs with thirst,

The thirst for music,

Feeling and soul,

The touch of one,

Who had many goals.

The first hand passes,

The second one brings another small hand,

I see this one as a gentle hand,

A healer perhaps,

Or just one who can,

The years pass,

one hand bringing another,

Each one unique,

Yet belonging to one another,

I feel them passing,

Becoming dust,

But new hands still come,

To hear my song.

Part 7: The Destiny Dreamscape

Shadowfire's pov

I felt the world fade back into existence around me. Though it feels like I had only been sealed a moment, I could see by the state of the dungeon we were in that we had been sealed for much longer. A fact only solidified by the fact that Serpent-tongue was visibly shaken by coming out of the stony embrace of the seal Celestia had placed on us.

"Everybody alright?" I asked as I stretched my muscles, both magical and physical.

"Yes, we all appear to be in one piece." said DeamonEyes after taking a quick check over of the rest of the squad.

"Good." I said as I looked around the room. My gaze flickered over the doorway where I noticed Celestia standing for the first time. Why is she just standing there looking awkward? Is she going to say something?

"I am glad to see you all safe;" she said, "however, I regret to inform you that after an uncontrollable string of events, I forgot you down here for say, 1000 years." She said honestly trying to hide a blush of shame.

"Well," I said brightly, "At least the war is probably over!"

"Yes it is." She said with a relived smile.

She beckoned for us to follow her out of the dank dungeon. As we walked up I looked to my left, and noticed that the cell that I thought would be used to house an insane genus now had an occupant. Calling after the group to wait up I walked over to take a closer look.

He was a human,quite well built, with red eyes that seemed to shimmer with the same quality as DeamonEyes' eyes. He also had crimson hair that reminded me of blood for some strange reason. As I look closer I saw a strange birthmark which seemed to fade that patch of skin right across his nose and mouth. Feeling almost drawn, I reached out to him with my telepathic abilities, and found myself plunged into my destiny.

I saw bridges burning, sending their flames high into the blood red tainted sky.

I felt the power coming from a broken twig on the ground. A broken twig representing sanity, such a fragile thing. A sudden scene shift brought me into this humans memories of his life. I saw a band of Zebras standing around a pot that they were pouring the aged blood of their victims, creating a brew that would make them more powerful. Another scene shift brings me to a land of ice. Where I see the labor of artisans. They seem to be building a building of some kind As they finish, one of the builders beckons me through the door. Inside I see the most wondrous paintings and sculptures.

I look up and see the human whose mind I had entered, standing like a god upon its mountain, as he shuffled his papers at a podium.

"My name is Red Velvet, and I will see the world burn with the fires of chaos."

Celestia's pov

I heard the half-dragon god know as Shadowfire call for the rest of our mismatched little group to stop. I looked in his direction idly as he approached the cell of Red Velvet, the most feared cannibal in recent history. I saw no harm in him simply observing Red. All of a sudden, a vortex of black and crimson fire engulfed him, obscuring him from view. Then, just as suddenly, the fire condensed, crystallized, and formed three shards. One of these shards was jet black, and just fell to the floor. The other two shards however, were crimson, and flew up, phasing through the ceiling to fly away in the direction of ponyville. I knew what had just happened of course, having been through it before myself. He had just awakened fully as a god.

Shadowfire's pov

I woke up on the floor with six very worried faces looming over me. Seeing no better option I decided to sit up. Ugg I shouldn't have done that now I need to throw up. As I turned over, expecting to follow up on my thoughts, I realized I was outside in garden of some sort. Without any more thought on what had just happened, I began to spew my bile over the grass.

Anonymous pov

As I walked home from the funeral with my sister, I happened to look up in time to see two streaking bolts of fire coming right for us. Instinctively, I threw my wings out pushing my sister to the side. I then threw myself in the opposite direction. As it turns out, my efforts were in vain The streaks of fire changed their trajectory to intercept us in our flight. As the bolt hit me I thought out in anguish, "I'm sorry dad, I couldn't protect Yin. Guess it figures that I would fail to keep my promise before you were even cold in your grave." After the smoke cleared, I opened my eyes in surprise that I was still alive. Then, in blind panic, I looked over to my sister who was also stirring. There was something strange around her neck, it was a neckalece.

A fine piece of work, made of a red crystal the color of blood and carve into the shape of a half circle with a triangle missing from the center. Looking down I started, realizing that I to was wearing a new article. Around my wrist there was a bracer, with the same symbol made of the same crystal, only a mirror image. Looking up from the strange new article to my sister I said, "Well Angel Moon, that doesn't happen everyday."

Part 8: First Sight

Shadowfire's pov

As I got up, wiping my mouth as I did, I turned around to see my squad and Celestia looking at me with slightly worried faces.

"What just happened to me?" I asked still disturbed by what I had experienced in Red Velvet's labyrinthine mind.

"You saw something in Red Velvet's mind that awoke you and made you see what you represent as a deity." Celestia said. "Look at your catalyst, and see how it has changed."

I looked at my catalyst slowly, unsure if I really wanted to know what I represent. It was beautiful. Two masks seemingly made of twisted bodies that couldn't have possibly existed one in the shape of a smile and the other a frown, were crying tears of blood upon my hand. As I looked upon it I realized what I truly represented. I am Shadowfire and I am the god of Blood, Insanity, and Art.

Angel Moon's pov

I was crying into my pillow as I had every night since I heard of my parents' murder. I just couldn't possibly come to terms with the fact that there are people out there who would take a life just for the fun of it. Why did you have to die mom? As I thought this, my brother Dark Forge entered the room.

"Sis, what do you think these even are?" he asked as I looked up. He was holding up his arm to show the bracer with the strange crystal piece upon it.

"I don't know brother, but while the designs are similar, they feel completely different from each other." I looked at mine trying to look deeper into its nature.

"I just don't know why, but the one that came to me feels wrong somehow."

"Oh well," My brother said, "It's time to go for my job interview in Canterlot. Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure I'll come." I said, "Just let me clean my face first."

Rosethorn's pov

I handed the black triangle to Shadowfire as Celestia continued to explain what had transpired when he had plunged into the depths of Red Velvet's mind.

"When a deity realizes what they represent, several of their features change. Most importantly however, they create an artifact that represents the same thing as they do. My mother created the Elements of Harmony; I created a suit of armor that helps the wearer channel power, and my sister created a spear that could be thrown from the sky and would cause a massive explosion on impact. These artifacts start as solidified pieces of power from the deity, but when joined they become increasingly more powerful as the deity becomes stronger."

In this time we had already walked down into Canterlot proper. I looked over to see Shadowfire staring at the black crystal in his hand. Suddenly he raised the crystal above his head where it caught the light from the noontime sun. The light focused towards the main gate. Seeing this I motioned for the rest to stay here and before Celestia could protest, I was off along the rooftops. As I approached the gate from the heights of the Canterlot manors I activated a simple spell that allowed me to see like a hawk. I scanned the square for signs of red crystal. I saw the first glint on the arm of a large male harpy. His skin was white and his hair dark black. His wings were avian shaped most characteristic of a falcon, and had feathers of a much softer black almost sable. Walking beside him however was the one who really caught my attention. She was white skinned as well, and her features were similar enough to the male to suggest relation. Her hair was a dark brown with eyes that shined light blue. Her wings, shaped more like a dove's, had feathers of the purest white you have ever seen. On he neck she also wore a piece of red crystal on a necklace. As I snapped out of my fascination preparing to go back and tell Shadowfire that I had found the other two pieces of his artifact the female harpy looked up, and while I know she can't possibly see me, I shrank back suddenly afraid of what this one might be capable. Getting back to Shadowfire was easy.

"I have found both other parts of your artifact on two harpies."

"Take us there I would talk to these harpies to ascertain just why it was they who found the pieces of my artifact."

Part 9: Resonance

Shadowfire's pov

"Wait!" said Celestia, "You cant just barge into a building and accost some of my citizens! Let me call them in for a hearing late this evening after the sun goes down."

" Why after the sun goes down?" I ask confused as to why celestia would want such a specificly general time for such an audience.

"So that my sister may also preside over this audience, and so you may speak to her after the audience is done. She is the reason I didn't let Necromancer kill you on sight."

"Necromancer?" I ask woefully lost as to what being would be tied to such a name.

"The black elf who warned me that you might be trouble. As soon as you walked in he was preparing a spell to kill all six of you where you stand, but I signaled him to stand down after I saw that my sister stood beside you all with compleat comfort and trust. I still took his words of warning and sealed you in stone that I could evaluate the legitamacy of your claims of loyalty."

"Ok, well I won't risk anything happening to these harpies. Rosethorn, watch over them unseen untill they begin to leave for the meeting. When they do reveal yourself and escort them to the castle." I snapped out the order with the rigidness of my years of military training.

"With pleasure." He stated with a solid salute.

As he ran back to the wall to reach the rooftops I faded back into another flash back.

"What seems to be the matter Shadowfire?" said Ironhelm as I fell back aginst the wall gasping for breath.

"My father has been lieing to us the entier time about why we were at war with the rest of the world. also, about what the missions we have been compleatin for him will accomplish. We are at war because my father wanted mor power, not because of a griffon harpy attack on a defenseless village. We have actually been sabotaging defensess in way of the attack led by my father not gathering intel. He has played us well but I wont allow it any longer. We will keep the image, but only untill an opportunity presents itself to strike back at him and end the problem."

Rosethorn's pov

I watche the building closely looking for signs that the two harpies were still in the building. That confermation finally came when the two harpies walked out onto a balcony about half way up the six story building. They seemed to be arguing about something I quickly cast a spell to allow me to here them talking.

"But sister it is a royal summons! We cant just ignore the princesses!"

"What if it's just another update onhow they still haven't found him. Or another pity saying by people who don't really care! I can't deal with that anymore!"

"The summons says that we are to both come and that it is a matter of security. It also says that an escort will be provided for us by order of "The Shadowfire Initiative". That dosn't sound like a simple pity saying or update on their failure. Wait sister what is wrong!" The male said as his sister ran out through the door behind them. Looking back he saw something in the street. "Oh no, SISTER WAIT!"

I pulled out of the spell and glided down t the door of the building landing just besidei it. As she ran out her brother right behind I fell into stride beside him.

"Darkforge?" I ask.

"Yes you the escort to the summons? I'm afraid my sister saw something that made her go off we'll need to calm her down before she will listen to come to the summons."

"What could have set her off like this?" I ask wondering if my earlier fear of what she could do might not be that far off.

"You're about to find out." He said as we came into view of a scene all to familliare to me.

Shadowfire's pov

I had been walking around for a while now waiting for sundown. They had seen fit to return our equipment to us. I looked up it was near sundown. I walked back into the throne room just in time to see Luna walk through the other door that leads to the Royal Living Quarters. She dosn't seem to notice me as she walks over to her sister.

"Hello sister why are you in the throne room still? You should be getting ready for bed."

"Well what started as a birthday suprise for you turned into a total cluster fuck." Celestia said, "We have an audience with two citizens who posess shards of a god artifact."

"Lovley, I assume we know the god who created the shards?" Luna asked as she took a seat on her throne.

Quickly sending Rosethorn's equipment to him useing a spell that would replace what he was wearing with his equipment. I steped forward with a large smile on my face.

"You know me better than your sister does Princess."

"Shadowfire? How long has it been?"

"Little over a thousand years, and I look forward to hearing about this time from you after we recover the shards of my artifact."

"I can not tell you of those years as I have no more memory of them than you do." Luna said looking down at her feet in shame. "Let me tell you a story."

Part 10: The Call For Aid

Shadowfire's pov-

Luna began to tell her story. "It began one thousand years ago, not long after you were frozen in stone to be evaluated. I was going north into the Crystal Empire for a diplomatic visit. It was beautiful Shadowfire. Under the moon and stars the city sparked in all the hues of the rainbow: red, yellow,blue, green, and even black. Yes black light it was still not brighter than anything else at night. All the soft tones of night were still there but with colors under toned in light, it was truly marvelous Then there was the city. Crystal buildings with gold and silver inlays. They had domed roofs, and the exterior walls were crenelated with black and green crystal. It was the first time even I had truly seen the beauty that lay in the night time. Then I heard a voice to my side..."

Luna's pov-

"Beautiful isn't it?" The mysterious half-elf said as he walked out of the shadows to our right into the light of the torch my guards carried. His hair was jet black, darker than any night I had ever brought forth in my thousand years. His eyes were green, but they had something in them, a hunger, I had only ever seen it before in your eyes Shadowfire. The glint was one of a lust for power, I should have seen that he was planning on useing me to obtain the power he craved. I didn't though, and it is history now.

"Yes," I said struck breathless by the sight, "It is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen."

"It is to bad that not more people see it." He said. "I really think it is too bad that the night is not more appreciated. My name is Sombra by the way."

Thus the trap began. He was the son of the northern empires ruler, and he was my downfall. He showed me the wondrous sights of the city by night, yet there were none of the Northern citizens out to see them with us. In this time he acknowledged that I was the goddess of the moon. He asked me many questions that night.

"Why do you put up with the fact than none love night as they love the day?"

He asked the question so nonchalantly that I had to stop.

"None? No one at all?" I asked feeling heartbroken that any such thing could be true.

"Well not everybody loves the day more than the night. I love the night above anything else. It is my safe haven from the burning crusade of the sun." He said this looking down at his feet. I had been in the Northern Empire for a week at this point in diplomatic talks. Every night he had took me to a new sight in the city, and we had sat and talked. He was so understanding and kind about my sadness. He slowly stepped forward to be right in front of me.

"I love night in all of its forms Luna." He said lifting my face to his and kissing me deeply. There we were on a balcony set in the outer wall, with the northern light dancing on the breeze in the back ground. I put my hand upon his chest and whispered to him.

"Will you show me how much you love me?" I asked feeling desperate for the kind of attention that would make me feel loved. I had never relized befor, but I did notice that everybody loved the day more, that all seemed to fear me even before I led the troops to the war, even my own sister would not give me and my time its due. I needed someone to give me that, I need him.

"Right he..." He began to ask, but was stopped as I grabbed his hands and looked into his eyes.

"Yes," I said, "I need you now Sombra. more than I had ever needed anyone before this."

*Cock block mother bucker >;3

Rosethorn's pov-

A circle of guards had a lone half-elf surrounded. The half elf was, to my trained eye, very dangerous. He held a sharp triangular blade in a loose back hand grip. He himself was unremarkable; at least until I saw that most of his body was covered in burn scars. From head to toe he had angry scars that took on many damaged hues of purple and red. His catalyst was shaped as a head with eyes that were sewn shut. He had hair that looked as if half his scalp had been sheared off and only recently allowed to heal.

"He looks like shit! Who is he?" I ask surprised that anybody would be standing after such wounds, let alone still represent a threat to the Royal Guards of Canterlot.

"His name is Knife-edge, he is the greatest mass murderer that Equestria has seen in three hundred years." Angelmoon said "He killed our parents. This is the first anyone has seen him since that night."

At this point Knife-edge looked up. His eyes were glowing red, and I knew what that meant.

"All you guards stand down. He is mine." Just as I said this my equipment flared to life around me.

"Who are you to give my men orders?" A half-elf who seemed to be the captain of the guard asked. He was a brawny type carrying a large claymore in a one handed grip. He had blue hair, and equally blue eyes.

Pulling myself up to my full height and really hoping my bullshit payed off, I replied. "I am the second in command of the Shadowfire Initiative, and I order you and your men to stand aside."

"Very well," he said "Men get back our superior officer has just issued a direct order."

I stepped forward as I wondered just how much weight that our return to the timeline held. I stepped forward and addressed Knife-edge.

"You have two options, I can kill you here and leave your body to rot in the street, or you can surrender and come peacefully where I will make your death painless with popper burial rites performed. Your choice demonologist.

At my proclamation of this half-elf's choices the crowd began to murmur, obviously not used to the idea of execution. I however, knew my sentencing to be just. As an assassin of the Umbra Scholae, it is my divine verdict to slay those who call upon the powers of the daemon gods. To this end the Umbra Scholae taught each of their students how to call upon the gods of shadow and venom; furthermore, I learned how to call upon the dragon and blood gods. Calling upon this knowledge I sent a plea into the Aether searching for a god of blood. Finding one I presented my plea before him. Feeling my plea accepted I raised my left hand feeling the power gathering there. The first indication that my plea had been accepted was a faint shimmering in my palm. Then, suddenly, the air began to bleed dripping down, and being contained by the shimmering in the air. Once it had filled in the shimmer, taking the form of a stiletto dagger in the process, it solidified into an unbreakable amorphous solid similar to glass, but much less brittle.

Grasping this blood dagger in a reversed off-hand grip, I reached down to my belt and pulled my own knife out. My knife had a five inch curved blade, with an exterior razor edge, and an interior serrated cutting edge. Shadowfire had enchanted this blade when we had first met. I smiled at the memory and ignited the enchantment wreathing the blade in the Ignis de Tenebris. I smiled looking at my horrific foe.

"Lets dance pretty boy." With this final coy comment I launched myself forward. Knife-edge, who had been staring at the two harpies I was charged with escorting, snapped his attention to me and rose to meet me our blades clashing together in a flurry of sparks...