Shadow Flame
(A Path of Burning Darkness)
Chapter 9: The Smoke of the Past and the Flames of Future
The night was dark, the only light that could be seen was a very faint glow from the full moon and that of the fire falling from the sky. The mane six, Nightmare Moon, Celestia, and Shadow Flame were all in the courtyard of the castle. The story that was about to be told, forever changed Shadows views on the world. These words themselves may have decided the very fate of Equestria.
"Well then Shadow, here's what you need to know" Nightmare moon got an evil grin on her face as she began to tell her story.
"1000 years ago there was a powerful regal family that went by the name "The Flames". Their Magical power was unrivaled; Luna and Celestia's magical abilities could hardly border theirs."
"I know this story" responded Shadow Unmoven.
"No no dear you think you know the story" Nightmare moon laughed
"Now let me Finish"
"Well it came time of the summer sun Celebration and your parents were in charge of security and even had the honor of helping Celestia Raise the sun. But no that wasn't enough …my sister also put them in charge of helping Luna raise the moon that night, the thought of this….angered Luna greatly it was her rule over the dark evil night, nopony Else's! Nopony was ever awake to enjoy her nights, but the night that the flames were going to help…everpony in the land was awake to watch! Was Luna not important enough for them to watch? Yet your family was! Her hate grew, giving birth to me. The thought that people would be awake just to see the flames help her made her burst with anger."
"So just as Celestia and your parents were about to Raise the sun I attacked! It wasn't easy to kill them, I'll give you that but I was able to stab both of them in the chest with this very sword!"
Nightmare moon pulled out a Dark black vicious looking Rapier.
"They died like cowards teleporting away…but I guess that was to save and fling you into the future in hope that one day that you would save equestria...from me!, and look you played right into my hoof in helping me destroy it."
"Shadow I'm the one who killed your parents not Celestia!
I'm the one who caused the storm that broke the bridge that night! It was a test of your skill!
I'm the one who put that Book in the Library! You were so stupid to fall for it!
AND NOW THANKS TO YOUR HELP I'M GOING TO BE THE NEW RULER OF EQUESTRIA!"
"I…..is what you speak true?" said Shadow with a shattered look on his face
"I'm afraid to tell you that Nightmare Moon was in fact the one who killed your parents" Said Celestia through the barrier of Flames.
"Your parents and I were actually very close friends, they loved you very much Shadow, and they used the last bit of magic they had to try and stop Nightmare Moon and to save your life."
"Tsk they tried to attack me, but I was too fast for them and I dodged their blast" scoffed Nightmare Moon.
"The comet!" thought Shadow
"Well what happened to you for the thousand years after the murder?…" Questioned Shadow his anger was increasing to diabolical amounts.
"Oh that's right you've been missing the past 1000 years of news haven't you"? "Well I-"
"I'll tell him sister, Shadow directly after she attacked your parents it took every bit of magic I had in me but I managed to banish her to the moon for 1000 years. She broke free a few years before you got here and Twilight and her friends Used the Elements of Harmony to destroy Nightmare Moon and bring back Luna, but I guess You can't truly kill evil, I Should've killed you myself all those years ago….but…you are my sister…"
"Not anymore Princess! I Consumed Luna with hate! She doesn't exist anymore, only Nightmare Moon!"
"So Twilight and her friends attacked Nightmare Moon and tried to save Princess Luna?" said shadow as he staggered to his feet keeping the hurt leg limp.
"Yes" responded Princess Celestia
Shadow Thought to himself,
"…I'm so foolish, I tried to weaken the elements of Harmony In order to Weaken Celestia but all I did was make Nightmare Moon stronger….I played right into her hoof perfectly…I'm a pathetic Creature…. But…..I Can Still fight to try and make things Right!"
Shadow Turned to Twilight and her Friends and Yelled,
"Twilight! Use the Strongest Shield spell you've got on yourself and your Friends!"
"Ok " shouted Twilight as she casted the spell putting a purple barrier around her and her friends.
"Nightmare moon, I'm going to burn every cell in your body so you can feel every bit of my anger!"
Shadows eyes were glowing red, his horn crackling with power.
A raging tornado of fire surrounded the entire castle and the fire that was falling picked up in speed, size, and intensity.
"Oooo, it seems I hit a nerve" laughed Nightmare Moon.
"No matter I'll Kill you exactly how I killed your parents, even with the same sword!"
Nightmare moon dashed forward with intense speed, shadow could barely see her coming but managed to summon a small fire Dagger in his hand just in time to try and parry the incoming blow From Nightmare Moon.
"Hmph Amateur at best!" yelled Nightmare moon as she kicked Shadows Hurt leg.
"AARRGGHHH!" shrieked Shadow with pain as he hit the ground, his dagger falling away from him.
Just as he hit the ground Nightmare moon appeared over him, her rapier was pointed directly on his heart.
"Any last words whelp?"
"….Yeah as a matter a fact….I do have some last words." Shadow got ready to speak.
"Shadow NOOO!" screamed Twilight
"Silence Knave!" Shouted Nightmare moon as she launched a bolt of lightning piercing the shield and hitting Twilight, she fell bringing the shield down.
"NO!" screamed Shadow
Nightmare moon stepped on his stomach, almost knocking the air out of Shadow
"And after I kill you I'm going to give each one of them the most painful deaths a pony could ever hope for and the best part is after I kill all of you and Celestia, I'll just tell everypony that you killed them and that I stepped in to try and save them but I was too late….hahaha shadow you've made this all too easy for me. All of Equestria will be under my rule and everypony will blame you for the tragedy of what happened here!"
"Now what were your last words Shadow?"
Shadow readied himself with for his last words, signs of defeat where showing on his face.
"Never trust what your eyes tell you alone, get the facts straight, and make clear of the targets you stride for."
Nightmare moon smirked,
"If only you would've lived by this moral Shadow, you might have had a future"
"Just please don't hurt Twilight or her frie-!!"
Shadow felt a cold sharp pain in his heart, He looked down to see the black blade deep in his chest, deep enough to come through his back and into the ground.
"Your parents would been ashamed of you Shadow you're going to die tarnishing the name of the Flames forever" mocked Nightmare Moon.
Shadow laid there, life was slowly slipping away from him, he looked towards Twilight and her friends.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know...I didn't………
"You were a fool Shadow and because of that Equestria will pay" laughed Nightmare Moon. she turned towards Twilight and her friends.
"Now what to do with all of you."
"NO, Nightmare Moon YOU ARE THE FOOL!" Shouted shadow as he clutched her sword with all his strength and reached behind his ear pulling out the stick of explosives he had hidden there.
"WAIT! How are you still alive!?"
"Twilight, Shield now!" Yelled Shadow
Twilight, who had just gotten back up from the previous attack quickly put up another barrier around herself and her friends, tears falling from her eyes from seeing the condition Shadow was now in.
Shadow ignited the stick of explosives and looked into Nightmare moons eyes with a glare of vengeance. His bright red eyes matched the pool of blood forming around him.
"If I'm going down I'm taking you with me!"
Nightmare Moon unclutched the sword in an attempt to flee but before she could Shadow grabbed her neck to ensure she wouldn't escape.
"Let go of me you little monster!" Shouted Nightmare Moon.
A bright flash was seen and a vicious explosion was heard.