//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 (revised) The loss of a brother - (Shockwave's view) // Story: A New Shade of Black // by Blueball-Blitz //------------------------------// Shockwave slammed the door to the Locker room's behind him, he let out and angry sigh before walking to his locker, he started to take of his uniform but the anger and frustration just wouldn't let him get a grip on the zipper, eventually he gave up and sat on his flanks next to his locker door, he put his head in his forehoofs as he remembered why he was so angry about all of this in the first place. - operation mile high- -12 years before Nightmare moons defeat- Shockwave was standing on one of the many fortified cloud buildings that made up one of the shadowbolts top level barracks, he had been informed of an impending attack by the Wonderbolts that day and was looking out onto the horizon, suddenly a voice spoke up "um hay bro I just got word from Nightshade that the Wonderbolts where sited heading this way, we need to get ready" Soundwave said as he trotted over to him, Shockwave nodded "okay make sure the barracks is on full alert and meet me at the front lines" Shockwave said, Soundwave nodded and continued to trot passed him as he made his way down to the lower levels of the sky fort. Shockwave and his little brother had joined the academy together, although because Soundwave was two years younger he had to stay at the academy for a longer period of time, giving Shockwave time to move up in the ranks. They had always been close even in the time of war and always did missions together, Shockwave always promised his parents he would keep an eye on Soundwave , and so far things had been nothing but plain sailing. Being the head of a barracks was something of an honor but with it came a lot of hard work, they where constantly under aerial attack by those sun loving Wonderbolts and not to mention Celestia's royal guard, but Shockwave stayed true to his Shadowbolt code to protect and serve the queen of the night. Today however was slightly different as an entire army of Wonderbolts where making there way over to invade the barracks, Nightshade had sent out her own squadron as back up but they would be arriving late to the party and had already sighted the last of the Wonderbolts making there way in the direction of the sky fort. Shockwave was now standing proudly with his squadron on one of the many cloud layers that made up the front line which protected the heavily armed fortress inside, Soundwave stood next to him and was stretching as if he was about to run a marathon, Shockwave shook his head playfully at his brothers antics, suddenly the alarm sounded signalling the arrival of the enemy, Shockwave ordered the entire barracks to attack and to leave no one alive and with that the battle commenced. the battle was different this time as the shadowbolts where heavily outnumbered, however the shadowbolts had always been better in aerial combat. Shockwave was on the tail of one of the Wonderbolts top commanders by the name of 'sunny shades', the name almost made Shockwave gag, but him and Sunny Shades had a history together and needless to say each wanted to see the other dead. Shockwave kept tight on 'Sunny Shades' as the Wonderbolt tried to shake the Lieutenant Shadowbolt, Shockwave however was smarter and was using the slipstream to his advantage , he would wait till Sunny Shades was worn out and then he would strike, it was the perfect plan until he glanced a quick look at the battlefield. Most of his squadron where lying lifeless at the entrance to the sky fortress, it was then Shockwave had realized he had been played, this was a distraction, He quickly nose dived down from his position and quickly reached the entrance to the square courtyard in the middle of the fortress, he looked around for any signs of life, he then heard a muffled groan from in front of him. Soundwave was leaning his back against the wall, his hind legs splayed out on the ground below as he clutched his chest with had a gaping stab wound, Shockwave rushed over to him to help apply pressure to the bleeding, his brother's blue eyes met his a glimmer of acceptance passed through them , was his brother excepting his fate, Shockwave shook his head "No you are getting out of this Soundwave" Shockwave said as he ripped of a part of his uniform to act as a bandage, his brother didn't reply, just then he heard footsteps on the cloud surface, he turned around to see 'Sunny Shades' and the rest of the Wonderbolt squadron, The shadowbolts had put up a good fight but still more Wonderbolts remained, Sunny Shades pointed his hoof blade in Shockwaves direction "I'm sorry it had to be this way lieutenant, But you are hereby arrested by the Canterlot royal guard on-" Sunny Shades didn't get to finish his sentence as an explosion knocked some of the Wonderbolts clean out of the fortress, as the smoke subsided Sunny Shades saw Captain Nightshade and a full squadron of Shadowbolts entering the courtyard, Sunny Shades tried to take off with the rest of the Wonderbolts but nightshade used her crossbow to bring him down. As the Shadowbolts started taking the Wonderbolt prisoners away Shockwave heard his brother cough and immediately turned his attention back to him, his coat almost looked completely pale , Shockwave lifted his forhoof to try and stop the bleeding again but he was stopped by Soundwave's hoof, Shockwave looked at his brother, the near lifeless Soundwave smiled and he used all his strength to pull Shockwave into one last hug, Shockwave hugged his brother and heard him sigh in relief, they hugged for what felt like eternity but then Shockwave felt the embrace loosen up, he felt the tears at the corner of his eye as he let go to look down at his lifeless brother, Shockwave felt a hoof on his shoulder, he turned around to see Nightshade with a sorrowful look "I'm sorry Shockwave, you paid the ultimate price in this war" Nightshade said, Shockwave let out a shaky sigh as he looked over his brothers corps one last time before swiftly turning his head in another direction, he let a silent tear escape his eye, he then saw Sunny Shades groaning on the ground with an arrow through his wing, he felt the rage build up inside him, he took loud steps as he walked over to Sunny Shades, the pale yellow Pegasus turned around to see Shockwave and Nightshade standing before him, Shockwave felt something on his chest and saw a crossbow held by Nightshades hoof in front of him, he looked over at his captain who gave him a firm nod, he then took the crossbow and met eyes with his enemy, Sunny Shades looked on in terror as he looked at Shockwave with his torn uniform and bloodstained coat stare at him with a blank expression, he held up the crossbow to Sunny Shades head, the Pegasus tried to move but couldn't as the pain was to great, his breathing became rapid as he looked pleadingly at Shockwave, but the Shadowbolt solemnly shook his head as he squeezed the trigger. End of Flashback Shockwave opened his eyes again to see that he was now curled up in a ball on the floor of the locker rooms, his ears perked up as he heard a door open and close and then the sound of trotting making its way towards him, he felt someone lay a hoof on his side, he looked up to see Nightshade , Shockwave tried to put on a brave face but just couldn't seem to conjure up anything but a weak smile, Nightshade smiled back at him as she held out a forehoof for shockwave to help him up, he gladly shook it and shakily got to his hoofs, he looked at Nightshade who had a knowing look on her face "your never going to forgive yourself over that day are you?" Nightshade asked, Shockwave shook his head, Nightshade thought of the only thing she could and embraced the the grey stallion, Shockwave was hesitant at first but soon returned the favor, a silence fell over the locker rooms until Nightshade suddenly began to chuckle , Shockwave raised an eyebrow, Nightshade released the embrace and playfully punched him on the shoulder "your such a wimp sometimes, now come on there gonna be wondering where two world class terrorists have gone off too" Nightshade said, Shockwave sighed but the anger was now extinguished and a smile started working its way onto his face, he nodded before following Nightshade out of the Locker rooms and back out onto the Stadium.