//------------------------------// // Chapter XVI: Second Shadow // Story: KINGDOM HEARTS: Dark Order // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// The Young five were walking across the dirt path that leads the way to the Storm Kingdom so they can save Silverstream and Lightning Twister. They have been walking for miles and miles all the way from the Crystal Empire, and they have no idea if they’re going the right way or not. “Ugh!” Started Gallus as he landed on the ground to rest his wings while walking, “We’ve been walking and flying for hours now! Do we actually know where we’re going?!” “To be honest, I have no idea!” Replied Sandbar. “Yona not know either!” Ocellus saw something up ahead before saying, “Maybe that can help us in finding it.” The Young four looked forward and saw what Ocellus was on about. On a rock that was a few miles near them, there was a wooden sign saying ‘Storm Kingdom! Keep out! Turn back while you still can!’ “Oh, that helps,” Smolder said softly. “Well spotted, Ocellus!” Said Sandbar while he and the other three smiled at the kind Changeling. Ocellus blushed while smiling. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go save our friends!” Gallus said cheerfully earning a nod from his friends. The Young five began to walk again towards the path that leads to the Storm Kingdom. But they didn’t go far as a dark corridor appeared near them and disappeared to reveal a cat that was the same size as Capper but this cat is a female, with brown fur, red eyes, sharp teeth and wears black clothing, with the Storm King symbol on each arm, with black trousers, gloves and boots. She also has a grey belt with a weapon hilt on the right side of her belt. Her name was, Second Shadow. The five stopped in their tracks and stood in battle mode while Gallus and Smolder growled angrily at the cat as she grinned evilly at them. “Yona bet you’re another Tempest warrior!” Yona growled. “Too clever,” replied Second Sister while placing a paw on her hip, “I’m Second Shadow, a warrior of The Storm King.” “Second Shadow? There’s more warriors of The Storm King?!” Sandbar asked in shock. “Well, only me and that traitor Tempest Shadow,” answered Second Shadow, “The Storm King only hires those that are strong, tough and able to fight those that stand in The Storm King’s way, like me and Tempest for example. Tempest use to be the commander of the Storm Guards and in charge of me and maybe other Shadow warriors The Storm King could have hired.” The Young five looked at each other in shock before turning back to Second Shadow. “You know about Tempest Shadow? Even before she invaded Canterlot?” Asked Ocellus shockingly. The evil cat turned round before answering, “Yes, I, do. I even know she betrayed The Storm King and left him to die in stone pieces before joining that Princess of Friendship. Such a worthless pony.” “None of that is true!” Said Gallus angrily with the others glaring at her, “The Storm King was using her from the very beginning! He’s the one that the betray!” Second Shadow glared at them. “He betrayed, she betrayed, doesn’t matter to me.” She turned round to them, “All that matters is that I’m just happy I’m still working for him. Even with the help of Vanitas and Cozy Glow, The Storm King will be able to come after being in stone for all these moons.” The Young five find it hard to believe that they’re bringing back The Storm King after being turned to stone and broke into pieces even with the help of Vanitas and Cozy Glow. Smolder smirked at Second Sister before crossing her arms and said, “Don’t play games with us. There’s no way you can bring back The Storm King. He’s gone for life and for good.” The cat glared at the dragon, she should have known they wouldn’t believe her even if she had prove. But she decided to let them figure it out for theirselves. “Fine then,” she said, “I’ll let you all figure it out for yourselves, same goes for your hippogriff friend when she enters the castle.” Second Shadow crossed her arms. “But be forewarned, when you discover the truth about the colt and The Storm King...you won’t be able to change the events that are about to happen.” A dark corridor appeared around her and then disappeared taking her along. “Come guys,” said Sandbar softly, “Let’s just continue on, she’s just tricking us to make us turn round and not save our friends.” The four nodded in agreement. “Yeah, let’s just ignore her and focus on saving Silverstream and Lightning,” said Smolder. They started walking again and headed towards the Storm Kingdom to save Silverstream and Lightning Twister. At the main path on the rocky island to The Storm Kingdom, a bright light shone a couple of miles away from the castle. As the light disappeared, it revealed to be Riku, Mickey and Tempest standing on the path and looked at the castle. “So this is place,” Mickey said before turning to Tempest Shadow. “Yes,” answered Tempest softly, “This is the Storm Kingdom, home to The Storm King.” “And where that Storm Guard must have taken Lightning Twister,” said Riku. Tempest looked around the place to see if Silverstream arrived before them and the Young five have made it before them since they might have figured out they snuck out of the castle and ran off to save their friends. “No sign of the children. They probably didn’t snuck out as we speak. But Silverstream though, I can’t be so sure yet. I just hope Tempest Plagueis hasn’t done anything to her if she entered here already.” Mickey and Riku was confuse by this. They have no idea who this Tempest Plagueis is. “Who is this Tempest Plagueis you speak of?” Asked Mickey confusedly. “He was the second in command of training the Storm Guards,” she answered, “He was also once the king of the hippogriffs before betraying them and Queen Novo when The Storm King and I invaded their home. I often keep my distance from him, because after first meeting him, he was acting strange.” “Strange how exactly?” Riku asked. “I sense darkness in him, very strong darkness. And unlike any darkness I seen before in my life.” “And I take it he’s still here after what happened to The Storm King, right?” Asked Riku curiously. Fizzlepop nodded in response to Riku’s question. “Yes. I was planning on trying to get him to turn back to a good king again when The Storm King was now gone, but after sensing the darkness in him, I couldn’t bare to go near him. Even if he still obeys The Storm King and refuse to go back as king again.” Fizzy felt guilty now after saying all of that. Riku and Mickey quickly notice this and gave Fizzlepop Berrytwist a friendly smile showing her that it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t get Plagueis to turn good again. “Awww, don’t feel bad, Fizzy,” said the king before gently placing a hand on her shoulder, “It’s not your fault you couldn’t turn him back to a good king again. We all do things like this sometimes, especially when we’re trying to make things right after the bad things we did.” “I agree, Fizzy,” said Riku, “I once served the darkness, and when I was free from the realm of darkness, I couldn’t help but feel like Sora wouldn’t forgive me after all the things I did and nearly broke our friendship, so I kept my distance from him for a long time. But as it turns out, his heart was stronger than his hate and anger. And that he was able to forgive me and still called me a friend.” Fizzlepop Berrytwist couldn’t help but gave her two new friends a happy smile. Those kind words from Riku and Mickey made her heart feel friendship within. “Thanks you two,” she said before looking at the castle, “Now let’s go save the young pony and hippogriff.” The two gave her a nod before they all made their way towards the castle of the Storm King.