Luna has a son. A human son, she sees great things in his future.
Luna has a son, a human son, before ascending to his own throne, he will bring peace to Equestria and end a terrible war. Yes, he will do great things, there is only one problem. Celestia hates him. She see's him as a threat and a savage, so when she sends him to die in the frozen wastes, what will happen?
"NO LUNA! THE CHILD IS A BEAST AND A MONSTROSITY! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO BRING HARM TO EQUESTRIA!"
Celestia roared over the guards who stood ready to defend her. A crying Luna opposite of her, her won guards poised to defend her from the others.
"PLEASE! HE IS MY SON! YOUR NEPHEW! I HAVE SEEN IT, CELESTIA! HE WILL BRING A BALANCE TO OUR LAND! HE WILL END THE CHANGELING THREAT!"
"NO SISTER! I HAVE MADE MY DECISION! EVEN AS WE SPEAK, THE CHILD IS DEEP WITHIN THE FROZEN WASTES! HIS LIFE IS LIKELY GONE ALREADY!"
Luna seemed to shatter as she dealt with the heavy news that had been thrown upon her like anvils. Tears flowed freely across her face, her son, her adopted son, who had been found inside the castle grounds, her little light........................ had just been snuffed out.
"why.........Why........He was no more than a infant. He.....He was."
Celestia parted her guards and enclosed her sister in an embrace.
Far to the North, a particular Shadow king roamed the wastes. Hatred for when his Kingdom was lost still boiled within him. All his slaves, his subjects, even his own home! Was taken from him. He would need to start over, think up a new strategy. He was a powerful force, but he could only directly influence ponies through his crystals. He would need someone to wage a direct war against Equestria. He would need some sort of Warrior, A Champion. The King continued to think to himself. Mumbling on about his revenge, when something broke his concentration. He listened......Crying.......A infant crying. The King shuffled his dark form in the direction of the crying. He was getting closer...Closer. He spotted what was making the noise, a small white biped. He felt sympathy for this child as he wrapped it in a shadow. He brought it closer to his face for inspection. It seemed fine, no cuts or bruises. Turning it to face him, he saw that its eyes had filled with blood and frozen. The creature was permaneantly blind, his eyes would likely need to be removed. He noticed a familiar smell coming off of it. He took a deep breath, realizing who the scent belonged to, He smiled
"It would seem your dear sweet Luna abandoned you, do not fear child. For soon you will have your revenge and a family. And I will have my revenge. Eh? ShadowKin.
"Father?" A small voice rang out through the ice cave. "Father? Where are you?"
"I am here son, what is it you wish?" A dark, foreboding voice questioned.
"Father, I know of how I was found, and I know of Celestia's evil. I have but one question."
"And what is that?"
"When do I kill her?"
The dark voice chuckled. The noise bounced off the walls of ice.
"Soon, Shadowkin, when you are ready, may you claim your justice."
"Oh, and Father? How will I get to her?"
"Trust the shadows my son, for the darkness hides it's children, and frightens those who do not accept it's embrace."
"Father? How will I kill her? She has magic, and I....I....Am.....I'm Blind."
"Hush child, for the time for your rest is at hand. As for your lack of sight, I am working on a way to make you see again. Now go to bed, I shall be by in a moment."
"Yes, Father."
A Child walked through several arches of ice, his hands feeling along the way. His jet black hair contrasting with the blue ice. He came upon a door, his hands feeling for a handle. Once his hands locked on to something, he pushed it open. Feeling along his walls, he found an object of rather soft proportions, feeling like silk. He spread back the heavy covers and climbed inside. It was cold, but, he liked the cold. Always had. A few minutes Later, shadows wafted in to the room. covering the floor, before massing to the side of the bed. A stern melodic voice began to ring inside the cave.
"You are my Child." "My warrior of Shadow." "All your enemies fall before you." "Dying is all they can do." "You purge my land, of it's blight." "You are my Shadow. My Darkness." "Who keeps me hidden from all plight." "You fight with ferocity." "Being all you can be." "You are my Son." "You are my Soldier." "You are the One."
The dark melody ended, replaced with the light snoring of a young child. The shadow seemed to dissolve, a solid form rising out of it. the King laid a gentle hoof over the child. "soon, your training will begin. Soon you will regain your sight."
Several ice ponies searched the room, checking behind rocks for a place to set up shelter. They had been looking for a place to set up since they left town a few hours back. A white stallion lowered his hood, scanning the horizon, Luna's moon was high up in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the landscape. A pony in golden armor with a cloak draped over the uniform arrived behind the Stallion with several other Guards.
"Captain Shining Armor, The local populace has confirmed that several ponies have gone missing in this area."
The white stallion, Captain shining Armor, turned and sighed. "Okay, spread out in a search formation, and find those Ponies!"
"Now, Son. This is your final test. Slaughter all the Ponies, except that one there, that captain Shining Armor. Your Crystal augments should pickup their heat signatures easy. Did you place the bodies like I told you?"
A bipedal figure was crouched in the snow, two crystals where his eyes should have been, scanned the horizon. A large knife hung at his side as part of his cloak flapped in the wind.
"Yes, Father."
"Good, look! There! A Pony is going to discover the bodies! Remember what I told you son. The shadows will grant you victory. Once they are dispatched, follow the Captain. Your journey for revenge is set. Follow it."
A Guard Pony moved around a rock, turned around and lost his entire lunch.
"Yes, Father."
The figure stood, backed into the shadow of a rock and disappeared.
"CAPTAIN! I FOUND THEM!" The Guard Pony waved to his comrades.
Captain Shining Armor heard this and trotted over to the circle of Guards who had gathered around a pit. He heard the whisperings between the guards.
"Celestia have mercy."
"What could have done this?"
"This is horrible."
"I'm not gonna sleep well."
Shining Armor moved aside his soldiers, trying to get a view of the pit. He wished he never had.
Inside the pit were ponies. their guts all spilled out, the hole was filled with frozen blood, making the bodies stick half in and half out. Shining Armor Lost his lunch. A chill went through his spine. his muscles locked up when he heard that voice, that horrible voice.
Shining Armor spun around, questioning his guards. "Please tell me you heard that?"
All Guards nodded, all except for one. "Where's Rock-thrust?"
Shining Armor felt something warm splash over him and he heard a 'thunk' He looked down to see Rock-thrust's head at his feet, face locked in an eternal grimace of pain. He heard two more thunks and looked in horror as two guards heads rolled cleanly off their shoulders.. There was three left. Shining watched two of the guards turn and run, then the voice called out again.
"Don't run away, I just want to play."
The guards toppled and screamed as their legs were sheared clean off, this disturbed and scared Shining, but what disturbed him more was they were left, screaming and dying.
"Looks like they're on their last legs."
The last remaining guard turned towards Shining. "Sir what do we do?"
"RUN!"
They both took off in the direction of the town. Shining ran as fast as he could, trying to outrun the voice that killed his men. A loud scream punctuated the air. The last guard was gone. He kept running until he saw the town, more importantly, his chariot out of here. When he entered the town, he was ecstatic that the Chariot pullers were still hooked up. He jumped on the chariot, and immediately ordered his men to leave.
"But sir, what about the others?"
"GONE! NOW GET US THE BUCK TO CANTERLOT!"
Little did Shining know that because it was night.
Shadowkin cleaned his blade off on the purple velvet sides of the Chariot. Six guards, six kills, six steps closer to Revenge. He looked up into the sky, the vision radiating in a wave of cold blue. He switched off the Heat sensoria, switching to regular was a thing he did rarely. It was when he thought about his life, his training, his.......Enhancemets. At the thought of the crystals protruding from his eye sockets, memories of the operation in which he got them, played through his mind. The pain of his eyes being cut out, the burn of the crystals as their magic seared into his brain, it was worth it, he could see. He was saddened by this, no matter what sight he saw through, he'd never see the world through his own. He realized that no matter what will happen, he would always be alone. He'd never had contact with anypony besides his father, never had a true.........Pony there for him. He banished these thoughts from his mind, he was a Hunter. One purpose and one purpose only.
A few hours later the Chariot rolled to a stop at a large castle, a panic stricken Captain bounding off and into the throne room, with a solemn, silent and unseen Shadow following him. Shadowkin had spent years preparing himself for this moment, the time when he would see his great betrayer, see the one who unjustly cursed him, and see the one who nearly ended his life.
And put a knife between her damned eyes.
The door to the throne room burst open, a very scared Captain quickly bowed, removed his helmet and told his tale.
"Princess! We were investigating the disappearances like you ordered us ma'am."
Celestia leaned forward, eyes wide in anticipation.
"And what happened to my little Ponies?"
Shining gulped, a fresh line of sweat forming on his face.
"Dead."
Celestia bolted up from her throne, eyes blazing with fury.
"WHAT!? DEAD? BRING IN THE OTHERS OF THE GROUP! I WANT FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS!"
Shining gulped again, tears welling up in his eyes, his legs barely able to keep him standing.
"They're dead too."
Celestia grew angrier. Her hooves trembling with hate.
"What happened? What did this?"
"I don't know! All I heard was a voice that sai-!"
WOOSH!
Every torch, lantern, and brazier was immediately snuffed out. Princess Celestia charged her horn up, casting a dim glow.
"WHO GOES THERE?!"
An eerie voice boomed across the darkness, causing the Captain to fall to the ground in fear. "Oh no, it's back!"
"What's the matter Princess?"
"SHOW YOURSELF!" She roared back.
"I'm hurt you don't remember me."
"SHOW YOURSELF COWARD!"
"Oh no Princess, besides, other than Captain blunder over there, you're all alone."
Then it dawned on Celestia. Where were her other guards? She searched frantically back and forth, her horn casting a glow. Where did they go? How did the voice bearer get in? She had a dozen guards posted around the room.
"GUARDS? GUARDS!"
"Right here Princess."
Several 'THUNKS' could be heard around the room. Celestia recoiled in horror, before her on the ground laid.
The heads of her dozen Guards.
"You, when I was an infant, sentenced me to doom, for a crime I hadn't commited. You sent me to die on the frozen ground, to be at the whim of anything passing by."
"You see Princess, I've got one question."
Celestia was starting to vaguely remember.....something.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?"
The voice appeared right beside her, gone from a booming sound, to a soft whisper."
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
All the lights flashed for a second, revealing a tall biped. Celestia instantly recognized him.
Celestia was stunned, this creature had killed a dozen of her guards, plus the five in Shining's squad, along with the innocent ponies. It was obvious he had no mercy.
"Fool, you revealed yourself to me,now you have nowhere to run." Celestia smiled as she charged her horn.
Shadowkin grinned an insane smile. "Run? I plan to use your ponies corpses as a chariot."
Something wasn't right, why wasn't she trying to blast him? He noticed her horn starting to glow a bright color, before shooting a big ball of light into the air: A signal. The sound of armored hooves hitting the ground reached his ears.' A signal for help.' The doors burst open as dozens of Guards flooded the room. Perfect, lots of targets, close quarters, and best of all.
In the dark.
Shadowkin switched his sight back to heat, as he used the shadow magic of the crystals to rush out the braziers. He crossed his arms in an 'x' over his chest, his knife was in his sheath. He wouldn't need it. Too reflective. the last brazier was flickering and right before the darkness overtook the room, he said two words.
"Lights out."
Shadowkin immediately phased into a shadow well above the crowd, along the windows. His vision picked out each signature as plain as day. He could hear each whisper like the wind.
"Lets get to work."
He jumped off the edge, picking out a female pegasus guard,he aimed his feet directly toward her. When he collided with the mares body, he felt her spine and ribs fracture, then shatter. She let out a blood piercing scream all the way down to the ground, where the force of the slam, combined with Shadowkins weight, splattered her all across the ground, covering a few near guards in gore and intestinal bits. Shadowkin turned and grabbed the nearest ponies head, gave it a twist and a pull, until it separated from the body.he hurled the head at Celestia, obliterating the skull on a corner of her throne. She shrieked. He then put his full weight into the Slaughter, laughing and bellowing like a madman, he panicked the guards. He shattered ones face with a kick. Ripped off anothers leg and stabbed him in the neck with the jagged bone. He grabbed a pony's jaw in both hands and pulled until it's head exploded into a mass of gore.
The slaughter continued until there was a few guards left, they had all huddled in a circle, spears pointing outwards. What they didn't know, was that Shadowkin was in their little circle, pretending to be with them. He felt a nudge on his arm.
"Hey bro, I know things have gone to shit, but, what you thinking about this?"
"Oh, I'm just thinking about which one of you to kill next."
"Wha-"
The Stallion never finished his sentence as two powerful hands splattered his skull on the wall. Just then an idea popped in his head, he listened closely to the other two guards whisperings.
"Hey, speed strike?"
"Yeah, quick streak?"
"We-re gonna di-"
"SPEED STRIKE! I'M OVER HERE! DON'T TRUST ANYPONY ELSE, HE CHANGES FORMS!"
Shadowkin called from the other side of the room.
The pony called speed strike immediately reared back and stabbed quick streak through the back of the head.
"Eat that you-SNAP!"
The pony never even spoke as it's neck was snapped.
Shadowkin, re-lit the torches and braziers, revealing a room covered in bodies, blood, gore, and intestinal tract. And one horrified Celestia, she probably thought she'd win. Well she didn't. Shadowkin bowed turned and walked towards the balcony, turned to face Celestia, gave her the bird. And stepped off the balcony.
Shadowkin felt the air rush past his ears as he fell, he measured the time he fell.
"3......2......1....and FLIP! "
He adjusted his weight as he flipped in mid air, so that his stomach was facing the ground. He could see the darkness below. 'Perfect' He thought. He quickly concentrated on a nearby shadow, willing his being forward, just like his father had shown him. He came to an abrupt halt as he hit the ground, crouched and rolled. He looked back to where he jumped, there was the balcony four hundred feet above him.
"Damn I'm good."
He turned to study his surroundings. Trees. The dense foliage would provide excellent cover for him, should patrols and search parties arrive to look for him. He picked a random direction and set off. He walked for hours, stopping only to make sure he wasn't being followed. He looked ahead, the trees were starting to thin out, there was a mass behind them, but he couldn't see it yet. He parted the final bushes, his eyes claiming their prize. A Castle, an old, very old, Castle.
"Meh, sun will be up soon, need a place to rest."
The sun would be up, he wouldn't be able to hide greatly, so any patrols would easily spot him. So he would need to hide. He soon came to a rickity old bridge, it didn't look like it would support his weight. He simply Shadow-phased to the other side, the Castle gates, or what was left of them appeared in his sight. He shoved one aside and walked into the darkness. His vision cut through the lack of light, illuminating everything in a dull blue. He could hear water dripping. Pushing aside a low hanging vine, he saw a pool of water. But what else he saw made him hide in the shadows above the pool.
Several pony like shapes walked around the pool, he noticed one was bigger than the rest, and had holes in its legs. This was a first contact situation, he would answer it with the same thing he always does.
Violence.
Or at least it's threat. He shadow phased behind one of the ponies, grabbed it by it's throat and hugged it close to it's chest. The rest of the ponies turned and gasped.
"If you so much as try to tell Celestia i'm here, I'll kill all of you."
"Why would we tell Celestia anything? Let my subject go, we have not brought harm on you at all." A voice rang from the largest of the pony-things.
'They're lying,they've thrown in their lot with the bitch-queen, as soon as you leave they'll notify her at once.' Shadowkin smiled at this thought. The more pony guards, the more he can kill.
"Very well, but tell me, who are you, and why would you not tell Celestia that the thing that slaughtered fifty-two of her armored pansies, that he's here?"
The big one laughed, her voice oddly entrancing Shadow. He shook his head, he didn't know what was going on, nor did he like it. Was he poisoned somehow? Did he catch a disease from all the killing? He didn't like it one bit.
"You slew fifty-two royal guards? Oh that is rich. How did you even get in the Castle?"
The being she was talking to disappeared, she frantically looked around for him, something about him made her uneasy, whether it was his apparent ability to kill, or the fact he had the gall to take one of her Changelings hostage.
"Same way I did that." The voice appeared next to her, she turned in his direction and caught a good look at his face.
Where his eyes were supposed to be were two black, smooth, stones. Hair dotted his chin in a small goatee, a black cloth wrapped around his head.
She looked down, catching the rest of him. He wore a long black trench coat, some form of ribbed armor vest underneath it. His leggings were simple cloth, with metal attached. His black boots, had a couple pieces of fur, still attached to flesh, hanging off them. Clipped on his side, was a metal helmet, a great T forming the eyepiece. A long steel knife hung from his waist. All in all, he was one scary bastard.
"Well, you are in the presence of Queen Chrysalis, dear...."
"ShadowKin, the name given to me by my Father."
"Well, ShadowKin. As for one who has slain so many of my enemies, you shall be treated with upmost respect, while you are an ally with the hive, you are an ally, I presume?"
"You help me rip Celestia limb from limb, and then let me wear her skin around the country, you'll have an ally for your hive."
Shadowkin laid low in the bushes, the sunlight glancing off his knife. Several guards walked past, he waited til the last guard was a few feet in front of him, then he dashed. The last guard screamed as his throat was pierced by a knife, the others turned, gasped and attacked. Shadow caught an incoming spear, spun it in his hands, and broke off the tip in a pony's skull. Using the shaft he deflected a downwards sword stroke, the offender having his jaw broken, his neck snapped and his front left hoofbone powdered. The other guards seemed to back off a little, one caught the gull and charged. A fatal mistake. Shadow sidestepped and caught the spear in the crook of his arm, he jerked the shaft back, sending the pony holding on to it flying forwards, suddenly the pony fell back as his skull was crushed by a powerful kick. The last guard started sweating. She fell to her knees, begging to be taken prisoner. He responded with a hard, though not enough to kill her, pommel strike from his knife. She crumpled to the floor, utterly unconscious. Shadow stooped by her side and immediately went to work. His knife carving something in her skin. When he was finished he stood and admired his efforts, there, in the mares side was four bloody words.
Swift Flight had heard the fighting, the screams, the dying. He had flew as fast as he could, desperate to save the lives of his fellow ponies. He landed on the ground, his eyes taking in the carnage. Several guards lay bleeding,dead, their bodies broken, he couldn't even tell who some looked like. He moved through the carnage, careful not to step on any bodies.
"What in Equestria could do this?"
He stopped as he heard a low whimper. He set off in the direction of the noise, he soon found a mare, crumpled in the fetal position, crying. This struck Swift Flight as even more shocking, a royal guard, crying, not even the guards who fought the manticores cried. He walked over to her, and stopped, etched in her side were words.
Shadowkin stalked down the dirt road, the moon easily illuminating the path before him and his changeling companion, along with a sign that read.
"Welcome to Ponyville? Eh. Might as well screw around for a little bit."
Setting off in the direction indicated by the town, he and the Changeling sparked up a small conversation.
"So what made you want to come with me anyways? I know I'm not the most likeable of people, ummmmm.....?"
"False vision, sir-"
"Cut the sir crap, I'm actually interested in being a friend of a hive. Strange right, a mass murderer wanting to befriend a bunch of Changelings. Well, I'm not all that bad."
"Okay, well what made me want to come with you is the fact that I heard you killed 23 Royal Guards!"
"Double that figure, son."
Shadowkin stopped as he heard voices down off the road. He ducked down into the bushes, pulling False Vision with him. A few seconds later, a few figures rose over the top of the hill. Guards.....Alot of Guards. What's worse is that some of them are carrying crossbows. He pulled false vision close, and whispered in his ear.
"Okay, here's the plan, they've got crossbows, the moon is bright, so there isn't any shadows I can jump in, you head back to the hive, I'll deal with the smiley's."
False vision was shocked, and could feel his vision start to cloud with anger. He came on this trip for one reason! To kill a Royal Guard, so the other Changelings would stop making fun of him for being unblooded. And now he has to leave.
"No way. I'm staying."
"Fine,okay whatever, just stay in cover, then we'll start you out easy when I'm done."
"No-I'm coming with yo-!"
Shadow burst out of the bushes, dashing like a mad man towards the guards. He whisked out his knife, folded it into a reverse grip, and slashed, catching the closest guard by surprise, he died silently, Shadow's knife buried halfway in his fore-head. This however did not go unnoticed by the other guards. Soon one shouted to his comrade's.
"Hey! There he is! And he got Strong Back!"
Shadow was fixing to attack, stopping when he heard an all too familiar voice.
"Shadow! I want to help!"
Shadow turned around and pointed to the other direction.
"YOU GET YOUR ASS BACK TO THE HIVE RIGHT NO-!"
Thunk.
Pain flashed through shadows chest, looking down, he saw an arrowhead protruding from his chest, he reached down to pull it out.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Shadow coughed up blood, spattering his essence all over the ground, five more arrows joined their brother in his torso. Pain was everywhere, his vision was starting to black out, he was losing consciousness. No.
Summoning up all his will, he phased to a shadow deep within the trees alongside the path. He listened to the guards, hearing their words.
"Come on! We've got to find him!"
"Why? He's dead. He was shot six times! Plus! He dissolved!"
"Yeah, come on. Lets get back to Canterlot, Report the kill, get the money, and go home."
Several wings flapping told Shadow that the guards had left. He rolled out of the tree, landing on his back pushed the arrows in further, he coughed up more blood. He heard a shuffling of hooves. Right before he passed out, he saw a lavender coat.
Shadowkin's chest felt like it was on fire, like somepony was sticking a hot poker in his lungs. Out of the darkness of troubled sleep voices rang out.
"I don't know Twi, this thing looks weird."
"Rainbow! It was out in the middle of the woods, somepony shot the poor thing six times! I'm glad it's still alive!"
"I don't know Rainbow. It is ummm....a new...Species."
"Well, I don't care! When he wakes up, I'm going to throw him a big party!"
"Pinkie darling, how exactly do you know it's a he?"
"Just look at the bulge in his pants you silly filly!"
"Ah! Pinkie! A lady does not do such things!"
"Ah don't know, but look at them arm thingies! Ah bet he could haul a wagon load o' apples from Sweet Apple Acres to here in no time!"
Shadow's eyes slowly opened, he tried to sit up but, his chest exploded in a hellish pain. He flopped back down to where he lay, immediately regretting his decision.
"Hey! Look! It's waking up!"
Shadow's eyes slowly opened, his vision slowly changing from infra-red to normal, as they always did when he woke up. He turned to the right and spat up blood, covering a small portion of the floor with his life. Turning back, he saw. A Rainbow maned pegasus who was scowling at him, a pink maned pegasus who looked like she couldn't say hi to a mailbox, a pearl white unicorn with a look of utter horror as she looked at his blood, a pink pony who bounced up and down repeatedly, and a stetson wearing orange earth pony, and finally a lavender unicorn who looked at him with bewilderment and amazement.
"What are you?" The Lavendar pony asked.
"Don't know (Cough) Don't care."
"O......kay."
"What's your name?"
"Shadowkin."
"That's a dark name."
"A dark name for one who does dark things."
"And just what do you do?"
"Extreme Chiropractic practice."
"Really?"
"In a way. Now if you'll excuse me, I reall-"
A knock sounded on the door, catching everypony's attention, and interrupting Shadowkin.
"Oh, that must be Princess Celestia."
Twilight opened the door and two royal guards rushed in, immediately snapping chains around Shadow's arms and waist. They dragged him outside and into a Chariot, and near a waiting Celestia, who to say looked pissed would be an understatement. The guards forced him to stand up, just as soon as Twilight and the rest burst through the library. Shadow looked at the guards, they winked at him, just as their eyes flashed green.
"Princess! What are you doing?"
"This thing is a monster Twilight, an absolute monster, Fast blow, read him his Charges."
A royal guard next to the Chariot pulled out a scroll and read aloud it's contents.
"This Creature, is charged with attempted assassination."
The whole crowd, and The six gasped.
"Political conspiracy, breaking and entering, destruction of personal property."
Twilight and her friends Jaws were hanging wide open.
Shadowkin yelled, despite the pain, at the guard. "Come on! Get to the good part!"
"And fifty seven accounts of Murder."
Shadowkin looked straight at Twilight, a smile forming on his face.
"And if it wasn't for you, I'd be dead. Alright, lets get out of here."
Shadow turned to the two guards who were holding his chains, grabbed on to them, and phased his way back in the woods. Whenever he landed, he coughed up even more blood, the guards caught him under his arm, supporting him.
Luna sat in her hotel room pouring over the mound of paperwork before her. She was away in griffon territory on royal business, dealing with land disputes and immigration. She hadn't been in Equestria in over a week. She signed off on a land complaint, reaching for another, she stopped when a royal scroll plopped down in front of her. She sighed, probably just a letter from Celestia, asking her how things were going. She broke the seal with her magic and unfurled the scroll.
Dear sister.
An old problem has resurfaced here in Equestria, and you are needed. This problem has left fifty-seven ponies deceased, and I fear many more will follow suit if this threat is not stopped. Sister, this problem has particular links to our past and must be dealt with swiftly. This may not be the best of times. You are needed back in Canterlot immediately. He still lives.
Luna set the scroll down with a shaky hoof. Tears running down her face. 'After all these years, he lives, but as a murderer? Surely not.' Luna wrestled with these thoughts as she kindly asked the guards stationed outside her door to summon her Chariot.
She was going home.
Shadowkin limped down the hallway, a flash of pain caused him to clutch his chest. False Vision walked along side him, his head hung low.
"I'm sorry I got you shot,Shadow."
Shadowkin shrugged his shoulders. "It's alright, you just wanted to help, and I need all the help I can get."
"But I got you shot."
"Yes, you did, but you also gave me six more reasons to kill Celestia. So you helped me out in the long run."
Shadowkin pushed one of the old oak doors that led to the infirmary open, he needed a doctor. He was tough, but he was no fool. He couldn't die til Celestia died first.
"Hey Shadow?"
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you kill Celestia when you had he chance? You know, back in the Castle?"
Shadow grunted. "Wasn't public enough, I want everypony to see when I rip off her damned head and wear it like a hat."
"Okay then."
Shadow found the room he was looking for, a bleach white room, with a table in it. Shadow saw the doctor, and beckoned him over.
"Hey doc, ever seen somepony get shot six times?"
Twilight lay in her bed, tears streaming down her face, she couldn't sleep, no matter how much she tried, she couldn't. She just kept thinking about what that monster had said. If it wasn't for her, he'd be dead, because of her, fifty-seven ponies would not get justice. She also read in the newspaper that a royal guard had a very eerie message carved into her side. Carved. Words that would scar and leave the message for all to see. Maybe she was the monster.
Luna opened the doors to the throne room. Her mind heavy with thought. 'He lives, and yet others die. But it's worse, they die by his hand.' Luna spotted her sister, sitting on her throne, a look of anger across her face.
"Sister, I wish we could meet under better circumstances." She declared in a rather annoyed voice.
" As do I sister, now tell me, who, and be specific, has slain so many ponies?"
"One who I thought damned long ago, who sparked a rising between us. The child has grown into an adult, and he's back with a vengeance. We must stop this being at once, there is no punishment to severe enough for one who slaughters without mercy and is responsible for the deaths of so many ponies."
Luna could not believe what she was hearing, after all these years, after she finally let go, the child, no. Her child, still lived. ' But how? He was sent to freeze as an infant? How did he survive?' She felt anger start to bubble up within her, Celestia thought that he was responsible, had she never doomed him, the ponies would still live.
"Tell me something Celestia."
"Yes Luna, what is it?"
"Who do you blame for a monsters actions. The monster, or the one who created it?"
Luna turned around and exited the throne room as fast as she could. She had only one goal on her mind.
Find her son.
Shadowkin groggily got up out of his bed, the light of a few torches stung his eyes, forcing them shut. He donned his wool shirt and black trench coat, a pair of pants, and his black boots. Walking out into the changeling hive's hall, he decided it would be best to find some food. After taking a few more corners, talking with a few changelings he knew, he came to the hives food stores, even though changelings needed love to survive, they also required food to keep their bodies in working condition. Moving on down a long line of food, ranging from oats, to a glowing hard substance, that when chewed felt like cake. Shadow took quite a few of these rations, and scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. Spotting who he was looking for, he made his way to the table and sat next to his friend.
"Hey, False."
"Sup, Shadow."
shadow took a bite of the ration he fished off his tray. The meal was actually very good, soft and chewy, yet firm in his fingers.
"So, shadow, where you from?"
"Up north, came from the Frozen Wastes, lived in an ice cave."
"Really, an ice cave? How long you stay there?"
"Since I was an infant."
False 'ah'd before returning to his meal of oats.
"Why are your eyes black?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your eyes, they're black, Why?"
"They're actually a type of crystal, infused with magic, that allows me to see in the dark."
"Why do you need them?"
"Because I'm blind."
"Oh.....I see."
Shadow smiled and grunted, nudging his friend in the side with an elbow.
"You are an ass."
False's eyes dilated once he realized what he just said, but then laughed it off.
"So, how are you healed so fast? You were shot worse than...well, than anything."
"Magic, that doc is pretty good at what she does."
Shadow finished the rest of his ration, and turned to face his friend.
"What do you say we go guard hunting tonight? Should be lots of game."
"Sounds good, though this time I'll stay back and observe. Don't want you getting shot again."
Shadow lay in the bushes, his expert eyes taking every detail of the country side. He saw the peaceful town of Ponyville, it's few nighttime citizens still walking to and fro. Shadows original idea was to simply go hunting for some guards, though that quickly changed when be saw a very ashen lavender mare being comforted by a rainbow haired friend. He recognized these two as the o rd who saved his life, they deserved to know the truth.
Time for a visit.
Shadow crawled around a large rock, the stone rubbing against his exposed cheek. He smelt the air, catching the scent of a few pony's but none of the metallic salt taste of the guards armor. He brought himself into a low crouch, and carefully stalked through the maze of buildings, stopping to listen for any sound of hooves following him, finding none, he bolted around the corner and flattened himself against the wall of the tree. He spotted a way up and onto the balcony over him. He reached for the nearest branch and began pulling himself up. He could shadow-phase up there, but he had to stay in shape. His hand grasped the railing of the balcony and he hauled himself up and over. He listened for a few seconds, he could hear sobbing coming from within the tree. Carefully he reached for the door, opening it slowly, he stepped inside. When he stepped through, the sight of the library flooded his vision. Seeing a rail, and hearing the sobbing coming from the lower floor, he looked over.
The lavender mare was crying heavily, her fur soaked and matted with tears, her hooves covered her crying face. The rainbow colored mare was trying to comfort her friend, her hoof rubbing up and down her back as she whispered that it wasn't her fault.
It made him laugh.
"Really? You're all worked up over me surviving? Why I didn't think anypony cared about me that much!"
Both mare's faces shot up, their expressions changing from confused, to shocked, to pissed.
"YOU!" The rainbow mare pointed a hoof straight at Shadow.
"Yeah it's me."
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
"Considering how I'm the one who did it, yes."
"YOU'RE A MURDERER! A MONSTER! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE!"
"Yes, it would seem your ruler thought that too when I was an infant."
The lavender mares head shot straight up, her face a mixture of confusion, pain, and anger.
"What do you mean?"
Shadow brought his hand to his chest in fake shock.
"You mean she didn't tell you? How I was outcast and left to die, only a baby, a few weeks old? By her hoof?"
The unicorn seemed to go into a state of shock, her eyes shrinking to the size of pinheads.
"No.....No....You're lying!"
"Yeah! Celestia would never do that!"
Shadow started back for the balcony, once there, he started to slowly phase himself away. His body slowly dissolving into a black mist.
Luna stood high above the town of Ponyville, her eyes searching the town for any sign of her son. 'He has to be here, I can feel it' She thought silently to herself. Ever since she had learned that her son was alive, she felt a knot form in her chest, the closer she was, the more it slackened, and she was close.
She continued scanning the town, her eyes sweeping over the town, until she saw movement. A small shadow, barely notable, at least until it took the shape of a bipedal figure. The figure walked through the town, stopping at corners, and blending into the shadows. He apparently didn't care if the pony's saw him, as many did, and backed away quickly. Their eyes darting from side to side in panic.
Luna knew her son was a murderer. She knew he knew nothing about her. She knew only one thing about him...
He was hellbent on revenge.
Luna closed her eyes as tears started to surface. She did not know how he would react. But he had to know she was there for him.
Luna's horn glowed and in a flash of light she was gone.
Shadow stalked through the town, anypony who so much as started to scream was quickly silenced by a malevolent glare. They knew not to mess with him, not if they valued their lives. He continued through the town, noticing he was attracting a lot of attention, he needed to leave. He focused his attention back to the road, only to see the members of the Apple Family barricading it. An orange mare stood in front of the group, flanked by a large red Stallion and a White unicorn, with a purple mane.
"Ahl'right! This is as far as yah go! A murderer like you, needs to be put down, or imprisoned!"
The orange mare's forcefulness surprised shadow, this one had courage. But he was confident she lacked the skill to back it. The red Stallion by her side rose his hoof and shook it.
"Why Ah'm gonna beat yah to a pulp!"
Shadow laughed, his bellowing causing their ears to flatten in anger. These ponies thought they could take him? He killed fifty-eight guards, and he won out against them, except for when he got shot. He raised his hand and pointed it at the Stallion.
"You got a lot of guts. Too bad I've got to rip'em out of you!"
The Stallion reared back and charged, jumping into the air when he neared enough, his hooves outstretched for a tackle. Shadow simply ducked, the stallion soared over his head. Shadow turned, smiling at the Stallion's primitive excuse for fighting.
"Pitiful...You do realize, I could have counterattacked several ways, most of them ending with you being decapitated?"
"You keep yer darn fancy words to yourself!"
The stallion charged again, his head hung low for a rib shattering ram. Shadow rushed to meet this attack head on, before they impacted, Shadow jumped and rolled onto the stallions back, wrapped his arms around his neck, and pulled. The Stallion bucked and kicked, growing more desperate to get him off, as his air supply lessened. After about a minute, The stallion fell to the ground, gasping for air. Shadow hopped off the enormous Stallion, his eye's a malevolent black, his smile turned into one of pure insanity as he whispered into the Stallion's ear.
"You lose."
Shadow stood over him, his boot raised high to perform the killing blow. He was just about to bring it down, when a flash of light flooded his vision and a burst of magic knocked him off his feet, and pinned him to the ground.
"ENOUGH! CEASE THIS FOOLERY AT ONCE!"
Everypony stared at The princess, unsure of what to do, they immediately started calling for justice. Calling Shadow a murderer, a spy, and an abomination. Twilight, Rainbow, and Pinkie pie soon arrived. Twilight's face still wet from tears. Shadow laughed as he heard the taunts. They tickled him, such stupidity, such such ignorance.
"You call me a monster, yet you serve one!"
Applejack smacked shadow across the face, spitting on him as she did so.
"Don't you dare call Celestia a Monster, you freak! What'd she ever do to you!?"
Shadow laughed again, this time louder, with his voice ringed with malice.
"She never told you? My, my, my...Even I would remember what that bitch did to me."
Shadow was slammed on the ground, the wind was knocked out of him and he went into a coughing fit. Luna's eyes were full of fury and her teeth were grinding against each other.
"Don't you dare talk about her that way!"
Shadow spat directly in her face.
"Make me bitch."
Luna slammed Shadow on the ground again, this time several pops could be heard coming from his back.
"Don't you dare talk to your mother that way!"
Everypony went silent, the entire crowd was shocked. Twilight stopped crying, Pinkie cocked her head in confusion, Applejack's jaw dropped, Rarity fainted, Rainbow dash just stared blankly. One word echoing through their heads.
"Mother?"
Shadow seemed shocked, his eyebrow was raised and his face was plastered with bewilderment.
"You think yourself my mother? Really? Then why didn't you stop Celestia from leaving me to die, I mean c'mon! You didn't stop her from leaving your child to die in the wastes?"
Luna hung her head as tears started to flow. She started to sob.
"To my everlasting shame, I did not."
Twilight was shocked, the monster, the....thing, she had saved, was...........Royalty?
"Wait....you mean....this thing is your son?"
"Yes......He is."
"And what Celestia did is true?"
More sobs came from luna as she buried her face in her hooves.
"Yes....It is."
Applejack seemed like she was in deep thought, her hoof tracing her chin.
"Can't say I blame her. Look at what he's done."
Applejack was immediately tackled by Rainbow dash, her face seething with anger,
"BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE DID! I'D WANT REVENGE TOO!"
Rarity (after recovering from her faint and asking a few bystander's what was going on.) rolled her eyes, and shook her hoof in an elegant manner.
"Well, I do say Applejack darling, Rainbow does have a point."
Twilight had stopped crying, her head was hung low.
"I don't care what she did, she's still my teacher."
Fluttershy was balling her eyes out, her tears leaving her cream colored coat wet and tear stained,
"But, it's so sad! Killing a baby just isn't nice."
Pinkie Pies mane was deflated, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"What Celestia did was really mean, and she even took his eye's."
Shadow smiled, his grin showing off his canines. He pointed to the mare's who sided with him, and beckoned them closer. When they were close he told Luna to cut the magic, which surprisingly, she did. When he was free, he wrapped his arms around them, and looked out into the crowd as he started to teleport himself back to the hive.
Shadow and the girls materialized inside the changeling Hive, earning a few shocked looks from a few bystanders. The girls however were more than a little bewildered at how they came to be in a different place.
"Where the buck are we?"
"Home. The Changeling Hive."
"WHAT!?"
Rainbow's jaw was hanging open, she was stunned that they were in her hated nemesis's home. Pinkie pie just frowned.
"Well, we're in meanie HQ."
Rarity 'fainted'
"OH This is the worst possible thing!"
Fluttershy started to recede inside her mane.
"Uh oh"
Shadow simply rolled his 'eyes'
"Oh get over it, I lived in a fucking ice tunnel for my entire life, this place is like heaven to me."
Soon Queen Chrysalis approached, her hooves making tactful noises against the hewed stone.
"Shadow, what is the meaning of bringing them here?"
"They sided with me."
"I see. I don't trust them, so they'll be placed under heavy, heavy guard until I can."
A few Changelings came and abruptly dragged away, the ponies and a screaming Rainbow Mare, who was issueing more threats than she'd be able to carry out in her lifetime. Shadow stole a peek at Chrysalis's mane, the grassy green color making his stomach churn in a good way. Her clear wings were like staring into a mirror that reflected the best of ones self. The plates on her skin looked like the smoothest stone.
She was Beautiful.
"So..........um Chrysalis.....I was wondering if you'd like to grab some....uh.....dinner with me sometime?"
Chrysalis looked back at Shadow, her eye's expressing wonder, bewilderment, and disbelief. Her shocked look sublimed into a cute smile.
My laptop the one where I updated from broke. And I have yet to find a replacement. sorry... And why so adverse to a chrysalis ship? I mean comeon Shadow has just found someone who shares his interests. Also known as murdering Celestia.
Shadow stood in his quarters, losing a battle with a bowtie. When Chrysalis walked in, he was ready to kill somepony
So he did.
Chrysalis barely had time to react as Shadow's fist collided with her face. She landed on the ground, green blood spewing out of her nose. She immediately tried to bring up her legs to defend herself from the kick that followed. After a rain of blows, she eventually called out in her final question.
"Why?"
Shadow kneeled by her face. He reached back and pulled out his serrated blade. He pised the knife above her throat.
"Because Father wills it."
Chrysalis' s eyes shot wide and then dimmed as the knife punctured her throat.
Earlier that night.
Shadow lay asleep in his bed. Dreams of fulfilling his purpose passing through his head. He suddenly awoke and shot up in bed. Off in the corner, darkness swirled, two red eyes staring at him.
"My child, listen close and heed me. Chrysalis is not as she seems. Kill her and claim her throne. Use the changelings. And bring about celestia's destruction. "
Shadowkin stood on the old Castles balcony, millions of Changelings all over Equestria waited, listening through the hive mind. Shadow waited for the Changeling tailor to finish with her purpose, making a regal outfit. The suit was a dark black, with bright green linings, the pants were a jet color and the boots the same. He winced as he felt the last pin pull out of the suit and thus out of his skin. When the Changeling pony started to fly away, he raised a hand and halted her. She seemed to get nervous at this, but was simply shocked by his next words.
"You have my thanks, but tell me, do I look okay?"
"Yes sir, my Prince, you look ravishing."
"Thank you, now if you'll excuse me, I must make a, rather dreadful announcement."
Shadow walked over to the balcony, his features hardening as he saw the mass of black and green below him. He cleared his throat, and nearly instantly, all murmurs and voices were hushed.
"EARLIER TODAY, AN ASSASSIN BROKE INTO MY CHAMBERS, WHERE THE QUEEN AND I WERE RESIDING, THIS ASSASSIN SLEW THE QUEEN AND ESCAPED!"
Wails of sadness and anger erupted throughout the crowd, as the Changelings mourned at the loss of their Queen.
" YET FEAR NOT, FOR SHE WAS LEADING YOU DOWN A PATH OF DESTRUCTION AND RUIN AND WORST OF ALL....EXTINCTION!"
Yells of sadness and murmurs of agreement rippled through the mass, every Changeling across Equestria was standing on edge as to hear next.
"I SHALL TAKE HER PLACE, AND UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE WILL RISE INTO A GLORIOUS EMPIRE, OVERSHADOWING THE PONIES IN OUR GLORY! FOR WE ARE THE MANY, WE ARE THE MIGHTY, WE ARE BOLD, AND STRONG, AND CUNNING, AND HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL. AND WHAT DID THE PONIES DO? THEY CAST YOU OUT, RAN YOU OFF YOUR LANDS, AND HUNTED YOU DOWN, KILLING YOUR CHILDREN AND LEAVING YOU TO STARVE! WELL, I SAY NO MORE!"
Shouts of glory and praise erupted from the crowd, some female changelings knelt and wept, while some changeling males were yelling bloody promises to Shadow.
"WE WILL DRIVE THEM FROM THEIR HOMES, AND WE SHALL TAKE BACK OUR LANDS! WE WILL NOT KILL THEM, BUT WE WILL LEAVE THEM TO STARVE AND ROT IN THEIR OWN FILTH!"
Screams of agreement shattered the stillness of the cave.
"WE ARE THE CHANGELINGS, AND WE WILL MAKE THEM KNOW FEAR, WE SHALL SHOW THEM HATE, AND WE WILL PUT THEM TO THE BLADE!"
A chorus of yells and promises and swears of Loyalty spewed from the crowds all over Equestria.
"I CALL TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL OVER EQUESTRIA! WE SHALL GATHER HERE AND WE SHALL TURN OUR PRISON INTO THE PRIDE OF AN EMPIRE!"
All as one, millions of hooves hit the floor and began the massive migration to the Castle in the Everfree.
"FOR THE HONOR OF THE CHANGELING EMPIRE!"
The crowd erupted in a massive cheer, and all over Equestria, ponies stared in wonderment as random ponies in the streets, stopped, raised their hooves to the sky and all shouted the same thing.
All around the castle, Changelings toiled in constant work of repairing, building and crafting. Shadow stood over the multitude of thousands of workers and the never ending train of Changelings. He could hear the humdrum of work and the joy of beginning something new. Around him stood his 'won' Elements of harmony, clasped in chains, and staring at him with looks of fear.
"You know, I thought you were just going to get revenge on Celestia, but now I see you want revenge on all ponies! You're not an Emperor, you're a madpony!" Rainbow dash finished her accusations, and settled back into the chains with a huff.
"Yes, I do want revenge on Celestia, and I want to see the Pony race live as they do, yet most of all, I want to see this race, these Changelings, flourish, they are like me, cast out and berated for being different. However, anypony that joins my side will be spared. Now tell me, where does your allegiance lie?"
There was a long silence after he said these words, the only sounds were the sounds of below. Finally, the whole group spoke.
"With Celestia."
"Then the next time we meet, will be on the battlefield." Shadow turned to the guards he had with them.
"Take them back to Canterlot, oh and girls, would you be so kind as to give Celestia a message? Tell her..."
There was a long silence.
"That sin is like water, and it nurtures the seed of revenge."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in exasperation. She was tired of this person and his antics.
"What does that mean?"
"She'll know what it means."
Shadow looked out to the crowd, his 'eyes' scanning over everything. He saw the Changelings constructing walls, crafting weapons, and one crafting his new set of armor, but most of all, he saw his Empire.
"Soon, Father will be here and we will make our march onto the capitol, and anypony that gets in our way.....Will die."
"Your a madpony and a murderer!"
Shadow swiftly turned, a look of anger on his face. Rainbow smiled, she thought that she had just struck a nerve.
"You're a murdering, murder led, sack of bloody murder!"
She continued her ranting, even as Shadow knelt in front of her, his face twisted in rage. Suddenly he stopped fuming and smiled, his features took on a relaxed state as he kissed Rainbow on the forehead.
"Yes, I am. But who made me this way?"
Rainbow glared daggers at Shadow, her magenta eyes focused on burning a hole on Shadow's head.
All around was the sound of marching. Warcries filled the air. Promises and oaths of blood and fury were spewed out of the mass of black plates, swords, and spears. This force was bloodthirsty, and would slay everything in its way. At its head was the one who would lead them to victory.
Dressed in a thick armor plating of the blackest color possible. Marched an indomitable figure. The figure raised a massive sword in one hand and the horde screamed and roared with all the bloodlust it could muster. The figure's armor embraced his body, leaving almost no skin exposed. Lines with the purpose of draining foreign blood criss crossed among it. Litanies and seals of honor, revenge, and sacrifice adorned the figure. The helmet was domed, with black horns coming out of the top, and a narrow slit cut in the helmet.
The figure dropped the sword, and the horde charged. Eager to meet the opposing army, gold and silver flashing amongst the enemies ranks, easily picking out their officer's.
The armies clashed and the slaughter began. Black plate clashed against gold plate. Blade crossed blade, and the screams of the dying sounded in the air.
The battle raged for hours. And the earth wept the blood of the fallen. The horde had cut through the golden army, and their officers were taken prisoner, to be made examples for all those who opposed the Figure.
Celestia paced around her throne room, her face covered in a mask of both fear and anger. Three defeats, three bucking defeats. Trottingham, Stalliongrad, Fillydelphia, all were confirmed to be under his control.
These defeats scared her, but not like Hoofington did, there was no battle, no enemy, the city had just gone.....quiet. Scouts sent to investigate came back with reports of ponies blown to pieces, corpses arranged in eight sided stars, and strange brass shells littering the streets. There was no forewarning, no reports or requests for aid. Like nopony had the time or couldn't get out fast enough, which would mean a hundred-percent casualty rate. She quickly turned her thoughts to the matter at hoof.
'Dammit! Another defeat, he's taken Trottingham, and Stalliongrad, along with Fillydelphia! Oh, curse his damned name, curse his damned soul! AND CURSE THE MOTHERBUCKER WHO SAVED HIS DAMNED LIFE'
Then it hit her, somepony saved his life, trained him, and...
She smiled as she finally realized the final part.
"Somepony is coordinating him."
She turned and frantically ran throughout the castle, passing servants and guards alike. Finally she reached the war room, and after flinging its doors open and clearing any obstructions on a map in the center of the room. Her smile grew as she traced the edges of the map. The three cities that were taken had formed a sort of ring, originating in the south western quadrant. She had guards stationed at the forefront of the ring but nopony had made it through.
'Meaning, whoever is ordering him comes from the Frozen wastes, and the only pony with a burning hatred against her would be...'
"Sombra."
She let out a yelp of joy, now that she knew who ordered him, she could cut off the snake's head, so to speak.
"Soon, Death is coming for you!"
"Indeed I am"
Celestia went rigid, and her knees started to shake, something had gotten in here.
"Who are you? Tell me your name!"
"I am Malal, the god of Malice. And I am here for my son. Whom you have been trying to kill."
