Sanctified Absence

Shadow took a glance towards the mountain, before signalling to his "partner." Time to get to work, if these ponies are so important it would be best not to leave it any longer. He used his magic to let out a faint light from the tip of his horn, it was a soft light, not so easily spotted but still bright enough to give him a slightly better view of the surroundings. After checking about and making sure it was reasonably safe, Shadow reclined from his hiding spot behind the fallen tree and approached the other black stallion. "It appears safe enough to carry on." He turned, walking towards the mountain before giving one last piece of advice, "Be careful, it may look safe but the aura feels... Unusual, even for the forest."

- Reads Post - Well, Midnight (Sombra) has certainly found a way to open up for another character hasn't he?

Something is wrong. Shadow thought to himself, finally breaking out of the spell he had cast upon himself. Something is very, wrong. He slowly placed a hoof upon the hilt of his sword, trying to come to senses with what he felt. That Aura, I do not know... It feels. The black stallion quickly drew his weapon and turned around.

Shadow, emotionally exhausted (literally) from the ritual, decided to leave his helmet the way it was, for now. "How long have I spent on this? And I've only just started with the Helmet, nothing else?" Shadow looked at the beginning of his newly enchanted helmet. This is going to take me longer than a night! Idiot! The sword alone took a week! Placing his helmet in a magic-preserving case, Shadow put on the other parts of his armour, he hadn't started on his other parts yet and wearing the helmet now would be a very dangerous thing to do. "Perhaps I should go back? No, Lunar could use some time alone, well... alone." With that, the black stallion hid the dagger once again, put his sword in the sheath and went deeper into the barracks.

Shadow was far too enchanted by his own work to hear the knock, however he may have just mistaken it for the many noises now playing up about the room. This is why he wanted to do this in private, eerie glows, slightly altered gravity and temperatures, strange patterns with any fire and a slight humming noise, this "ritual," had a habit of making things a little... Chaotic.

The sound of an explosion came from Shadow's room, not too loud but enough so the other guards in the barracks could hear. "Ah, K'el Nash Vros'k Rah!" Shadow cursed to himself with a dead language he picked up during his studies. "Wasn't expecting it to be that K'ela powerful!" He looked down at his left hoof, the vortex rune that should've resided on his Helmet was now burned onto his hoof. "I thought hatred would be good enough for this one!" Shadow looked more closely at the mark, now burning with what remained of a failed rune, it wouldn't have hurt so much if it weren't for the anger he put into it. He noticed a lone tear drop from his eye. "Wait." He grabbed the ornate knife and gently caught the tear with it. "Pain? Pain! Of course!" He quickly went back to carving the rune on his helmet, so not to waste the fresh emotion. Hope no one heard that little incident.

"Perhaps I should leave them be," Shadow sighed. At least it gives me some free time. Shadow retreated to his personal quarters within the castle barracks, he had a larger room than most of the others. "Perks of being a personal guard I guess." But now was not the time for jokes, he had a fire in his eyes, a purpose that he was going to see through, even if it would take him all night. He laid his armour our on a medium sized wooden table, before drawing his sword and examining the markings. "I know they gave me a tome with the sword, but where is it?" After a minute or so of searching, Shadow found the book he was looking for, it was an old book, worn from age, not use. He flicked through the pages until he found what he wanted, the page was littered with drawings of runes and other such arcane symbols, some matching those on his sword. "Well, let's hope I can remember," drawing an extremely black and white ornate knife, Shadow got to work, carving exact copies of the runes on his armour.

I'm in no condition to help her now, I can't even control myself! Stormwing has this, and the others will keep her safe. Without another word, Shadow sheathed his sword and walked out of the room, remaining just outside the door as he faced his current predicament. Get a hold of yourself.

A look of anger was across Shadow's face. Now is not the time to discuss my past! Get a hold of the situation! "Testing the new guard?" Shadow met eye to eye with Grell. "Look at what's happened to Lunar!" He calmed himself down, getting angry was so easy after letting himself slip into... Hatred. He grabbed his sword and dragged his still aching self to beside Lunar. He turned to Luna "I felt it too, although never anything like this before," he answered before turning to Steel "are you sure she's alright?"

Inside Shadow would've been relieved of not having to use his darkness, if it were not for the soul-searing pain within him. What were you thinking? He thought to himself as he too fell to the floor, grasping his head in pain as the Darkness still threatened to corrupt his soul. Not only could've you killed or hurt yourself, but everyone else in the room! Even Lunar! Once he came to some form of consciousness, he forced himself towards Lunar, limping. he had to know if she was alright.

He... He froze me? Shadow said, too shocked to even hear Lunar. I'd rather not show this side of myself yet, but... I... No! Shadow began to call upon not his inner control, but his inner hatred, his inner darkness. Such a spell was risky to be sure, but by very definition would be more powerful than he could achieve without it.

I don't care who you are... Shadow would never think about hurting Lunar, but this had to be done. As quickly as his reactions would let him he grabbed Lunar with his magic and forced her away from the new pony, more towards Stormwing. "Assassins, always so cocky aren't they?" He readied his blade and began to summon his magical strength, before charging the alleged member of this "council of nine," though he was no fool, Shadow was not going to rush into combat all berserk, that would leave him open. He used his magic to propel himself over the pony, before making a very quick and precise swing with his sword towards this newcomers neck.

Almost instantly Shadow has his sword drawn and in the direction of the new pony. A million thoughts rushed through his mind every second, who was this, what did he want. Shadow's scholarly intrigue would've gotten the better for him if it weren't for his sense of duty. "If you weren't wearing that armour I would've killed you straight away, even so you have three seconds to tell me who you are before I cut your weight by half!"

I was wrong about this one, he doesn't seem to know me at all. "Shh," Shadow tried to calm Stormwing, before gesturing at Lunar, "Don't you think she's been through enough for now?" He whispered, trying to keep her from hearing. He pulls out his sword, it is adorned with beautiful runes, yet these runes have a terrifyingly equal "evil," feel to them. "Do I look like an assassin to you? Even if I was, I would've done the job by now, you may be capable but you leave yourself far too open." He sighs before sheathing the sword again.

"I heard, these are troubling times for us all." Shadow looked down at the floor, once again his past was coming to haunt him. Now is not the time, you aren't that person anymore! He shook his head before smiling to himself, looking up towards nothing in particular. He soon noticed the suspicious looks coming from Stormwing. "I do believe you have me at a disadvantage sir, you already know my name."

Shadow entered the room, his eyes like that of a hawk, assessing every little inch of the room for weaknesses, points of vantage, anything useful really. By the corner would be the most efficient, especially if assailants came from the suspect entrances. He was so busy calculating he almost didn't notice Stormwing enter the room. Is Lunar really okay with this!? He calmed his mind, taking up position in the corner, if Lunar wishes for this, I have to cooperate, doesn't mean I can't take precautions. Although showing no sign of aggression, Shadow's gaze was always focused on either Lunar or Stormwing, looking for any sign of danger. Perhaps as a slightly more obvious precaution, Shadow kept his hoof closer to his sword, ready for anything that might happen.

"That is correct, Lu- Master, has appointed me with your safety," Shadow explained himself. "While I am not required to be in your direct presence, I have been tasked with keeping in close proximity to you at all times." She doesn't seem to be worried, or even concerned, does she not realize the situation at hand? Shadow thought to himself before meeting with Lunar's gaze once again. "Please, you may continue, pretend I am not here if you wish." With that, Shadow turned to face in the direction Lunar seemed to be going, carefully examining the environment as he went.

Shadow was sifting through the hallways and rooms, searching for his new charge. To be appointed as Lunar's bodyguard? The black stallion thought to himself. Hmph, I would have preferred to be on the front lines, bringing the fight to her, but I guess it'll have to do. He noticed his helmet was a little loose, Shadow had never been accustomed to the thought of wearing armor, "a needless encumbrance," he sighed to himself. Even so, he did enjoy the look it gave him, the blue-tinted black shined most brilliantly in the moonlight, he only wished he had more freedom to personalize it. "Lady Lunar!?" Shadow called down the halls, trying to sound as least annoyed as possible. Where has she gone now?

Seems as though I'm not getting an answer. I don't mind if someone says no y'know? I'd just like to at least have an answer.

If this turns out to be true. Best. Christmas (kinda). Ever.

Hey Blacklight, what if your OC and mine were both appointed by someone (not necessarily Celestia, but someone of relative importance) to track down these 4 ponies, since you appear to be most efficient in combat and my unnatural knowledge of the dark arts could help in the rescue it would not be such a bad thought that we were chosen.

(Sorry I don't know how to mention people in my posts) I still want the spot, however for the sake of it being a reasonable RP we need some reason for Nightmare's current pony to disappear and mine to be chosen. Perhaps my character was sent by someone to find the missing ponies (my character is not one of those who fears the forest, he has lived there for a few years after all) and sensing the darkness within his soul Nightmare decided it would be better to trade the Zebra for Shadow?