Crimson turned around and could see the intent inside of Bright's eyes, knowing what was going to soon happen. He looked over at Holly and indicated that the timberwolf needs to take the hostage back to HQ. Archangel had a feeling that one of them would be returning alive. "Bright, time to stand down. You've warned me about what would happen next time you awoke." Archangel then pulled his special weapon out, the Spell-Sword that was given to him by Venquis. He held it as he got into a stance. "Stand....down."
Shift laughed. ''Oh, really? He asked me to take control, seeing you all abandonned him in the rings cage. He felt so weak, so useless... Nothing good on someone who just got out of rehab, really. It's not his fault, the poor thing... Anyways, i'm tired of living into chaos myself. My vessel looses his freedom and rights. But don't think we're friends yet. I just mean that i'll make myself usefull instead.'' At the sight of Crim's stance, he chuckled lightly. ''Alright sweetie, if you want a fight, we'll have one later. For now, let's focus on the job, shall we?''
Crimson then lowered his stance until returning to normal. "I don't want to fight you, but we are busy at the moment. If you want to settle things with me, we'll do it later. Let's get back to work." Crimson's magic then enveloped around him as he levitated into the air. "See all of you back at base." Crimson said as he rose into the air and blasted off towards HQ.
By the time Nightshade got back to JSE headquarters with the prisoner, Guardian was already waiting. "Welcome back, old friend. Throw that trash in a cell, if you would. Once the others get here, I can show you all my newest toy."
Shift jumped and disappeared in the ground, reappearing in the HQ by walking through a wall. He looked around, his eyes falling on the two other occupants of the room. ''Oh, hello there sugarcube. I beleive your name is... Guardian, right? And yours would be Nightshade, i presume. Might i ask you two a favor?'' --Meanwhile-- Bright couldn't take it anymore. He had started to fight for the control of his body again, but Shift's mind had powerfull defences. His body cut in numberous places, the purple bruises covering him, even a burnt mark on his face were making him suffer. ''Please, Shift, it's over now. Let me go, please...'' The ominous, low-pitched voice of Shift seemed to come from everywhere around him, the dark space looking like tightening at each words. ''And give up on the fun i can have here? Brighty, i haven't finished stretching my legs yet. I'll leave you the control of the body in due time. A tear rolled on Brights cheek. ''I can't take it anymore. The darkness is too much, i can't breathe... At least, end the suffering. I've lived hell last time, you promised ou wouldn't try to kill me again...'' Shift's laughter echoed everywhere and nowhere. ''Promised, huh? I don't remember that.'' The darkness became darker. Bright screamed.
Guardian looked dubiously at Shift, while Nightshade growled threateningly. "Something is... different... about you. What is it you want of us?"
''Oh, nothing much, really. You see, I'd just need your support when Crimson arrives. It would be a shame if our little group can't even unite itself, after the treachery we just saw out there. And, i'd fear the results if 'Archangel' would try to fight against me in his current state.'' He looked at Nightshade, smiling. ''Don't worry, dear, i won't bite. Especially familly.''
Guardian knew that Shift was not trustworthy. Nightshade wouldn't be behaving so aggressively without a good reason. Furthermore, the pony had made a thinly veiled threat against Archangel. "Crimson is a friend. I trust his judgment. When he arrives, I will find out what is going on. Until then, I promise nothing."
Shift's eyes narrowed. ''Oh, judgement. Where was judgement when Bright Darkness took my spirit by error, and imprisonned me in his own body? Where was judgement when they feared us, when they wanted to kill us for beeing different. When everypony thought Bright was schizophrenic, only one came our way to simply ask. Our only friend. And they couldn't kill him, no. Torture, torture was a proper judgement. Torture was a proper judgement when they wanted to test Bright's body and abilities. When they wanted to take me out of his body to kill me. When they threw us in a dark cage, with such soft walls i wanted to throw up, where was that sense of judgement you're talking about?'' He looked at nightshade. ''Don't worry, dear. I won't bite. As they say, never leave your familly behind. We're both a minority here in Equestria, you must know the pain of being rejected. I mean no offense, you're not obliged to answer, but why do you stick up with one of the many that hated you for so long? Why don't you show them you have to be respected, just like them? Can't you see you'll be going nowhere, almost treated as a pet? You and i don't belong here.'' He looked back at guardian. ''I'm very sorry. When Crimson comes back, if he wants to slaughter me barbarically, i hope you'll think twice and at the very least try to hold him up. I don't want to fight him again... I don't want for Bright to die here, without the only one he considered a friend, except me. The only one who played the card of friendship.''
Guardian laughed. "Do you think to get Nightshade on your side? You are barking up the wrong Timber-Wolf, boy. She would no sooner betray me than I would betray Princess Luna." Nightshade growled. "Besides... Crimson is her friend, too." Guardian sighed. "You will not change my mind with stories of your personal tragedy. I have plenty of my own. As I said before, I am on Archangel's side. If you fear what he will do to you, then I would suggest you run. I will not stop you."
''Well. Already misjudging me, and making a bad first impression, just because i've tried to declare a war and started a genocide? Where are your manners, Guardian. I thought we'd be friends in this. And i don't fear Crimson, i fear his anger. I don't want you to help me kill him, i just want you to stop him from killing me, so i could explain myself.'' Shift sighed. ''Anyways, i don't care much about my life. Death has become... natural. But, if my vessel dies, he won't be able to avenge himself. It'd also make me reappear in a random body, until the vessel finds how to kill me. That's all i want, honest. Kill me, but not him. Everypony deserves a chance.'' He turned around, and walked to the wall at the end of the room. He looked at Guardian. I just hope you'll understand that i don't belong here, and that i put my hate against ponykind aside for our mutual interests. We want to protect what's dear to us, and we both want my departure. At least, respect Bright's life in this. I don't want him to suffer anymore. Even there, deep inside, i feel him trying to get out, hurting himself helplessly. And i can't do anything about it. I can hear him throw insults at me. If you don't care about my past, fine. I don't care much about yours. But we all have sins we need to get out of our name, and i can't show myself as weak as now to anyone. Maybe it'll be different this time, maybe i'll be able to drop the masquerade and find a way to die. Truth is, i killed them all out of jealousy more than anger. It pissed me off to see that you all could live happy and reject us that easily.'' He looked at nightshade, ''I don't want to manipulate any of you. But, between the three of us, you're the only one i could ever trust.'' He turned towards the wall. ''Well, enough of the sappy behavior. I'll be in the barracks, i'll try to heal Bright, he's still trapped in the rings after all.'' With that, he walked in his own shadow on the wall, disappearing in it. The shadow slowly faded away.
Crimson arrived at HQ half an hour after he departed from Manehatten. He pressed a button on the side of his helmet as it deconstructed itself and went back into it's compartment in the back of his armour. As he soon came across Guardian, he could feel that Bright was standing nearby just recently. He went towards to Guardian, but also went past to Joker as well to speak on what he has gathered on Monarch. -------------------------------------- Monarch's order had been gaining immense support across Equestria.What the majority of J.S.E infomation had on the organization was to restore balance to the world by enacting purges at various points in history. They targeted places they deemed were the greatest sources of civilization's corruption and decadence, places that led to suffering and injustice. Acting as a self-appointed check against Equestrian corruption for thousands of years. The mare's and stallions who have sworn allegiance to the League of Shadows come from many different backgrounds; former soldiers, mercenaries, assassins, petty criminals, and ordinary ponies. However, all of them share a common similarity of hating what they define as evil and a desire to serve what they call true justice. Every member of the Monarch's order are fanatically loyal to the League's cause. It is this fanaticism in which every warrior knows that he is expendable, his life forfeit, if it means fulfillment of the League's plans. Recently, the league had employed Equestria's older orphans to work in the sewers in various different cities across the kingdom. To make matters worse, Monarch was now known to the public. The order had been wiping entire prisons out, releasing it's prisoners and many others which joined it's ranks without hesitation. Almost all of Equestria's mobs in every city and town joined the order, and propaganda was being spread furiously across the nation. The order now outnumbered the military and any of those loyal to the princesses 20 to 1, not to mention being equipped just as well as any of the military was. Given the chance, they can completely flip the nation upside down, like a snow globe. Snow globes are perfect static worlds in miniature that can't be directly touched but can be (literally) turned up side down any time the owner desires. Monarch was planning a speech to be broadcasted later during the day to the entire kingdom. If successful, which it was most likely was going to be, could trigger the false revolution that would sweep the country.
Shift slowly got out of the wall, and went after Crimson. He bowed in a sign of submission before he cleared his throat. ''Hey Crimson, i'm sorry for the threat earlier.'' He raised his head. ''Please don't interrupt me, it's hard enought to admit, i'd rather say it all at once. When i got the control back, i might've got a little... Implulsive, and now that i've got back to my senses, i realize that getting into a fight now would be pointless. A lot has happened, and i learned a few things since we last met. And, as much as i hate ponykind and every equine races, i'm ready to put our differences and mutual anger aside. I realize now that the means i used weren't getting me anywhere. I never wanted to be a dictator, i only wanted to be accepted. I should've met you seven years ago. You know my story, as well as Bright's. Let's just... Work together, and leave what happened to the past? I know i have a lot to prove after what happened. But i also know that i have to change. I'll never stop to feel the hate that drove me, neither will i ever be forgiven for my sins and murders. But i know that, now, i can do it if i can keep Bright alive. I want to make a deal with you: I'll help you defeat that alicorn, then you'll help me find how to kill me without killing Bright.''
Crimson paused for a second before offering a polite hoofshake. "Apology accepted. It might be difficult to kill you without killing Bright, but I'll see if i could accomplish the task. After all, we basically perform the impossible." Archangel then handed a report to Bright. "Monarch has been making enormous impacts across the nation, his order, whom we don't know it's name, outnumbers all law enforcement, the military, the J.S and the Princesses themselves 20 to 1. If we defeat him, your wish will be fulfilled. Also, I'm sorry about my attitude before, it was unprofessional of me."
Shift nodded, smiling sadly. ''While my behavior was awfull. We'll take them down in no time if we unite our strenghts, and hone our skills. I might be able to get Unity's mercenaries back in operation, if that could be of some help. But something tells me you've killed the last ones before my confinement.'' He skimmed through the report. ''I think i might have an idea. I know their weaknesses.''
Guardian stood silently until he was certain that there would be no conflict with Shift. When he was satisfied that the situation was resolved, he spoke up. "It cost me quite a bit of blood, but I think I've found Monarch's weakness. I noticed during our fight that he prefers hoof-to-hoof combat, channeling his magic into a nearly instantaneous healing ability. If we can weaken this ability, he will be vulnerable. Fortunately..." He pulled out an intricately carved horn-ring. "I have an artifact that can accomplish this."
Crimson looked at the ring and smiled, he knew exactly what such an object that this ring had. Shift would have a field day with his mercenaries, but Archangel and Guardian could accomplish a death blow to Monarch.
Shift knew what was coming up as soon as he saw the artifact. ''No need for words. I'll make sure their soldiers won't bother you while you strike. I'll need to train a few mercenaries, but we'll be able to pull this off. Now, what about we get something to eat? We could make a good plan, while filling our stomachs. Two birds one stone.''
