It was just right after noon that Soul appeared on the bridge again, Shadow put Dawn on the grass to let her rest. Shadow approached Soul on the bridge.

"You two looked peaceful I didn't want anypony bothering you."

"Thank you, for letting us be."

"You're welcome."

"I said that I have no more secrets hidden away to my daughter."

"That's good."

"Not all my secrets are about Dawn some involve Green Fawn, your hometown."

"Wha-what? Are they good secrets?"

"No. It's about the day when a gang occupied the town."

"Were you there when it happened?"

"I was part of the gang that occupied the port."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you, let's go around the garden."

They went very slowly around the garden Shadow started telling the story of Green Fawn.

"Do you remember that day?" asked Shadow.

"I can remember the screams."

"I'll start from the very beginning. This was after Starflare passed and we left Fallen Star. I had to find work to get our life back on track. There was no available job at the time, this was before I ever seen Green Fawn by the way. We were at another port nearby called-"

"Green Doe."

"Yes, I went to a marketplace to steal some food for me and Dawn. Dawn was staying on a boat with a friend we made. Someone stopped me before I got a chance to steal something, he said he was offering a job of security for the mayor of the port. He was very odd, he was wearing a raggedy cloth over his body. It was ripped pretty much about every inch of the cloth, I was uneasy about my choice but, I had no other option. I took the job, I didn't meet whoever I was supposed to protect until later on. My first job was to protect a carriage going to like a mansion or something, I was one of the pawns at the back. The pay was decent enough to get through a month or so. Anyways, the carriage contained the mayor inside, we transported him safely to his mansion, that same night we were ambushed by a couple a fools that called themselves peacekeepers. I was told to kill them, I didn't believe they were peacekeepers then because they wore no insignia and they had weapons."

"Did you kill them?"

"Of course I did, I was desperate at the time. On the way back to Green Doe we were again attacked by a rival gang from Green Fawn."

"We did have a gang occupying our town but, they weren't violent."

"Our mayor took this as a threat and planned an attack against Green Fawn. It was then I found out that our so called mayor was actually a gang leader. I still haven't seen him but, I'll get to that later. I told Dawn to stay with our friend at the port, in a week we went to Green Fawn. I didn't participate in any action other than pretending to be pumped for the kill or breaking domestic objects like stands, poles, etc. I saw two foals run inside a house in the center of the town, what appeared to be a mother followed them in. No one other than me saw those three go inside the house, I went in and the mother was very protective of these two foals, she was trying to knock me out with some kitchen tools. She was dark-colored, like you Soul. Does that sound familiar to you?"

"That sounds like my mother, Storm and I were the two foals. Were you the one she was attacking?"

"At first she thought I was going to do harm to you three but, I was telling her to hide and to let me ransack the house to make it look like someone has already been there."

"She hid me and Storm in the fireplace, she then threw a table in front of it. That table had a tiny hole in it, I used it to see what was going on."

Around 20 years ago. Location, Green Fawn.

The door opened as soon as it was closed, a pegasus was at the doorway. The mother levitated the nearest object to her and launched it at the intruder.

"Leave us!" she screamed.

"Stop! I'm hear to help!"

The mom shouted,"Get out!"

The pegasus threw the unicorn against a wall and held her down,"I'm here to help. Believe me."

"If you are here to help, get off me."

The pegasus did as he was requested.

"You need to hide the foals, they will be the first ones to go."

"To go?"

"They will be killed as the colts were. The mares will be raped."

The mom looked to the foals,"The fireplace go."

"But mom-"

"Get in!"

The two foals followed their order. The fireplace was recently used so it was filled with ash and coal.

"Block the fireplace."

"The table knock it over."

The two pushed the table over and blocked off the fireplace. The unicorn went to a cabinet that was nearby and opened it. Inside was a set of armor, it was black and outlined with a very dark-violet. She put the armor on.

"You're Knight Athen."

"I am." The knight walked to the table and said,"Look after each other, stay close as I was with my comrades."

Another gang member entered the house,"Shadow what are you doing get her!"

The knight shot a knife from the floor to hit between the intruders eyes. The knight exited the house.

The pegasus walked over to the table and said,"I'll come back for you, stay here."

The pegasus walked out the house and saw Knight Athen crushing those who got close to her with a spear-like weapon in her possession, it was barbed at the blade so every time the knight would pull out the spear it would tear flesh. She stabbed one and slid the spear forward and violently ripped it out. The gangster almost instantly died. The gang leader, sitting in his carriage, sent one of his strongest pawns down to defeat this major threat. This pawn was Shadow's friends, he was one of the best friends he had made. He too was a unicorn. He was a former knight. An orange coat and had a mane and tail that were yellow.

"Athen."

The knight turned around,"Oless, what are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a fucking long time ago." Oless' horn started to glow, he quickly pivoted back to the direction on the carriage and shot a beam at it. The explosion was large. The still loyal gang members horded Oless, Athen tried to fight them off but, there were still too many. They both were beaten up so bad they lost the strength to fight back. The gang leader survived the blast and didn't take Oless' attempt to kill him lightly. This gang leader was fat, he indulged himself in foods he had stolen prior to this event. That's what Oless had said about him anyway.

"BREAK THEIR HORNS!!" the leader said.

One of the members took a large stone mallet and smashed their horns to pieces. They both screamed in agony. Shadow shut the door leading to the two foals unnoticed, he did not want them to even the screams.

"Hahaha! Now for our public execution." the leader rejoiced.

They had brought with them a machine designed to only cut off heads, a guillotine. It was stood up.

"This will be used later on. First the children we have captured." the leader annouced, his followers were not pleased,"Don't worry my friends this will be much more entertaining. WE SHALL DROWN THEM!" his followers cheered. Shadow was sickened by the leaders words. They marched over to the port, the adults captured were brought to the port as well, they were forced to watch as their children's lungs were filled up with water. All the foals cried for help, Shadow's heart was broken he felt like he couldn't do anything. He was worried about his friends taking care of Dawn and what they would do if they found out Shadow has a daughter. They were tied up to a crane-like contraption and dipped into the water, one by one. The dead foals were cut off and their bodies splashed into the water they started to create a barrier, blocking any more bodies to enter the wet abyss. So many bodies, so much dead young. The last foal to go was shouting for help.

"Please I don't want to die! I will be good! I promise!"

Shadow tried not to hear the cries, the adults were shouting curses at the gang.

"Go to hell!"

"Damn you bastards!"

"I'm going to kill you all!"

The leader of the gang punished them,"Drown the last foal!"

The young foal yelled,"No! Please!"

The bodies of the already dead foals floating in the water blocked the current foal from fully reaching in the water. The foal was crying.

They brought her back on the dock and cut her from the crane."Does this mean I can live?"

"No." the leader pushed over the foal and stomped on her."Who else wants a turn?" again his followers cheered.

One by one the dozens of gangsters stomped on the young filly, stopping her every time she started to yell for help.

"Help me!"*BAM*. Shadow wasn't looking but, every time Shadow heard that sound he knew that poor fillies body was smashed against the wooden dock. Soon enough the crying from the filly fell silent.

"Now to reward the brave colts for trying to defend their home." They marched to the guillotine.The leader added,"First the colt who tried to kill me."

Oless was pulled from the crowd of colts and set in position for the blade. The executioner asked,"Any last words traitor?"

Oless answered,"You are not one of them!"

He wasn't looking at anyone, just the basket his head was going to be in. The blade fell. Cries from the adults rang the air.

All the colts were executed. The mares, including Athen, were all tied up to boards and gagged, they were put into houses. When night fell Shadow knew what sickening things were happening to the mares. Shadow stood in front of the door leading to the foals. A board was being lifted, headed to Shadow's direction. Shadow looked to see who was on the board, Athen. She was beat up, tears running down her face. Her eyes were swollen. She was still gagged with a dirty cloth.

"What is to be of her?" Shadow asked.

"Our leader wishes to punish her himself for killing our comrades."

"Open the door!" one of them shouted.

Shadow opened the door and quickly went in front of the table blocking the fireplace and he whispered to the foals behind it,"Stay quiet, everything's going to be fine. Shut your eyes and ears."

Athen was placed on the floor, there was no light inside the house. The moon wasn't shining, it was blocked by the clouds.

"Light the fireplace." a gangster ordered.

Shadow did not let them pass him.

"Do you want me to kill you?"

Shadow replied,"We have lanterns use them you fucking imbecile."

"Say that again and I'll beat you like that bitch on the board."

"Touch me, see what happens."

The gang leader walked in with two members following behind, both carrying lanterns.

"Place the lanterns on the ground and leave me alone with her." the leaders said."Have any of you touched her yet?"

The pony who Shadow threatened answered,"Besides the beatings no sir."

"Beatings?" the leader looked at Athen and scrutinized her body,"You were told not to touch her! She was to be fresh! Get him out of my sight! Kill him!"

Shadow said,"Gladly." The other two ponies went outside as well.

Shadow dragged him outside and choked him to death. Shadow remembered what Oless had said, "You are not one of them." Shadow went back to the door and heard,"What do you think will happen if I put this in here." he heard muffled cries. And thumping against the ground. Shadow looked around, he saw Athen's spear lying on the ground, he looked around to see if someone was watching. Shadow went to get the spear and he killed the other ponies by him silently. The other members were all inside doing vile things but, Shadow's first priority was to kill the leader. He barged inside and saw the fat leader defiling Athen.

"Wait your turn or I will have you killed."

Shadow was not affected by his threats and he went closer to him, the leader got up and looked behind him and took a spear to the crotch, Shadow rapidly stabbed him the face. Again and again Shadow did not stop until he was dead. He pulled out the spear, dropped it on the ground and ran over to Athen. He untied her.

"Here cover yourself with this and let's get you untainted." Shadow threw her a torn blanket and led her outside, she later returned.

The two foals came out from the hiding place to hug her.

"Thank you. What is your name?"

"Athen my name is Shadow."

"Thank you Shadow. I must ask you a favor Shadow but, we have to go outside."

"Alright."

"Storm. Soul. I'm going to be gone for awhile. Storm take care of my daughter."

"Yes ma'am." Storm's voice was high-pitched back then."I will guard her."

"Good. And Soul I need you to be strong."

"Mom where are you going?"

"In time you'll see. Shadow let us go outside. Bring my spear. Kids stay inside. Bring the body outside." Those were the last words Soul had heard from her mother.

They walked outside.

"The other gang members are still raping the others, stop them Shadow."

Shadow left and came back in about half an hour.

"Those animals. They were having intercourse with dead mare bodies. They killed them before..."

"Don't I know what you are going to say. My favor."

"What is it?"

"That fucks child is inside me. I must ask you to stop it."

"How?"

"Kill me."

"I can't do that."

"Would you rather have my child grow up and remember out her mom committed suicide after being saved or her being killed betrayed by the one who just saved her? To me the second option sounds better."

"I can't."

"Please. There is another thing I ask of you. Watch after those two for me."

"I can't kill you."

"Yes you can."

"I just-"

"You can, don't think about me."

"I don't have a choice do I?"

Athen chuckled,"No you don't."

"You are the greatest knight to have ever lived, Knight Athen."

"As a gift for my gratitude, I grant you my armor and my spear. My armor is on the scaffold to the guillotine. Use these gifts however you see fit."

"Thank you." Shadow slowly hoisted the spear from the ground and jabbed Athen.

She had a smile on her face,"Thank....you." She fell on the ground, Shadow pulled the spear out. He put Athen's body on a patch of grass and covered it with a blanket. He went to the scaffold and picked up her armor.He entered the house and he started to cry when Soul asked,"Where's my mom?"

"She left to find help. Stay here until the morning and help will arrive."

Shadow took his gifts and left. In three days a large group of peacekeepers came to Green Fawn.

"So my mother told you to kill her so an abomination wouldn't grow inside her womb?" asked Soul.

"Yes she did I am sorry for that." replied Shadow.

"It's....it's fine. She trusted you and she depended on you to do something she couldn't."

"I still have her armor and spear."

"I would like to see it."

They left but, had the princesses to watch his daughter. They went back to the frontier and to Shadow's house. Shadow opened an old chest inside was the black armor and barbed spear. They both were clean, just not polished.

"They belong to you."

"No, my mother gave them to you."

"And she said to use it however I see fit. I think giving it back to her grown daughter is fit enough."

"I'm going to have to modify it to my use then."

"Whatever seems fit. Your mother will be proud of you."

"I'm sure she already is."

Shadow went outside a few minutes after Knight Black Soul came out wearing the armor.

"You look like your mother."

"Thank you, this armor is a little tight though. It doesn't have any places for wings."

"It was made for a unicorn after all. You can get it fixed I'm sure."