It was an amazing display of magic but Shadow was too on edge to care. Lush grass and tree's surrounded her and the small force at her command as they slowly worked their way through knowing that somewhere out there was the opposing force that as this very moment was hunting her.

Valkardian had decided to start her out small since fighting on the surface was vastly different than in the caves not that she had not been "trained" in cave fighting. Unlike the caves where walls and ceilings kept them safe from flank attacks or dive bombing pegasi from above this fake world showed just how vulnerable they could be.

To make matters worse this was her first run through the gauntlet and the goal was to destroy the other force first and knowing that somewhere out there in the dead silence was a group hunting her down had caused a great deal of hesitation and apprehension. He had made not one comment so far as to the speed or lack thereof to her overly cautious probing of the dense forest.

How hard could it really be to see a bunch of multicolored ponies hidden in the woods anyway? Well apparently not as easy as she had thought it would be. How this was all supposed to work magically she had no idea what so ever since all weapons had been taken away in favor of wooden training swords or spears. The skeletons that moved forward slowly some ten yards ahead fanned out stood out like sore thumbs with their armor creaking and grinding.

When the ambush was sprung it was over in a flurry of movement as they found themselves surrounded while she on the one hand had a "blade" to her throat. His only comment was to try again, her mind straining to orient the information she had received the day before for use.

Again with her little force at the starting line Shadow changed tactics and formed them out in a protective V with her in the middle while a single skeleton was sent out on the far flanks and rear with two at the lead. With any luck this would prevent another ambush and at least give her time to react.

React. Shadow was reacting and had given up trying to flush them out already. Stopping her formation for a moment new commands flowed out and the soldiers shuffled into new formations. Now in a larger V made up of three smaller ones Shadow stood in the center protected on all sides so that if they got jumped again she would remain protected but also have better odds of flushing them out.

Her idea was that no matter where they came from the flanks could turn hard to meet them while whatever group found itself on the outside edge could flank. Unlike a long strung out formation that could be rolled up or easily flanked this formation would work better for her purposes.

Advancing again she would have them suddenly veer off ninety degrees to one side or another at random and watch the surrounding brush and trees for movement. There was still too much apprehension in her choices and movements but hopefully this would lure them into a hasty attack. Now it was a question of blundering into each other or... Wait there was a better way.

A flash of information sent her outward scouts farther away from the formation quickly and again moving around erratically Shadow rushed them in a semi-circle through the trees before suddenly stopping and having them all crouch down.

Four scouts waited quietly out of sight but still easily locate-able with her link. If any one of them went silent she would attack in that direction by swinging out around them. True the objective was to find and destroy them but never once had she been ordered to go on a goose chase.

Nothing happened for a long time and deciding to take a small risk had a few soldiers make muffled noises by shifting their armor and weapons or bump into the vegetation. When silence fell again they waited and before long two lone scouts picked their way forward very slowly.

Watching them through the eyes of her forward scout Shadow knew why they had not "seen" the enemy, their scouts were camouflaged to blend in. Deciding to bait the trap a little better Shadow had the soldiers turn away from the approaching scouts save a few and face another direction as if she were planning an ambush.

The scouts watched, waited then one moved off. Sending one of the other scouts to follow them the other was sent forward silently to attack from behind to silence the remaining scout. A magical blur meant it was over as the scout disappeared and the tracker was still tailing the remaining scout.

It worked perfectly, the scout led it back to the main body of troops and began to lead them towards her while her own soldier quickly put distance and swung away allowing them to approach unmolested. Standing them up and closing the distance Shadow had them stop short and threw them out on two sides. The main path of the advance would remain unmolested but their left flank would face two of three while the last would hit from the rear after their attention was drawn.

"There is a big gap between theory and application."

Valkardian's words hung in her mind but refusing to second guess herself Shadow crouched down with the rest and waited. Less than a minute passed before the other force was visible moving forward rapidly in a column. Waiting until the front of the column just passed Shadow gave the order and her forces rose and threw their pilum into the flank of the column.

A major difference between these soldiers and real ones was they were nowhere near as powerful, their throw's worked but had little power behind them as the pilum passed through the magical visages before falling harmlessly.

Her little ambush had also gotten their attention and their rearmost group swung out to flank her immediately as the survivors turned to fight and drew up ranks. Ordering the attack they were among them before they could close the gap and the illusions popped out of existence rapidly. From behind came the reserve tearing into them scattering their ranks allowing Shadow to shuffle the forces to beat off the flanking force with ease.

Everything was gone just as fast, the mass illusion dispelled as control was taken away from her.

"Well done. Return."

So that means she passed, his warning had been to pass at least two of three and there would be precious few days like this so make the most of it. Putting an illusion on a large cave like this was a strain on him therefor he had drilled her verbally in a room for days before filling in the gaps with the crystals.

Returning to the portal and walking through she was quickly returned to the mansion and waited on him outside his study. Every week things got harder and harder, the strain was building up slowly and Shadow could feel it. When the door opened and she was allowed in a tired Valkardian sat at his desk putting orbs and crystals away now that the session was over.

"I want to know something, how exactly am I supposed to keep up? I know you warned me about how hard it would be and yet I feel like I am burning out from it all."

They shared a long look, both of them looked tired, one from the training and mental strain the other looking strained from the amount of magic required to pull it all off one week after another.

"I have already calculated that in. You are halfway through your training now and will be taking a short "break" so you do not snap. As for the strain I remind you that while you are learning in a safe, controlled environment I was not so lucky. I had to learn the hard way and risk being killed for every mistake made, be grateful. Strain. You are not used to it so it is only logical that it is overwhelming but you will get used to before your training is over. Look at it this way, if you can survive this then any mental strain of the future will look paltry by comparison."

Nodding she was questioned heavily and required to tear her own actions apart not that he did not do so regularly while offering suggestions. Exhausted, Shadow took a bath and went straight to bed. Physically the training was easy, she was used to it however mentally it was hell.

A break from the training came two days later after he was certain the information had been absorbed and being put to good use. Now Shadow was standing in a mostly empty room waiting on Valkardian to arrive. This was the first time she was ever ahead of him too, normally he was always there in advance but considering he had to keep up with developments above, her training and who knew how much more being late was understandable.

When he did arrive carrying an ornate box Valkardian walked to one side of the room and began laying out items before turning his attention to her.

"I had already planned a small break to give you a chance to adapt. However. A storm blew in on the west coast and it would seem their plans are a little "delayed" until things calm down again. Their first crossing was a success and advanced forces are in place if you are wondering."

He moved the largest crystal around and began to power it up.

"A long time ago a certain thestral got it into her head that I should learn to dance. She was successful by convincing me to record her lessons to these crystals, as far as I know these are some of the only original surviving records of your peoples dancing. Now before I have it start I want to give you some insight."

Valkardian walked over and took a seat along the wall.

"Unicorns rarely if ever touch while dancing. It is more a contest to move very slowly back and forth with the nose held as high in the air as possible. Arrogant. Pompous. Earth ponies dance more wildly in a jumbled mass while pegasi prefer more... Aerial acrobatics, to be involved."

Turning attention to the middle of the room Shadow followed his gaze as the crystal hummed to life and a full bodied image appeared. The mare was dressed very well in clothes similar to what Shadow had just received and was clearly a thestral.

"My name is Blood Lily and I will be instructing you on traditional thestral dance. Whoever watches this... I have divided up the lessons starting with easier dances and ending on harder dances. Oh. With any luck you will actually watch this Valkardian and learn something rather than remain locked up in your dusty mansion. Let's begin."

Shadow watched and listened riveted to Blood Lily's ghostly visage as she went through some history and tips. The first few lessons she danced alone showing how to move before her husband joined her and repeated the dances together. Shadow had never been a dancer but had read about it and never took any interest.

However, the dancing before her was completely alien to what was in the books she had seen, the movements, positioning of the body, it was all different. There was a great deal of elegance to the movements as she watched the pair move around slowly giving out hints now and then.

For three days they watched one crystal after another but never once was she required to practice the dancing preferring to watch in silence. When the last crystal was viewed there was no doubt it would take a tremendous amount of practice to pull of the rapid movements, turns, spins and dips without tripping herself.

What made her eyes widen and mouth hang slightly was that unlike pegasi, thestrals used their wings in conjoinment with their partners to dance, intertwining slightly and touching at times.

Blood Lily had commented on this giving a warning that while their dance was far more... "Sensual" as she put it the practitioner should never do a list of things unless the one they danced with was very close to them. There was a way to dance with friends, family, strangers and lovers and each was examined making it all rather overwhelming.

When the visage faded away after the last dance Shadow looked over to Valkardian and found his jaw locked holding a blank stare. She knew this meant something was bothering him and it did not take a genius to understand what it was.

Long ago his only real "friend" had worked with him to record all these dances and then been slain by the monarchy above. All that remained of her memory was these crystals, the last link to the face and voice of a long dead friend. No. Murdered friend.

"Are we going to dance now or is break over?"

"Of course we are going to dance, it would be rather hard for you to learn without a partner after all."

Smiling Shadow stood and waited as he rose from his chair and led her to the middle of the room. As her dancing practice began it was clear to her that he had watched these recordings so much they were memorized as they danced together though she stumbled more often than "danced."

"So you learned to dance from those recordings?"

"Blood Lily had me practice whenever I was visiting and she had her ways of making certain that was... Often."

"Hard to imagine anyone being able to make you do anything. What did she do?"

"Anything and everything she thought would bring me out of "hiding" as she put it. Once she got me to go by claiming fissures were opening in a nearby system then another time that some kind of pest was invading their crops and wanted me to identify them. That is how it started at any rate, she got more creative as time went along."

"But you kept going..."

"I will not deny that I enjoyed visiting her family and the town. After about two or three decades of visits I found myself going rather often... I think it was once or twice a month though she kept pestering me to visit more often. Blood Lily was convinced that if I remained as I was that my reclusiveness would take over till I was incapable of speech or interaction with others on any level."

"Was it true?"

"Very much so. If it were not for our shared link I doubt you would have heard me half the time."

"Do you regret not spending more time there now?"

Valkardian did not falter in his steps as they continued to practice together but let out a low sigh.

"No. Yes. That time is lost to me forever along with those who were there. I regret not spending more time but I also do not regret it. If I had spent more time there the blow would have fallen harder than it did."

"Protecting others or yourself?"

"Both. My very nature makes others a target but also I have found that it is best not to get too involved or else... Events like Blood Lily happen. Best to keep a reasonable distance."

Shadow sighed to herself, Valkardian could be one miserable cuss to be around sometimes.

Her blade was drawn but her arm was shaking uncontrollably as the dilemma tore at her heart. Valkardian had orchestrated today's lesson to test her morals and ethics to the maximum and it was working perfectly as Shadow looked down at her opponent.

A young filly was armed with a dagger shaking just as much but closing in slowly on the thestral. Dodging the stab easily they circled with the filly following and trying to get a hold of Shadow. To lash out and strike one so young was making her stomach lurch even though she knew this was just an illusion.

Making an attempt to disarm the target she aimed for the blade hoping to smack it hard enough to knock it free and then maybe knock them out. Taking a quick swing her eyes grew in horror as the filly lurched forward and unable to slow the blade saw it connect with the arm and blood poured from the open wound.

Freezing in both shock and horror at what she had done Shadow watched the filly scream in pain dropping the blade and dropping her own blade tried to grab the other to help them out of pure instinct. The illusion did not go away but his voice rang out that she was dead and realized too late the filly had slipped free and stabbed her.

"What purpose does this have to do with anything?!"

"We do not get to pick and choose our enemies or who we fight all the time. Sometimes your enemy might be a misguided ne-er do well or like her... One very scared child that believes killing you will get them something in return."

"Are you really expecting them to throw foals at us?!"

"No. But this is one lesson I want you to learn very well: Whoever your enemy is, kill them. Big. Small. Young or old does not matter. Should they turn on you or take up arms slay them now and be done with it or risk taking a dagger in the back later."

"She is just a filly! There has to be another way!"

"Killing of the young is almost always highly questionable for the various races out there but in a fight there is no time to reason with your enemy or subdue them. You are dead now. That child will continue on to kill others till killed. A child running down the street away from you in battle is no threat but when they take up arms against you do not hesitate to kill them."

"Wherever you come from must be a nightmare."

"Tell me Shadow... What would you do under these circumstances?"

Illusions faded away quickly before reforming to show her sister in full detail on her knees with the same filly holding the knife to her throat and screaming in a panic to surrender.

"Your turn."

Shadow was lost for what to do, how could she save her sister? In a panic she put her hands up and watched in horror as another illusion "restrained" her before the filly cut her sisters throat. Howling that it was all fake and trying to stay calm did not stop the strangled howl from escaping her as she spun on Valkardian and charged.

Laying flat on her back moments later she scowled up at his blank face.

"Your next lesson is never throw down your weapon. Your sister was dead the second she was taken prisoner, you killed her and yourself. Sometimes the only way to save another is to kill them."

Illusions rearranged and she watched wide eyed as Valkardian cut through the illusions with a quick sword stroke "killing" both.

"Lesson three. If you have the chance to make an attack that could spare your ally by all means do so. However, should the chance not be available do not hesitate to strike anyway. War is not kind nor pleasant. People die in vast numbers like bugs under a carts wheel. If you wish to save some be my guest and try but do not handicap yourself by trying to save them all, you never will. Save who you can."

"That is horrible advice and downright despicable."

*Heh* "Maybe to you but I learned these lessons a very long time ago the hard way: war. Fortunately I have never been the altruistic type so I survived why that kind died in droves trying to save everyone. Call my lesson's whatever you want but they are well founded through hard earned experience."

His eyes were not lying, he meant every last word of it and deep down Shadow knew that it was the hard truth.

"Up. Do it again."

Standing she took her position again as the illusion reformed only this time the filly held a small crossbow and began to aim. Grinding her teeth and springing forward she hacked the crossbow away and kicked the filly down before backing up. With great effort she rose back up and drew a dagger then limped forward.

There was no way out of this. Valkardian was going to keep putting her through the ringer until she learned to suck it up and deal with it. Slashing down Shadow closed her eyes as the blade cut through the target not wanting to see how realistic the illusion really was in its aftermath.

"Better. Now lets continue."

Should she burn the village to the ground or leave it standing? They were supporters of her enemy and had some fortifications to boot which would make sparing the village harder. Three thousand lives were at stake as her own forces waited nearby to attack, the element of surprise still on her side.

Today's practice was simpler being a magical projection with a birds eye view of events as they unfolded. It was like a live action chess board with ranks of soldiers instead of chess pieces and in real time with no stopping to think about her moves. Valkardian had let her loose for an entire week going over hundreds of battles since this took less energy to keep going than the full sized living simulations in the cave.

Looking over the village again but remembering her mission it was boiling down to seizing the bridge first then wiping them out. It was imperative she not allow them to send word to a larger force nearby before her own troops had a chance to escape and take up better positions. Worse, leaving a population dead set against her behind would result in more trouble than it was worth.

A previous battle she had opted to spare them and gone around only to find the local militia turned out and began to attack her rear with hit and run attacks slowing them down so much the larger force caught up and nearly wiped her out. No chances. Not this time.

Arranging the ranks and establishing the order of battle Shadow set events into motion and watched as the magical blocks began to move into position. She also understood why he was doing all of this without asking: when the war hit there would be no shortage of enemies and they would be more than eager to take advantage of any kindness shown. His comment about Celestia fighting him first while the real enemy took over came to mind.

Minutes passed by slowly as events played out rapidly as first the bridge was taken then the village was pressed in upon from all sides in one great rush her formations broke through the gaps in the defenses. Seeing the village put to the sword and burned from above even without any little running minature ponies but instead red blocks she could easily imagine the chaos anyway.

It was done. The village was hers and crossing the bridge burned it behind her slowing the enemy at least a few hours or at best a day.

Madness and deep concern were the three words Shadow would use to describe the events of the past few days. A creature had gotten loose and raised nine kinds of hell across the entirety of Eastern Equestria before finally being stopped and banished back to Tartarus. Valkardian had been aware of its existence but never knew much more than that since its imprisonment had happened outside of his realm of knowledge.

Whatever the invaders were planning seemed to be put on hold again as they had altered the plan and even their landing site to an area just outside of Equestria's borders. Meanwhile a certain lavender princess was now sitting in her own castle, elements gone, Celestia had been swept aside hard in the backlash as now power was heavily shared.

Valkardian was also redoing plans quickly but remarked the enemy had little choice but to proceed and their recent vote had proven the point that they were most certainly not deterred but more dedicated. The moment Celestia had lost control of a good portion of the military the petty forces that "protected" the nation began to be reshuffled rapidly.

To the casual outside observer nothing had actually changed but internally gears were spinning wildly as various nobles used the change of power to raise their own smaller, loyal forces from the disenchanted ranks of Equestrians. Protests took place but it was clear they were staged to give the false impression of greater dissent but most ponies taking everything for face value never noticed the shuttling of protestors from place to place, to them it was real and the veneer of harmony was cracking.

"Why do you think they changed their staging area to outside Equestria then?"

"Too many setbacks but also to buy time, the recent rampage is too big an opportunity to pass up and by allowing tensions to fester it will only make them stronger. Attack now and they would face a more unified Equestria than if they waited a few more months."

"Possibly. Maybe they just need the time to get more of their army across the ocean, the staging ground is not all that far from a major rail line. Perhaps they are buying time to train a larger army here in Equestria..."

"The ponies would never openly fight Celestia."

"Of course, but if loyalist's are isolated for both sides and kept quiet it allows the invader to launch a more precise attack, remove the opposition and afterwords the "new" Equestrian army is without a figurehead."

"So they are planning to castrate the royalty quickly, fill the power vacuum and after its all over the only forces remaining were those not entirely certain of their leaders?"

"Makes sense if you ask me. It will make them look less like an invading army and more the savior if they do not rock the boat any more than they are about too and allow those in their back pocket to keep the peace."

"Are you sure the ponies will side with them?"

"For one single reason: the spice must flow."

"What?"

"They will side with whoever wins so long as the bread and honey flows. Yes there will be unrest but the traitor nobles will keep them at bay with their new armies. After that it is only a matter of buying more time to solidify their power base and hunt down any who would try and start a rebellion."

More than a few things could go wrong with their plan, they both agreed readily with that assessment but by removing specific factors that could swing things back in their favor. Valkardian argued that while the elements were gone the six ponies that wielded them became more the target. In the north all that had to be done was steal the crystal heart and one power was knocked straight out of the game.

A game. To him it was all one big game of chess. Pieces were being lined up carefully above and below while deals were made in back rooms to ensure certain parties remained in power or were cast from the board at the appropriate time. She also had to admit it was rather fun, all the plotting and planning, watching the political betrayals playing out as all sides scurried for cover from the encroaching storm while a brave few tried to hoist the sails to get the ship away from danger and to safer waters.

Part of her training had become to sit with him and look at a large map of Equestria and discuss what she thought they would do while he countered with his own ideas and the ideas and arguments flew.

"How long would an open rebellion last against them anyway?"

"Ponies have not fought a real war in... Hell I think the last war they actually fought was against the dogs and they did not do very well either."

"Why did you call them gnoll's back then but dogs now?"

"They look more like oversized mutated dogs than gnoll's."

"Alright, but what if a rebellion did start, would the new military side with the rebels or?"

"He who pays the piper picks the tune. They will do as they are told."

"How many do you think will side with the invaders anyway?"

"Probably a third outright but that is all it takes. Just a dedicated few."

"Wouldn't picking off all the princesses and the elements not to mention Discord be a problem? One slip up could cost them everything."

"True but they probably have their backup plans."

"And with all your spies you have no idea what those plans are?"

"Shadow, sometimes it is too risky to pry. HOW they go about winning does not really concern me, my focus remains after the battle is over and how to destroy them efficiently and quickly enough that they have no time to react. I am sure as things unfold details will arise about how they won but for us we hold the luxury of riding it out on the sidelines and seeing them play their hand then calculate for it."

"Because they have no idea we are down here right?"

"Oh I imagine Steelshod JR up there knows I exist but his knowledge of me is so limited I doubt he fully understands what is coming his way. The last known record of my forces was in the tens of thousands and they retreated rather than stand and fight. Afterwords it became a long drawn out siege through-out the caves. All he knows is I can lash out with an army smaller than his own but am unable to do more than that in a prolonged war."

"Feeling secure are we?"

"I know what I have and am certain of what I can do with it."

"Care to elaborate on what exactly you "have" at your command?"

Valkardian just gave her a lilting smile and returned to studying the map pointing out what route they would have to take and how to move their army into position to seize Canterlot rapidly and with minimal resistance. A point of contention though was how exactly they planned to catch the royalty by surprise at the same time while also removing the other bumps along the way.

Only time would tell.