Heroes Seen In The Shadows Are Hidden By The Light

All was quiet in the land of Equestria, the sun long set as the ponies young and old, rich or poor slept peacefully. But high above things were not as such. Above a thick cloud cover that hid even the bright pale glow of the moon and the twinkling stars figures flew back and forth in a deadly battle.

One such figure was Dual Edge in his Night Guard amour, his wings lacking feathers, instead were webbed and his eyes changed looking more like a dragons, glowing a bright yellow that pierced the darkness, then a pony's all this possible by ancient magic embedded into his amour.

His opponents had the upper body of what looked like a eagle or possible a falcon and with the lower body of lions, Griffins.

For over a year now a war has raged in the shadows between the ponies of Equestira and the Griffin Kingdom unknown to the public.

Dual braced himself as one charges him and swings it's talons right at Dual eyes, the only thing saving his sight was his helmet.

As sharp talons met hard steel sparks flew as bright as the celestial sun,before Dual slams a hoof into the creatures beak with a cry of rage that was quickly carried away on the winds.

But as he fought one,he had let his guard down to the other with a piercing shriek the second griffin dove from above slamming into Dual Edge sending them both down as they send blow after blow at each other .
Suddenly Dual is slammed into a rooftop causing it to creak before it collapses in and they fall into what appeared to be a ponies bedroom.

Doodle was exhausted from a long day of art selling completely oblivious to what was going on outside. To her, the world seemed off a bit but there was almost nothing worth not smiling about! "Ehehehehe." she giggled as her last couple of sketches were sold and her last 30 bits were hooved over.

She happily trotted home then into white tail woods, gently tipped over the rock that hid her key, and quietly opened the door before she heard a massive CRASH sounding like it had come from her bedroom. "EEEK! Who's there?" She squealed as she darted behind an arm chair in her living room. Her golden ears perked up as she slowly slinked up to the doorway and opened the door only to find some sort of dragon pony hybrid.

She let out a huge excitedly/shocked gasp as her green eyes became as large as dinner plates. "YIIIIIII!!!" She squealed as she hopped up to him excitedly! "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!! Y-your h-half D-d-dragon?!?" She began bouncing around him energetically followed by an entire squeal then bounced out of the room happily into the kitchen.

"Would you like tea?"

Dual raised an eyebrow as he took a step closer before being tackled from the side and slammed into the wall the griffin that had fallen in with him. Its sharp talons dug into an space between the plates digging into the soft flesh beneath causing him to cry out in pain, but what came out instead was a loud roar that seemed to shake the whole house.

Pushing him off with new found strength he growled deeply "Have you no honor!?" He roars before charging.

Doodle poked her head in again and noticed the gryphon and, yet again, gasped with delight. "*Gasp!* Oh my goodness, I didn't see you there!! Would you like tea too!!" The smile on her face grew then drastically fell when she saw the ruby liquid pool onto the floor. She just stood there for what seemed like an eternity just staring, mouth agape with the tea tray on her back held up by her wings. "Oh no... No, no, no! NOT IN MY HOUSE! Don't you dare!" She then gently set the tray onto the table next to her and gently took a step forwards.

Her forelock now covered her eyes as her golden and white wings sprang open trying to look as menacing as a tiny pony of her status could. Without warning she jumped into the air with two powerful wing thrusts and charged towards the gryphon at full speed in an attempt to knock him back but probably knowing she'd either miss or just bounce off. As she got closer, she closed her eyes for impact while twirling her body in order to bring all four hooves forwards. This isn't going to work... you're too weak... you'll just bounce off or miss... eh but even so, you need to get your point across! All for nothing HEEEEEYYYYAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!

The griffin too distracted by the bigger more dangerous pony it didn't notice the smaller one until it was too late. Getting knocked back it backed up now out numbered before shooting up with a cry and flying out of the hole it had fallen into and disappears in the night.

Now that there was no danger Dual dropped his guard...bit only a little. He takes a step forward and stumbles.

Doodle blinked a few times in amazement. "Wait... that actually worked?" A small gasp escaped her throat as she looked at her own hooves in amazement as the smile quickly stretched it's way across her face again and went into a giggle fit. "THAT'S RIGHT! THAT JUST HAPPENED!! YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE DB... er... something! Ooh! I should be a super hero! *gaps* or even better, start my own pizza delivery marshmallow service!!" She began to dance around then remembered that the other stallion was still here and rushed over to him and offered a helping hoof.

"Are you ok sir?" She glanced at the wound then bit her lip and darted out of the room only to return minutes later with a bunch of berries, leaves, and a mortar and pestle. "Do you mind if I take a look at that?" She asked while poking the armor carefully.

Dual sighs before removing his armor piece by piece until only a medallion with a stone that looked exactly like his eyes hung around his neck. A gash running along his side looking much like someone took a scalpel to his side.

Doodle looked at the grotesque wound and quickly turned away making a 'bleeh' face. At first, she paid no attention to the medallion, began picking out various berries and oily leaves, and began mashing up the berries and leaves in the pestle and mortar until they became infused together into a light paste. As she mashed and mixed with one hoof and her tail while the other hoof flipped pages of a medical book she put together herself having lived in the woods most of her life without parents to tend to her.

"So, that's an interesting choice of necklace! Where'd you get it?" She asked trying to make small talk and knowing how much it would sting when it was wrapped around the wound.

Dual looked down at it and opened his moth to speak his voice deep and seemed to rumble with multiple voices. "It was a gift given to all,by the one who brings the night, who brings ponies back onto the right path of harmony." As he spoke it was hard not to see the fangs that shined in the moonlight.

Doodle's eyes widened  quickly applied the leaf and bound it tight, but not too tight, around the wound and stepped back smiling. Her gaze dropped while noticing a rather odd extension of tooth protruding from his jaw. Not wanting to be rude, she kept smiling but couldn't help all of the crazy thoughts that now flowed through her head. Fangs?!? Oh wow, he is half draggie!!! YIIIII SO EXCITING!! OH MY GOSH!! Calm down and play it cool... he's not exactly a Kirin... no horns... She couldn't help her excitement and wonder rapidly climbing but held it in as long as she could until: "YIIIIIII!!!" She squealed bouncing around the room happily, yet again but soon stopped thinking of how tiring or annoying it must be to him to have her constant energy levels rising.

She cleared her throat but couldn't shake the magnificent smile that wonder had now Permanently affixed to her face. "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh!! You have FANGS?!?" That is so Freaking cool!!" She began to rapidly bounce around him again but suddenly lost her footing and tripped forward face-planting into the hard, wooden floors. "Hehehehe-ow! I'm ok!" She bounced back up, the smile never leaving her face. "I'm Doodle Bug, at your service!" She said bowing, then offering a hoof. "And, ... wait, I don't believe I got your name."

((This was my 666th post...))

Dual grunted in pain from the paste,before flinching even more from the loud noise that had come out of the young mares mouth as his pointed ears were sensitive to sound as much his eyes were to light. Dual edge nods "Mostly used for intimating then anything else.." He says before putting his armor back on slowly when she introduces herself he stops and bows low to her his wings spread out on ether side.

An ancient custom of greeting royalty and nobles or of a pony of great respect- or in apology.

A pegasi would greet them by bowing low to the one they greet their wings spread wide in an act of good faith and trust, for if the one who is greeted is not pleased it was custom to stomp down onto the wings, if you were lucky it would just bruise them...if not..But now a days few practice this only those of the guard and some nobility.

"Only the night itself can pronounce my true name but if you wish...You may call me Dual Edge."

Doodle's green eyes widened even more when he bowed. 'Oh shoot, he's the real deal! An actual night guard!! OH my gosh, Oh my gosh!!' She quickly covered her mouth trying not to squeal again but couldn't hide the giant smile. "Oh my gosh, you're the real deal! I thought the armor was collectable nor would I ever meet a pony of the night guard in pony but oh my gosh, here you are! ... Can I have your autograph?!?!" She asked quietly pulling out a pen and paper from seemingly out of nowhere.

Dual blinked in shock, Night guards stealth could match those of changelings so their existence could be known only by reading ancient tomes, so how...no wait...there was that time a year ago when Night guards were seen clearly for the first time in at least a thousand years.

"Nightmare Night..." He says groaning and starts to pace "Remain hidden,the unseen heroes of equestira! That what they said!" He says facehoofing.

Doodle jumped back in shock! "Eek! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you weren't supposed to be seen! I'll keep your secret safe! Don't you worry!" She stood at attention and saluted him. She then shifted about and nervously while placing her hoof back on the ground and asked, "So... why were you fighting a gryphon?" She sighed as her emerald gaze dropped to the floor and mumbled "Why can't every pony just be friends..." She said as her gaze remained glued to the intricate patterns in the wood. The note pad and pen had suddenly clattered to the ground and her large ears drooped.

The one thing she hated the most was when ponies fought... she couldn't stand them hating each other. and would always try to do something to help. It absolutely tore her up inside to know that there was hate in Equestria. A single crystalline tear slowly slid down her cheek but she quickly wiped it away and looked back up at him as her emerald eyes were now filled with determination. "I can help! May I help?!? Pleeease?"

"I was protecting myself more then anything..." He says before looking up at the pony shaped hole in the roof. "Now that they have seen us together it cant be helped...this place is no longer safe." turning to her he sighs. "I will have to take you to the Ponyville branch...will you come?" He asks as the air becomes thick stressing the seriousness and danger he spoke of.

Doodle jolted up into the air and zoomed around the room a few times. "Ok, woo! Where are we going?" Doodle's smile quickly returned as she zoomed around packing her pencils and sketch pads and landed in front of him with a soft click of her hooves hitting the wooden floor.

"Ok ready!!"

Dual smirks causing a a fang to sparkle, then he opens his large wings and took off. Due to them being webbed and lacking feathers his take off was much higher from the lack of air that would normally slip between feathered wings.

"You'll have to see when we get there.." He say before starting in a direction of ponyville, keeping his guard up and keeping an eye on the hyper mare with him having to slow down now and then.

The night was still no clash of steel or crys of battle were heard it was very...relaxing..

His eyes glowed as he stared up at the moon the mare shape mark was no longer there making the pale glowing orb all that much brighter.

If Dual hadn't looked down he could of flown like that all night but seeing the building, their goal coming into veiw he turned to Doodle. "This way"he said before flying downand landing infront of what looked to be a shop or cafe of some kind. Above the door was a large sign that said "Blue Rose Cafe" with a blue rose in bloom that had replaced the "O"

"We're here"

"Waaaaaaahooooo!!!" Doodle cheered as she unfurled her wings and shot up into the air then rocketed after him. Even though she wasn't as fast as him, she flapped her wings faster and faster then tucked them in gaining even more speed until it was time to land... She lost control and smashed into the ground with enough force to cause a slight hole. "Ah, I'm so sorry! I'll fix it!!" She said grabbing the nearest rug and pulling it over the hole.

"There, all better! Like it never even happened!!" She said as a huge smile spread across her face and tucked her wings in to look around. "Sooo, where are we?!?"

"Where did you- never mind I'm not even going to ask.." He says before knocking on the door and waited patiently.

When suddenly the lights turned on and the door opens to showing a very sleepy looking stallion his wings were unlike both doodles and Dual's wings, instead of both. Instead of feathers or even webbed wings.

They were in fact made of metal, the colors seemed to mach his coat and mane

"Mmm...I sorry but...Dual? what are you doing here?" Looking beside him he noticed the smaller mare but before he could greet her Dual pushed past him and walked in "Sorry emergency cant talk"

He says flying up to a picture of the sun rising and turning it causing it to change to the moon glowing bright in the night sky causing a click to be heard and a secret staircase to appear going down into the darkness behind the counter. "This way.."

Once Doodle saw the stallion with the strange wings, she gasped and waved excitedly! "Hiii, oh my gosh! I loved your wings!! My name's Doo-" She got cut off as Duel pushed through him and continued on. "Ahh! Sorry, gotta jet! I'll talk later Byyye!" Doodle then rushed off giggling while following Duel, hopping happily down the stairs and singing a happy little tune as the light slowly died off and the darkness enveloped them.

"Hm, hm hm ha ha hm hm! We are going down in a big ol' dark pit! Gonna save the day, gonna save the day! Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm, ha ha, ha, ha, hm! Because I forgot the lyrics this song is now a bore!"

Willow sighs as he watched the two ponies go into the black unknown, and when they were finally swallowed up by the dark, he flew up and righted the the painting, and with it the hole that faded.

Meanwhile in the tunnel Dual walked,and walked and walked, only stopping to make sure Doodle was still fallowing and to light Lanterns, green flames flicked in them softly.

Doodle watched in amazement as the flames consumed the wick then danced around in a greenish flare! She then tried to conceal her giggles watching the lanterns all light up green and thought to herself, 'Hm, green is an odd color to be an all consuming evil flame, tehe. I wonder what other kinds of colors flames will turn into!! Oh my gosh I could almost burst with excitement at the very thought!! Yiiiii!!'

Doodle then turned to stare at one green flame that seemed to draw her near. a few minutes later, she'd completely lost him but soon found him again before he'd even noticed. Or so she hoped. Her mind was abuzz with all these ideas of an underground cavern, castle, or even lost world! Who or what lived there?!? Are they friendly? Would they like tea or soda... *gasps loudly* SODA-TEA!! It was genius! The smile never faded, even once from her face!

Finally they reached a door with a small hole in the center, Dual turned to Doodle. "Doodle Bug you are about to enter a world not like this, a world of shadows and mysteries, you must swear on your very life you will never speak of this location, or of what you've seen."

His face softens somewhat

"And Miss Doodle you are my responsibility, there are dangers here..., there are pockets here where time flows so fast that a pony will live out their lifespan in ten seconds… or so slow that you'd be frozen permanently like a fly in amber,Cracks in space that can split you in half. Distortions that can turn you inside out. Granted, they’re all rare, but you only have to run into one once for it to kill you. So I will ask you to please stay close and don't wander off."

He says as he lifts his medallion to the hole in the door and pressed it in and turned, there was a soft click and swung slowly inwards reviling darkness. "This way" He says stepping through the doorway and through the darkness that flowed over him like water.

Doodle's emerald eyes widened and shined with excitement as Duel was going over everything trying her very best to keep herself from squealing yet again. 'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!! This is going to be so much fuun! YIIIIIIIIHEHEHAHA OH MY GOSH... I CAN'T STAND IT ANY MORE!!! Keep it together girl! You can do this!! BUT I'M GONNA BE A BAT PONY!!!! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!!!' She thought but concealed her squeal as well as she could as she raised her right hoof up to her forehead.

"Aye, aye Captain!!" She said as excitedly as possible and began bouncing up and down seemingly about to explode!

When they walked through the door of darkness and come out of the tunnel on the other side the world was different they appeared to be back inside the cafe but instead of the bright colors and the warm smell of baked goods they were surrounded in different sades of black and grey that seemed to shift and move slowly on its own. "This way.." Dual says as he passes a pony shaped shadow that looked like the owner of the cafe.