The Quest: Book 1 Ch. 12
By Eliad Sholomovich

The group had fallen to the ground after being released from the ice. They all sat down to rest. Ryu picked up the stone. "How in te world did we survive that?" Ryu asked.

"Does it matter?Lets just get away from this place." Ken said.They all nodded. Ryu tried to stand but his feet couldn't hold his weight in his weak state.

Guile and Guy helped him up. "Don't worry Ryu we got you" they said.

The group walked towards the town. Each day Ryu was a little stronger. Then three days later they found the bodies of the elves.

"What happened?" Lorain asked "How is this possible?" She punched a tree to release her anger.

Ryu was still very weak and incapable of fighting. He coughed "By the looks of it Shadowbane did this" He then leaned on a tree.

Mariko whispered to Chunli "We better keep an eye on dad I'm worried about him" Chunli nodded.

Lorain shouted to the air "D*mn you Shadowbane, you coward show yourself so I can avenge my subjects"

Baltazar spoke quietly "I beleive that wasn't so wise"

Shadowbane appeared before them. in his human form. "What do you want?" He said impassivly.

He looked normal except his eyes that usually shone in blazing green were now somehow dull sad. His face was a cold mask of pain.

Lorain took out an arrow and shot it at Shadowbane "Die monster" Shadowbane was in no mood for games. He caught the arrow and lept forward.

He grabbed her by the neck and started choking her. "Listen carefully you little elf. I'm in no mood for this. These so called elves are clones just spill some water on them an you'l see I'm right."

He dropped her "Give me the stone" he said. Mel passed it to him. "Very good. Now I'll send you to the city near the mountains of Mordaria."

He pointed at a tree and a portal appeared. He then teleported. "I wonder whats his problem" Guy asked. Ryu limped towards the portal "Somethings are better left unknown Guy. Lets go"

Lorain coughed a bit after being choked. She rubbed her neck that now was decorated by a red bruise shaped like a huge hand. She spilled some water on an elf. Its skin melted and she saw to her surprise that the "elf" was actually a doppledanger(a creature that can emulate the forms and powers of his victims).

She growled and walked threw the portal. The others did the same.

When they reached the town. They searched for an inn. They rented some rooms in a local inn named "The drunken dragon" They all rested up and cleaned themselves.

AT NIGHTTIME

The group was all asleep. Outside on a nearby mountain. Shadowbane was sleeping.

He twisted and turned "No..Please..Don't" He mumbled to himself.

He was dreaming or rather having a horibble nightmare. He was in his old home around him figures appeared. "Why? Why turn on us?" He heard his brothers words echo. Shadowbane fell to his knees "I didn't mean to.."

"Traitor" he heard another echo. Shadowbane cried "I can explain. I.." "Curse you to d*mnation". Then his brother apperaed before him he had a wound in his chest "I'm ashamed to call you brother"

Shadowbane was with tears "No wait I..". Then his brother spoke again "My blood is on your hands. You'll never redeem yourself, murderer"

Shadowbane cried "No I had no choice you have to listen" His brother vanished. Then the figure of his wife appeared "How could you? Kill your brother to save those mortals. The same mortals that killed me"

She turned from him "Cassandra wait please" he pleaded but the figure vanished as well. Then the face of his son "Why father? Were we not important to you? Why help them instead of us?"

Shadowbane shook his head "Please,You don't understand" He saw a tear on his son's face "Your not my father your nothing but a traitor, a ugly monster"

Shadowbane clutched his head "No This is a nightmare ,an illusion it can't be true."

Then the faces of his parents appeared "Where did we go wrong. We loved you, raised you and this is how you repay us. You are no son of ours."

They closed their eyes and vanished "No!!!!!!!!" Shadowbane cried and woke up

He was sweating and crying "It is true I don't deserve to live. No matter what decesion I make I always suffer. I chose to avenge myself and was lonely and dishonorable. Then I chose to redeem myself only to betray my family and become an outcast"

He rose to his feet "Why do I always suffer When I was young I never fit in. THen my family was taken away from me. Then to be a monster and villian in others eyes sense their hate,fear towards me for 2 million years. And now to be an outcast to my family.Hated by them and my people.My past is returning to haunt me once again."

The Irony of fate stung his heart. His former enemies were now under his protection and his family became his foe.

Shadowbane sighed "I should have stayed in h*ll. At least there I couldn't harm anyone I care for" Then he remembered saving Ryu and the others from Apocalypse."These street fighters are the first mortals to gain my respect. I chose to come and help them I can't turn my back on them now. He remembered the day of his ressurection.

::START FLASHBACK::

Shadowbane was sitting near a stalagmite in the h*ll of Nosgoth. He was looking at the mortal plain threw a globe. He then felt someone touch his shoulder.

He turned around and saw a tall hodded man with long brown monk garbs and white feathered wings. "Kain the second you have been chosen" Shadowbane looked at the man

"Chosen? For what?" Shadowbane asked The man spoke "You have been chosen to help the forces of good to protect the mortal realm from an evil that has awakened"

Shadowbane looked confused "Me? Save the mortals. Are you sure that is what you want after all I've done to them?"

"We know of your past and all your suffering but you are the only one that can face this foe. If you do this We shall set your soul free to eternal rest."

Shadowbane rubbed his temples "What must I do?" he asked with a sigh

"First swear by your soul and those of your family to do this task no matter what you face or who."

Shadowbane thought for a moment "Very well I agree I pledge by my soul and All I care for to help the mortals as much as I can"

The man smiled "Excellent, You are to choose a group of mortals you know are worthy and lead them from threw the many threatened dimesions. You yourself must only intervien under extreme danger of beings of hardships no mortal can defeat. This is your task."

He turned to leave "One last thing. Make sure thay think your the villian. Mortals need someone else to hate.To blame for their problems. Good luck soon you shall return to earth."

::END FLASHBACK::

Shadowbane looked at the rising sun "No turning back now. I brought this on myself So now I must finish what has begun. No matter how much I will regret hurting my family. I must do what is right. But it hurts to betray my past ,my heritage."

He turned to his true form. He still morned his brother and knew he would soon face his past and suffer more but Shadowbane knew from experiance that he was fate's punching bag and looked at the sun.

"Whatever happens is meant to be I can only hope to avoid hurting more of my family but I know that believeing that is an illusion".