Light within Darkness

David, Shadow, Ken, Sara, Ashley, and Foxy were walking through the forest. The forest was sunny with big trees, grass on the forest floor, and wild flowers by the trees. Ken said, "I'm glad one of us has our magical animal spirit."

"Yeah" David agreed. "Dragontame is so awesome it's amazing. Dragontame looked just like the painting in the museum plus with the golden fangs. That was a nice touch. Shadow sighed. "Is something bothering you Shadow?"

"It's nothing" Shadow said and looked down at Foxy. "Where are we going to next?"

Foxy said, "My subconscious tells me up ahead is a dark spot. We will have to go through it."

"What's a dark spot" Ken asked.

"A dark spot is an area that is filled with natural dark magic" Foxy explained. "Their are dark spots all over the magical world. It's where dark magical animals live."

Ashley asked, "Shouldn't we avoid trouble when we can?"

"Normally but I have a feeling that we should go through. Besides it will take about a day off our journey."

David said, "Don't worry about it Ashley with Dragontame with us we can handle anything."

"Let's just go" Shadow said firmly with annoyance.

As David and the others were walking The green grass and wildflowers ended and the trees above blocked out the sunlight so it was darker. "This is it" Foxy said. "The dark spot. Be on guard."

Ashley said, "This place is creepier than I thought it would be. Maybe we should transform just in case."

Foxy said, "That is a smart idea."

David, Shadow, Ken, Sara, and Ashley raised up their wands that they conjured and exclaimed, "Sorcerer evolution!" In a flash of multicolor light they were now wearing their sorcerer's robes. David's was red with gold design, Shadow's was half black and half dark green, Ken's was sparkling blue, Sara's was sparkling white, and Ashley's was sparkling pink. David and the others continued walking while always checking out their surroundings.

Ken said, "This is one creepy forest."

"I know what you mean" Ashley said. "I never liked haunted woods."

"No worry about anything" David said with a confident smile. "As long as I have my magical animal spirit there is nothing to worry about."

Shadow looked down and thought to himself. Am I one of the legendary sorcerers? Everyone's robe was painted in the museum of the past but instead of mine there was a guy in a yellow and black robe.

After a little while Ashley let out a small scream and pointed upwards. "Bats." Sure enough their were a bunch of bats hanging upside down from the tree branches above them. Hearing Ashley the bats opened their eyes and screeched. They took off from the tree branches and flew around David and the others. Ashley screamed and duck and covered.

Sara exclaimed, "I got this, heads down. White feathers attack! She swirled her wand above her head and a whirlwind filled with sharp glowing white feathers swirled around above everyone's head and with a flick of her wand she sent the gale force and and the bats up and away.

Ashley shivered and said, "That was so scary."

Shadow snapped and said angrily, "Would you stop being a coward, it's pathetic."

"Hey back off Shadow" David shouted. "That was bullying."

"Great" Shadow said. "I'm stuck with people that can't fight their own battles. I'm going to run ahead. You guys are moving to slow for me. See you when you get there." He ran ahead and away from the others.

Ken asked Ashley if she was alright and she said she was fine.

Sara said, "Something seems to be bothering Shadow."

"You think so" David asked. "Well I thought he was getting cool by the time we got to the forest town but then after we left he seemed to go back being a bit moody."

Sara said, "I think you should have a talk with him David. Shadow seems to be the kind of guy that would more respect a man to man talk if you know what I mean."

"You're right Sara, I'll do it" David said. "A man to man talk ought to set him straight."

Shadow stopped running and panted. He said to himself, "That painting is really getting to me. I know I'm a legendary sorcerer or at least I think I am."

A haunted voice asked, "What's the matter? Don't you know who you are?"

Shadow looked around but could see no one. He shouted, "Show yourself!"

"What's the matter? Can't see what's right in front of you?"

"Quit being a coward and face me!"

"You are no legendary sorcerer."

"What do you you know" Shadow asked loudly in defiance.

"I know your friends want you gone and they will send you away when they learn about your past and your true nature."

Shadow laughed and said, "It wouldn't matter to me. I don't have any friends and as far as I'm concern I don't need any."

"The wand you carry is the wand of a legendary sorcerer but you are no legendary sorcerer. Open to your true nature and relinquish your wand."

Shadow said, "So that's what you want! Well if you want my wand then come and get it!"

A green fist burst out from the ground in front of Shadow and out crawled a green zombie with long cobwebs for hair and a suit of armor. The zombie pulled out a battle axe that was strapped to its back. Shadow said, "You're a battle zombie. A pillager who died and refused to move on. You got corrupted with darkness and are now bound to a place that is filled with dark magic."

The zombie said, "You know your dark arts. Now feel it! Battle ax slash!" The zombie brought down his ax a force sliced through the air at Shadow. Shadow quickly dodged by throwing himself to the side.

He got up, pointed his wand at the battle zombie and exclaimed, "Dark blaster!" A black beam of light shot out of Shadow's black wand and hit the zombie in his armored chest and knocked him down.

The zombie got up and said, "You can't beat me. My armor is too strong."

He ran at Shadow with his battle ax held high and when he was about to swing it down on him Shadow aimed his wand at the handle of the ax and exclaimed, "Dark blaster!" The attack destroyed the handle and the blade fell to the ground. Shadow pointed his wand right in front of the battle zombie's head and exclaimed, "Dark blaster!" The dark beam of light from his wand exploded the zombie's head and the body fell backwards. "Ha! Your armor didn't protect everything." He turned around and walked away.

Dark energy rose from the battle zombie and flew right into Shadow. He gasped loudly and his eyes bulged. Black and dark green light emitted from his body as he began to get bigger and transform. Shadow was now standing as battle zombie with full armor including a helmet and a bigger ax with a metal handle. Battle zombie Shadow said, "It's all about survival of the fittest. I don't need friends I just need more power."

***

Ken asked, "Should we have let Shadow go off on his own?"

"Don't worry about" David said. "Shadow is probably the scariest thing in this forest."

"And the strongest" battle zombie Shadow said as he walked forward and showed himself to David and the others.

Foxy said, "It's Shadow."

David whistled and said, "Looking tough man. So you got your magical animal spirit, congratulations."

Battle zombie Shadow held up his ax and said, "I will defeat the legendary sorcerers of darkness myself including Marick."

"Confident as ever aren't you" David said with a smile.

Zombie Shadow continued, "All I need is the power of the rest of the legendary sorcerers. Your powers your magic but I know you will fight to keep it. Let me know when you surrender and I will spare you." He raised his battle ax sideways and exclaimed, "Battle ax strike!" With an horizontal slash of his ax a rush of energy slashed through the air towards David and the others.

When zombie Shadow raised his ax and was about to shout out his attack David, Ken, Sara, and Ashley pointed out their wands and used their attacks. The slice of air from zombie Shadow attack cancelled out their attacks and the force knocked down David, Ken, Sara, and Ashley.

When they got back up David asked, "What's wrong with you Shadow?!"

"I don't believe it is Shadow" Sara said.

Foxy said, "It's Shadow alright but he been corrupted by darkness."

David exclaimed, "I'll knock some sense into him. Magical animal spirit evolution!" Their was a burst of fire that came from David and he transformed into Dragontame. He flew up and exclaimed, "Golden flames!" He breathed out golden fire from his mouth at zombie Shadow.

Zombie Shadow exclaimed, "Battle ax strike!" With a swipe of his battle ax the force of power that shot outward cut Dragontame's golden fire in half and the fire passed safely from zombie Shadow on both sides.

Dragontame asked, "Why are you doing this Shadow?!"

Zombie Shadow said, "Because the darkness will win. Marick will spread that darkness and their is no stopping it.

"You're wrong" Dragontame said. "That zombie power is messing with your head man. As the legendary sorcerers it's are job to fight evil and bring peace to the world. That is what we'll do."

Zombie Shadow said, "I'm not a legendary sorcerer."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you remember at the museum with the painting of the legendary sorcerers? All of your robes were in that painting all but mine. Instead of my robe it was a sorcerer with a yellow and black robe."

Dragontame landed on the ground and transformed back into David and said in a sympathetic voice, " Hey Shadow that is no reason to be bummed out. You make a great legendary sorcerer. You're brave, strong, tough, and most important of all is that you choose good over evil. I don't care what some painting says I know that you are a legendary sorcerer. You're a hero Shadow. That's who you are."

Sara said, "If anyone can be a legendary sorcerer you can Shadow."

Ken said, "The painting could even be a mistake or things can change. I mean just look at Dragontame. The painting didn't say anything about having golden fangs."

Ashley said, "You may be rough around the edges but I know I can count on you."

Foxy said, "I trust my feelings that you are a legendary sorcerer and more important I trust you."

Zombie Shadow held his head in his hands and growled in pain. Shadow's voice said, "Get out of me!"

The zombie said, "You can take their magic and become unstoppable."

Shadow said, "I'm not going to steal magic. I don't even want the dark magic taint that's in my own magic and I'm not going to hurt my friends!" Battle zombie Shadow glowed with a yellow light and the battle zombie and Shadow split apart. Shadow faced the battle zombie and said, "You're going to pay for what you did to me and for hurting my friends."

The battle zombie said, "You don't need any friends. What you need is the power to survive what is coming."

Shadow said, "Now that I have friends I know that surviving isn't the same as living." A black and gold light emitted from Shadow and suddenly he was now wearing a half black half gold robe in the design of a yin-yang symbol.

David, Ken, Sara, and Ashley said in turn, "Awesome! Amazing! So cool! Beautiful!"

Shadow pointed his wand at the battle zombie and exclaimed, "Shadow blaster! A beam of swirling gold and black light shot out of his wand and drilled a hole through the battle zombies armor. The battle zombie fell backwards onto the ground and turned to dust. Shadow smiled with amazement.

David walked up to Shadow and asked with a smile, "Do you have any doubt you're a legendary sorcerer now?

Shadow said, "None at all." He turned to face everyone "I guess I owe you guy some sort of an..."

David said, "Don't worry about it. I think we're all good. Right Ashley?

Ashley nodded her head and said, "Yeah."

David held up his fist to Shadow and they both fist bumped.