The Good Old Black Lake...8 years later

"Outsider!" Meran snarled again. Shadow was cowering away from him, fear alight in her human eyes.

As Holly tried to piece together this meaning, she watched Shadow confusedly.
Her PROPER Shadow wasnt scared of anyone.... was she?

Shadow was scared, of him.

Meran took a key off the hook next to the cell door and let himself in, closing it behind him.

Natalie looked at Shadow.

"We're gonna get you outta here...." she whispered.

Holly looked at Shadow, imagining the old one, wondering which one she liked most.

Natalie read Holly's thoughts and scowled.
She looked back at Shadow and opened the mind connection.

I'm checking this....can you hear me?

Shadow didn't respond, seemingly having heard nothing as Meran walked slowly towards her.

Natalie frowned.
She watched Meran, and fingered the wand in her pocket.

Shadow's fear was evident as Meran approached, but she'd learnt from her experiences around Hogwarts with her friends, that she could fight back. She did so, standing up and roundhouse kicking Meran. He fell back, but when he got up, the anger on his face was obvious.

Hayley bit her lip, and gasped slightly when the man got up.

Holly siezed this chance to kick Meran from behind.

Hayley drew her wand quickly, gasping again as Holly kicked Meran.

Meran was seething.
"We're under attack!" He yelled. Several Senators burst into the corridor, magic at the ready.

"That did not work out to plan." Holly commented, taking out her wand and standing in front of Shadow.

"No, not for you." Meran snarled, side stepping Holly. "Kill them." He ordered the Senators before grabbing Shadow's arm in a viper's grip and disappearing.

Hayley yelled suddenly as Shadow and Meran dissapeared, and pointed her wand at the others. "What the heck are we going to do now?" she whispered to Holly.

"NO FREAKIN WAY!" Holly yelled, "I CANNOT BELIEVE I JUST LET THEM TAKE THAT GIRL! HAVE I NO BRAIN!"
She thought.
"Dont answer that," she muttered ducking in case of flying hexes.

Natalie ran to Hayley and Holly.

"We're gonna fight all these idiots and then we're gonna free Shadow and get the hell out of here..." said Natalie, whipping out her wand.

Shadow and Meran landed in a room, with grey concrete walls and floor. Shadow looked around, having no idea where she was. It wasn't even in the Senate towers as far as she knew, unless they had been expanding the place during her absence.
"Where am I you blood sucking putrid creature!" She yelled at Meran, her hands balling into fists.
"A place where your friends won't here you scream."

There was a flurry of black wings and hooves as Merlas landed in the tunnel, Arias sitting neatly sidesaddle on her back.

"Wish Id thought of that," Holly muttered sarcastically taking out her wand and throwing a few hexes towards her favourite Senate members.

Hayley ducked as a curse flew towards her head. "You...." she said, aiming her wand at the Senate member who was to blame. "How are we gonna get all these guys down, and then get to the unknown location where Shadow is?" she asked Holly and Natalie, whipping her wand around.

All the Senators stopped fighting as Arias appeared, and bowed before her.
"You two, Hollyia Bristol and Natalie Patterson." She said.

Natalie dropped her wand and stood stark still.

"Yes...your majesty..." Natalie said airily.

"No need for the 'your majesty' business." Arias said, sliding off Merlas. "Take the mare, she knws where Shadow is. I will follow behind."

"Hey," Holly said a little more casually to Arias, "Come on then Merlas....and you Nerdalie."