I have never worn armour before. It is heavy but easy to move in. Gleaming silver metal glides over my torso, fitting to my shape. The neckline is fairly high and round with a metal collar going around the back of my neck.  Layers of metal pads hang over my shoulders and stop part the way down my upper arm. Underneath the metal, is a deep blue leather which can be seen on my throat and sticking out in an arrow pattern underneath the end of the breastplate. Over my wrists, the top of my hands and part the way up my arms are more sheets of smooth metal which sit upon layers of deep blue leather. Over my legs, I wear deep blue leather trousers. Metal pads are strapped around to my knee caps and going up my thighs, meaning not much of the leather can be seen. I also wear heavy metal boots. It is oddly beautiful as it glows in the light. The metal isn't plain. It is decorated with lines of blue that follow the angles and curves of my body. Our flower has been engraved into the metal over my chest. The whole thing has a beautiful, delicate elegance to it.  But it won't stay this way for long. 

My hair has been tied into a thick, tight braid that goes down the middle of my scalp and hangs down my back. With a sigh, I pull up the loose braid and tuck it into a tight bun on the back of my head and secure it tightly. I do not want my hair to get in my way.  I then attach all my weapons to the various belts and slots on the armour, taking the time to look at them. First, I attach various little silver knives over my body. Tucking some into my boots and little gaps in the armour as well as on a belt loop around my thigh. I then grab the white cylinder with the silver swirls. I flick my wrist and it grows into the long, pointed spear. Not my best weapon, but it will be helpful. I flick my wrist again and it returns to normal before I hang it off a leather belt.  I then pull out my two daggers. The memories of my parents showing me my weapons for the first time spring back into my mind. I thought they were beautiful as the gleamed and sparkled in the firelight. They still are, but now they are more than that. They are what will protect me. They are also the memory of my parents. I pull out one of the daggers from its sheath. The smooth metal blade which curves slightly shines in the light and the white and silver handle sparkles. I then attach them both to another strap around my thigh. Next to me are my two swords. Decorated the same as the other weapons and just as beautiful. The long, thin blades glowing as I twist them round in my hands. None of them look deadly sharp, but I know they can cause a lot of damage.  I attach them to my hips. Finally, I pull out the sword that Toryn and I made. The metal is slightly darker and it has a lot more weight to it. The blade is longer and thicker with the veins of icy blue running through it. I can feel the magic flow through it. I attach it to my back. With a final look in the mirror, I take another deep breath. I look like a warrior, ready for battle. I look strong and confident, but that is not how I feel inside. Inside, I am scared. Terrified in fact. I am about to lead my people into a war against monsters. Monsters who have all their powers and strength whilst ours is zapped away. Shifters are going to die together.

"Isla," it is Toryn who makes me jump as he walks into my room. Followed by Tanya. They both wear armour very similar to mine, just slightly adjusted to suit their shapes. They both look ferocious, especially Tanya. The armour only seems to emphasise her elegant height and fierce features along with the muscle she has built up in the past months of intensive training. Toryn also looks terrifying with his even larger size and bulk being highlighted by the shapes of the armour.

"It is nearly time," Tanya says. Her hair has been styled like mine so as to not get in the way. Her bright golden eyes have been lined with greens and purples to look like vines crawling around them. I am guessing they are a way to have Serenity close to her. At the thought of Serenity, my eyes sting and my chest tightens. More people are going to feel this way once today is over.

"I know," I reply back with a sigh as I turn back to the mirror. With a final sigh, I pull the metal helmet over my face. Layers of the gleaming silver have been shaped intricately into a dragon face. It comes down over my face with silts cut out for me to see through. Metal horns surround the top of my head and around the side of it and teeth have been moulded around a snarling mouth. It looks terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Especially with the smooth metal making up the shapes of the dragons face in intricate and swirling patterns. Most of the patterns swirl around a diamond that sits on my forehead. It is the representation of the Heart of Shadow and signifies that I am the queen. My siblings appear next to me with matching masks. We look scary now.

"Did you know that the armour will shift with us," Toryn muffles from beneath his helmet. I nod my head. All armour made is enchanted with Heart Magic to provide armour in our animal forms. I don't know how it works, it is a secret only known by those who make it.

"It is a shame we aren't going to be able to shift to test it out," Tanya replies.

"That may not be true," a new voice says. We turn and see blue walking into the room. I turn to face him and begin walking to the door. He strides next to me as we leave the room and make our way to the bridge.

"Well, you had your magic before your hair was used to strengthen it," Blue starts to explain. "As it was a part of you that was used to strengthen the spell, it means that you can break it." He tells me.

"How am I supposed to break a spell like that?" I ask.

"The spell works by cutting off all magic that comes from the Heart of Shadow. But you are physically connected to it," he begins to explain. I nod my head. "You can't be completely blocked from it, even if the spell includes a couple of strands of your hair. You just need to push through the shield that is blocking you."

"How?" I ask.

"You need to shift, Isla," he tells me. I gulp. I haven't shifted for so long. I don't even feel truly connected with my dragon form even when I am linked to it. "If you can shift, you will break the shield that blocks the hearts magic. That will allow all shifters to shift."

"Easier said than done, especially when you are fighting beasts at the same time," I sigh. He nods his head.

"Maybe not," he says. "You have suppressed your dragon side for so long, that it is desperate to get out. All you have to do is let yourself go. Trust me, your dragon form will be desperate to get out from the spirit world to protect you." I nod my head.

"I'll try," I tell him.

"Isla," he says again. "You should let me fight with you," he sighs. "My magic is not linked to the heart, I will still have it." I look at him with a frown, not that he can see the frown under the mask. I lift the mask up to look at him. I have known he isn't a shifter since the first time I met him. I have known that whatever he is, he is of great power. Not that it looks like he is. With his slightly aged skin and grey hair that is tinted with blue.

"You aren't fighting Blue," I tell him. He goes to argue but I hold up my hand. "I know you are powerful. More powerful than me or the others. Which is why I don't want King Harrison to know about you. You are the last defence if things go wrong," I tell him. "If we all die and he wins, you are the last person who can stop him and protect the people. A person, who he has no idea how to defeat or have magic against. A secret weapon who will take him by surprise." He sighs.

"But if I am on the battlefield, I can help you win and then there won't be any need for me to be a last resort." I look at him, really look at him. I have been able to sense something off about him for a long time. I know I have not even come close to even seeing his true power being released. But it is an old power. One that has been locked away for a much longer time than I have locked away my dragon. Something tells me that if he releases this power of his, then he won't be returning. I can't let him do that.

"What will happen?" I ask. "If you release this power?" His eyebrows raise. He hadn't been expecting that.

"It is my choice," he says. 

"You'll die?" I ask. He looks at me with an odd expression.

"Not exactly..." he argues. I sigh again.

"Blue," I begin. "You are staying behind," I say. "Because you shouldn't have to sacrifice yourself for us." He frowns a look of anger crossing his features. I am not used to it. He is normally so calm and controlled.

"Who I decide to fight and die for is up to me and not you," he continues to argue. "I have lived in these lands, with these people for thousands of years. I have watched this nation grow before my eyes. I have watched it shape into a place of hope, beauty and peace. I want to protect it. I want to protect you," he says.

"You will," I say to him. "But not in the battle. Because if you get killed..."

"I won't..."

"Then there is no one left behind to protect the people. The shields around the cities won't last forever and then King Harrison will have control," I tell him. "Even if we lose, we will have severely weakened his forces. That means you will be able to finish them off with ease." He growls.

"What will I do, whilst you are all fighting?" he asks, still angry.

"You will patrol the lands, finding any rogue NightShade forces and ending them." He stays silent before nodding.

"If that is the orders from my queen," he sighs.

"It is," I tell him.

"Then very well," he replies, before turning away. Tanya sighs next to me.

"Every time he reveals something about himself, I have a thousand more questions to ask," she says with a shake of her head.

"Yeah, I know," I reply with a soft chuckle. Blue is a mystery. One that we don't need to think about now.

We walk out onto the bridge. The other Royals are waiting. They wear armour almost identical to ours. The only difference being that their helmets are shaped like the animals they shift into. Iona steps forward.

"Everyone is waiting for you," she says. I nod my head, my heart beating wildly. I step forward to where the bridge begins to slope down to the fields below. As soon as I reach that point, I see them. Rows and rows of soldiers standing in five squares. Each square is soldiers from each of the lands and there are at least one-thousand in each. The gleaming, immaculate silver of their armour glistens in the sunlight and their weapons shine. I gulp as the General of each lands stands before me, ready to lead each block of soldiers to battle. The Royals stand behind me, also ready to lead their lands into war. Everyone bows all at once, the clonking sound of armour moving fills the air. I gulp and lift up my helmet, ready to address my people. People, who will be following me into battle. People who will die today.

"Today," I begin. "We march on our enemies." Though inside I am a nervous mess, I manage to keep my voice even. It is a skill I seem to have managed to learn over the past week. Disguising my inner turmoil and somehow managing to look strong. "We will be without magic or the ability to shift. We will be at a disadvantage. But that is what we have been all been training for!" I shout. "And we won't just be fighting for ourselves. We will be fighting for the freedom of those we love and cherish. We will be fighting to avenge those who have already been stolen from us. We will be fighting, for peace!" I shout. "This is our home. It is a nation of peace, growth and kindness. We do not want war, but it is here. So we may be a peaceful nation, but when that peace is threatened we will fight and give everything we have to protect those who need protecting. Including our own lives!" I shout. Warmth fills me as the shifters stand and cheer.

"We will all fight side by side and no matter what our odds are, we will win. Because we have something to fight for that is more important than power. We fight and die for those we love and that is what sets us apart from our enemy. That is what makes the Shifters of Shadow worth dying for!" I scream, lifting my sword in the air. Cheers surround me and I feel tears falling from my eyes. Lady Indira walks toward me. It is odd seeing her in armour instead of her usual flowing dress.

"That was a beautiful speech Isla," she says. I look at her.

"You're fighting?" I ask. She smiles and touches my cheek.

"Of course," she says, her voice sounding so calm. "I have taught so many of these people," she says, waving over the shifters before me. "It is only right I fight alongside them," she smiles. "Plus, you are worth following into battle." My lips quiver and I nod my head.

"Thank you," I say to her. She smiles again and I turn to all my friends.

"I love you," I say, looking at them all. Andrea and Yvette hold hands, their grips tight. Maryanne, Tylo and Fina all have grim expressions on their faces and are standing close to each other. Daniel and has his arm over Iona's shoulder and she leans into him. Oliver just has a soft, sad smile. "Thank you, for helping us through these past few months," I say to them. "We wouldn't be the people we are now without your kindness, support of friendship." They all smile and I look at Toryn and Tanya.

"We have already lost one of us," I gulp. "Let's not lose another," my eyes fall on Tanya and I can see her eyes glistening. The two of them walk up to me and we embrace. 

"Nothing is going to happen to us," she says. "We aren't going to let him break up our family even more," she says with a growl. I nod my head.

"I love you," I say to them both.

"We love you too," Toryn replies. I step back and take another deep breath.

"Generals," I say. "Royals," I continue, looking over my friends with a now serious expression. "Go to your armies and get them ready. We march now."