Shadow went to the out door training arena knowing well enough that Umbra would answer his message to the rematch. Shadow arrived and Umbra was not there just yet. While waiting for her Shadow decided to sit down up against a tree that was their and began to meditate to focus on the up coming match against his friend. Shadow very well knew some of Umbra's moves but not all. He was ready and anxiously waiting for her arrival to see how they would do against each other.

Umbra walked through the forest. Her rangers cloak was pulled up on her head hiding her hair and making a shadow over the tanned skin. She held a note in her hand and reread it...

"Well what else could I do but come and fight, Migan." She said to the grey fured lupine who was walking behind her. "I just do not like the feeling of you fighting right now. You have been different since you ran off. I am just concerned for your well being." he said trying to be realistic. Umbra just shook her head and pulled off the hood. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. She smiled and gave a laugh. But then looked at Migan realizing she did; he simply looked away as if to say "I heard nothing." Umbra never liked her laugh, it just did not seem natural to her. She arrived out in the training arena after a few minuets. The sun was bright and there was only a few clouds in the sky, a perfect day for a rematch.

She looked and there was Shadow, meditating against the trunk of a tree. She watched him for a little while but when he did not notice she spoke, "Fine day for a rematch isn't it?" she asked.

Shadow looked up from meditating. "Umbra glad to see that you answered my letter. You said you wanted a rematch aginast me sometime so why not here. It is the perfect place to fight and it is somewhere where no tricks can be pulled." Shadow looked at her with excitement in his eyes. "This is the perfect chance for us to see how we really do against each other in battle. Let us prepare and let me know when your ready."

Shadow stood up and began to stretch out so he didn't pull anything while fighting and so that he was more flexible.

Umbra smiled as Shadow looked up at her, "Umbra glad to see that you answered my letter. You said you wanted a rematch aginast me sometime so why not here. It is the perfect place to fight and it is somewhere where no tricks can be pulled." he said to her, excitement was glowing in his eyes. 'Well he has not changed one bit since we last met.' she thought as she watched him get up. "This is the perfect chance for us to see how we really do against each other in battle. Let us prepare and let me know when your ready." he said. Umbra gave a nod as he got up and began to stretch. She smiled and shook her head, taking off her cloak and hanging it in a nearby tree. Her raven hair moved gently on her back calming her as she gripped a branch and pulled down, also stretching.

The Lupine swung up onto a branch and sat down against the trunk and bowed his head closing his eyes. He did not plan on anything going on, but he was worried about Umbra. She had not been herself for quite awhile and was beginning to worry. But if she was ready for this then he knew better than to try and stop her.

Umbra walked into the center of the arena pulling one arm with the other and the same with the other arm. She stood patiently in the center and drew her sword. "When you are ready Shadow so am I" she told him with an equal excitement.

Shadow finished stretching and looked at Umbra. "Well let us begin shall we." Shadow held up his sword and held his sheild in his left hand. Staring Umbra down he was trying to figure out her first move but before she had the chance to move Shadow moved first and attacked doing a side sweep with his sword. "You know ye who stikes first has the upperhand. Don't you agree?" Still side swiping at Umbra.

Umbra smiled waiting for his attack. He side slashed at her, "You know ye who stikes first has the upperhand. Don't you agree?" he asked as she moved but was slightly cut. A small line of blood was forming at her side, the crimson liquid moving downwards. She winced and grabbed her side. She looked at him. "Actually you are half right, it depends more on the situation. But then again...Both of us have the upper hand." She replied as she jumped up and did a jump kick at Shadow.

Shadow put up his sheild to block it but was still knocked down onto the ground. "Well it seems since that little incident in the swamp improved your fighting skills. Am I correct?" he said while standing back up. Shadow readied himself to attack her again and was also ready to defend just incase sh happened to attack first before he did again.

"Well it seems since that little incident in the swamp improved your fighting skills. Am I correct?" she smiled as she got ready to do another attack. "Well yes that, and a few other things." she said with a smile. Migan looked up at them and shook his head, "Idiot" he said as he went back to sleep.

Umbra closed her eyes and concentrated. She opened them and made swift hand movements and then raised her hands in the air, "Such as my increase in magic." she said and threw her hands down. Suddenly debris from the Ashen Shower spell came down from the sky at the arena. 'I think we better kick it up a notch or we will be here all day' she thought

Shadow smile at Umbra. "Here is one spell that I have never shown you before." Shadow held up his hand and said "Redirect!" Shadow's hand began to glow and the ashen shower began to head in Umbra's direction. "Fine, I can kick it up a notch." Shadow put his wepons away and focused his energy and began to transform. Shadow's body began to glow a red color and then a pair of wings and his body caught flame. "How is this for going up a notch?"

"WOAH!" she said as they flew in her direction. "ARUKE!" she shouted as she cast the blur spell. Her jumping ring shined orange and she jumped and dodged her own attacks. She fliped over one but got hit by one. She flew back and hit the ground.

"Nngh. That hurt." she said holding her burnt arm. She turned to face Shadow but he was not there. She looked around for him and stared at him. "How is this for going up a notch?" he said. She stared wide-eyed as he caught fire and grew wings. "Is this his Pheonix form?" she wondered. "He is fighting me as a Pheonix!" she exclamed.

Shadow chuckled slightly. "You surpirised to see me like this. It is a new form I have. I am able to form my wings on my back and and allow my body to catch fire. In this form I am able to use my weapons." Shadow readied himslef to attack and then to add more power to his weapons he siad "Flame Blade." Shadows sword caught fire. After saying that spell Shadow charged in about to attack. "Prepare yourself."

(my new form is my avatar from now on. I will be staying in this form now.)

"You surpirised to see me like this. It is a new form I have. I am able to form my wings on my back and and allow my body to catch fire. In this form I am able to use my weapons." Shadow said. Umbra shook her head from the surprise and smiled. "Nice. Its a good look for you" She said watching as he readied himself

He charged at her and she readied her sword, pulses of electricity went through it. 'Well I wanted to step it up a notch and he did.' she said as she got ready for the impact.

Shadow charged with immense speed. He then swung his sword at her in an attempt to hit her. "Umbra this is going to be one fun rematch for me. I hope that it is for you as well." He was hoping to hit her but not injur her so he began to use the dull side of his sword.

"Umbra this is going to be one fun rematch for me. I hope that it is for you as well." Shadow told her as he swung at her. She blocked with her sword, electricity met fire in a daring clash of blades weilded by rival friends. "Nice move." she told him as she gritted her teeth against the heat of the flames. She tried to push him off but was overpowered. She flew back and got slightly singed by the flame blade as well as hit by the sword. She held her arm and winced in pain.

You would think I could stand the heat of the moment, guess I am not that fire reseliant. she thought as she swung her blade charged with electricty.

Shadow smiled at her comment. He then backed off a bit to ready himslef for another attack but Umbra mad her move first. Shadow didn't have enough time to put up his sheild so he braced himslef fot the impact of the blade and the electricity flowing around it. "This is going to leave a mark." Shadow was struck in the side as he flew sideways and landed on the ground an slid about 3 feet farther. "Ha...ha...ha, not bad Umbra you have become better. The force of your blow says it all." Shadow stood up slightly out of breath from the blow. "Come Umbra what do you say we use all out here to see what we can really do. How about?"

"Ha...ha...ha, not bad Umbra you have become better. The force of your blow says it all." Shadow stood up slightly out of breath from the blow. "Come Umbra what do you say we use all out here to see what we can really do. How about?" he said after he got hit. She did not expect to hit him that hard. She smiled and nodded, moving her sword to be ready for anything, "All out? You sure you want me to kick it all the way up? But if you say so." she said grinning.

She adjusted her sword and got ready, surging the blade she made a dash for Shadow, but before she got up on him she jumped over him and with her left hand she fired Magic missles at him and then landed behind him and ran towards him giving a series of slashes. She was going to kick it up, way up.

"Yeah why not. Im willing to do it." Shadow stood there and began to focus all of his energy. While doing so his body began to glow red, his hands caught fire as well as his feet. His body then caught flame. "I am ready whenever you are." SHadow held up his sword and was ready to attack or defend.

After focusing he saw Umbra cast magic missles. Shadow then countered it by redirecting the spell back to Umbra. Then he saw Umbra charge at him and he put up his sheild to block. He thought she was going for a frontal attack until she jumped and flipped over him and began to do a series of slashes to his back. "I can't get away from this attack on my own." Shadow had to think quickly before she did major damage to him. "Teleport." Shadow vanished from her sight and reappeared behind her. Once he reappeared he did a round house kick to her back.

Umbra was able to dodge the missles but as she got up on him he dissapeared. "WHAT?" she said wide-eyed that her opponent had dissapeared. Because of the force her body flew forwards at the empty place where Shadow once stood. She tried to gain her balance but was thrown forwards by Shadow's kick from behind but she threw her arms in front of her and somersalted and landed nimbly on the packed dirt, a small cloud of dust rose covering her hands, she looked behind her at him and smiled. She turned and threw her chakram at him, afterwards she lept into the air "You might remember this from our first fight. Scouar leaumow" she said. Suddenly a swarm of insects flew towards shadow. Not as big as last time but still just as annoying. She landed and ran towards him and slashed her sword still surging with electricity. The heat Shadow was giving off was intence, she could barely stand it but promised herself she would give it her all.

"Insects again. This is getting really old." Shadow focused on the insects swarming at him. While they swarmed he could barley see so he decided to toss his sheild to the ground and pull out his other sword and cast flame blade on the one as well. The he began to levitate and spin and in doing so taking out the swarm like they were toys. As he was doing that he wasn't able to see Umbra's chakram and was hit in the gut by it. Shadow winced with some pain from the hit. He stopped spinning. Most of the swarm was taken out and now he could see Umbra. He saw her running at him full speed and once she arrive she did her slash but. SHadow blocked and coutered with a sweep kick to make her fall and then another one to kick her up into the air. "Hope you are ready for this one!"

"Insects again. This is getting really old." Shadow said but was caught off guard by her chakram. She ran towards him but she was not prepared for what was about to happen. Shadow blocked her slash, and quickly countered with a sweep kick. It impacted her and she flew back, using another Shadow kicked her into the air. "Hope you are ready for this one!" he said.

But she was not. She flew back and impacted with the ground and flipped on her stomach sliding even further. She winced at the pain. I am not the only one who grew. Shadow has grown even stronger, stronger than I did. she thought. She struggled to get up. It took her about two tries before she did. She turned to Shadow and held her right arm. Her sword dangled in her hand, she looked at it and tossed it to the side. "I think its time I used something easier to use." she said and drew her dagger charging it with electricity.

Migan watched as they fought. Umbra seemed to be taking a beating but she did not back down and surrender. He knew Umbra would go down hard because she does not back down. She may pick her fights but it is hard for her to end them. He watched carefully as she got up and tossed her sword. "What is she doing? She can barely stand." he thought. Umbra took her dagger in her left hand and got ready. She watched Shadow, she narrowed her eyes waiting for his move. Its time I went on defence. Lets do it Shadow. Lets see what I can do. she thought, she wanted to see how far she could take it...How far she could push herself before she completely exausted herself. She held the dagger up "Come on Shadow. SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!" she shouted.

Shadow was curious to see what Umbra was prepared to do even if her odds were losing, and even if Shadow was about to lose he still wouldn't give up. "All right you asked for it." Shadow charged in as Umbra was ready to defend. As SHadow charged in he began to spin while dashing. All that could be seen was his blades that were aflame. Shadow got closer to Umbra and right before he got to her he stopped spinning, jumped and launched a fireball at her from the air. "Defend against this Umbra."

"All right you asked for it." Shadow said charging at Umbra. She watched carefully and tried to predict his movements. She was a scry but only when she slept. She tried to see how he would move. He started spinning. She tried to see where he was in the ball of flame but could only make out about the top half of his swords. She decided to go for the middle even though she would get burned even more. She gritted her teeth and got ready. Come on....you arent even trying. Shadow may be stronger but you have to show him how strong you can be. You must become stronger. she thought. She closed her eyes and surrounded herself in a chaotic aura. She snapped open her eyes and was ready to fight.

Suddenly shadow jumped and launched a fireball at her. "Defend against this Umbra." he said. She watched as the fireball hit her forcing her to fly back. She looked at him, come on umbra think! you cant go down like this. you are not even trying. Try harder give more. she looked at shadow. She ran towards him her dagger surging with electricity. She ran so close she could almost touch him but then using the blur spell she ran around. "Try this shadow" she said appearing behind him bow ready with a shadow arrow. She let it fly towards him.

Shadow's vision became blurred by her spell. He wasn't able to see right. Shadow began to squint and still wasn't able to see right. So he closed his eyes and listned to her. He heard Umbra go behind him, knock and arrow on her bow, pull it back and let it fly. "I don't know what type of arrow it is but I have to dodge it." saying to himself. Shadow moved to the side but was clipped by the arrow. When he was clipped by it the vut he had began to burn and then went numb. "I know what arrow you are using now Umbra. You are using shadow arrows right." SHadow turned around and faced Umbra. He then opened his eyes and his vision became more clear. He then said something to her "You know what Umbra, you remind me of someone I knew before coming to Arda but I can't remember."

(((ummm shadow The blur spell makes me move fast it does not affect your eyesight)))

Umbra's arrow nicked Shadow, "I know what arrow you are using now Umbra. You are using shadow arrows right." he asked and she nodded in reply, "Very astute. The arrows I use are those of shadows." she said and drew her dagger once more. She had to keep going, no matter what. I won't give up. I have to fight, if I can't win then I will go down fighting. she thought to herself. She watched him turn and face her.

"You know what Umbra, you remind me of someone I knew before coming to Arda but I can't remember." she thought back as a child, she could not remember meeting Shadow before. She shrugged, "Don't know. she said and ran towards him and began doing a series of slashes.

Shadow began to parry the blows. They came one after the other really quick. Shadow then once again teleported but this time he had something different planned. This time he teleported into the air and was ready to come down on Umbra like a heavy rock. "I am up here Umbra." he said as he began to fall very fast.

Umbra struck as hard as she could but Shadow parried the blows, She went in for a lunge slash but he disappeared. She almost lost her balance but quickly regained it. She looked around for him, "I am up here Umbra." he shouted comming down at her.

She only had a few seconds to prepare for impact. She shethed her dagger and brought out her arms to defend but when he got right on her and when she thought he could not react she threw a magic missle attack at him, the attack went for him as she went flying back from the impact.

Shadow hit with force and made Umbra fly backwards. After the impact and Umbra flew back, she had cast her magic missle spell. Shadow had no time to react and was impacted by the spell and he also flew back. Shadow flew in the air and then hit the ground and began to skid across it. AS he skid he used hands to push up and back flipped and landed on his feet and he was still sliding across the ground. "I have never had so much fun Umbra." Shadow pushed with his feet and charged at Umbra, with his sword sword held up by his left shoulder and the sowrd in his left hand dragging on the ground. Once he reached her he swung with as much force as possible to try and get her to fall.

Umbra slid a ways but smiled as her idea worked. She threw her hands back and then jumped up. She redrew her dagger and watched Shadow slide. After sliding some ways she watched him flip up as well "I have never had so much fun Umbra." he said and then charged at her. She watched and slid her right foot back and moved her hands into a prepared stance, her dagger in her left hand was pointed down ready to defend.

Shadow came upon her and swung as hard as he could. She blocked and pushed back with her dagger, the two blades pushed against eachother. Umbra slid back against the dust, small clouds rose about their feet as she pushed back. She grunted but Shadow over powered her. Umbra fell back and hit the ground, the dagger fell by her. She smiled, and swung her leg to make him fall as well.

No one could say for sure when she had arrived. She stood at the side of the arena silently and suddenly, as if she had been there all along. Her feral yellow eyes watched their every move as they fought, but otherwise, she was still as a stone. She wore a red cloak, that concealed most of her, all except for a small portion of her face, and even that was half-hidden beneath her golden-brown hair. All you could see was the left side of her face, and her eyes staring intently at the sparring rivals. Her sword was sheathed, and she held it loosely but ready at her side. She was enjoying watching them fight. It was one of the few things that she knew how to do well.

Shadow wasn't ready for a sweep kick. Shadow walked backwards a bit but was still knocked off balance. Shadow backflipped some more and stopped he then sheathed his sword and pulled oout his bow and frost arrows. He knocked a few of them and fire them from long range. After fireing about thirteen of them he put his bow and arrows away and then pulled out his chakram and threw that as well. After he threw that he pulled out his sword and recast flame blad on it and charged at Umbra. "I am not going to lose Umbra, I can assure you that!"

Umbra was successful in her sweep kick but as she got up Shadow released a flury of blue arrows. She grabbed her dagger and parried a few of them, small iceburgs happening where they hit. However while throwing another off one peirced her leg causing a thick ice cast to form around it, the same with the other leg and her left arm. She winced at the arrows impact, she must have looked funny there with the majority of her body as a living popsicle.

Migan looked from his tree branch at the being watching the fight. "When did they get here?" he wondered as he jumped down. This next attack would end it. "I am not going to lose Umbra, I can assure you that!" he said throwing his chakram and charging with his flame blade. Umbra, with her only free hand pelted the chakram with magic bullets but could not stop the impact with Shadow.

Flying backwards the impact with the ground shattered the ice freeing her. She slid on the ground, clouds of dust and dirt covered her for a moment before it settled once again. She made a slight groan as she braced herself on her right arm and tried to get up. She looked at Shadow gasping for air, her magical energy was almost out and endurance may have kept her going but she still had her limits. She had gotten up fully and looked at Migan, I...I cant lose...I have to beat shadow. I have no choice she thought looking at Shadow. Migan knew where this was going to go, Umbra took a step and colapsed on the ground. He nodded and jumped over the fence. "Umbra is unable to continue the match. Victory goes to Shadow" he said.

"Migan, do not stop the match. Umbra want to keep fighting, she want to prove to you and to herslef that she can win." Shadow said breathing heavily. Shadow to was running out of stamina and energy. He had never kept his flame blade going this long in a fight. "Umbra what do you say we just finish this the old way. Hand to hand, no weapons, no magic." Shadow imbedded his sword in the ground and leaned on it waiting for a reply from Umbra. Shadow then said to himslef "Umbra has gotten really strong since our last fight. I think she could really win this time. I know she want to prove herslf to the world to show she is not a quitter. I know you are not a quitter Umbra, you can continue I know you can."

Shadow prevented Migan from pulling Umbra out of the battle."Migan, do not stop the match. Umbra want to keep fighting, she want to prove to you and to herslef that she can win." Migan looked at Shadow, "She is do..."DONT STOP ME, Migan...I may be down. But I am not out." Umbra said cutting him off and looking at him. They stared hard at eachother and he finally gave in turning and going to the tree standing in the shade. Umbra struggled and got up. Neither Migan nor Shadow know what I am trying to prove. What I am trying to prove to myself. That I can keep going, that I am not what humans see me as...a person who does not fit in, what demons call me...weak...I have to pull through Shadow looked at her, "Umbra what do you say we just finish this the old way. Hand to hand, no weapons, no magic." He embedded his sword in the ground and leaned on it. She put away her dagger, wincing at her leg and she looked at it and found it slightly swollen. She nodded and got into a stance and took a deep breath and looked at him with her smile, "Alright, lets go!" she said.

Shadow smiled. "Excellent, let's see how you do hand to hand." Shadow took a basic stance of martial arts. (arms bent and hands at sides into fists) After taking his stance. Shadow took a deep breath, exhaled and went on the attack. "Here I come Umbra all or nothing now!" Shadow wanted to win but now he wasn't so sure if he would be able to win this time. Only the gods could tell who would win Shadow and Umbra were pretty evenly matched now. That is what Shadow thought.

"Excellent, let's see how you do hand to hand." Shadow said smiling and took a stance. She got ready, Much better than I do with weapon. she thought as he went for the attack. "Here I come Umbra all or nothing now!" She knew Shadow wanted to win, but this was interesting, One of us is fighting to win the other is fighting just to prove herself.

Umbra returned the smile, "Lets GO" she said swinging her arm to block and then went under for a punch. This was going to be difficult. Migan looked up, the sun was high in the sky. "Noon, they have been fighting all day. he said with a look of amazement in his eyes. Umbra looked at Shadow with determination, when a memory revealed itself...she was in the Ered Anon Mountians with Sky, Malisaro and an elf..."What do you fight for?" he had asked her. She had not answered then but right now she may have the answer he wanted.

Shadow moved his arms and blocked her punch. Shadow to had a flash back to when he had his first big battle in Estolad. He wanted to prove that he wasn't weak and that he was able to protect his friends and the village from destruction. After blocking the punch Shadow bent down and did and upwards kick to Umbra's chin. "I know you want to prove something Umbra, but I have never told anyone that I am also trying to prove that I can be stonger than a god even if I am not one." Shadow had continued his kick to Umbra's chin.

Umbra dove for Shadow but he blocked her attack and knelt for a kick up. "I know you want to prove something Umbra, but I have never told anyone that I am also trying to prove that I can be stonger than a god even if I am not one." he said as the kick connected with her chin. She flew backwards and threw her arms out and somersalted and landed in a crouch position.

She looked at him, Shadow, sometimes I wish I could be even half as strong as you. You are always ready, you are just so powerfull, my strength could not even match that of yours. You are always looking out for everyone, you are strong...in every sence of the word..she thought getting up.

She retook her stance. "Shadow, you truely are strong. There is more to strength than physical...You have proved that to me many times." she told him and ran for a tackle and a chop right then moved for an uppercut.

Shadow smiled at her comment. Then he was hit by her tackle and then by her chop to the right but dodged the uppercut by doing a back flip. "My strength comes from the my friends. As long as I know they live and are safe and we protect each other. I will be strong. I am always here ready for anything to come my way. Belive it or not it is the care I have for you guys that I keep pushing going beyond any limits that my body can go, but there is no limit to the spirit living within it." Shadow charged back in and began to do a series of puches and kicks. "I know you want to show that you can continue and win at all costs. Push yourslef Umbra I know you can win. I have seen you fight. I have seen you come out of a inside darkness in your heart that your father put you in. You can win all you have to do is belive and keep pushing." Shadow said as he continued to do his combos

Umbra moved as he did the back flip, "My strength comes from the my friends. As long as I know they live and are safe and we protect each other. I will be strong. I am always here ready for anything to come my way. Belive it or not it is the care I have for you guys that I keep pushing going beyond any limits that my body can go, but there is no limit to the spirit living within it." Shadow came at her with a series of attacks. She began to dodge and block them, "I know you want to show that you can continue and win at all costs. Push yourslef Umbra I know you can win. I have seen you fight. I have seen you come out of a inside darkness in your heart that your father put you in. You can win all you have to do is belive and keep pushing."

She looked at him and smiled and continued to block, he broke her defence with a kick and she fell back after a punch. She got up and panted a little and then began a combo of a right punch, left punch and a kick. She thought about what he said, Push myself...Shadow you have no idea that what you just said is exactly what I do in my life. she began to have flashbacks of her childhood. She remembered her life in Uruik'kai. The world of a half-demon is not one that should be known to anyone. Persicuted by all races we have yet to find anyone who accepts us, every race but ours is loved by someone or has a home somewhere. she remembered.I have had to push myself to get where I am today. I wish that one day my kind would be accepted.

Shadow wasn't able to block in time for her combo and was hit by poth punches and her kick. He jumped back to get away and redied himslef. "You know what Umbra, it doesn't matter to me what race you are from. I accept you for who you are. You are a friend and I respect that as well as a worthy opponent. People are just afraid of things they do not know. When I was a kid I was rejected by all the other kids in my village becuase I was able to control fire and use it. Except there was one kid who accepted me for who I was, and I was happy." Shadow took a few deep breaths and went back to fighting. He began to punch and quckly spun around to the back and did another blow to the back.