When I was young, I was afraid of the shadows.

A young ebony haired boy sat huddled against the headboard of his massive bed, a soft yellow cotton wrapped tightly around his shoulders as his bed sheets pooled around his waist. It was dark in his room, almost no light coming from the window to his right.

Yellow-green eyes darted around the room rapidly, never focusing on one place for longer than a second or two. A sudden crack of lightning made his wide eyes snap to the window. When he saw nothing he just burrowed deeper into his blanket.

I was told it had no mercy, only serving to be everyone's enemy.

The same boy was now sitting at a massive table full of food, his family around him. They all talked and laughed as if there hadn't been a thundering storm just a few hours earlier, though they had all probably just slept through it unlike him.

He was near falling asleep in a heap at the table, but powered through it. If he finished eating he could go to bed, plus he would fall asleep with a belly full of food too.

For years I believed it to be true.

The boy was now an adult, hair longer and features more sharp. He was also now away from his family, in a server with the few friends he had. They weren't many, but they were content.

Here he could make and create as he pleased, quickly picking up the arts of potions and magic. He didn't even know he had magic to begin with! Man, this was going to be so much fun!

Even as I grew and learnt, I was afraid.

The man was no longer a human. He was now a tall creature in robes with skin like the galaxy, and he had wings in his back that was much the same color as his skin. Though his feet, hands and tail (which was a great surprise to him, more than anything else for some weird reason) all tapered off into dark void black.

"What am I?" He'd asked the beings, who looked just like him just different shades and colors, who's brought him here.

"You are a Watcher. One of many galaxies in the endless Universe. And you will now help protect the people in it. So welcome, Null, to the Watchers."

But I now know the truth.

A dull green Watcher excitedly walked up to Null, their winged ears flapping excitedly. "Have you heard? Ruby and their mate have picked up a youngling to train!"

Null, who was a bright shade of yellow, blinked at the other. "Ruby and Pike? Huh, I didn't expect that."

The green Watcher frowned -somehow managing to do it even without a mouth. "Why aren't you reacting to this, Null? This is a big moment-one of the primaries has chosen someone! This is some of the biggest news we've had in centuries!"

"I get it Leaf!" Said Null before Leaf could start talking again. "I just don't really get impressed without seeing it for myself."

"Then we have to go see it!" So in a second the two Watchers were standing at the entrance to a room with chatter leaking out even with the heavy doors being closed. Leaf opened them which just blasted Null with sound. The green Watcher then grabbed the others arm and dragged him to a free space where they could stand and watch.

It didn't take long for a hush to fall over the crowd as Sapphire, the first Watcher to have ever existed, walked in with their fellow primaris Topaz and Ruby close behind. Walking by Ruby's side was a short human male with dirty blond hair. He didn't seem like anything particular, perhaps a builder or something? But there must be something there, seeing as he'd been picked by Ruby themselves.

"Watchers of the coven may I introduce every to Ruby's very own apprentice-" Gaspes echoed around the chamber at Sapphire's announcement. They had just thought the boy had been personally picked, not made an apprentice! "-Grian. You are all here to witness him formally become one of us."

The bright blue Watcher turned to face Grian, and he actually didn't look afraid. Ruby must have briefed him beforehand, Null thought. "Step up, please, child." They boy did as asked. "Do you accept your new place here, as a Watcher in training under Primary Ruby until you become a full Watcher?"

"Yes." Said Grian loudly, looking into the dark blue eyes of the elder primary.

"Do you willingly give up your human life to join our rankings?"

"Yes."

Sapphire noded sharply at him. "Then step forward and shed your mortal skin to become one of use!"

The dirty blond did as told, and as soon as he was in the center of the chamber a bright flash blinded everyone. As the light cleared a tall, though still shorter than the other Watchers, being now stood where Grian once was. His skin was a deep galaxy purple and his eyes a lighter purple. His wings were massive and his tail long, it ended in a feathered tip with the black feathers having small specks of purple and white like stars on it. A shame it would be hidden by the Watcher robes, anything that went under it seemingly disappeared until you purposely pulled it out. His hands and feet were clawed like everyone else.

One of the Watchers that stood on the side, Coral he believed, stepped up and handed the Watcher robes over to the newest member. Grian gratefully took it and put it on. He was then handed a star ruby that was then put on the clasp keeping his robe together.

"Your name belonged to the old you, and since you've left that you behind you shall be given a new name." Said Sapphire. They then turned to Ruby. "As you are the one who brought him here, along with also being his mentor, you shall name him. What will be his new name?"

Ruby turned their amber gaze to Grian. "I shall name him Quill."

Sapphire and nodded before addressing Grian again. "Do you accept this name?"

"I do."

"Then welcome, Quill, to the Watchers. We are all happy to have you here with us."

A year later Quill would be gone. No one except the primaries knew what happened to him. Not that Null really cared, just a face and name he'd soon forget.

He was walking around the library, trying to find something interesting to read when he found it. It was a gray book with a silver S on the cover. The book interested him, so he took it back with him to his rooms.

The book was about the Shadows, the five horsemen and deities. He knew that he probably wasn't allowed to read about all of this, but he just couldn't help it! It was all so interesting to read about. And useful too, since some of the spells in it were used for server care and similar things. So when he got to the server that he was watching over he used one of the spells.

The server ended up crumbling to bits, destroying anything and anyone in it.

Null was brought before every single Watcher, his actions had spread faster than wildfire so by the end of the day everyone knew what he'd done.

"Leader Null of Magnalo, what do you have to say for your actions?" Growled Topaz, eyes narrowed into slits.

"I didn't intend to do any harm! I just wanted to help my server." Cried Null, his eyes wide as he looked at the middle primary.

"And you didn't think to ask if the spell was safe or not? Like you were ordered to?"

Null shifted in his seat at Topaz's words. "It-escaped my mind."

"Lies!" Hissed Ruby, wings flaring up behind them.

Under the glares of everyone around him, the yellow Watcher broke. "Fine! I disobeyed orders on purpose. But I only did it to try and help my server, and you would have all asked me where I got it from and then I'd have to show you all the book."

Sapphire spoke up. "You don't need to show us the book, we have already seen it."

"Then you must see where I'm coming from!"

The first Watcher glared at him. "I see where you skipped the all the pre-prep for the spell, pre-prep that's the difference between protection and destruction." They looked at him, eyes blank of any form of shine (which usually helped see what kind of mood a Watcher was in). "One often seals their fate on the way to avoid it. And you've just sealed yours."

Null's head snapped up to look at Sapphire. "No. No, you can't! Please!"

"I'm sorry, but we've already decided."

Null cried, thick inky tears falling from his eyes, as the other two primaries went to stand next to Sapphire. As one they started a spell, and as they went on a circle built up around him. With one last look at him the three finished the chant, and as they ended it he passed out-but not before seeing the color he once had fading to black.

-::- In the Shade -::-

A pair of red eyes snapped open. The body they belonged to remained unseen in the endless shadows that the red eyes had opened to. All around dark gangly shapes of tall creatures with sharp edges wandered the darkness, some looking battle worn and others angry but confused.

"Welcome to the Shade." Greeted a only slightly battle scarred Shadow. "The home of the cast out Watchers."

Null -no that was his Watcher name, it wasn't his anymore- Blank didn't really know what to do, so he watched. Watched as Shadows worked and trained, both things he himself soon would join in on too.

When I was young, I was afraid of the shadows.

I'm not afraid anymore.

Why should I be afraid? I am one of them after all.

"Done remembering the past?" Asked Califir, pale amber eyes looking at him unimpressed.

"Maybe."

She huffed with a growl. "Just because you stand next to Fallacy doesn't mean you're any better than me."

"I never said such a thing." He shot back, eyes narrowed.

"Whatever. Just give him the potion and I'll leave you alone."

At her words he held up the potion she'd given him. It was a similar pale yellow as the one they'd previously given him, though this one had small swirls of purple and black in it. "And this will make him listen to our master?"

"Honestly." Scoffed Califir before answering his question. "No. It will make his mind easier to control and mold, but it won't have any other effect than that."

He gave a quick nod before walking to where Grian was being held. It was fairly close to Fallay's quarters, it was deliberately chosen like that to allow them to easily catch Grian should he somehow escape. It didn't take him long to reach the dragon hybrid, and as luck would have it Grian was awake.

"Good morning Grian. I have a little present for you!"

Purple eyes glared up at him. "Fuck off Hills."

The red eyes of Hills glinted as he cackled. "No, I don't think I will." He then fazed through the cell door and forcefully grabbed a hold of Grian's jaw. "Now open wide."

When the builder still refused Hills decided that some things needed to be done to make him do as told. And that just so happens to be slamming the dirty blonds head against the wall before forcing the potion down. As soon as Grian fell unconscious he made his way out of the cell and to some other part of the castle, there was nothing fun about staying with an unconscious body.

Reptilian red-green eyes watched him leave, a sadistic glint in them as they watched him go. Those eyes then turned to the prone form of Grian, and Fallacy bent down to gently caress Grian's cheek. "Don't worry my little bird, you'll fly soon enough." And with that they also left, a pleased smile on their scaled face.

<So remember when I said this might be short? Yeah I was wrong. Anyhow as you might have seen this was more Hills backstory than anything, though it felt good to make this! Plus who doesn't want to know more about one of the bad guys? Also, since I'm now on a writing schedule I'll try to have an update out every Monday! If anyone wants to see my schedule then I'll add it at the bottom. Now here's the art from above but with lines.

So say hi to Hills everyone! Ok that's all for today. -Quick edit- Here's watcher Grian too! (His design has one more thing then before, for those who've already seen it) ((it's the ruby that's changed))

So stay safe and have a wonderful time everyone!>

(And here's the schedule, for like the no one that wanted to see it)