//------------------------------// // Prologue: Fire and Ice // Story: The Pack // by Shion Sonozaki //------------------------------// Decisions. We make them all the time, while we’re asleep in a dream, while we’re awake in the world of the mortals. It is one of those things that make us mammals. There is the decision of whether you should get up early, or sleep in late. Whether to have butter on your toast, or even have toast at all. But there are some things that do not rely on decisions. I had learned that earlier, during the time of the Cold War. I know that from experience, and being one of those who came from the Capital City, at least from our place, that my long stories tend to be lackluster. But let me tell you, if you stick around, and I strongly insist that you do, this WON’T be one of those mare's tales you hear before bed, little foals, little foals. For this is my story, my life and my day, about how I was chosen to be a soldier in the MetalFang War without my knowledge or consent, trained by a filly from the future, and fought in the great battle, alongside my comrades. There are many things in battle, and not just blood. It’s not all just sorrow and regret, pain and hurt, things we wish we never did, things we wish we had done before we died. No, I experienced something different. With my friends, at least for some time, there was more to the war than the regular hardships of battle. Partnership, Lust, Trial, Bravery, Dependence. The Alpha and Omega. Beginning and End. And here, my friends, we enter the story of courage, hope, gallantry, sorrow, loss, love, life... and what it means to be a true hero. THE PACK The grass crunched beneath his massive white hooves; or, at least they ONCE WERE white. Now they were caked with dried blood, the cursed blood of the rival clan, Shadow Clan, lead by his old friend-turned-enemy, GoldenFang. It was not always like this, King Shiro had seen a better place before. Earlier, the towns had been bustling with life, but now each resident was evacuated because of the start of the MetalFang War, as it was executed to be called. It had began just last year. With a few light attacks on buildings, the weak assault from an unknown enemy. Glowing flames of hate blazed up into the air, billowing black clouds of smoke rose more than often, and the workers at the fire department were working overtime, on alert 24/7. Many lives were lost in the fire war. Soon, all too soon, the damage had escalated by great quantities. Large, important landmarks, like the Grand WatchTower in one of their country's largest cities, were destroyed. The Grand WatchTower was there so tourists could see the city from the sky, if they didn’t have help. They were all blown away at the horrible news, and Shiro’s own three foals worried (At least Soren and Bellatrix were concerned, Suki-Sama, the queen, was quite shocked as well) when The Tops heard that the Grand WatchTower had been bombed by outsider terrorists. After that, there were many riots, most of them The Tops and their underlings could barely control. Towns were being eaten alive by the number of deaths, buildings engulfed in fire. Shiro-Sama, being the king, was put in charge of this. He didn’t know what to do. His family, wife Suki, and children Bellatrix, Soren and Kenshin were each trapped in the nightmare revolving around their lives, barbaric as it was. He kept guards around them at all times, praying to past leader SoulCelestia that the monster wouldn’t strike his family. Months later, word had finally reached Shiro. The word about who the Leader of the Force was. At first, Shiro was horrified to find out that the enemy, the killer and the terrorist against his country was his old friend and loyal subject, GoldenFang. GoldenFang had created his own rebellion team and were fighting against Shiro in the blood-hatred of tyranny that had consumed his once good mind. Golden wanted war. Shiro turned him away, not declaring the all-out battle that GoldenFang desired. He didn’t know why he demanded another civil war, and wouldn’t start without explanation. Golden refused to speak. After that, GoldenFang increased his numbers and called his gargantuan army “Shadow Clan”. He even renamed himself MetalFang. Soon, Shiro had no choice but to round up his men and fight against Shadow Clan. All in all, Shiro brought 58 warriors with him. But the SoulSpirits had betrayed him, so it seemed. He had underestimated MetalFang’s numbers, and nearly every Equestrian soldier was killed in the short-lived rage. And so, sensing that battle had begun, Shiro gathered up fighters from all around the country, and called his own clan, “Fire Clan.” The Pack to over take MetalFang and give light to the darkness and shadows that MetalFang had created, the Black Light upon the land. Fire's warmth vs cold desire. But the Fire Clan wasn’t enough, and they were losing the war quickly. The symmetry in the Land that was once harmonious was dying. Sleep was found rarely, but when he did reach rest and take it in his armored hooves, he dreamed of this mare, a nice young lady in the Fire Clan battle armor, fighting against Shadow Clan, and with her help, Fire Clan won. And in the latest dream, the cause to secretly meet with his Captain Of Warriors, the SoulSpirit leader Celestia had come and told him that he should go back into the past and find this young mare, and he would, and train it to be a fighter. Fire Clan would surely win this hardship. That was the reason why he was plodding though the thick, heavy fog, the scent of old blood wafting like a sinister aura. He ventured on his way into the wood, without an expression, ignoring the blood. The stallion's gigantic tail was flat and dangling behind him, dripping sparkling drops water from the mist that caved around him, that made it hard for him to see. As he plodded down the track, he heard a coyote howl and he shivered. Beads of water fell off of his coat, and a deep rumble issued from his armor plated chest as he stopped, searching for the threat. When the coyote stench he smelled left, he continued on to where he was going to meet another pony, like him. The Captain Of Warriors. Soon, the stallion saw a familiar flash of dark blue and black color as he drew closer to a small outcrop in the dense brush. He let out a low call, and he heard grass rustling ahead of him. As soon as he came into the clearing, he spotted a pair of martyred cat's eyes, staring back at him expectantly. He howled a low, mournful sputter, and the other chortled back. It walked out of the blanket of mist, as did he. After bowing respectfully to each other, the mare began to speak. "Shadow Clan." The female said. "We have suffered yet again another raid from them and lost ten more of our warriors in battle, food has been taken, along with brave Koda’s lifepower." The female spoke to the great leader. with heavy duty and importance of word in her voice. This was one of the many reasons why she was chosen for the Captain’s seat. The alicorn scowled and flushed a shade of inflamed scarlet in anger at this news from his Captain Of Warriors. "And the current ratio of our clan?" He asked simply, not trying to put any more stress on the Captain. The war with Shadow Clan had already done enough to her and everypony else. "We are still outnumbered. If we can find a way to get a sneak attack without setting off the guards, or may be set a tra-" "Wait!" Came the voice of Shiro-Sama. The mare shut up instantly, obeying her leader’s orders. "Have you ever thought of the Terminator idea?" He said, beaming and hopeful. "Sir? I haven't the idea you are talking about." The mare said apologetically. The stallion sighed and leaned in further. "Going back in time to prevent things from happening in the future," he said. The mare was speechless. "And what you are getting at is?" The mare asked formally. Shiro was getting irritated at this. How dense had she gotten? “I mean is that the entities, the SoulSpirits have been coming into my dreams and giving me a certain pony’s image. It has been the same mare every time, and I think that they might have something." The Captain backed up a pace or two. “Does this girl have any relation to our war, sir?" She asked. "It is so. The SoulSpirit leader himself came to me personally and said the she was the one that will save our clan. He said that somepony needs to go back and train her to become a warrior, and when the time comes, she will be the greatest warrior of them all, and our Shadow Clan problems will be over our shoulders." The mare was taken aback at his comment. For a moment her mouth just moved, jaw working, but nothing came out, but croaking and rasps of air. She finally puffed, "Do you think that she is the one, sir?" The stallion stared back at her, positive, yet orderly. "If the Leader says so, than it must be. We will send a warrior at once to train this mare, and when the time comes, she will save us all." The other pulled that gap of silence before saying, "But who shall go back?" The stallion stared back with a small smile hinting at his forever frowning lips. "You will. I shall see you in a while, when you are done with your mentoring. Now, we have to find that spell to teleport you." Shiro-Sama’s Captain Of Warriors let out an obedient “Hai!”, saluted, got a stern expression to her face and followed her Leader back to the Fire Clan Camp.