//------------------------------// // Rising Flames // Story: Mare Do Well: Raining Of Fire // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// Fire was everywhere. Mare Do Well had no idea where she was, but she could hear her friend in some distant place, calling out to her. The costume provided little protection as she searched for the source of Twilight’s cries for help. “Twi! Where are you?” She ran about the dark metal halls that never seemed to end. The fire began to chase her, she took to the air to fly but it still kept up with her, forming into a birdlike shape that let out a terrible screech as it lunged at her. Then, Mare Do Well stood on a rooftop in Canterlot; the once-beautiful capitol of Equestria was now a devastated ruin engulfed in flames. “No…” the pegasus cried out, pulling off her mask and hat and collapsing to her haunches, hot tears forming in her eyes. There was a soft breeze, and the sound of wings as something landed next to her. Rainbow opened her eyes and looked to see who or what had joined her. The figure next to her wore a blood-red, hooded cloak, but she could not make out any other features aside from his wings and tail that suggested it was a griffon. The figure approached her, and she stood paralyzed with fear and despair. “Rebirth.” The figure whispered. ~ “Rainbow! Wake up! We’re here!” Twilight’s voice said, Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and looked up at her friend, who’d been shaking her with her hoof in an attempt to wake her. Shaking her head, the pegasus let out a sigh. The dream she’d had… it shook her up a lot more then any nightmare normally would. “You alright?” Twilight asked, concerned. “Weird dreams.” Rainbow said. “Twi… whoever these guys are who’re causing problems here, I gotta stop ‘em. I can’t mess this up!” “Yeah, that’s why we were sent, Rainbow.” Twilight answered. “No… Twi…” Twilight grew uneasy. It wasn’t like Rainbow Dash to be this openly worried. “Equestria’s in danger too… I can’t fail…” “Rainbow, you’ve dealt with a lot of dangerous threats before as Mare Do Well, you gotta believe in yourself like you did when you took them on. We can do this.” Twilight said with a smile and her friend gave a slow, accepting nod. “Anyway, welcome to Talongrad.” She said, gesturing to the window. Rainbow stared agape, amazed by what she saw; below was a vast, industrial city built atop several large, tall plateaus and connected by various metal bridges and railways. Smaller airships drifted about here and there; likely for tired griffons and any flightless residents. Griffons flew about all around the buildings made of brick and metal that all had multiple perch and landing points around them, and catwalks and stairways on their sides. All the streets had lamp posts lining them as it was getting dark now, several buildings had their signs lit as well, some of them flickering slightly. It was unlike anything Rainbow had ever seen in Equestria, though several clouds that drifted around them had a few griffons lounging about on them. In the central plateau was a massive palace, yellow light shining from its many windows and numerous towers rising from it that ended in pipes that puffs of steam drifted from, and at its entrance a huge tapestry with the symbol of the Griffon Empire adorning it. “Pretty amazing isn’t it? I’ve never seen a place so advanced, but Celestia said their magic isn’t as prevalent as that of Equestria’s life, so they’ve started making up for it with machinery since shortly before the Griffon War.” Twilight explained. “I see. Wonder if Gustav Le Grande’s place is around here.” Rainbow mused, recalling the éclairs he’d made at that contest so everypony could enjoy them after the first batch was eaten… they were pretty delicious. Spotting what looked to be a high-rise diner whose sign read “Le Grande’s” quickly answered the pegasus’ question and earned a smile from her. “There’ll be time for that later, Rainbow.” Twilight said, giggling when she saw her friend look about ready to drool. “We’re about to meet the Emperor and his family so we’ll need to be on our best behavior.” “Aw, Twi, I’m a pro at upper-crust behavior! Remember the whole Prisma Glimmer stint I pulled?” Rainbow asked, switching to a proper Manehattan accent. “I do declare, Twilight, you worry oh so much.” The unicorn gave her friend a brief look. “Just let me do the talking.” ~ Moments later, the two mares and their escorts stood before the massive, metal doors of the imperial palace, the griffon guards gave them a steely gaze, their fierce eyes causing Twilight to flinch slightly. The guards looked towards one another and tapped their halberds on the floor. Two griffon guards up on the towers standing on either side of the doors immediately disappeared inside them and pulled a pair of levers. The grinding of gears was heard and the doors slowly swung open, revealing the courtyard. It was unlike the industrialized outside of the city, instead there was a grass lawn and a stone path, a large fountain at its center with a statue of the Empire’s first ruler standing within it, and marble busts of several other previous rulers along the sides lining the path in between marble columns. Reaching the next door, they found themselves inside a place that more resembled the rest of the structure, a smooth stone floor with metal stairways, high perches and balconies with support girders and buttresses, with a massive glass sunroof above them. Rainbow stared up at it in fascination, noticing the sunroof’s panels were stained glass images. Proceeding onward, they ascended a stairway and reached the throne room, where two griffons stood present. With urging from one of the guards, Rainbow, Twilight, and the Canterlot escorts immediately bowed. “Rise.” The griffon in the center said. Rainbow regarded the three that stood before them; at the center was an older griffon, probably just reaching the prime of middle age. His coat was a faded brown and his wings a black color, his neck plumage was graying and he wore metal bracers on his forelegs and dark silver chest armor, along with a metallic headband with a single gem in the middle. At his right was another griffon, presumably his son as he appeared to be around Rainbow or Twilight’s age but the similarities ended there. He had a gray coat and black wings, with white neck plumage, and wore silver neck armor. He seemed rather intrigued by the ponies that stood before them, smiling a little but keeping most of his attention on his father. “You are most gracious, Emperor.” Twilight said with a smile. “Thank you. I am Emperor Griffonheim, and this is my son, Prince Loken. I take it you are Princess Celestia’s pupil, Twilight Sparkle. I do admit it's been some time since I'd seen the Princess face to face, she's quite wonderful, and makes an excellent cup of tea if I may say so..." He shook his head and glanced over at Rainbow Dash "And this is…?” “Consider yourself lucky 'cause you're meeting the one and only Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in Equestria, and coolest pony you’ll ever—“ Rainbow stopped when she noticed the stares and Twilight just facehoofed. So much for Rainbow and formality. The emperor chuckled, shaking his head. “Spirited, isn’t she?” He asked. “Yes, I suppose you could call it that. My apologies.” Twilight said. “I like her already. I’ll need to spend more time with you when I get back with the reports!” Loken said with a genuine smile. “Well, by your leave, father.” He said with a bow; walking past the ponies and taking to the air, flying up to a perch on the opposite end of the room and out the window it lead to. “Please excuse him, he is currently meeting with the councilors at Parliament to get an update on the situation with our… problem and has received news. He stayed for a chance to see you arrive.” The emperor explained. “I… trust the hero I’ve heard about is among your ranks as well?” “Yes, I assure you she is.” Twilight said. “We’ve kept her anonymous to insure your enemies do not track her.” “I see. That is reasonable enough. Walk with me, please” The emperor replied, turning and heading up a stairway and gesturing for the ponies to follow. “I take it you recall the news of activists growing in our empire. They’ve caused a great deal of unrest. The incident in Cloudsdale a year ago has somehow invigorated them, the damage that Gilda had caused under the alias Razorbeak continues to haunt us. Your hero Mare Do Well may have put an end to her, but now the activists here have made a martyr out of her and those she recruited.” “That’s ridiculous! She didn’t care about some dumb revolution! She just wanted revenge for something stupid that happened last time she was here that she kinda brought on herself!” Rainbow protested, causing the emperor to raise an eyebrow. “How would you be aware of this?” He asked. Rainbow gave the answer some thought, but had a way around the question. “She humiliated herself in front of an entire town. Trust me, you won’t meet a pony in ponyville who doesn’t remember that. And… her and I used to be friends when we went to Junior Speedsters Flight School.” “Ah, yes. She was a flying prodigy, it’s how she made the cut to be sent there. It also helped her family was one of the wealthiest in all of Eagleopolis. We’ve held that exchange student program since the war ended, a sign of goodwill between our nations.” The emperor mused. “But be that as it may, revolutionaries like this will martyr anything if it suits their needs. There are those who crave the ‘old ways’ as they call it. Me and many of my predecessors had worked hard to keep us away from that. However, if they succeed, it could spell the end for here and your kingdom.” “So why is it you have yet to stop them?” Twilight asked. “Don’t think we haven’t tried. Their attacks are well-coordinated; they’ve been good at anticipating our moves and thus keeping things under control while still performing my obligations is growing harder for me with the damage they’ve caused.” The emperor explained. “So who’s responsible for this? I bet Mare Do Well can beat them into a fine paste first chance she gets.” Rainbow said with a grin, earning a look from the griffon monarch. “They call themselves the Rebirth. Their symbol is a firebird, appropriately enough. They serve a mastermind known only as the Phoenix. We’ve yet to identify him, though we’ve had some infiltrators sent to try and see what they can learn of him. They need to be stopped at all costs, and I had decided I needed to put my pride aside and recruit the very hero who destroyed their idol and thwarted the attack they so admired.” The emperor replied. Twilight smiled. “Well, I’m confidant in Mare Do Well’s abilities, if I may say so myself. She will not let you down, highness.” “If she succeeds, you and Equestria will have my eternal thanks.” The emperor said. At that moment, another griffon flew in, something in his claws. “Highness! We’ve received something in the mail, it appears to be a film canister!” He said, opening the leather satchel he was carrying and pulling out the large metal canister. “We’ve had it checked over, it appears safe… despite the sender.” He turned it, revealing the symbol on it, Rainbow remembered it as the same image on the scarves those punks she took care of earlier wore. “Follow me.” The emperor urged, and they were lead to another room, this one with a large screen. Two griffons flew in carrying a projector and set it up. “Put it on. As you were sent by Celestia, I permit you to watch this with me.” Obeying their orders, the griffons opened the canister and placed the film reel on the projector and let it run. The quality was in color, though gritty and obviously low-quality but when the film began, immediately Twilight and Rainbow Dash wished it hadn’t. Images of buildings burning, then of the firebird logo of the Rebirth movement appeared over it. The movie cut to a figure seated in a throne in what appeared to be an airship of some kind given the whirring of machinery and clouds passing by in the windows. He wore a red hooded cloak that was tattered in the back, around the trim of the hood were numerous symbols and glyphs, and he wore a scarlet-colored chest armor over a black bodysuit. On his forelegs were silver plate armor bracers with ridged edges, a ring with a red gem adorned his right middle claw, and a silver clasp held the cloak in place. His neck was covered in armor as well, and his face was concealed with a white bone mask with a long beak, the eyeholes had red painted and flowing out the corners like red tears. “Hello, Emperor Vladmir Griffonheim.” The griffon said, his tone was a low and menacing baritone, and sent chills down Twilight’s back, dark eyeholes of that creepy mask seemed to stare right into her soul. Rainbow stood next to Twilight, less afraid but with an angry glare on her face. "I am the Phoenix…” The griffon said, the camera drawing closer, his head turning to the side. “I and my followers have been given the title of terrorists, but you could not be more wrong; we are revolutionaries...” The film cut to the sight of an airship, exploding in the sky and crashing into a cliff side similar to the one at the port. A closer look and Twilight and Rainbow realized it was in fact the port they’d been to. Flames engulfed the buildings that had been carved and built into the side of the mountain and debris fell towards the ground, civilians fleeing. “You have summoned Mare Do Well to protect you, and your weak farce of an Empire because you fear what I have vowed to bring this country,” his voice narrated as the camera showed several ponies and griffons fleeing. It then returned to the griffon himself, tapping his claws on the metal armrests of his throne. “But it has already begun… consider your guests as residents, because I’m afraid they’ll be staying longer then expected…” Twilight, the guards, and even Rainbow shuddered at what they saw next: The boat they’d arrived on exploding at sea in a big burst of flame, the camera drawing closer to observe the damage. The camera once again returned to the mystery griffon. “Twilight Sparkle, don’t expect your Princess to be in any position to help you either. She has… regrettably fallen ill as of late. My agents have intercepted a specially-ordered confectionery she’d placed for with Le Grande’s the day you’d left and… altered it.” The camera changed to several masked griffons injecting something into a set of éclairs. The camera switched over to the griffon again as he crushed an equine figurine in his claws. “She’s in my prayers,” he said dryly. “It’ll wear off eventually, or perhaps not... but either way by then I assure you it’ll be too late.” “Celestia… oh no… no…” Twilight felt tears forming in her eyes, if she’d only known. Rainbow Dash’s breathing grew rapid as she remembered her dream and now it seemed to be slowly coming to life. “We have lost our predatory way of life that has granted us the prosperity and influence we've not had since the Griffon Wars.” The Phoenix explained as the film continued to play. “But that is going to resume… starting with the ones who chose to defend this weak society that you sent to infiltrate my movement…” The camera turned, revealing three griffons bound and gagged and looking like they’d been badly beaten. “You sent these fine young griffons to their deaths, your highness.” He grabbed one’s neck and twisted it, pushing the body aside, then went to the next and did the same, and then the final one, he drew a short sword from under his cloak and impaled him. The emperor stood stone-faced, but Twilight and Rainbow could tell his eyes were fighting off the grief that threatened for show. Twilight herself couldn’t bear to look any more, and Rainbow felt more and more rage bubbling under the surface as the camera zoomed in on the Phoenix again. “It is time for a change, highness... one you cannot stop. It is time... for rebirth." A gleam shone from the mask’s dark eyeholes, intense eyes briefly seen within. “Mare Do Well, you may have performed incredible feats in the past, but choose to seek me out and here will be where you will meet your downfall… broken, beaten, and before the eyes of the land we will soon rise from the ashes of and claim as ours.” With those words, the film cut off. “By the stars…” Twilight gasped. Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on her shoulder, and looked over at the emperor, who was facing away from them. She knew that stance, that position, the same one she used to hide weakness and fear of failure… for that she pitied the griffon, as she knew how crushing such a feeling could be, especially when everypony looked up to you and expected the best out of you, and you expected the best of yourself. She also felt intense anger towards this 'Phoenix' guy, and silently swore she'd make him suffer to his last breath when she had the chance. “Highness, make no mistake, Mare Do Well will deal with this monster!” Rainbow said, approaching him, an intense look in her eyes that told the emperor all he needed to know that the pony before him was the one behind the mask, which earned the slightest nod from the griffon monarch. “Messing with Celestia? NOT cool! Twi, me and the others here? We’re with you one hundred percent!” “I second that.” Twilight said softly, her grief fading to a look of determination. “We’ll work together, and do everything we can to stop him.” “Excellent. Once my son brings back the reports, we’ll have an idea of where Mare Do Well can start a patrol route. This city is very large, after all.” The emperor said, his gaze for the briefest moment flicking to Rainbow Dash. “I’ll arrange for your lodgings at once, and we’ll meet after dinner.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t wait to get her costume back on and begin seeking out and taking down this foe, and after what she’d just seen, she knew she was going to enjoy every moment of the latter part.