//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Dimming Spark 
// Story: Frozen Equestria 
// by Flashburn37 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 3: Dimming Spark 
James backed against the wall as the mutinous dogs closed in. “Why does my history matter? Have I not fought beside you and lead you well?”
“You lied to us and we need to trust our leader!” Several others affirmed this. They drew weapons and approached threateningly. “Gut ‘em! He knows too much of our stratagems fur ascapin’!”
“He’s right!” Several rushed James but this was not his first fight while outnumbered and he drew a hidden blade from within his cloak and batted their blades away. This is not a good situation, thought James, even if I can hold them off I will tire much faster. How shall I escape? Well the camps nearest exit is a little bit that way but offered no cover and all the others had at least ten ponies in the way. He had but one hope.
“They’ll kill you after their through with me! Join me and have a chance!” He yelled as he cut the prisoner’s bonds.
“Normally I’d not be keen on joining you but the circumstances seem to point in that direction!” agreed Flash.
“We have no choice James, we will fight with you.” Auto begrudgingly accepted. Flash than levitated his trusty mace and shield to his side. “Ah my weapons,” He sighed. “It has been too long. Now let’s fight!”
***
“Let’s fight!” Came a call from the camp. Rouge had to hurry or they wouldn’t last long!
“Oh hurry up Brumble! You old slob!” She scolded her impromptu mount. “That’s it.” She levitated Brumble much faster toward the battle letting him down just out of the camp.
***
The clash of steel on steel and flame on fur soon filled the camp. They were fighting valiantly but with how outnumbered they were, doom was upon them. “Never saw myself going out like this, Auto!” 
“How’d you see yourself going out then?”
“Fire. Wait what’s that sound?” Flash turned to the strangest site. A bear busting through a tent with an alicorn on its’ back. “James, that one of yours?”
“No! That’s the guardian of the forest! What’s she doin’ here?”
The strange alicorn yelled “Saving your life!” She then enveloped all three of them in her wings and Brumble charged out.
***
“What in the blue blazes is going on?” complained Flash as he was dumped to the ground. A half an hour later. Before him was an alicorn with large wings and a golden curved horn.
“I just saved your life!” She sighed exasperatedly. Right then a bear trudged in. Flash looked about him, James suffered from a slash to the shoulder and Auto had dried blood on his head. They were in a slightly damp cave large enough to house all of them quite comfortably. He seemed unharmed but the manner of their rescue was suspect. How did she manage to get them all out? Even if there was a reason for that how come he can’t remember the moments after being swept into her wings? What if they weren’t even rescued? Maybe this situation is worse!
“Sorry, I’m just a little frazzled is all, I’m Flashburn and you are?”
“Rogue.”
“That’s a nice name! Where are we? Nevermind I wouldn’t know if you gave me a name, I’m new to the area you see… So now that the uh, pleasantries are out of the way a question I beg of you. Why’d you save us? We were outnumbered ten to one by my count even with your help, a lost cause if ever I saw one.”
“I’m not sure I know.”
“Well thank you anyways. I think my friends are in need of medical attention.” He went to Auto’s side. His wounds were superficial and the blood on his head wasn’t his own. James shoulder needed a bandage but would heal fine.
“That pony had just captured you, yet you count him friend? How do you forgive so easily?”
Flash looked down and shuddered as memories flooded back…
***
“I’m so sorry! I couldn’t help it! I can’t control the fire! I can’t! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry…”
***
“Ponies make mistakes and I know that better than most. Besides what was he supposed to do? Two ponies arrive tied up being lead by his minions? To lose face in that group is to die as I’m sure you saw. If I can forgive him maybe… nevermind.”
“Your friend will be awake soon. I must go. We don’t have enough food for all of us and some of you are unfit to travel. Brumble will watch out for you don’t worry.”
What a strange pony she must be, Thought Flash, I only hope she stays a friend. Now all he could do was sit lost in the memories of what could have been and what shouldn’t have been. “I miss Boomie.” He spoke aloud, it felt good to hear her name. “I wonder how old Sparky is anyway? She was so angry when I left, I thought the whole of Equestria would explode! I wish they’d wake up. Lazy buggers we have work to do! We need to find that glen in the forest with the archer in it!” Oh no wait! how will Auto and James react? They’re old nemesis right? That won’t be good. You know putting out fires was a good idea, if only Auto had met me sooner…
***
Auto had a terrible headache when he woke up… as his systems rebooted he rubbed his head and looked about him and came face to face with James vander Quickhoof. “Wh-what happened?”
“Rogue saved us!” called out Flash from behind Auto. “Thank Celestia your awake I’m no medic so I had no idea if the bandage I used was sufficient or not. Now we have to find that archer.”
Auto turned to him. “Where are we?”
“A cave. I assume it’s in the Everfree Forest.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“A damp cave in the Everfree Forest.”
“Thanks... Where is this, Rouge?”
“Hunting. Now I have one for you, can you remember anything after she saved us? And what will you do about James? I like him! He’s cool.”
“No I don’t remember; I had a head wound ember brains. When it comes to James… Maybe he can help with our quest? He certainly is talented and if he refuses I’ll have to arrest him. There’s no other way. He can earn penitence through saving Equestria.”
“Sweet, I hope I can.” Mumbled Flash.
“What was that?”
“Nothin’ Rouge just asked something that got me thinking about my past is all I’d rather not speak of it.” At that moment James awoke.
“What happened? Where am I? Am I in jail? Is this what prisons are like? Wait. This isn’t a prison. Oh hello you two! No bad feelings? Oh OW my arm is killing me! Who bandaged me? Was it the bear?” He grabbed his shoulder and undid the bandage. “Much too tight, much, much, much too tight.”
“Oops sorry. So James can you remember what happened after she rescued us?”
“No I cannot I was unconscious at the time. Now Captain what will you do with me? Mind you I wouldn’t like to be thrown in a dungeon! Or banished. Or banished than thrown in a dungeon in the place I was banished to! I’ve seen it happen, look at Princess Luna!”
“Actually I was just discussing that with my colleague Flashburn over there and I have a proposition for you. I was sent on a quest by Celestia to gather talented ponies so as to protect Equestria from a new possible threat. Will join me and defend Equestria? It’s that or jail.”
“Well that’s not much of a choice is it? Well than I’ll help you. Besides it’s not like I can rejoin the Raiders or start a new gang, my identity will be known throughout the world in a few days. Sure I’ll help you, on one condition though! Freedom. After this I want a clean record. No jail time no nothin’.”
“I can only promise that if you also join the army and it only lasts if you are released from the obligations, no dishonorable discharges.”
“But-“
“It’s all I can do without Celestia present.”
“Fine.”
“Yay! Both of you agreed so now I won’t have to fight you James! What do you say, friends?”
“Sure Flash sure.”
“Sweet! I can’t wait to do battle with armies of darkness with you at my side!”
“Wait what?”
“Too late you agreed! You did! You heard him right Auto?”
“Yep.”
“ROAR!” yelled Brumble.
“Sweet Celestia Brumble we’ll shut up! Guys keep it down Brumble’s trying to take a nap. Why are you guy’s cowering?”
“I wasn’t cowering!” protested James. Both Flashburn and Auto Tomaton laughed as Rouge entered carrying a freshly slain boar on her back.
“What’s going on in here?” She said as she dropped the boar to the floor. Auto noticed it had been slain with one bow shot to the eye and had strange claw marks all over its back. Was she the great archer that he searched for?
“Nice shot, but what are the claw marks?” he commented.
“Oh thanks the claws are from Woof-Woof don’t worry you’ll meet her soon. She never leaves my side for long.”
“What manner of beast leaves such marks as that?” Flash interjected.
“Timberwolves stupid.” Explained Rogue.
“Why is everyone calling me stupid all of a sudden?” Yelled Flashburn angrily.
“Cool it hot-head,” Said Auto, “Now Rogue I have a question for you. I was sent to this forest in search of a great archer who lived in a secluded glen in the Everfree Forest. Are you that archer?”
“Depends why.”
“All of Equestria may be in danger and  I was sent on a talent hunt, so far all I have are those two, and if you joined it would be helpful. First though, and only if you want to join, you must pass a test of skill.”
She then used her horn to bring her bow from her back notched and fired six arrows in rapid succession each hitting one of the ponies cloaks, pinning them to the ground. “Extremely dangerous?” she asked.
“Yes.” Auto said impassively.
“Chance of success?”
“Low.”
“Let’s get started then, I’m in.” she looked outside, “Woof-Woof come! We have an adventure too far away lands and I know you’d hate to miss that!” A howling echoed through the forest as the ground began to tremble.
“My new cloak!” Flash complained, “And what’s the boar for anyway? We’re all vegetarians here! You know, cause we’re ponies not well whoever you usually have over for dinner…”
“Did you assume I went hunting for you? Ha no I have plenty of food for us it is Brumble and Woof-Woof.” She explained.
“Well where is um, Woof-Woof?” asked James.
“Her she is!” At that moment a large timberwolf prowled in and sat next to Rogue glaring suspiciously at the three other ponies. “Oh Woof-Woof don’t be like that, they’re our friends.” Woof-Woof barked twice and lolled her tongue out. “That’s a good girl now eat up.” She than tore into the boar with a voracious hunger.
“I cannot tell whether it is beautiful or disgusting or terrifying.” Flash gasped in awe of the scene before him. “Would Woof-Woof prefer it cooked?”
“She doesn’t mind all that much but yeah, unfortunately we haven’t the time to build a fire.”
“We won’t need one! So rare, well done, or medium?”
“She prefers it medium, what are you going to do?”
“We are all on this team for a reason and I kind of want to show off my talent after all, this adventure has revealed so many facets of it I want to try every possible application!” He then took his hat off, narrowed his eyes, and bit his tongue in concentration. His horn began glow its customary red and the boar had an aura around it and started to sizzle. Woof-Woof looked up in confusion than at the aura. Soon the boar began to brown slightly and Flash stopped. Woof-Woof tore into it with a new found abandon.
“I guess every adventure group needs a cook,” James joked, “What is your talent anyways?”
“Fire and other burning things like that, such as heat waves. I especially love fire bolts and heat rays. A good heat ray can make an enemy uncomfortable and give up. A good fire bolt can kick them in the pants as they run off.” They all laughed at that. “So how early should we set out? And to where?” Flash asked Auto.
“I was thinking about heading north to evaluate the enemies, but first stopping by Cantorlot and showing you all to Celestia. As to when we leave, well, that’s up to Rouge here. How soon are you willing to pack up and go? Know that time is a factor here and I would hate to tarry longer than necessary.”
“I’ll have everything ready in the morning. You can sleep here, but do not venture out of the cave. I have many animals guarding my home and if any see you without me…” She let the warning stop there.
***
Flash slept well all through the night and awoke early that morning before even Auto. What a glorious day, he thought to himself. It would be a shame to spend the morning quite and cooped up in a cave. Besides what could go wrong?
He sauntered out of the cave a breathed in deeply, “What a morning! Rouge are you here?” When no answer was forthcoming he trotted a short distance out into the clearing. The clearing was fairly large about one hundred feet in either direction from the center. On one side was the strange little hill that the caves were in and on the other was the forest as dense and dark as ever. “Practice makes perfect.” Flash said to himself. 
There was a small patch of stone that rose above the vegetation that would be perfect for some nice, safe burning things practice. Flash stacked some stones to use as targets and others behind them in case he missed. He started by shooting one bolt at a time, carefully aiming each shot. He hit his mark dead-on every time. “Time to mix things up…” he mumbled as he started firing the bolts in bursts of threes. His accuracy decreased slightly but it was much more effective. “Time to try full auto!” He pelted the bolts out one after the other barely a half-second between them.  He missed several times but as he continued to fire and focused all of his attention on his fire his accuracy started to improve. This is what he lived for! The Pure adrenalin of unleashing a flame! He could do this foreve… and suddenly he was on his back.
***
Rare were ponies this far into the Everfree forest and this Spiderling wasn’t about to miss the opportunity for such a meal. It had even gift wrapped itself, expending all of its dreaded magic and leaving itself so open and un-expecting. It screamed but the guardian was far away preparing the wells of power that allowed Everfree to remain without the help of ponies. It was not afraid of the guardian it had stolen three meals from under her wings already; she made hunting more difficult that’s all. As it was being wrapped up, oh the terror in its eyes, knowing doom was but a short while away and not being able to do anything to prevent it.
It heard a sound behind it and if its' prey would die from being unwary it would not allow itself to have the same happen to it. It spun about to see an armored Pegasus flying straight at it wielding a mace and shield. “HELP ME AUTO!!!” screamed its' prey.
It tethered the last line to the entangled prey and began dragging it away towards its' lair. The Pegasus was close now but it wouldn’t catch such a predator as the Spider. Once it reached its webs it couldn’t be followed. “Auto! Help! Please,” the spider couldn’t escape with such a racket so it bit the prey,” Au-Au-Aut… toe… what are toes? I feel weird… Au…” They prey fell into sweet unconscious and the predator fell into the embrace of the webs.
***
“Flashburn!” Auto screamed at the top of his lungs as he saw his friend slip into the wilds in the clutches of the eight legged beast. He flew in at top speed straight at the spider but it was too late. As he crashed through the forest his wing caught the edge of a web and was nearly pulled from its socket. Auto hung there in despair. “Flash… I have failed you…” He tried vainly to sever the web that clung to him but a mace was useless.
“What in the name of Equestria is going on?!” exclaimed James from the cave.
“James help! I’ve been caught in a web and Flash… he… he’s gone, James, he’s gone.”
“Pony feathers! I’m on my way what happened?”
“Flash was training outside and was grabbed by a monstrous spider! Now cut me down!” James ran to Auto and tossed him a knife.
“I cannot reach you from down here! I’m gonna climb up!” As James cut him down they discussed what to do next.
“We can’t go out there without Rogue, Auto, or we too will die.”
“We can’t wait either! How can we save him before he… oh sweet Celestia we can’t… we can’t even try… how could we? What good would it do? We must attempt to contact her! Rogue will know what to do!”
***
Rogue was just wrapping up the preparations on her forest fire prevention ward when she saw something strange, off in the distance near her home was a smoke signal. She couldn’t read smoke signals but it wasn’t natural. Maybe something had happened? “Better safe than sorry…” she mumbled to herself. She flew back to her camp but kept an eye out for any clue as to what may be happening. Oh no… what if Flash had accidently lit her forest on fire? The ward had only just been placed! She sped back all the faster.
When she got about half way there she saw Captain Auto fly out to meet her. “What’s happened?” she called out.
“Flash has been taken by a giant spider! Help me find him!”
“What?! What happened? What did the spider look like? Where did it take him?”
“He was training in the clearing when it jumped him, it was red, orange, and black covered in fuzz with large fangs, and to the east!”
“NO! It was Shakarok! It is a deadly spider even I don’t mess with! How long ago was he taken?”
“About half an hour ago.” They now flew side by side toward the clearing.
“Auto… I have lost three timber wolves to Shakarok. I’m sorry but… it’s too late. Shakarok knocks them unconscious with a bite and as soon as it reaches its lair it bleeds them out… He’s gone Auto, Flash is gone…”
“No, no, oh no, no there must be a way! He must be alive!”
“Even if he’s lasted this long by the time we find the lair and cut through the webs it will be dark and going in to that lair would be a death sentence. If we search for him, we die and there is no way he’ll make the night. Shakarok feeds constantly. I’m sorry. But why did he leave the cave? I warned you about this!”
“We cannot blame each other Flash wouldn’t want that. Besides it is likely my fault… I should have been more attentive and watched over his training or something.”
“There is nothing we could have done.”
“I know.”
***
Flashburn was feeling strange. It was a light feeling as if he was filled with a cool breeze. It was so strange. He knew that he was dreaming. What else could it be? He looked out across the horizon as the sun rose over a burning world. The forest was in flames, the towns incinerated, the castles melted. It was not the first time he had this same dream, but somehow it was more vivid this time. He didn’t want this. This is what he knew would happen if he couldn’t control the flame. He skin crawled as if a thousand butterflies flew just under the surface… Is this a dream? Or is this… Death? "Nah." Flash assured himself.