Chapter 4: Fury of the Sun
It was with a heavy heart Captain Auto left the Everfree Forest with Rogue and James. They trudged slowly along. None felt like flying, as somehow it was fitting to wallow in the mud left by the storm instead of soaring along the clouds. It was a silent walk each lost in their own thoughts of how they were to blame and what they should have done, even James. But none so much as Auto.
When they stopped to make camp it was dark and they were at the edge of the Everfree Forest. They all set up the camp rolled out their respective bedrolls without a word. None of them could find the will to even try to start a fire. After all, the discomfort of the cold would be less of a burden than the warmth of memories.
Auto awoke around midnight to see Flashburn sitting next to a roaring fire his back turned. “Flash! How did you survive? I’m so happy you made it!”
“You left me to die. You didn’t even look back, did you? Did you!?” Flash yelled as he turned around. Only, where his jovial smile and bright green eyes used to be there was a grimace so dark. His eyes blood red and a light glowed from within them. His smile was replaced with a growling maw of fangs, dripping with poison. The light from his eyes grew in intensity until the bonfire behind him seemed but a candle. Slowly the entire world took on a red hue.
“There was no hope! Even Rogue…” Auto turned to where Rogue was supposed to be sleeping and saw only a split in the earth where fire erupted.
“You chose to leave! You did! You were the one to give the order! She only advised you! It was your decision! You took me from my life, with the promise of adventure and left me to die at the hands of a spider! Did my life really mean so little!? BURN! BURN FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!”
The earth split and flames filled the sky and Auto fell deep into the earth. As the flames enshrouded him he heard Flash scream as he did when the spider first took him…
***
“FLASH!” Auto opened his eyes with a scream. He looked about wildly and saw only the forest, his camp the rising sun and Rogue and James with weapons drawn.
“It was only a dream Auto! Only a dream.” Rogue said softly. “You are safe here.”
“I am, but what of Flash? We just abandoned him!” Auto yelled in frustration. “We should have done something… anything.”
“He deserved better, that is true, but there was nothing we could do, Auto. Just, try not to think of it. He wouldn’t want us to wallow in it. Now with that threat to the north would he want us to sit around grieving for him or saving a world he cared about?” James asked comfortingly.
“I don’t know. None of us really knew him did we? He was with us for a few days! I couldn’t even keep him safe that long… How can I keep all of you safe? How can continue to recruit after this colossal failure!?”
“Then don’t. We have enough solders now; me and James can do this! Besides we have Brumble and Woof-Woof. But we can’t continue this if all of our hearts aren’t in it. So will you drag us down? Will you let Flash’s death be in vain?”
“No. We are not to blame. It was I who recruited him yes, but it was those in the north who threaten our peace and harmony. It's their fault! We must defeat them, for Flash!”
“For Flash!” They all called in unison.
“Let’s hunt some Northerners!” They all then flew off at top speed toward Cantorlot James on Rogues back. The land fell beneath them faster than ever before as they were carried by not only their wings but also the inspiration that they forced themselves to believe in.
***
Finally they arrived in Cantorlot, the journey took but two days since they flew through the night. The city was still lit up even at this late time as it prepared for war.
“Halt who goes there!” a guard called from a tower.
“It is I Captain Auto Tomaton returning from my quest for Celestia!”
“Sorry Sir but you will need to wait out there until I can arrange an escort to lead you in! Can’t be too careful during a war ‘eh?”
“I understand! It will only be a minute or two we should land over there.”
“How often I have wondered about this city since last I was here…” mused James, “Of course the lasted time I was here my father was disowning me.”
“Well, hopefully Celestia will be more forgiving to us than your father was to you.” Rogue joked.
“Celestia will great us all with open arms I’m sure of it!” Auto assured them. “I just wish I had more ponies with me is all.”
“Captain Auto you have been ordered to report at the Throne Room, bring your recruits.” A guard called from the wall as the gate opened and a hole appeared in the shield. As they walked into the city both James and Rogue were surprised at how the city had changed since they last saw it, James twenty years ago and Rogue over a thousand. The entire city had expanded exponentially and the walls were all marbled, polished to a shine. Towers and turrets stretched high all about the city, each topped with flags and they had banners stretching from building to building. James noticed several small bits of graffiti in hard to see places that marked the Cantorlot Cutthroats several little hiding spots or safe houses. He looked at one particular piece on a shop that marked it ripe for a robbing.
“They are well organized…” James sighed wistfully never again would he get to live that life.
“Everything alright James?”
“Yeah, just thinking’ of home.”
As they passed through the city they saw signs of it preparing for war, shops were closing early, recruitment posters were up and few ponies walked the streets without a uniform of the Canterlot Army on. Several businesses were actually working overtime to meet the demands of war such as Chariot makers and blacksmiths. The entrance to the keep was covered with guards as officers ran to and fro with plans and counter-plans for the defense of Equestria.
They entered the throne room and saw Celestia and Luna arguing with an Officer who was saying, “But they’re target is Luna! We need to focus on defending her and Canterlot!”
“We cannot abandon the rest of Equestria! How are they to defend themselves from raids?” Celestia rebutted.
“Besides we can defend ourselves! I mean… I can defend myself.” Luna added.
“Are you so certain?” He then noticed Auto, Rogue and James, “Halt! Who goes there?”
“Oh don’t mind us keep going, this is actually kind of funny.” James joked.
“Celestia It is I, Auto Tomaton and my recruits, James Vander QuickHoof, and Rogue at your service, Highness.” Captain Auto bowed as he explained.
“Ah, Auto I’ll see you in about ten minutes I need to finish up a meeting.” He bowed and left the room. They waited outside of the room for about an hour before the Officer left. They then entered the throne room.
“He’s a good soldier he just cares for your safety sister! Besides at least he agreed to lower the guards a bit… Oh there you are! Sorry Auto but you know how Stormsheild can get. Anyways who’d you say they were…” At that moment she recognized Rogue. “R-R-Rogue!? Is it really you? Rogue! Oh how I’ve missed you! Auto were you the one who found her? Oh thank you so much!” She ran up and hugged Rogue then Luna did as well. “After you left when I banished Luna I thought you’d never come back!”
Rogue’s jaw just dropped, she was expecting her to be mad at here for running away from her duties during such an upheaval! She smiled and hugged back, old emotions she had thought buried rose up and engulfed her. And she wept. She wept for her joy at her reunion with her best friends after so long of solitude she finally had come home. “I’ve missed you so much.” Then she remembered the cause of their meeting. “But we have business to take care of.” She re-composed herself as she prepared herself for war.
“Thank you Captain but where is the other one? When you sent word from Manehatten you said you had found a Unicorn.” Luna asked.
“I-I would rather not speak of him at the moment. We lost him in the Everfree Forest…” Auto took a step back. “Speaking of recruits though, Celestia I have a favor to ask. Will you please pardon James for his crimes and recruit him into the army?”
“What crimes? He doesn’t look like any of the wanted posters…” She looked closely at his face. “I do recognize you though; you got your name changed about twenty years ago, right?”
“Yes, and the whole, uh, pardon thing… well you wouldn’t recognize me as no pony has ever found me or gotten a description… I used to run the Everfree Rai...” He started to explain.
“WHAT!? IT CANNOT BE! AUTO IS NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD EARN ANY RESPECT HERE!!!” As Celestia screamed the walls shook and the night lit up with her rage. “YOU WHO HAS PLAGUED MY LITTLE PONIES FOR SO LONG?” Her anger turned from a boiling outrage to a simmering hatred. “All of you leave us. NOW!” They all ran for the door Luna included. “Not you Auto, we have much to discuss.”
***
James paced in what little space he could as the chains were not very accommodating and the guards even less so. He had only ever been this worried twice before, once when his Father disowned him and the other when his gang abandoned him. What punishment would be awaiting him? Banishment? Dungeon? Or what if she banished him and then locked him in a dungeon in the place she had banished him in? What if Auto got punished for fighting on his behalf? Oh no, was that moon worthy? What made a crime moon worthy? Or sun worthy for that matter? “Oh… I hope that it’s going well.”
“Not likely scum, you’ve plagued Equestria for far too long. You’ll get what you deserve and that’s at least life in prison. If not a thousand years on the sun…” James hadn’t considered that.
He paced more worried than ever until the doors were thrown open. “HOW COULD YOU EVEN CONSIDER THAT!? WITH ALL HE’S DONE!? A PARDON!? HE IS GOING TO THE MOON RIGHT NOW!!!”
“But sister we do not approve of it! The Moon is a far worse punishment than you could imagine! Trust us in this, dear sister, what could he have done to anger you so?”
“Celestia please listen to reason! He will serve his penitence! He is a genius in hit and run tactics! Think of your Kingdom!” Auto pleaded emphatically.
Celestia then turned her gaze upon Auto as well as the backside of her hoof. “Silence! All of you! I do as I must! None of you can understand the burdens I am under at all times! Running a Kingdom meant for three, alone? Do you think I pass out judgment frivolously? How many hours I have thought of this pony and that is the only punishment he deserves! He has labored on his crimes long since then!” She turned to James, horn alight. “How long have you been the leader of the Everfree Raiders? Do not lie as I will know.”
“Since they’re founding, Highness I beg forgiveness.”
“Do you admit your guilt fully and without restraint?”
“Yes. Please your High…”
“Then you should feel at piece during your ten-thousand year imprisonment, pending execution.” As soon as she finished speaking he began to glow incredibly brightly and the sun rose to sit beside the moon, and light shot from the sun to land upon the ground at James’s hooves which than rose toward the moon and he began to fade.
A tremendous roar echoed throughout the hallway as Brumble and Woof-Woof burst in the very vines crawled indoors to surround Rogue. A stifling gale encompassed Celestia as Rogue screamed, “CELESTIA! LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING! SEARCH YOURSELF FOR THE EMPATHY I ONCE KNEW! I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NEVER KNOW THE BURDENS THAT YOU WERE FORCED TO ENDURE BUT I DO KNOW THIS, THE OLD CELESTIA WOULDN’T PLACE REVENGE OVER THE SECURITY OF HER SUBJECTS!” As Celestia’s conviction wavered so did her spell. “If you cast him out, ponies will die. Without his skill in survivability and keeping ponies hidden in enemy territory we may even lose. If you still go on with this foolish act, you and Luna will have to divide the control over nature or let Equestria fall back into chaos because I will leave it. I won’t even help you in this war because if you don’t care enough about the lives of your citizens then why should I?” The sun moved back to its appropriate place and the room was lit only by flickering torches. Celestia took a step back and her head dropped low.
“I’m so sorry Rogue and Luna; I let my emotions take control and almost sentenced innocents to die on his behalf. Captain Auto, you and your party will leave at first light for the north. I will allow him to serve and be pardoned but he is banished from my presence. I never want to see him again unless it is upon the field of battle or a court hearing.” With that she slowly walked into her chambers wings and head low from both exhaustion and shame.
“Well that actually worked better than I thought it would…” James began awkwardly. “At least I’m still on this planet. So where to next, I think she was serious about never wanting to see me again.”
“Well Luna, catch up later alright? She said all of his group and I’m in it so I gotta go at first light so we’ll need to resupply.” Rogue said to Luna.
“We look forward to it. Now hurry.”
***
They restocked and left that very night. Not only to the north but to a war and away from guilt, shame, anger, and fear. Early the next morning Celestia sat down and wrote a letter warning her agent Anti-Freeze of her impending company and all that it entails. The letter would arrive mere days before them, she hoped that Anti would have time to prepare.
***
Anti-Freeze sat and read the letter for the fifth time. How was this possible? Him, here? He who destroyed her life? She had a successful trading business until one of her largest shipments was raided and her friends killed by The Everfree Raiders and now she gets a letter from the Princess saying to try and abide his presence? It was a direct order but after all he had done why does he deserve other than the moon? Maybe he deserved a short drop with a sudden stop. She set about preparing her headquarters to accommodate three more ponies. It was small building that’s only entrance was a trapdoor that was hidden under about a foot of snow. The walls were covered in maps and notes on enemy movement and one poster of Sorin, he was the best Wonderbolt, and there were four rooms. One was a kitchen, one was her war room, one was here room, and the last was the entryway. So the alicorn could sleep in the war room, Auto could sleep in the entry way as a guard, and James vander QuickHoof could sleep in the kitchen. She should probably take the Sorin poster down too. She was almost done when from outside she heard a huge explosion! She rushed to the door and stuck her head out. It appeared that the enemy was fighting itself? A white pony, a brown pony, and a pony that was… from this distance it looked green… were in battle with a camp she had been watching. Then she heard it. On the wind a song carried as the camp was blown to bits, ”What do we do with do with the things we don't like? We burn them! What do we do..."
“Slowly back down the ladder Anti. Slowly does it.” She said as she stared at the display in front of her. It was just so strange. As she shut the door she thought about reporting it to Celestia. She shook her head, “She wouldn’t believe me anyways and I don’t even have the foggiest idea of what that was.” Then an idea came to her, “Maybe that’s Auto Tomaton! He’s really early if that is him.” She poked her head back out but the ponies she saw before weren’t there anymore. If it was Auto he’d of come to her base. “Well I guess Celestia should at least get some intel on this.” She then wrote and sent a letter that said “There has been a disturbance… It appears enemy forces have engaged themselves.”
***
“Celeeeeeeeest! You promisssssssed!” Princess Miamora Cadenza whined, “I’m not whiiiining!” She complained. “We were scheduled to have dinner tonight! Me and Shining Armor waited for hooooouuuurrrrssss!”
“For the last time Cadence I was busy almost moon banishmenting somepony oh and we’re in the middle of preparations for a war!” A letter fell from the sky and impaled itself upon a very bored looking Luna’s horn.
“Letter for you dear Sister, from the front lines.” She levitated it over to her.
“Case and point Cadence this is from one of our spies! Her name is Anti-Freeze.” She then began to read the letter, ”There… disturbance… appears… enemy… engaged themselves… Well that makes no sense.”
***
“I hope you realize that if we could just leave Brumble and Woof-Woof behind we’d get there twice as fast!” Auto commented.
“How could you even suggest that? They knew the way to Cantorlot but even I don’t know the location of Anti-Freeze’s secret base!” Rogue rebutted. “Hey on the way can we pick up somepony else to join with us?”
“Who?”
“My sister Wildpaw. She’s a Pegasus who lives just a little to the west of our path. She’s a great archer, we actually used to have arrow splitting competitions.”
“How old is she? I mean you’re an alicorn so live thousands of years but most of us live only eighty if we’re lucky.”
“Well technically she’s my great-great -great-great-great-and-then-some grand niece but she grew up calling me sister so we basically are.”
“Sure as long as it doesn’t take too long but are you sure you want to bring her into this?” Auto inquired.
“She’d probably be mad at being left out if I didn’t get her.”
***
“That’s funny she’s not here and most of her stuff is gone. Maybe she’s in the process of moving, again. She never tells me anything!”
“No worries we can still make up the time we’ve lost if we hurry!” James put in.
“Aye now let us away!” Auto ye-olde englished.
***
Evendra sat upon her frosted throne as in came her trusted general AbsoluteZero. “What is it Absol, what news hath thou brought forth from the advanced invasion forces?”
“Word is not well Nightwarden. It appears the Frozen Fang garrison has been routed by three ponies of questioned allegiances as it is not the group that Celestia sends forth. We know for we are tracking them. Neigh this is a new force altogether. One that is our bane it seems.” He spouted in his guttural tone.
“Then we have but one course to follow, send in the Ice Brothers, they have yet to fail me.”
“Your will be done, Nightwarden.”