//------------------------------// // Chapter 30:A Calm Before The Storm // Story: Hearthfire The Sands Of Time // by Predman1227 //------------------------------// Chapter 30:Calm Before The Storm (Summer Haze) (4 years in the past) Haze lay by the fireplace in the Rest Pit Inn’s main room, drawing into her sketchbook happily. Business was quite today so there weren’t that many ponies around. The chairs had been stacked up on tables so Teara could mop the wooden floor along with Tim who helped her. Lilly was behind her desk counting bits and filling out papers with her feathered pen. Merry was sitting on the bar playing her Lute, the song she played was soothing and calm, each note sparking a happy sensation in Haze’s mind. Then there was Theran and Violet. Theran wore normal clothing, wired huh right? And he sat on an armchair by the fireplace sound asleep. He had been shovelling snow off the roof, haling heavy sacks of food down to the cellar and moving barrels of liquid all day and now he was worn out. While Theran snored away in a grumpy way, Violet was sitting in her own armchair, studying a book of words. She was slowly starting to understand basic words and was even getting better at spelling them, though she still struggled. But she was happy, she didn’t care she couldn’t read or write or even use math cause she still had her life and now there was plenty of time for her to learn. “How’s your spelling coming along now Vi?” Haze asked, as she turned her head to looked at her. Violet was squinting her eyes as if trying very hard to understand what she was looking at. “Still can’t…figure out what this…words is.” She stated with a strained voice through clenched teeth. “Da…diu…Dahk?” Haze got up and looked at the page she was on. She couldn’t help but smile as she contained her laughter through a small giggle. “Duck Vi, it says duck.” “Oh a duck, huh…why doesn’t the school have books with pictures?” Violet asked with a sigh. “Would make this so much easier.” Haze just shrugged. “I dun know, maybe they can’t find any or there are no alphabet books in the Barrier lands with pictures. Could be many reasons.” Violet sighed again. “That’s a shame, would make this boring.” She moaned. Haze’s wings buzzed with excitement when she thought of something. “Hey Vi wanna see what I’m drawing?” Violet looked up from her book and smiled at Haze. “Yeah sure sweetie, let’s see it.” Haze got her sketchbook and held in her magic for Violet to see. It was a detailed pencil drawing of two ponies side by side, looking into each other’s eyes. One was a spiky manned Unicorn Stallion and the other was a wild manned Earth pony Mare. “Wow Haze this looks really good.” Violet praised with a mother like smile. Her eyes squinted for a bit as she scanned the drawing further. “Wait a minute…are…are they…” “You and Theran!” Haze revealed with the biggest fanged smile imaginable. Violet visibly blushed, putting a hoof to her mouth. “Oh Haze um…you…wow…” She giggled nervously. “Um this is very sweet of you…is my nose really that…big?” “No.” Haze said with a giggle. “But Theran’s is.” Violet snickered loudly as she held back her laughter. “Oh don’t tell him that, he’d be more than grumpy.” “He’s always grumpy.” Haze stated then added. “But in a good sorta way.” Haze watched as Violet gazed longingly at the drawing. Haze sensed her passion oddly and asked her. “You really like it huh?” Violet blinked and took her eyes away from the drawing. “Uh yes…yes I do.” She gave Haze her book back and asked. “What made you…draw us like this?” “I see the way you look at him.” Haze answered, not hiding from the question one bit. Violet was still blushing heavily as she quickly glanced at the snoozing Theran, then back at her. “Uh…w-what do you mean?” “You like him.” Haze teased. “Uh…sure I like him, we…we’re friends.” Violet stated, her cheeks almost pure crimson. “Are you sure?” Haze asked, again teasing her. Violet finally caught on to her teasing and gave her a light playful shove. “Oh Haze, behave.” She said with a little chuckle. Haze giggled as she flopped back to the floor, playfully kicking all four of her legs as she lay on her back. Violet pounced on her and began to tickle her. Haze laughed loudly as Violet went for her ticklish spots, her sides, the back of her ears, her back hooves and under her shoulders. Haze laughed through it all and she was almost in tears when Violet blew on her belly. Haze couldn’t breath her lungs were burning. “Violet stop!” Her laughter suddenly turned into gasps of pain as Violet clamped her teeth on her stomach and ripped it open. Haze stared in horror as blood, her blood poured out of her opened torso and then she stared at Violet’s face. Her face was rotten, her eyes were black and her mouth a big sharp toothed gapping maw, blood oozing out between her teeth. (Present day) Haze woke with a frightened scream and kicked at the quilt on top of her. “Wogha Haze calm down!” A hoof touched her shoulder and her darting eyes finally fell on Sapphire’s beautiful face. “What…?” Haze gasped as she took in her surroundings. She was in a wooden room with white worn stonewalls and oak coloured flooring. Haze spoke as she looked around. “W-where are we…where’s Theran and Violet?” “Relax Haze.” Sapphire reassured her. “We’re in a walled village guarded by the Legion. Theran and Violet went with a Sargent while I came with you to the infirmary.” Haze looked around again. There was no medical equipment in the room, no heart monitors, any drip feeds, brain wave scanners or life support systems. Instead there was a bed level table with a tray of food and water beside her. Haze looked at the tray in confusion then looked at Sapphire. “Did…did anypony see my true form?” Sapphire rolled her eyes. “Never mind that, eat, drink.” Haze could tell she was avoiding the question so she re-asked. “Did anypony see me?” Sapphire sighed and got off of her chair and moved beside the table. She picked up the water in her hooves made Haze take it. “Drink.” Sapphire said in a firm voice and Haze now knew this was an order. She took the cup in her own hooves and sipped it, enjoying the fresh feel of cool liquid going down her throat as Sapphire finally answered her question. “Yeah someponies saw you but they were more focused on Teven more than you, and the Sargent guy didn’t even seemed bothered by the way you looked.” Haze mulled this over as she stopped sipping her drink and offered it to Sapphire. “Oh no Haze I’m fine, you keep drinking. You need it more than I do.” Haze gave her that look that said ‘don’t piss around’ and Sapphire finally gave in. “Alright fine, if it makes you happy.” Sapphire took the cup and chugged the rest down in one gulp. She let out a shiver as her feathers stood on end. “You haven’t eaten yet have you?” Haze asked, noting the lack of another tray. Sapphire put the cup back down on the tray and shook her head. “Didn’t want to leave you here alone so…yeah I haven’t had anything since we got here.” Haze pondered how they got here and that’s when she remembered the horrific acts Theran and Teven had committed. Those poor ponies, their expressions as they died were forever burned in her mind. Haze picked up the loaf of fresh bread and broke it in half and gave a part to Sapphire. “Eat.” Haze ordered and Sapphire did so, munching down on the bread. As they ate Haze felt her chest get heavier and heavier the more she dwelled on the events they went through. All those deaths, all those poor souls, the faces of those creatures, it became too much and she felt her eyes start to well up, as she dropped the bread she was eating to cover her face. She was trembling, her emotions bubbled to the surface. It was like a darkness that pressed around her and threatened to swallow her whole. “Hey it’s alright Haze.” Sapphire said as she got up on the bed and sat with her, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close. “It’s ok.” “I can’t take this…anymore…Sapph!” Haze cried as she hiccupped with her words. “Make…make it stop.” “Shhhh now, it’s ok.” Sapphire gripped one of her hooves and rocked her back and forth as she began to sing. “Now stop your crying, it’ll be alright. Just take my hoof, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here don’t you cry.” Her words, her wholehearted rhythmic words soothed and comforted Haze, turning her sobs into deep breaths as she let herself be absorbed by Sapphire’s embrace and the darkness faded. The love she felt was like a beacon of warmth, pushing all her worries and pain away. Haze lay back in her bed with Sapphire and leaned into her embrace till their bodies were locked together. “I love you Sapph.” Haze said with a shaky voice as she held onto Sapphire tightly. “I know.” Sapphire answered as she as she rested her head on Haze’s, holding her with all her heart and they remained that way, in peaceful silence. (Theran Razorblade) “So you’re telling me that this…thing is some sort of infection and that it over ran Splinter Bay, changing all that it touched?” Sargent Buckwood asked Theran as he sat behind his desk in his office. “Yes.” Theran confirmed as he and Violet sat in chairs in front of the Sargent’s desk, munching on some sunflower seeds. Theran was a little unsure. “Well…at least, that’s what I believe.” “I can vouch for him.” Violet added as she leaned forward in her chair. “I’ve seen these things with my own eyes and inspected a pony who was attack by them. Her wound smelled of death and her eyes, they were turning black.” Sargent Buckwood tapped his hooves together in thought as he stared at his desk. He then looked back up at them and pulled a half smile. “You know if I had heard this stuff a few days ago I would have said you were crazy.” His half smile turned into a grin. “Funny thing is I did hear this exact stuff a few days ago and I did call the pony who told me crazy.” Theran’s ears pricked up at that and sparked his interest. “Another pony told you this story?” He asked. Sargent Buckwood nodded. “Mmmmhmm and she’s still here.” He had Theran’s full attention now as he sat up in his chair. “What, really?” “Yep. One of my scout groups found her unconscious deep in the forest with an infected leg wound, you know the normal kind of infected.” The Sargent shifted in his chair as he continued. “Anyway, troops brought her back here and we treated her injury. Looked like she’d been crawling through dirt and mud cause she was as filthy as a hag, and you wonder how her wound got infected. Anyway continuing. She woke up screaming 5 hours after treatment and it took about 4 maybe 5 medics to hold her down.” Theran and Violet sat in tense silence as the Sargent told his story. “When she finally calmed down after like an hour or so, Ah paid her a visit. Her name is Sun Burst a Lieutenant in the Special Operations division and she told me, well tried to tell me about what happened to her. I like an idiot thought she lost her mind when she started talking nonsense about monsters and infections. I thought it was her fever you see, making her mind as wobbly as jelly.” He laughed. “She actually requested to have herself locked up in one of the jail cells cause she feared she might be infected and turn at anytime. Ah didny believe her obviously but when she threatened to cut her own throat with one of the scalpels she stole off a medic, Ah granted her request.” He pointed at the window. “That’s where she is now.” “I want to talk to her.” Theran said instantly. “I want to know what she knows right now.” Sargent Buckwood nodded in agreement. “Mmmhmm so you shall but I have to say one thing.” He pointed at Teven who was leaning on the far wall with her arms crossed. “She stays in here.” “Why?” Theran asked with a frown. “Cause even though I don’t mind her being here, others do. For her safety and their own, I would be happier if she stayed out of sight.” Theran thought for a moment, and then realised the Sargent was right. “Alright, Teven do what the Sargent says.” Teven growled. “I do not take orders from Legion, no matter how kind.” She sneered. “He’s not ordering you.” Theran stated as he got to his hooves. “I am.” Teven frowned but nodded and fell silent. “Right then.” The Sargent said as he got up too and gestured to the door. “Right this way.” They followed him out the door and onto the streets and the village. The village was rather roomy, with small box shaped buildings everywhere. The sun was just starting to set behind the mountains, covering the area in cold shadows. Ponies were ushered into their homes by legion guards as they swept through the streets. “What’s that all about?” Violet asked as she watched on. “Curfew…” The Sargent answered. “Ever since the attacks I passed an order that nopony is allowed out of their homes at sun set, cause we don’t know what we’re dealing with here and it safer this way.” They were approaching a building, guarded by legion soldiers. The per in heavy barding parted for their Sargent. “Here we are.” The Sargent said as he got a key and unlocked the door. They entered, their hooves clunking off the wooden floor and creaking under their weight. Cells lined one side of the room and a lone soldier sat at a desk with her hooves up and was fast asleep. “Just give me one moment.” Sargent Buckwood said as he, casually approached the snoozing Mare. “Oh Private…?” He sang as he faced away from the desk. “WAKE UP!!!” He then shouted. He bucked the desk hard and the Private yelped in startled surprise as she fell to the floor. She scrambled to her hooves with bit of paper falling off her and when she gave off a shaky salute, one bit was stuck to her right cheek. “R-reporting for duty S-Sir.” The Mare was quite young to be in the legion in Theran’s opinion, her barding barely fit her properly. He looked at the teenager. Her coat was a cherry red, her tied up mane was dull pink and her eyes were a dark shade of purple. “Private Cherry, how many times have I told you about sleeping at your post?” Cherry seemed shocked as her lower jaw tightened in fear. “F-five Sir.” “What was that?! I’m an old bastard, I can’t hear your pussy ass from here!” He put a hoof to his ear and leaned in close to her. “Say that, again?” “FIVE SIR!!!” She yelled. “Mmmhmm and if I catch you again sleeping on the job, I’ll just cut ya ear off. That should wake you up.” “It won’t happen again Sir!” Cherry said, staring straight ahead. The Sargent nodded, happy with his work. “Right, now take us to Lieutenant Sun Bust.” He then looked at Theran and Violet who were waiting. “Come on.” They followed Cherry to the very end cell and Sargent Buckwood gestured to it. “Here she is.” Theran and Violet peered into the dimly lit cell and saw a pale gold Pegasus curled up in one of the corners of the cell. “My we go in?” Theran asked the Sargent and he nodded. “Sure. Cherry open the cell.” Cherry fumbled with some keys till she found the right one and unlocked the cell door. “Take as long as you like, come back to my office once you’re done.” The Sargent then walked off, leaving them with Cherry who gave them a shy grin. “H-hi, crazy day huh?” Theran nodded. “Yeah…crazy day.” He gestured to the cell. “May we get some privacy please?” Cherry blushed and saluted, which actually annoyed Theran, he hated getting saluted. “Yes u-um sorry I’ll leave you to it.” She scrambled off, leaving Theran and Violet to enter the cell alone. The cell was surprisingly dry and warm, probably made this way for Sun Burst since she wasn’t technically a prisoner. There was bedding, pillows, a lantern and thick fur covers, which Sun Burst was wrapped up in. She was shivering and she appeared to be sleeping but when Theran closed the cell door, the screech it made startled her awake. “AAAA GET AWAY!!!” She screamed but Violet was right there to calm her down. “Hey it’s ok, we’re not here to harm you.” Violet said reassuringly. Sun Burst’s baggy eyes were bright orange at first but to their silent surprise her eyes suddenly changed colour, from orange to a dull brown. “Who are you?” She asked as she her colour-changing gaze shifted between Theran and Violet. “What do you want? Come to say how crazy I am, OUT with it?!” “My name is Theran Razorblade.” He addressed himself first. “This is Violet and we want to talk to you about the things you saw.” Sun Burst’s eyes went from brown to amber, as she seemed to relax a bit, but was still on edge. “Why should I believe you?” She asked. “The others…they came and laughed at me, calling me a freak and a cowered.” “Oh you’ll believe us.” Theran said as he sat down in front of her. “Cause we’ve seen them too and fought them, the creatures that infect others. By the way, you’re not infected. You would have turned by now.” Sun Burst’s eyes flashed a shade of pink when she realised they were telling the truth. “You…you seen them? Fought them? And I’m not infected?” Theran nodded. “ That’s right. Me and a few others are the only survivors of an attack on a village called Splinter Bay. The infected overran the place and we barely got away with our lives.” Sun Burst looked distressed as her eyes changed to grey and she gripped her grimy golden white mane. “Oh gods I was too late, it’s spreading, oh gods, oh gods?” Violet sat beside her and gave her a reassuring hug and pat on the back while Theran held her hoof and kept her attention. “I need you to tell me all that you remember, any little detail might help me.” Sun Burst looked him in the eye as hers returned to amber. “Help you with what?” “Help me remember.” Was all Theran was going to say as he let her hoof go. Sun Burst looked to be pondering this as she swallowed hard and took and deep breath. “Ok…” She sighed. “I’ll tell you everything I remember.” ……… “I killed her…” It had been an hour and a half since Sun Burst started her story of how her squad teamed up with another Spec-Ops squad with which they descended into a mine that might as well had been the pits of hell itself. She saw her Captain turn before her very eyes and how she had to ran for her life through pitch-black tunnels. Through it all Theran and Violet listened without interrupting her once. Now she was talking about how Captain Zeara had betrayed them. “I shot her right between her eyes, no mercy, no emotion. Everything was so confusing, like there was no meaning to it all. I would have given up then and there if it weren’t for Kyle, he kept me going...” She had been crying for a while too, her grey eyes were stained with tears as she continued to tell her tail. “Even with a broken hoof he pulled me with him, he refused to let me go. We ended up in some sort of…chamber with…ponies all cut up…spread out on…makeshift tables were these…beings experimented on them.” She was wavering now but she took another deep breath. “They…they weren’t Equine, or Wolven, or Ophlidite they...they were…other worldly…demonic monsters with eyes like a devil’s.” She was starting to shake now as Violet held her close, a look of concern on her face. “Their voices, were like a gods, going right through me and into my soul.” Her eyes became wide with terror. “Then there where infected in the tunnel and they wanted me, not Kyle, ME!!!” Her breathing became heavier as she continued. “They would have ripped me apart if not for Kyle’s magic, he protected me to the very end. He took my Nova bomb as I escaped through a hole in the roof and dug my way to freedom. He set it off when I was still digging.” She sobbed but fought to contain herself. She glanced at her leg wound. “One of my turned comrades shot me as I made my escape, I put him down, blots through the heart, then through his head and then I flew blindly in any direction. I don’t remember much after that, just flying through trees, pushing through underbrush and then nothing. Last thing I remember is waking up screaming with a ton of medics trying to hold me down. That’s it…that’s how I got here.” “Thank you Sun Burst, for telling us all that. You’re very brave.” Violet said to comfort the stressed out Mare. Theran cupped his hooves together as he mulled over what he had just listened to. He thought about those beings and asked. “These beings, did they say anything you can remember?” Sun Burst’s eyes took on a white shade as she shrugged. “I…I can’t remember what they said…but I can say with confidence that this...is an act of war. These beings...I don’t know why but they’re invading us, I just know it...” “Shhh…” Violet guided Sun Burst’s head to her chest and hugged her gently. “You don’t have to keep talking now ok, just relax.” Violet gave Theran the ‘shove off’ look and he didn’t ask anymore questions. Instead he sat there and pondered. What were these beings? What are their motives and why he could remember the infected but not the beings who made them? It made little sense to him, he was hoping for a flash of memories or something, but Sun Burst’s story only raised more questions for him. Questions he will never get the chance to ask when Cherry suddenly came to the cell door. “Um…Mr Razorblade?” Theran turned and looked at the teenager and said. “That’s me. What is it?” “Uh, Sargent Buckwood wants to see you immediately, he says it’s important.” Cherry answered. Theran frowned but nodded. Violet then spoke up. “You go see what the Sargent wants, I’ll stay here with Sun Burst for a while.” Theran understood her intentions, she wanted to make sure Sun Burst was going to be ok. He nodded and left the cell. When he went outside he noticed that the weather had changed and the temperature was dropping. It had gotten really dark now do to the heavy, thick clouds above. He put the odd sight aside for the moment as he made his way back to the Sargent’s office and when he got there he knocked on the door. A soldier opened the door for him and let him inside, where Sargent Buckwood was questioning a very worn out looking pony while Teven was in the same place she was when he left. The pony was a soldier but wore the light barding of a scout and the look in his eye told Theran much right off the bat. “Ah Theran there you are.” He waved him over. “Got somepony you’ll want to listen to.” Theran was a little confused as to why the Sargent trusted him so much to let him in on military information, but he wasn’t about to argue. He took a seat by the scout and looked the soldier in the eye. “Go on sun, tell him what ya told me.” The scout looked shaken up but had a enough sense to speak in clear sentences. “Uh, well where do I start?” He leaned on forward, resting his weight on his elbows. “Me my team…we were ordered to find out what happened to Splinter Bay after that one survivor showed up…I just learn he’s dead now. We…we never made it to Splinter Bay cause of what blocked our path…” His hooves where shaking and he tapped one of his hind hooves off the wooden floor as he continued. “We were atop a hill over looking the valley, when we saw it…” He shivered, then glanced at the binoculars on the table. “What I saw…was like something out of a nightmare…the air was cold, a storm in the distance and LEGIONS OF DEAD…MARCHING THIS WAY!!!” He composed himself with a shaky breath. “We were making it back when we were ambushed by…these things…monsters that looked like ponies but were not…only I managed to escape and bring this news.” “You weren’t harmed were you?” Theran asked, narrowing his eyes at the young soldier. “No…” The soldier shook his head. “While they were distracted on my team I fled. I’m such a cowered.” “No…” Theran said as he patted the soldier on the shoulder. “You did the smart thing, you came and warned us. There’s bravery in that.” Theran leaned back in his chair and scratched his chin in thought. “Well then looks like we have a problem.” The Sargent said as he got up and stared at a map. “This is the only place for miles that bypasses through the mountains and into the main land.” He shook his head and turned to Theran. “What do you think we should do?” Theran was caught off guard when his eyes widened and stared at the Sargent. “You’re asking ME, what you should do?” Theran stood up and shook his head. “You’re asking the wrong pony, Sargent.” “Am I now?” The Sargent questioned as he leaned on his desk. “Cause corrected me if I’m wrong but YOU know way more than I do about what we’re up against and you strike me as the commanding type. Ever since you first showed up here you’ve had this aura of authority about you, like you know what you’re doing, and the way you look at my troops…it’s like you understand them as you gazed into each of their eyes with a look I recognise.” He looked Theran straight in the eye and did not waver. “So unless I’m wrong, you’re my best bet of having a chance to fight these monsters. And besides we’re alone out here, cut off from the main Legion, so I need all the help I can get.” Theran looked at the souls in the room around him. The soldier by the door gave him a nod of trust and the scout also nodded. He then looked at Teven who still hand her arms crossed, and she also gave Theran the same trusting nod. This was a sense of nostalgia for Theran. Never did he think he would ever again be in a position were others looked to him for guidance and put their fates in his hooves. He thought about what Haze and Violet would say and then made up his mind. “Ok, I’ll make no promises that we’ll all live through this…” He said to all in the room. “But if you trust me this much a complete stranger, I’ll do all I can to make sure that trust wasn’t misplaced.” Sargent Buckwood looked delighted to hear this as he visibly relaxed. “Alight where do we begin?” Theran looked at the map and a plan stared to form in his head. “I’m starting to see what we should do. Sargent do you have anywhere in this village that we could use as a briefing room?” “Yes we do.” The Sargent confirmed. “Good.” Theran stated as he tore the map off the wall. “Gather as many soldiers as you can, and let’s break is down.” (Violet) Violet left the jail half an hour later. She had done what she could for Sunny as she had learned to call her and hoped it was enough. She then took in the scene before her and noticed something odd. Where were all the soldiers she had seen earlier? The streets were almost completely empty save for a pony in heavy grey barding, who approached her. “Ma’am I have orders to take you to the village hall.” This took violet aback. Was she in trouble? By the way the soldier seemed relaxed put some ease on Violet’s mind but she was still confused. “What for?” She asked him. “There’s a briefing going on and it was requested that you be there for it.” Was all the soldier said. “Um…ok?” Violet said and the soldier turned swiftly, escorting her to the village hall. She followed him till they reached a large building. The building was tower like with a wide square bottom and a large set of double doors. The soldier opened one of the doors for her and let her inside. The interior was massive, round and had an upper floor with balconies overlooking the main room. The main room was packed with chairs and seated in those chairs were tons of legion soldiers, all facing a stage were Theran and Sargent Buckwood stood addressing the troops. Violet couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched Theran grasp the soldier’s full attention as he laid down what looked like a battle plane. Violet moved in closer and noticed Teven, Haze and Sapphire were here as well, listening to Theran’s speech. It was almost mesmerising watching him, how he had full control, talking as if he had done this many times and knowing him, she knew he had. “We have to keep this area at all costs!” Theran said as he pointed with some chock at a drawing of the village. There were many details on the drawing that Violet didn’t understand but as Theran explained it became clearer. He was pointing at what she guessed was the front gate. “If we loose this spot it’s all over and the infected will overrun the village and rundown all those who will be fleeing through the mountains. Holding the gate is the key to everypony’s survival. Now is there any questions?” Violet watched as nopony stuck their hoof up, staying silent. But then one soldier did and he stood. “Hey I have a question! Why should we listen to you?! You’re not even Legion, you’re an outsider and worst of all a, Wolfkin!” Theran gave the young Stallion one of those looks Violet knew all too well. The look of pure certainty. “You want to know why you should listen to me? I’ve seen things that none of you in this room can imagine. You think cause you’re a soldier you know it all? You couldn’t be anymore wrong. What’s out there passed that forest, heading in this direction won’t give a fuck what you think. They will tear through this place without pity or mercy cause you let petty hatred cloud your judgement.” He looked at them all now. “There is no room for doubt now, we either hold that wall or all of us die, your choice.” The soldier looked around at his fellow comrades and none of them paid him any heed as they kept their attention on Theran. After a moment or two the soldier lowered his head in defeat and sat back down. “Right!” Sargent Buckwood suddenly yelled and stood tall by Theran. “We all know the plan so let’s get to it!” As one all the soldiers stood and saluted as one heart, one mind and then flied out of the hall to preform their tasks. As the troops left, all that was left was Haze, Sapphire, Teven and Theran. She first greeted Haze who was thrilled to see her. They embraced in a loving hug and then Violet looked at her face. Haze looked so tired but her eyes where as strong as ever. “You ok sweetie?” Violet asked Haze, concern heavy in her tone. Haze looked away for a moment but then nodded. “Yeah, I know what’s coming and I’m ready to face it this time.” Sapphire stepped closer and placed a hoof on Haze’s shoulder. “We, are ready to face this, together.” “Bring them on!” Teven growled with anticipation in her voice as she cracked her knuckles. “I am tired of running. It is time to fight back with teeth and claw.” Violet then looked at Theran and he was by the drawing, staring at it intently. She climbed onto the stage and stood next to him. “Will this be enough Vi?” Theran suddenly asked her as he turned to gaze into her eyes. “Will we be able to hold them back?” Violet put a hoof on his cheek, closed her eyes and kissed him. It lasted only a few seconds but she enjoyed every ounce of it. When they pulled apart they gazed into each other’s eyes again as she said. “Do you believe we can?” Theran looked at the map again and frowned slightly. “I don’t know, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.” He looked back at her, this time with worry in his eyes. “I don’t want to loose you, any of you…” He looked at the rest of the group. “I don’t know if I can do this. I…I don’t know if I…” Violet made him look at her and a sense of pride filled her chest as she said. “We are a family Theran, and no matter what happens, we will go through this together.” She hugged him tight and he hugged her back with all his heart. “I have positions…tasks for all of you.” He pulled away from Violet and waved the rest to come on the stage. He pointed at the map. “Teven will be up with me at the wall, Haze and Sapphire will be here in the tower aiding the archers and you Violet…” He looked at her. “You will be helping with a evacuation of the villagers at the back of the village here.” He brought them all close for a huddle. “I love you all and we are gunna get through this…” He looked them all in the eye. “Together.” Violet smiled and nodded. “Together.” Violet repeated. A cough sounded behind them and the all looked to see Sargent Buckwood standing with other soldiers behind him, all carrying equipment. “The equipment you requested for your group.” They moved and brought different equipment for each. Haze and Sapphire were given chain woven leather barding, and Sapphire was given her very own bow with a quiver and all. Teven was given a massive Wolven crossbow with a full set of gigantic bolts. The thing was the size of a pony and had a huge hand crank to pull back the firing string. “Where the hell did they get that?” Violet asked. Teven grinned a full set of razor sharp teeth, happy with her new toy. “Who cares, it is a thing of beauty.” Teven stated as she tested the hand crank. “Perfect.” She sighed. And for Violet, a soldier gave her a full set of heavy plate barding, customised for bipedal use. While Haze and Sapphire could strap on their kit with little effort, Violet had to strip off her old armour and had to have Theran and another soldier to strap it on for her. Each plate slid into place perfectly and by the time they were done, she was unrecognisable. No vital spot was left uncovered and her helmet covered her entire head. She peered through the eye slit at Theran and he too had strapped his helmet on. “I have to go now Vi.” “I’ll see you soon.” Violet said to him, her voice hollow and metallic under the helmet. Theran looked at her through his scared and dented helmet and nodded. “See you soon.” He tapped her on the helmet playfully, then jumped down from the stage and headed for the doors. Leaving Violet to ponder, looking at the map and dreading the coming storm. (Theran Razorblade) Theran walked with long strides toward the gate, legion soldiers all rushing for their positions. Night had fallen on the village and Theran could sense the beginning of a snowstorm heading this way. As he approached the gate he saw Sargent Buckwood, helmet in hoof, overseeing and bunch of Magi and Pegasus, lifting a massive cannon. “What the hell?” Theran stopped beside the Sargent. “How did you…?” “This here my friend is 66 tons of H.E spitting Devin intervention!” He faced Theran with a cocky grin on his face. “If Celestia is love, then you can call me Princess Cadence!” He laughed hard and strapped on his helmet. “With this god of a weapon we are gunna blow their mushroom asses so high, they can only pry that they go high enough to reach heaven!” “Amen to that.” Theran joked as he and the Sargent climbed the stairs u to the top of the wall and took up their posts. As the cannons clunked into place, silence fell on the wall. There were two rows of archers that lined the whole wall and all stood ready and waiting. There were some heavy steps on the stairs and Theran turned to see Teven come up and passed the rows of soldiers to stand next to Theran and Sargent Buckwood. Theran looked up at her and noticed she had also got a new helmet, an old battered Wolven helm with a razor sharp fin on the dome. Her red eyes glowed through the slits and her hot breath filled the cold air with steam. “You ready for this Teven?” Theran asked her. Teven looked down at him for a moment, then back out on the road that was engulfed in blackness. “El’rûn Avana.” She growled in her gruff voice and puffed up her chest. “El…what now?” Sargent Buckwood asked as he looked at Teven. “It’s an old Wolven saying.” Theran said as he saw the edge of the blizzard about to hit. “It means. Let the storm come.” And come it did as the blew wind in and what little light remained, was now engulfed in blackness. (Stat System) Theran Razorblade: Strength: 90 Endurance: 125 Intelligence: 82 Agility: 108 Perks: (Blood Rage)(Combat Expert)(Quick healer) (Keen senses)(Sneaker)(Strong back)(Magic expert) (Cheese lover)(Heavy fit)(Quick reflexes)(Immortal) (Pack Leader)(Lightning Rod) Violet: Strength: 96 Endurance: 130 Intelligence: 77 Agility: 85 Perks: (Survivor)(Swordsmen)(Strong back)(Strong Stomach) (Head strong)(Stallion killer)(Swift knife)(Quick reflexes) (Battle Rage) (Strong willed) (Unbreakable bond)(Head Hunter) Summer Haze: Strength: 36 Endurance: 60 Intelligence: 82 Agility: 36 Perks: (Shape shifter)(Love sense)(Natural healer)(Book Junky) (Cookie monster)(Survival instincts)(Heavy sleeper)(Magic deflect) (Quick reflexes)(Cannon ball kick) (Love syphon)(Adrenalin Rush) Sapphire: Strength: 39 Endurance: 50 Intelligence: 74 Agility: 40 Perks: (Hot head)(Heavy hoofed)(Light weight)(Sneaker)(Rebel at heart) (Two heads)(Fast Flier) (Lover’s strength)(Sharp Eye) Teven: Strength: 160 Endurance: 210 Intelligence: 60 Agility: 70 Perks: (Battle Born)(Blood Rage)(Keen Senses)(Berserker) (Duel Wielder)(Savage Blow)(Pain Lover)(Charger)(Deviant) (Exile)(Paws or Death)(Loyal Servant)