Foxtaur Four
"Unngh... Who ordered the anvil with wings?" Phoenix grumbled, bracing his skull as Eagle Eye leaned in with a healing salve, dabbing it against his bruised cranium. The mustached unicorn winced. "Easy there, eh, Princess?"
Eagle Eye took a deep, fuming breath. "I am being easy on you, ya sissy."
"Some talk," Phoenix whimpered, glaring across the forest clearing. "She didn't even get to lay on hoof on you, ya lucky sap."
"True." Zenith marched past the two, stretching the kinks in his neck and shoulders. He flung an errant smirk in their direction. "But Eagle did get her good with the shield."
"Heh..." Eagle Eye glanced up, brightening. "I did, didn't I?" He blinked, then winced upon feeling a dagger-sharp glare from his peripheral vision. He returned to his treating of Phoenix.
Rainbow Dash hovered several feet away besides Crimson, who was flexing the muscles in his aching jaw.
"So, like, you weren't here to rob, kill, and mutilate my friends?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I would certainly think that we'd be past that by now," Crimson muttered. He raised his hefty hammer and sheathed it along the back of his vest. "We simply didn't know what your companions were doing here. So we approached from up high until we could ascertain whether or not they were a threat."
"So, like, why were you crowding around them and stuff?" Rainbow Dash asked, still glaring.
"They did no such thing!" Belle exclaimed with a frown. She trotted over and rested a hoof on Crimson's shoulder. "I am so sorry, sir, that you were beaten so senselessly."
"Hey! Don't apologize!" Rainbow Dash barked. "You certainly seemed freaked out at the time! This side of the country is wicked scary! I didn't know what to expect when I saw these creeps bearing down on you!"
"We weren't freaked out!" Belle retorted.
"Ahem." Pilate cleared his throat and nervously smiled. "On the contrary, darling. I recall being... physically shaken upon their arrival."
"You were just wanting to protect me, Pilate."
"And I wasn't?!" Rainbow's voice cracked.
Belle sighed and closed her eyes. "I didn't mean to suggest that—"
"And who's to know that we're still safe?" Rainbow Dash frowned and hovered closer to Crimson, squinting in his face. "How do I know that you and your bosom buddies aren't plotting to slit our throats in our sleep now that you know that we're in this forest?"
"I rightly don't blame you for being suspicious," Crimson said. "If you've been exposed to Ledomaritan forces as much as we've been—"
"And, for real! Why the lack of berets! That... That's just confusing!" Rainbow Dash shrugged her forearms as she scoffed, "Are you soldiers or aren't you!"
"If life was as simple and black and white as that, then my comrades and I wouldn't be on the run to begin with," Crimson said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Just why did you go AWOL?" Pilate asked, his ears twitching towards the muscular stallion. "Typically, such desertion is punishable by death."
Crimson took a deep breath. He turned and gazed back at the other three soldiers.
Zenith paced about, studying the fresh dents in his polearm. Phoenix winced as the last square inches of his bruise were tended to. Eagle Eye glanced over, shifting pensively. As soon as he made eye contact with Crimson, he pretended to look away.
Crimson exhaled heavily. He swung his head towards the group and muttered, "For years, we've done what the Council of Ledo told us to do. We slew Xonans, captured hills, and burnt down forts. Then, one day, we were asked to push the front full force into Xonan territory. There were over five hundred other soldiers in our group. We were far from the nearest base and low on resources. During our march, we stumbled upon a Xonan village beyond enemy lines. The storehouses there were full of rations, but there was one problem: dozens of unarmed citizens stood in the way."
Belle stared, her mouth agape. She gulped and murmured, "You... you didn't..."
Crimson shook his head. "No. But four hundred and eighty-eight Ledomaritans did." He sighed and sat back, stretching his leg muscles. "My company and I saved a hoofful of citizens while we split from the main group, but there was very little more that we could do. We had directly defied the same orders followed by an entire army. We had decided to spare lives, and for that reason, we've been hunted, we've been slaughtered, and we are now wanted stallions. Eight soldiers have died under my command. I still have three to look after, and by my honor, I shall get them home."
Rainbow Dash fumed. She folded her arms and glanced away. "Yeah, well, we haven't exactly had it easy with Ledomare either. We just came from a place where—"
"Quite frankly, I don't care!" Crimson said, his brow furrowed. "It is of no concern of me where you're from or what crimes the Confederacy perceives you as having committed. And furthermore, I would not bother asking you in the first place to tell us."
"Then..." Pilate leaned his head curiously to the side. "Why did you tell us why you're on the run?"
"Because if that's what it takes for you to trust us, then so be it. My stallions and I are deserters; we deserve to be hanged. If that's our punishment for refusing to commit atrocities in the name of dishonorable bloodlust, then so be it, but I'll be damned if I make things easy for the ponies who are chasing us. And I'm not about to make things any easier for those who want you three dead as well. If you're enemies of Ledomare, then that probably means that you're good of heart, and you deserve a better life than being on the run."
"We're..." Belle bit her lip. "We're not sure there's anything you can do for us."
Crimson turned and pointed towards Pilate. "His mana device still needs to be freed of the leyline entanglement. Between the four of us and our horns, I'm quite certain we can sever that which binds you to your pursuers."
"That..." Pilate nodded with a gentle smile. "That would be greatly appreciated, sir."
"All I can promise to do is try. In the end, it will benefit all of us as a whole to cut the mana trail loose."
"Where do we begin?" Pilate asked.
"If you would kindly follow me," Crimson said, turning and marching east of the clearing.
Belle and Pilate followed. For a moment, however, Belle lingered. She stared up at Rainbow Dash.
The pegasus eventually turned to blink down at her. "What?!"
"Rainbow, I know that you care very deeply about Pilate and me, more than you know..."
"Yeah, and?!"
Belle sighed long and hard, but she punctuated it with a soft smile. "Just... as you get more acquainted with your heart, don't lose track of your head. After all, it's possible to think with them both and not hurt every single pony that so much as breathes on us."
"Yeah, well..." Rainbow Dash fidgeted in midair. Her gaze lingered on a lavender shape to the edge of the clearing. "I'm working on it. I promise."
"For what it's worth, thanks."
"Thanks?!"
"For being so thoughtful and brave—"
"Pfft! Don't you mean stupid?"
"I only meant to say—"
Rainbow waved her on. "Yeah yeah. Go and help Pilate with his unicorn mind delve or whatever. I'll... uh... I'll be right behind you."
Belle eventually nodded, trotting briskly off to join Crimson and her beloved.
Slowly, with icy grace, Rainbow Dash glided towards the other three unicorns. Once she had their attention, she glared liquidly at them and slurred, "I have my eyes on you, dudes. Don't try any funny stuff."
"Believe me..." Phoenix moaned. "If I tried laughing right now, I'd throw up."
"Not while you're facing me," Eagle Eye said.
"Don't tempt me."
"Say, I know you totally owned our flanks and all, but those were some wicked moves you showed earlier!" Zenith stood below Rainbow Dash, glancing up with a smirk. "I've fought Xonans, war manticores, and saboteurs. I thought I had clashed blades with the best of them, but you and your wings? Whew! You pulled off some stunts on us I've only dreamed of!" He leaned on his polearm and squinted up at her. "Where does a mare like you learn to kick butt like that?"
"Mmmmm... meh..." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Winter Wrap Up." She flew off to join her friends.
Zenith blinked into the depths of Foxtaur. "Winter Wrap Up..." He made a face. "Doesn't sound like any sort of martial arts I'm aware of."
"She must have learned it at Eagle Eye's ballet school," Phoenix muttered.
"Yeah, she must have—Hey!" Eagle Eye pouted.
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hey an update, it seems someone has his eye on RD.
That will never end well for Zenith
Huh, learn to kick some clouds and suddenly you'll become the best fighter the far east has ever seen. =P
This made me think of Tae Kwan Leap (boot to the head).
And so, the Fellowship of The Spark set off on their perilous journey...
2026925
The far east has no weather control or experience dealing with an organic, aerial opponent that is a master of stunts. They are overwhelmed because they have no concept of how to defend such a furious flurry attack.
Rainbow feels this bond, this connection, she doesn't want to lose (again) what she has gained back. Mix that with her dedication to loyalty and aforementioned combat skill and you end up with the sort of act first, questions later approach she takes. There is wisdom in what Belle has to say, and resolution in Rainbow's response.
If I recall correctly, the now named Foxtaur Four have to go south, but the Steel Wing is still on course to intercept the group (though will have some more difficulty if the leylines are untangled as planned). Perhaps it is time to consider a daring take-over of an airship. A risky endeavor, to be sure, but one that may pay off rather well in that it stalls the enforcers, armors and arms the group, and has the potential to provide valuable information that can get the group out of Ledo. That, and I also have a great, noble name in mind for it. On the flip side, the risk is unfathomable, especially in light of the cover provided by the forest. A direct confrontation would probably not end well.
I'm really loving my two characters already.
2026997
Are you... suggesting boarding action against an entire Ledomaritan warship? By seven ponies? Disregarding how incredibly difficult that would be (as Dash seems to be invincible), what about all the tracking devices and such that would be all over it? Ledo wouldn't let one of their warships get hijacked without having some way of knowing where it is.
If I were them, I'd lead the Steel Wing towards the Xonans. Even a dreadnought like that can't stand up against the entire Xonan army without support. They'd be forced to retreat or, knowing Shell as we do, fight until they're overwhelmed. That would be a satisfying end to him. Killed by the enemy he fought so long to defeat, led there by the weapon he wanted to use against them.
Oh dear, this is how it begins.
Vulcan mind meld is the phrase you're searching for.
Against The World - Accept
Silent Ponyville reference?
Twenty push-ups, ):(. It was a good chapter. Knock 'em out!
2027053
The group is already headed towards Xona, it may very well happen. All I'm saying is that grabbing an airship might prove useful for the journey. In some version of events the ship might be the bounty hunters' who get in over their head, or the armada catches up to the group and there is no choice but to fight. Whatever happens in time, though, traversing the terrain would be easier through the air. Heh, it is rather indulgent to think along those lines, but I suppose that's what happens when confronted with this much awesome.
Eagle Eye is the butt-monkey of the group.
Wait. . .
Now that OASIS is going to be fixed, it looks like Josho is going to become useless soon. I wonder what Shell is going to do with him when he's not acting like a compass anymore.
This could get interesting. It would be hilarious if the bounty hunter teamed up with Shell, and they ended up hitting it off. Just saying...
2027092 I agree with you that going on land would be easier, to an extent. When was the last time RD got one of her dizzy spells, though? One could come very soon...
2027092
Well yeah, but all logical reasons aside, you know....airships.
I mean, that should be a good enough reason all on its own.
I don't think that they're going to get that leyline untangled that easily...
Josho is so screwed.
2027238 I suspect he's going to become well-acquainted with the meaning of "defenestrate".
Dammit, Eagle Eye, stop being so adorable.
I'm confidently heterosexual , and intend to remain that way.
Yeah, I love you all, too. Jerks.
On the plus side, we've got a nice party going on here! One of them will die.
Just so you know.
2005316
Okay, I've gone through all the xkcd archives, and the amount of times Beret Guy appears is surprising. You said three or four, I said Six-ish, but It's actually thirty-seven. Which is more than three percent, but you're right, not nearly enough.
Oh, and in case you're interested, here's the list.
http://xkcd.com/167/, http://www.xkcd.com/209/, http://www.xkcd.com/248/, http://www.xkcd.com/291/, http://www.xkcd.com/328/
http://www.xkcd.com/434/, http://www.xkcd.com/442/, http://www.xkcd.com/452/, http://www.xkcd.com/474/, http://www.xkcd.com/478/, http://www.xkcd.com/502/, http://www.xkcd.com/509/, http://www.xkcd.com/517/, http://www.xkcd.com/559/, http://www.xkcd.com/614/, http://www.xkcd.com/671/, http://www.xkcd.com/677/, http://www.xkcd.com/712/, http://www.xkcd.com/769/, http://www.xkcd.com/785/, http://www.xkcd.com/786/, http://www.xkcd.com/804/, http://www.xkcd.com/811/, http://www.xkcd.com/914/, http://www.xkcd.com/1000/ - He’s there somewhere, http://www.xkcd.com/1021/, http://www.xkcd.com/1028/, http://www.xkcd.com/1030/, http://www.xkcd.com/1032/, http://www.xkcd.com/1088/, http://www.xkcd.com/1099/, http://www.xkcd.com/1110/ -He’s there somewhere, http://www.xkcd.com/1115/, http://www.xkcd.com/1117/, http://www.xkcd.com/1133/ - Doesn’t feature him, but was [probably] written by him. http://www.xkcd.com/1135/, http://www.xkcd.com/1158/
You're welcome.
This is Australia...
I totally get the similarities of lord of the rings and this...
But rainbow dash is so much more epic than frodo.
Sooooo much more epic...
And I think it's just about time that she showed it by doing a sonic rainboom!!!!!!!
Boy, it's almost as if loyalty is a theme in this story or something.
Also, this basically guarantees that one of them is going to a) die or b) be captured necessitating a ridiculously epic rescue mission.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get a more concrete background for Crimson's group. That's always nice. We see Beele here talk to Dash about her being impulsive with Crimson's group, which again reminds us of their friendship. I'm still waiting to see where Imploding is really going with the runaways...These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Aaaaaah I feel so sorry for Eagle Eye. He honestly seems like such a nice guy, but he's so out of place.
I wonder how far together this bunch will go. Dash and co needs to go east, and EE and co needs to go south, so there's a slight clash...
I dunno, something's gonna happen eventually, so we'll just have to see what happens.
Onwards!
Josho's in for a rude awakening, although he might be glad to skip out on this perilous adventure and go back home to drink and spew humourous profanity at anyone who looks at him funny. If he's allowed to go back home, that is. Hopefully the twisty leyline thing can be sorted out properly, and doesn't mess Pilate up somehow, either. And damn, who knew Winter Wrap Up could be so inspiring? Does Dash hum the theme song to it while she's kicking flank, I wonder?
It seems like Rainbow Dash is becoming even more brash and hot-headed throughout the story... I'm guessing either the chaos is slowly starting to affect her, or she's just being protective because she doesn't want any more friends to get hurt after the pain of losing the rest of the mane6.
Woohoo! I have the strangest feeling that this group is going to join Dash on her quest...
And that one is going to die. 
4140670
All of them are going to die.
#justsaying
4305371
Fantastic. It's like Lord of the Rings, except with more dying.
hm... things are going quite well it seems
STAY HERE DASHIE
I know that's a little too far fetched, but still... Bioshock reference?
5962709 that would be great. Bioshock was brilliant
"Where does a mare like you learn to kick butt like that?"
"Mmmmm... meh..." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Winter Wrap Up." She flew off to join her friends.
Secretly training the citizens of Equestria?
Celestia... you wise bastard.
So the direct link to josho is about to be severed, but will it be too late?
Welp, that tells us a few more things about Ledomare, what their commanders are willing to order and the orders their soldiers are willing to follow.
EE gets nervous a lot around Crimson. Perhaps he might have a little crush?
6346674
You're comment made me think of this and I just couldn't stop laughing. Like seriously I laughed for way too long, I blame the fact that its 4 am.
Anybody else finindg the irony in Belle appologizing to a team of mercenaries- EXPERT mercenaries- fore being beaten sensless?
Rainbow Dash comes to her senses. Wonderful!
Also, Crimson talks like a military leader, and I like that, too.
I think it would've been neat if they DID kill the civilians and then afterword were like, "naur, we can't live like this", just so they'd be a little less 'clean', y'knaw'mean
It’s giving best friend squad vibes 🤣 the only thing left is for Dash to start screaming “FOR THE HONOR OF GREYSKULL”