Commander Hurricane sends seven anemic agents on a mission to stop the cold weather in the City of Clouds. Their location is a forest of death that consumes anyone who steps in it. Can the agents escape or will they all die?
After a failed mission that resulted in seven anemic agents Commander Hurricane plots out a way to destroy the agents in a forest that has taken the lives of many so far. Of the seven anemic agents, Overcast, knows Hurricane's secret plan. The crew will remember what Hurricane wants to keep secret. When they reach the forest, they find out there is no exit, and something dark haunts the forest that has taken so many lives. Will the agents escape or will they succumb to the fate of their previous predecessors.
Cold, unimaginable cold, the cold that can slow blood flow and leave you frostbitten until death approaches. The cold that distracts you with thoughts of warmth and fire. What is it that warms us? Is it a campfire, the sun perhaps? Maybe a workout or a blush after being embarrassed. But this cannot stop it. Everything will freeze, nothing will escape its path. For it feeds on something that is so hot, but so cold… fear.
The weather has been relentless lately, and I don’t believe it will stop anytime soon. Ever since the Unicorns asked for more food, things have been going haywire. All I know is that Commander Hurricane declined the increase in shipments going to the Unicorns. There are also more borders set up to prevent any illegal immigrants looking to steal food. It may seem weird to take security measures against ponies with obvious horns and wingless bodies, but no one knows what powers they have. If Hurricane continues this, we may start a war. Overcast
Ponies need food, and those Earth ponies are hogging all the grub. Not to mention the Unicorns asking for extra so they can get full each meal. Us Pegasi hardly get enough food because the other two races think we are the ones causing the cold weather. To be honest, we really don’t know what’s going on. I just hope we can get food for our families and loved ones. Phoenix
A normal day in the Pegasi Fortress; freezing, bland. Not a single brightly lit cloud, just gray and depressing. It makes us reminisce the good ol' days of sunshine and rainbows. Many professors argue that the only cause of this weather is the Unicornia. A professor, Wind Turret, explains a different theory however. He explains how everything was set in a meticulous manner, such as the Unicorns doing a test spell and the pegasi not being able to reciprocate it. How our cloud maneuvering only made the effects worst. He backs his theory with another theory-chaos theory.
Though, however, others have more vague and bleak arguments. One pointing out that the only way this freezing climate has started is because of the Unicorns freaky magic that is bent on destroying the Pegasus race. Wind Turret still debates those professors, but never realizing that he too was wrong.
The more common perceptions of the Pegasi citizens were that both the Earth and Unicorn ponies are to blame. Such as the Earth ponies and the Unicorns are in alliance; working together to destroy the Pegasi. Rumor spreads like a tick and the whole town agrees with this. Commander Hurricane does little to placate these rumors, nor gives a solid explanation to the mystery of the cold. He worries about bigger things; spears and swords.
More and more pegasi are ignoring the crux of the mystery, they continue to hate the other races for arbitrary reasons. It is only a matter of time before it overwhelms them, blindly turning them into a war.
Stormcaster was trotting toward the small and utilitarian base. The base was usually referred to as the “War Room” seeing how all the tension is in there. You could feel the sweat protruding from officers as they spoke to Hurricane.
He reached the base, the base was surrounded by four pillars that symbolized the culture and history of the pegasi. At first there was Pegasi, but then one pegasus decided to mate with the evil and obscene unicorns. The pegasi god of death, Hades, cursed the pegasi race to starvation and death, but two pegasus survived and were purified. Many of the pegasi wonder if the curse has returned.
Storm walked toward the base. It was just a normal base with a few extra guards and flags waving around. As Storm always did when he went to the base, he touched one of the pillars. Almost an ancient feel to them, he thought every time.
He brushed off all of the snow on his coat as he trotted into the headquarters. The inside was only about twenty degrees warmer than outside, but it was better than nothing. Guards were placed on each side of a door with a menacing expression. The guard ponies were trained more fiercely than the army, Hurricane wanted to feel secure at every possible moment.
Storm trotted over to the receptionist.
“Hey Jan,” Storm said. “ I’m Stormcaster, here for the meeting.”
She flipped through some clipboards and papers. “Ah, here we are, Mr.Storm, Commander Hurricane would like to see you right away,” She said as she began to escort Storm to the war room.
Storm felt some trepidation toward the meeting with Commander Hurricane. He is a brave warrior and a great leader, but he can lose his temper easily. If you don’t agree with the Commander, prepare your ears for loud shouting.
As she opened the door Storm first noticed the smell of musk and sweat. The air felt heavier and the tension was evident. The second thing he noticed was that he wasn’t alone. There were six ponies sitting at the large elliptical table with strangely familiar faces. They reminded him of the dreams he’s had for a few weeks now. Sitting at the front of the table was Commander Hurricane with an emotionless face.
“So glad you could come, but you’re on time,” Hurricane said.
Storm felt confused, being on time is a good thing right? “Uhm sir, being on time is a good thing right?”
“Were you not trained to be prepared? Always be earlier than the enemy expects.”
He didn’t see how that applied to this situation, but it’s best not to question Hurricane’s motives.
“So…” Storm said.
“Please take a seat Storm you’ll want to be relaxed for this,” Hurricane said.
Storm sat at a cold metal chair.
“As the rest of you know, we have a state of emergency. The forest, the lives lost in that damned forest, I want to know what happened.” He sighed, “Heres the info you need Storm.”
Hurricane passed Storm a manilla folder filled with details of a large, mysterious forest. Storm read over most of it, skipping the daunting fatalities.
Storm thought, I really hope he isn’t sending me here.
“Let us discuss shall we?” Hurricane said.
“Hmm,” a mare from across the table said, “What I find odd about this forest, from the description, is that there is no way it should be there. It’s been in the same dead condition for a year and it just doesn’t decay?”
Storm studied the familiar white and polka dotted mare. She seemed to look like the pretty, but dumb type, but sounded intelligent. Guess you can’t judge a book by the cover.
“I’ve asked professors the same thing, they have no clue about this either. I’m sorry Snowcone, just can’t answer that,” Hurricane said.
Snowcone nodded.
“My colleagues aren’t the best of intellects,” A short and weak stallion said, “It’s seems perfectly obvious why this forest remains alive. The Unicorns must find some value in this forest. But this doesn’t rule out the green hooves of the Earth’s.”
“Even so, Wind Turret, where does that leave the fatalities? I’m positive our soldiers could have made it out of that forest alive, they are trained for harsh conditions and combat against Unicorns and Earth ponies,” Hurricane said.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Wind, said.
“Next question,” Hurricane said.
“This just doesn’t make any sense!” A stocky and fiery red mare said.
“How so?”
“Our soldiers are trained rigorously in the corp, I train them and know all of their names, and I know for a fact that none of those soldiers could die to some measly weather or Unicorns.”
“Phoenix, I understand where you are coming from, but these things happen, just look at operation MAGE,” Hurricane said plainly.
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Phoenix Flower said dismissively.
“You mean the fact that we stole Unicorn magic books and were supposedly able to anticipate all of their magic attacks only to find out that they have a plethora of other spells.”
“Sheesh, getting a little hot in here,” A cocky stallion in front of Storm said. “My turn, how in Davy Jones's locker is it possible that they were stuck in the forest?”
“We don’t know Hawkeye,” Hurricane said.
“Well thats vague.”
Commander Hurricane shrugged his shoulders.
“Come on, was it an illusion spell?” Hawkeye said.
Stormcaster and Wind Turret’s ears perked up. An illusion spell, Storm thought, the highly controversial conspiracy that unicorns have the power to put anything under an illusion. It was a scary thought.
“Impossible,” Wind Turret said.
“Just, ugh,” Hurricane rubbed a hoof over his face. “Next question.”
A ghostly stallion spoke up and said the one question everypony was afraid to ask, “Why are we here?”
Hurricane sat quietly for a few seconds.
“It’s really quite obvious Specter. I want you stallions and mares to go in that forest.”
“Have you lost your damn mind!” Phoenix Flower said, banging the table.
Commander Hurricane stared at Phoenix with cold and serious dead eyes. Phoenix sat down immediately.
“I’m afraid that there is no other choice, I have a theory, this forest holds the key to solving the mystery of this cold climate.”
“Those two subjects are irreconcilable,” Wind Turret said briefly.
“It is possible, as you know in the folder, the forest holds the coldest temperatures,” Hurricane said. “The forest could hold some magical object that needs to be destroyed or something. You could be the heroes who stopped the cold.”
“This mission seems expendable,” Hawkeye said.
“Well excuse me for trying to save my people from starvation and freezing.”
“Let’s just get this mission over with huh guys?” Storm said. “I have a family, maybe you guys have a family, this mission is inevitable, so the sooner we finish the faster we are back home.”
“Thats the spirit Stormcaster,” Hurricane said.
The others groaned.
Hurricane smiled, “Good, you’ll be briefed and supplied and ready for take off tomorrow. If there is no other questions, the meeting will now be adjourned-”
“We’ll all die,” A shadowy figure in the corner of the room said.
“We’ll what now?” Hawkeye said.
“We’ll all die,” The shadowy pegasus kept repeating.
“Will someone shut him up?” Specter said.
Hurricane gave a fake cough, “Overcast, you seem parched, may I get you a glass of water?”
Overcast immediately stopped his chant and cowered in his seat.
“The meeting is now adjourned.”
After the meeting, Storm trotted home at a reasonably fast pace to get out of the cold weather. He couldn’t get the mission out of his head, something felt missing. The details were so vague. Not to mention the squad of pegasi who went into this forest earlier. Could this forest really be the source of this weather? He was still thinking over all of the outcomes and strategies in his head as he walked in his house. Storm felt uneasy as he told his wife, Wing Torpedo, that he would be gone for some time.
“You’re going to what?!” Wing said nearly screaming.
“Look Wing,” Storm put a hoof on her shoulder, “I’ll be back before you even know it. it’s just another easy mission.”
“Care to share this mission?” She scolded.
“You know I can’t give you that information. We’ve been over this before.”
She still stared at me skeptically in disbelief.
“Just think of us, your son, we could starve before you get back.”
Wing has a point, this op could be anywhere from a few days to a month. Storm couldn’t tell her this though, she would only worry more.
“I’ll send extra rations to our address. It’ll be alright, I promise you.” He gave her a nuzzle for encouragement.
“Ok, I trust you,” She said as she gave into the affection.
A young filly, Blizzard Stone, ran up to Storm and wing and gave a warm hug. “Hey dad, can we practice with our swords?” He said as he smiled.
Some parents may criticize me for teaching Blizzard how to use weapons as the age of eight, but times are tough, you never know when a skill will come in handy, Storm thought.
“Hmm,” Storm put a hoof to his chin in contemplation. “How about this!” He grabbed Blizzard and pinned him to the floor. They began to wrestle in between saying silly insults.
“No fair, you caught me by surprise,” Blizzard said.
“Always do something the enemy doesn’t expect, or element of surprise, or something like that.”
“But how does that go with this situation?”
Sometimes I believe Blizzard is just like me, only mentally, Storm thought. He has an icy blue coat, hence his name.
“Never change Blizz, never change.”
The next morning Stormcaster packed his bags and was getting ready to meet at the rendezvous.
“Alright Blizz, you’ll be the stallion of the house.”
“I feel safer already,” Wing said.
Blizzard shuffled his hooves. “When will you be back?”
Storm honestly didn’t know when he would be back, he assumed a week at best, but this is not the ordinary mission he partakes in. “I’ll be back in a few days, don’t worry.”
The family gathered together and gave loving, warm hugs to each other before they said their goodbyes.
Storm lifted his scarf to his muzzle as the howling winds grew stronger and trotted over to the drop off. The team is going to meet outside of the walls of the cloud fortress. There they will fly down toward the Earth and walk to the forest.
As I walked out of the city limits, I felt poignant. This mission wasn’t just taking me to a mysterious forest, but it’s also taking me away from my home. I’ve grown up inside the Pegasi City all of my life. It’s the place where I first experienced flight on a warm day with a rainbow looming above the skies. Those were the days, now it’s just cold and dark.
I saw four of the five crew ahead of me sitting and chatting. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, besides Overcast who leaned against a cloud far from the others.
“Hello comrades,” Storm said jokingly.
“Who are you again?” Snowcone said.
“I’m Stormcaster, you can find me in the op details.”
“Oh yeah, you were the boring guy,” Hawkeye said with a grin.
“I feel like I’ve seen you before, actually all of you before.” Snowcone said skeptically, rubbing a hoof under her chin.
Overcast ears perked up and he listened intently now.
“All the ladies know me, doesn’t surprise me. Maybe you woke up with me at a hangover party,” Hawkeye said.
Overcast shook his head.
“Never mind,” Groaned Snowcone.
“I feel as though I’ve seen you guys before too. Well, not physically, just in my dreams,” Storm said.
Overcast excitingly, but stoically listened again.
“Well, now that you mention, I do believe I recognize all of you, but I’m positive I’ve never seen any of you in my life,” Specter said, quizzically.
“Well whatever, you guys can go be weird somewhere else, Hawkeye said. “Hey wheres the geek?”
“Probably packing extra, he looked like the precarious type,” Phoenix Flower said.
Overcast’s head drooped low at the sudden topic change.
Everypony turned their heads as they heard a faint voice becoming louder. It was Wind Turret, carrying a large amount of supplies and books.
“Sorry, I didn’t plan large enough last night,” Wind said panting.
“Well, speaking of the devil,” Storm said. “So the gangs all here, I suggest we do a stock check and head out.”
“Who put you in charge,” Specter said.
“I-I was just giving a suggestion, I want to go home as soon as possible.”
“We all do, now lets get to it!” Hawkeye said, jumping up and began to take an inventory.
We had a large amount of supplies: twelve thick coated blankets, six sleeping bags, and a week’s amount of food. Not to mention we all have our personal choice of weapons. I prefer the double edged sword, a reliable weapon with decent range in close combat. Everypony else had their bows and daggers. We had a first aid kit, but no medic to use it. You would think the instructors would have taught us first aid in the training program.
“Everypony ready?” Phoenix Flower said.
“Yea lets go,” Specter said.
Wind Turret stepped forward and said, “I would like to say that this could be a huge learning experience. This expedition, it could be life threatening, but rewarding. I could get my name in the books, everypony would remember me for centuries and-”
“Just shut up and get going,” Hawkeye said.
“But, ugh,” Wind groaned and packed his bags.
There was no need for words, everypony just nodded their heads and began their descent toward the forest. It was a strange feeling flying side by side with his partners, Storm thought.
The crew turned their heads, inspecting the skies as they flew next to each other. They all had determined faces. Toward the unknown they go.
The crew landed near a resting point just one mile south of the forest. Everypony took another inventory and began to walk the rest of the way. The walk was quiet and ominous at the same time.
Snowcone was the first to break the deadly silence, “So, anything interesting happening in somepony’s life?”
“I’m getting hitched,” Hawkeye said.
“Congrats!” Everypony besides Overcast said.
“Yeah,” Hawkeye said, running a hoof through his jet black mane, “She just had to get preggers.”
“You don’t want to marry her for the love?” Storm, said.
“I’ve never loved anything in my life before, not even my parents,” Hawkeye replied.
“Wow, well thats depressing,” Snowcone said.
Hawkeye shrugged, “I prefer it this way, the wise crack and the lady killer.”
“Oh please,” Phoenix said, “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”
Hawkeye grinned, “Thats exactly what the last lady said.”
Phoenix’s already fiery red cheeks grew hotter. “Ugh, stallions, they are so stupid, why bother.”
Snowcone decided to talk to the outcast of the group, Overcast.
He was trudging along, behind the rest of the group at a slow pace.
“Hey, what's wrong?” she said.
No response.
“Come on, you don’t have to hide your feelings from me,” She said, smiling.
Still no reply.
Overcast had a blank expression on his face, he felt bored and partially annoyed at Snowcone.
“Hey, why did you say we were going to all die by the way?”
Nothing.
Snowcone felt awkward as her attempts at conversation were shot down. She attempted to make him talk and possibly be his friend, but failed.
“Sorry for wasting your time then pal,” she said, grunting.
“Okay, I say we should make decent travel and around high noon we rest. Then around nightfall we should set camp and discuss all of our inspections,” Specter said.
“Sounds good,” Storm said.
Everypony else nodded in agreement.
“Are we there yet, a mile doesn’t take long to walk,” Phoenix said.
In hindsight she realized how ironic that statement was, because they finally reached the forest.
The forest was almost exactly like the description, foggy and cold. You could feel the stale air from yards away. There was an opening that led to a pathway, surrounded by dead trees. It was something you would imagine in a nightmare, or one of those fiction books in our library. It made everypony shiver.
There was no grass surrounding the outskirts of the grey forest, only an ash substance. There were specific certain clouds that differentiated from the grey, but bluish tinted clouds outside of the forest. The clouds above the forest seemed to just be a slate of faded silver.
“Well gals and gents, here we are.” Storm said, gulping.
“Whats the big deal?” Phoenix said.
“It does look foreboding” Turret said.
“Ugh, leave it to a mare to do all of the work,” she grunted.
“Lets just get this over with, I don’t want to stay in there any longer than the rest of you,” Hawkeye said.
Storm checked over his head to see if Overcast was still behind the rest of the crew, he was. His bored expression and apathy was evident.
“Ladies first,” Hawkeye said, grinning.
“Do be a gentlecolt and go first,” Snowcone said, in a posh tone.
Storm felt like they were wasting time, so he decided to go first into the forest. As he trotted over to the foggy pathway with almost zero visibility, he felt his bones rattle as they touched the dead, and cold air. He had trouble opening his eyelids, and could feel goosebumps protrude through his coat.
“Hey, wait up Storm!” Hawkeye said, running blindly into the foggy forest.
Hawkeye immediately slowed down as he stepped on the pathway, and shivered in place.
“It-Its fr-freezing!” he said.
Everypony else stepped onto the pathway and put on extra coats.
“Phew, okay, that is the coldest I have ever felt in my life. And I’ve stared at Commander Hurricane in the eye when he trains new recruits in the army,” Phoenix said.
“Are you sure, I don’t think anything can be colder than that,” Storm said.
“Well, there is hot ice, and liquid nitrogen that could be extremely colder than this place by a landslide,” Turret said.
Hawkeye spoke up, “Cough, buzzkill, cough.”
Everypony giggled except for a tempered Wind Turret.
“Hey, I was just stating the facts.” Wind Turret said.
“Children, now isn’t the time, can we get on with it?” Snowcone said, putting a hoof on Turret’s shoulder. “Work as a team Turret?”
Turret blushed and said with a sheepish smile, “Yeah, sure.”
Storm walked back to where they came from, but there was just dead forest. The pathway was gone.
“So thats why,” Hawkeye said. “It must be an illusion spell.”
“Impossible,” Wind Turret, replied.
Everypony began their descent into the forest. The forest was filled with dead trees and the ground was a dark ash colored dirt. The crew was staring in all directions, scrutinizing every detail they could take.
“Oak trees, all of them, no other sign of life. No plants, no animals, not even a single insect,” Snowcone said.
“Hmm,” Specter said, putting a hoof to his chin in thought. “There has to be something alive, something.”
“Maybe, but thats not even the strange part,” she said. “How this forest still remains a forest is phenomenal. There is nothing to keep the trees from decomposing or this ground being uprooted by richer soil and grass. This forest is self sustaining, it shouldn’t be here, but it is.”
“I’d say its those snobby Unicorns using magic to keep it alive,” Phoenix said.
“I doubt it,” Turret said. “If it were the Unicorns, then they are more advanced than we thought. It would take a grade A unicorn to keep a forest alive. Let alone the motive in doing so.”
“Why would this forest be here in the first place, if a unicorn needs it, there must be something of value,” Hawkeye said.
“Thats what we must be here for,” Storm, said.
They walked deeper into the forest that had an incessant scenery. It felt as if they were walking circles.
“Turret,” Storm said. “What do you know about illusion spells?”
“Illusion spells? Well, I believe them to be a superstition. Unicorns being capable of that power would disrupt the circle of life. If they can use illusion spells, then I believe the world we live in is just a dream.”
He never thought of it that way before, weird philosophy. “You make a point.”
Hawkeye spoke up, “I want to get on top of a tree and get a good view.”
“Why don’t we just fly up and over the fog?” Snowcone said.
“No, look, I don’t trust this place. Everypony stay on the ground until you are given further instructions,” Specter said.
“Well, this landscape just feels the same and we have been walking for thirty minutes” she said.
“Lets just take a break, sort out our observings,” Specter said.
Everypony laid down blankets on the ground and curled up in the warmth.
Storm really didn’t know what to make of this forest, it doesn’t seem dangerous, but just really cold. He would think the unicorns were behind it, but Wind Turret shot down that theory.
His eyes snapped open. Maybe we can test if we are under an illusion, he thought.
“Hawkeye,” Storm said. “I want you to fire an arrow in front of this pathway.”
“What are you on about?” Hawkeye said.
“I see what you’re thinking,” Turret said.
“It could work right Turret?” Storm said.
“Its worth a shot.”
Hawkeye picked up his bow and knocked in an arrow. “Why am I doing this again?”
Everypony else stood up and watched.
“We need to test if we are under an illusion, or mirage. Shoot an arrow, then we can see if we can retrieve it,” Storm said.
“Ah,” Hawkeye said.
Hawkeye drew back his bow and released the arrow.
“How far do you think that went?” Phoenix said.
“About one fiddy,” Hawkeye said.
Everypony trotted over toward the arrow which was remarkably stuck in a tree.
“Good, we aren’t under an illusion spell,” Specter said.
“I don’t know if thats a good thing or not,” Wind Turret said, catching his breath.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one, it just raises more questions. How did the pathway disappear? Why is the scenery so similar? And is there an exit to this forest? If we were under an illusion spell, then it would make sense.”
No pony had an answer.
The crew trotted back to their resting point with difficulty. The incessant grey fog surrounding them gave low visibility. They could hardly see who was in front of each other. The only guide to seeing was the cold vapor that came from their breaths.
“What do we do now?” Snowcone asked.
“We find the source, the magic focal point,” Wind Turret said.
“But where would we find it and how would we know where to start?” Phoenix said, rubbing her freezing legs.
“I don’t know,” Wind said, disappointed in himself.
Hawkeye snorted, “Thats a first.”
“I’m an intellect not an omnipresent being.”
“Is everyone ready? I really want to get out of this place, right now,” Specter said, blowing his hooves to keep them from freezing. “It may be hard to tell time, but I believe we have only a few more hours left.”
“I’m ready,” Storm said.
“Ready,” Snowcone said.
“Disposed”, Wind said.
“Yeppers,” Hawkeye said.
“Mhm,” Phoenix said, nodding.
Overcast looked at the rest of us with an expressionless face.
“And you Overcast?” Storm, said.
Overcast stood up and lightly nodded his head.
Specter was leading the single file group. The scenery was still monotonous, but they hoped to find something of interest. No pony said a word, they just walked slowly through the trees and dead ground.
“Ouch!” Wind Turret said.
Everypony turned around, prepared for action.
“Sorry guys, I just ran into a tree, thats all,” he said, blushing.
“Ugh, really Wind?” Hawkeye said.
Their voices sounded ominous throughout the reverberating forest. Storm was so used to the sounds of the fortress, and the sounds of the city of clouds. The clanks and clatters of steel in a blacksmith’s workshop, or the tired pants of training recruits. Or even the sounds of home, his wife being the most beautiful specimen. And his son, becoming a greater pegasus than himself. He miss-
“Is that a leaf?” Specter said, walking forward.
“Specter, what are you on about?” Phoenix said.
“It’s strangely familiar, I-I.”
Specter began to trot towards the autumn leaf, the color of orange mixed with reddish tints was a beauty compared to the dull grey of the forest. He saw another leaf, this time it was red with gold at the base of the leaf. He reminisced his old life, where Autumn was his favorite season. Where he used to look outside his window and see the beautiful trees that were preparing for harsh winters.
Those trees, he thought, so strong, and brave when facing the harsh reality of death. Only that they will return stronger than ever in the Spring. Specter was a kid again no younger than ten. His parents were home, his mother cooking a warm broth that smelled delicious. Oh the smell, he thought, it was heaven on earth.
His father was saying something to him, but Specter couldn’t hear him, he just continued to eat his broth. But then his father went toward the mailbox outside and had a worried expression. The mail’s sender was from the Pegasi Military. Specter’s father ripped open the mail and read one word that would destroy everything he ever loved, “draft.” He ran inside the house to show Specter’s mother. She began to softly cry, she kept staring at Specter for some strange reason.
Specter went to sleep with dreams of walking through their backyard forest. They had a ground house and were ostracized from society for their living choices, but they were happy. The leaves were beaming with color and the soft breeze was comforting. Specter awoke to his father shaking him.
“Dad, we can play soldier tomorrow, I must sleep,” Specter said, yawning.
His mother came into the room, she still wept from the night before.
“Specter, our son,” Specter’s father said looking at his wife. “We love you, so very much.”
They both tucked in Specter and kissed him on the forehead.
“I love you too guys, nighty night,” Specter said.
His mother gulped. “Nighty night.”
They walked out of his room and out of his life.
Specter was now older and he was in the grey monotonous forest again, but he could see his parents fading into the grey.
“Wait!” he said, running as fast as he could toward them. “Please don’t go- please don’t leave me.”
Specter stopped running as they disappeared and began to cry. He stopped weeping as he heard a loud and thunderous trotting coming toward him.
“Mom, dad, is that you?” he said.
He stood up and walked forward toward the trotting.
The trotting began to shake the ground seemingly.
Specter stopped in his place, he was petrified. In front of him stood a humongous bluish apparition. It was a horse, but it couldn’t be. It had a long wavy blue mane with glowing eyes that were icy. It’s body was transparent and as it grunted the vapor in the air surrounded it’s body.
Specter couldn’t run, his legs were shaky and his teeth chattered. The horse-like apparition walked toward him. It was inches away from Specter’s face, observing him. The ghostly being simply blew a small breeze towards Specter. He felt a chilling feeling throughout his body as he became crystallized in ice.
The ice was up to his neck, slowly reaching toward his face. All specter could think of were his parents, how they abandoned him. And he screamed as loud as he could before being engulfed completely in ice.
“Did you guys hear that?” Phoenix Flower said.
“That must be Specter, come on guys!” Storm said.
The crew ran to where they heard his his nerve-wracking screech-cautiously dodging all of the shady trees in their way. For a moment, Hawkeye thought his eyes deceived him. Maybe it was just an ice sculpture. He walked closer to the frozen body of Specter, signaling the crew to stand back.
“I’ll be damned,” Hawkeye said, his indifferent attitude turning to a grave tone.
“Is that Specter?” Storm said.
“He’s encased in ice, how did this happen?” Hawkeye said.
Phoenix had a scared expression on her face. She turned away from the ice engulfed body and toward Snowcone.
“You said there were no living things in this frozen tartarus!”
“I-I didn’t think so, it’s just not possible. N-No living thing can do that.” Snowcone said, nervously.
“What do you call that? Thats Specter, frozen, everypony else was together. Something else lives here and you didn’t tell us?”
“I didn’t know, I’m sorry. Maybe we can just thaw out his body and he’ll be better.”
Wind Turret joined the conversation with a condescending chuckle.
“Impossible, this isn’t a fantasy, if you are frozen like that, then you die. His heart rate stopped, you can’t even resuscitate it, not to mention he would still die from hypothermia if we did revive him.”
“I was just giving a suggestion. Sheesh.” Snowcone said.
“And you, Ms. Phoenix Flower. I believe you are just looking to put the blame on someone for a crime that no one committed. Because you cannot accept the harsh reality of death.” Wind said.
“T-Thats not true.”
Hawkeye rolled his eyes and sighed. “Two hours later.”
“Look, we don’t have a lot of daylight, lets just get on with the mission.” Storm, said.
“What about Specter, we can’t just leave him here.” Phoenix said.
“Why not, he’s dead. As my ancestors say, anunu mumba deyorda nah. It means the spirit has departed and the body is useless.” Hawkeye said.
“Sorry, I don’t speak French.” Phoenix said.
“It’s native tongue, before our race began to civilize.” He said, slightly angry at Phoenix.
“Well, this is the present not the past, we’ll give him a soldier’s burial.”
Hawkeye glared at her, and then sighed in agitation.
The crew began to dig a hole with only their hooves, the ground was soft enough. They toppled over the ice statue into the hole and just stared. No one said anything for awhile, their heads were low. Phoenix saluted face forward with a firm posture. A tear streamed down her eye and she began to fill the hole with the ash colored dirt.
Phoenix Flower saw a ghastly shadowy figure in the corner of her eye. Resting on a tree was a pegasus. The pegasus’s skin was exposed to bones and rags of former military outfits. The pegasus also had on a medic helmet which symbolized that the pegasus was a medic in the corps.
Phoenix realized who the pegasus was; her dead best friend, Cyclone. She turned away from his deadly and frightening countenance and stopped burying Specter.
“What’s wrong Phoenix?” Storm said.
She continued to shake in fear, crying, cowering her face behind her short mane.
“You hardly knew the guy, why are you so flank hurt over his death?” said Hawkeye.
“C-Cyclone,” muttered Phoenix.
They walked back to the resting point with dreaded faces. It was ominously quiet. Phoenix Flower just stared into the fireplace.
Storm decided to break the silence with a question that would jog some memory.
“Did you guys hear his last words, before he ran off?”
Snowcone’s eyes opened wide and she gasped. “I do remember! Something about a leaf.”
“Exactly, but what did he mean?”
“The leaf, I remember he said that too,” Hawkeye said.
“Thats impossible, how can there be a leaf in this forest,” Wind said.
“He was frozen alive, try explaining that four eyes,” Hawkeye said.
“Hey, don’t call me that!” Wind screamed.
The temperature dropped surprisingly low at Wind Turret’s outburst.
Everypony was silent, even Overcast glanced to see the outburst.
Wind Turret’s breathing slowed and he sighed. “Sorry, it’s something personal.”
Something weird is going on, beside the death of Specter, Storm thought. He said he saw a leaf before he ran off. How come nopony else saw this leaf, and is there more?
“Lets keep going forward. The sooner we solve the mystery of this forest, the sooner we are all home,” Storm said.
“I concur,” Snowcone said.
“Whatever,” Phoenix said.
They gathered their belongings and trotted onward. The crew was extra precarious now. Everypony could see Phoenix gripping a small dagger in her hooves.
Night was approaching. The fog began to reside only to something less visible; darkness. The forest seemed to be even more foreboding at night. The trees were outlined only by pitch black and for the first time there was an opening in the sky. It showed a dimly lit full moon.
The crew only walked two miles before stopping. Their torches outlining the darkness of the pathway, and there was strangely no mysterious things happening. Maybe the leaf was a mirage, but that still doesn’t explain what killed him, Wind Turret thought.
They made a campfire and took out various vegetables in cans. The crew lay in their sleeping bags and finally got cozy in the dreaded forest.
We all just stared at the fire, the fire connected us somehow, Storm thought. We may all have our differences, but we all love the warmth that the fire brings us.
“Ya know, when I was in Op Everfree, the forest was actually more scary than this one.” Hawkeye said.
“You went to the Everfree Forest?” Snowcone said, suddenly interested.
“Yup.”
“So cool, I wanted to go to that forest before and study the wildlife. Sadly Commander Hurricane wouldn’t permit it, he said he couldn’t find enough expendables. Twisted guy if you ask me.”
That got a chuckle out of everyone.
“If you think thats cruel, you should see the way Hurricane treats the new recruits. I once saw him punch every new recruit in the gut as hard as he could. If one recruit flinched, the whole team would have to fly three-hundred laps.”
“Ouch,” Storm said. “That is pretty cruel.”
“Pshaw, lets not forget the new law passed,” Hawkeye said. “He allows injured pegasi to stay at civilians homes and rest. The civilians have to feed them and pamper them, or they could pay a fee, even jail time.”
“Yea,” Storm said, sighing, “That’s not even funny. We serve the civilians not vice versa.”
“While we’re all here alone,” Wind said, “Why is Commander Hurricane the commander? He treats everypony like trash. I even hear that he is planning a war. That could destroy everything, everypony could die.”
Overcast turned around toward the fire to listen intently.
“No, he couldn’t be planning a war could he?” Phoenix said.
Wind nodded sagely.
“Thats insane!” She said. “We don’t even have enough troops, let alone supplies and food.”
“I find that hard to believe Wind, Hurricane can be a manticore’s pelvis, but he isn’t that stupid,” Storm said.
“It’s only obvious that he is going to war. You know the summit between all the pony races? If the Unicorns and Earth ponies don’t agree with his plans then it’s war,” Wind said.
“Thats just speculation,” he said.
“Stormcaster, think. Think of everything that Hurricane has ever done. He’s passed the ‘Mandatory home act.’ Why do you think he is passing an act for injured soldiers when no soldier is currently injured? Why do you think he has us spying on the other races?”
“I-It can’t be that simple, can it?”
“Do you have proof, besides theories,” Snowcone said.
“No, but-”
Overcast stood upward, scaring nearly half the crew. He walked toward the fire and sat down. He stared at everyone.
“The dreams, they may not be dreams, but the past itself. And the future reflects upon the past,” Overcast said.
No pony said anything in what felt like forever.
“Okay, are you speaking in riddles?” Hawkeye said.
“The dreams, we all have the dreams.”
“What dreams are you talking about?” Phoenix said, suspiciously.
Overcast gave a creepy smirk. He said ever so quiet, “Co-Op PARCHMENT.”
Commander Hurricane was walking throughout the room slowly, as if he were pondering a strange question. He occasionally stared back at the seven agents, wondering if they were up to the task. What these seven agents could do could potentially save the clan. What they could do could promise a flourishing race of happy Pegasi.
Hurricane gave a fake chuckle and said, “Ah, here you all are, my finest agents. I have a mission for all of you, the toughest of the tough.”
Hawkeye waved him off, “Pshaw Hurricane, me and this crew can do anything, isn’t that right Stormy.”
Stormcaster spoke up, “ You know it Hawkeye.”
Hurricane chuckled again, “Yea, I should put more faith in you guys. Well, I might as well tell you the details.”
“Lay it on us,” Phoenix said.
“Alrighty, so I need you to get a quota of the number of troops the Unicorns have. Sounds simple? Wrong, they have guard ponies surrounding every corner, not to mention that their fortress is next to a garrison filled with soldiers. We need the parchments, and safe retrieval.”
“Hmm, sounds difficult,” Snowcone said.
“Do you by any chance have an architectural structure of the Unicorn Fortress?” Wind Turret said.
“Knew you would ask Wind buddy ol pal,” Hawkeye said.
“Good question though, it would come in handy to know the layout,” Specter said as Hurricane dug around for the map. “What do you guys make of this mission?”
“Piece of cake,” Hawkeye said.
“Rather daunting,” Wind said.
“Oh you and your vocabulary Wind Turret,” Snowcone said.
“Well, you know me-”
“Got it!” Hurricane said as he laid the map on a large table.
“Hmm,” Wind Turret said, raising a hoof to his chin. “Interesting. I’ve only been able to come up with five scenarios.”
“Sounds good,” Phoenix Flower said, trying to understand the map.
“Well,” Stormcaster said. “Everything looks to be ready, when do we go over protocol and start the mission?”
“Thats the spirit,” Hurricane said. “We’ll start next week, I expect great things guys. The court is adjourned”
“Wait,” Overcast said, walking from a dark corner of the room. “I fear for our lives, we don’t know what the Unicorns are capable of. Let alone what do you intend to do with these parchments.”
“That is to be clandestine,” Hurricane said, startled by Overcast inquisitive tone.
Overcast expected this exact response, he knew Hurricane was up to something.
“Our lives are in danger, what if we are compromised and killed on the spot?”
Everypony was shocked by Overcast sudden enthusiasm to speak aloud.
“Look Overcast, we got this mission locked down. There isn’t a reason to question the Commander about the knitpicks,” Stormcaster said.
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Overcast squinted his eyes. “What do you intend to do with these parchments commander?” He said, suspiciously.
“Further questioning of this topic will make me infer that you are not cooperative with your leader. You’ll be charged with insubordination, possibly exiled.”
Everyone stood, their heads low, scared to say anything.
Hurricane smiled, “Good day gentlecolts and fair ladies.”
“Everypony ready?” Specter said.
“Yeppers, I am ready to get it on!” Hawkeye said.
“I’ve been dying for some action,” Phoenix said. “The corps aren’t enough, their pushups are too easy and I can fly hundreds of laps without a single sweat.”
“Do you smell that? Smells like horsecrap,” Snowcone said, snickering.
Everypony giggled.
“Hey! I can so fly that many laps.”
“Ugh, what is it with mares always arguing with each other. It’s as if they were born to hate each other,” Hawkeye said.
“Don’t be so misogynistic,” Snowcone said.
“Massage who now?” Storm said, joining the fun.
“Ugh, why are guys so insensitive,” Phoenix said.
“I can agree on that sister,” Snowcone said as she bumped hooves with Phoenix.
“And just like that they are friends again,” Hawkeye said, sighing.
“Lets just get going guys,” Specter said, smiling at his friends crazy antics.
“Thats a negative ghost rider,” Hawkeye said, professionally.
“What the heck is that supposed to mean?”
“I dunno know, thought it would sound cool.”
Everypony else just shook their heads with light smirks as they lifted off toward the Unicorn Fortress.
The crew reached the large fortress filled with guard ponies and Unicorn flags. There were only two instances Storm could recall that he has seen this fortress. One where he was passing by as a little colt, the peaceful days. And another where he was sent on Op LOL.
Op LOL was basically a joke mission to find out what Princess Platinum hates, so Commander Hurricane can use it at the summit in a few months. Of all things, Princess Platinum hates dirty things, like mud.
The fortress was built with stone blocks that were cut to precision, and the garrison was practically a steam pump.
The sun was setting over the horizon, giving a beautiful orangish-pink color that was breathtaking. Overcast always seemed to stare at sunsets, and other things in nature.
The crew stared behind themselves, there was a backup squad. They were just a rescue squad, it was mandatory for every mission to have one. After a few tragedies in investigations Commander Hurricane decided more security would solve the problem. Mission success rates improved dramatically after his decision.
Hawkeye didn’t think they would need any help. His friends were the best spies in the agency. Seems only pedantic to send a rescue squad.
Specter took a deep breath, “Show time.”
The Pegasi spies were swift as they ran down the snowy hill, almost tumbling to the bottom. They discussed the plan once more behind a bush as they waited for secluded darkness to give anonymous faces. The moon was rising and so were the spirits of the spies.
“Now, or never,” Stormcaster said.
With their black thermal suits, they rushed into the blind spot of the large fortress; the dumpster. Not many Unicorns liked to look at the dumpster, because they felt the duty to act as their princess, with pretentiousness. Whatever the princess did, the Unicorns did.
They ran toward the dumpster alley and came to a rusty door. The door was open, and they came across an ominous kitchen.
The kitchen was dark, filled with pots and pans, but no signs of food. Maybe the Unicorns don’t have as much food as the Pegasi thought.
The seven spies spread out and walked on the tips of their hooves. Their destination was the secretary office they spotted in the architectural layout.
Snowcone couldn’t keep her eyes off of the walls of the fortress as they walked along the shadows. The walls were filled with decorations and jewels, it was exquisite, but made her envious.
Wind Turret pointed a hoof toward a staircase, signaling to scope out the scene while we traveled upward. There was a faint trotting noise that echoed the large hallway. The secretary’s office was just on the side. The unicorn guard pony continued to walk down the hall without a glance.
They all went up the staircase and tip-hooved on the side walls. It was difficult, due to the paintings and pony armor on the walls. The office was only a few feet away when the spies heard the trotting noise again.
Buck my life, Specter thought.
The spies stood on their two hooves pressing against the cold stone walls. Hoping to be unseen against the shadows. Overcast has the perfect camouflage while I have a white coating, lucky, Snowcone thought.
The guard pony began walking down the hallway again.
Phoenix Flower began to sweat, We’re doomed, she thought.
The guard pony inspected the wet carpet due to some melted snow, and continued to walk down the hallway.
The spies slumped downward, and began to breathe calmly again.
They moved quickly to the office, opening it gently and closing it softly. They could see a small light in the front of the room, an oil lantern.
The Pegasi searched the room, looking for any sign of the troop reports. There wasn’t a directory, which made Wind Turret furious on the inside.
Overcast looked around the corner, where the light protruded, and saw a desk filled with papers and written documents. No pony was sitting at the chair.
He signaled to the others that the coast was clear and he began to search the desk. The desk was very organized, filled with neat stacks of written papers. He came across a few interesting papers such as ‘Pegasi Aggression’ and ‘Event Hall News.’ The event hall showed how more modernized the Unicorns were compared to the utilitarian living standards of the Pegasi.
The Pegasi Aggression was more interesting. It showed detail documents and assumptions based on how Commander Hurricane could start a war. It showed all of his behavior and philosophies, his ethics and standards. All of it led up to the fact that he could try to start a war. And Overcast knew it was true.
They heard a muffled humming noise from a mare behind the supply room door. Wind Turret hadn’t thought of the possibility that someone would still be here. He should have taken account of the work hours secretaries had, he thought.
Everyone hid behind bookcases and small indentations of the shadowy walls.
The secretary walked in the room and sat down at her desk. She had a violet mane and a tan coating. She also had a nerdy look, with glasses and a pony tail. “Hmm,” She said, rubbing a hoof under her chin. “I didn’t leave these papers the way they are now.”
She began to walk around the room. The pegasi were quiet as a mouse, knowing one mistake could mean being taken prisoner.
The secretary squinted her eyes, she could see a light gray coming from the wall, a color she’s never witnessed on that wall. She walked toward the light gray, trying to figure out what it was.
Why did I have to be born in December, just why, Snowcone thought.
Whelp, there goes the mission, Storm thought, sweating as he pushed against a wall behind a bookcase.
The secretary touched Snowcone’s muzzle. For an instance Snowcone thought she wouldn’t scream, but then the secretary began to yell loudly.
“Guards! Guards!” The secretary screamed as she was confronted by the spies.
Overcast trotted behind the screaming mare and hit a puncture point on her body and set her body on the ground gently.
“Run,” Overcast said, quietly, as if he wasn’t even nervous.
The pegasus spies ran out of the secretary room and heard shouts from the guard ponies. Overcast led the rest of the crew to the staircase, but the soldiers from the garrison were rushing up the stairs. They ran the other way down the hall.
“Come on Wind Turret, where the hell are those scenarios you talked about,” Storm shouted.
“Those scenarios never applied to this hallway, this hallway has no other doors.”
They reached the end of the hallway, but the guard ponies were already there.
“We’re cornered,” Specter said.
“Now isn’t the time for a joke right guys?” Hawkeye said.
“No,” Wind Turret said in a defeated tone.
The guards and soldiers grabbed each of them with aggressive magic, dragging them down many hallways.
The guards were laughing and making jokes toward the spies.
“What a bunch of failures, Hurricane could have sent fillies and gotten better results,” A guard pony said.
“What to expect from Pegasus scum.”
“Buck you too,” Hawkeye said, sarcastically.
The guard pony carrying Hawkeye stopped abruptly. He used magic on his hoof and suddenly turned around and punched Hawkeye in his torso.
The impact sent shivers to the rest of the squad. Hawkeye coughed blood and began to throw up.
The guard pony smirked, “Now as I was saying,” The guard said, as he joked around with his guard friends more.
The spies were thrown into cells, they smelled of filth and other atrocities. Each cell separated them away from each other.
“Should have kept your mouth shut Hawkeye,” Wind Turret said.
Hawkeye whimpered in the darkness of the cell. He tried to respond, but all that came out were howls and squeaks.
“So plan B it is I guess,” Storm said.
“Never thought an elite crew like ours would get caught like this,” Specter said.
Stormcaster plucked a feather from his wings and trotted toward the barred window.
This was how plan B is supposed to happen. A pegasus plucks a feather from his wings and tosses it toward the rescue team to signal something went wrong. It doesn’t always work out, sometimes the wind can blow the feather too far or too little. And aiming it is like shooting a target with a blindfold on.
Stormcaster dropped the feather and watched it blow toward the east, where the blizzard was flowing. Perfect position, Storm thought.
The others plucked their feathers as well, the more feathers dropped the better chance that the rescue team will find one.
One of the cell doors opened and the voice of a guard was heard.
“Well, prepare to die, the princess herself wants to speak to you.”
Oh no, Specter thought, if we are sent to the princess we might die before the rescue team gets here.
Why did it have to be now, Phoenix thought.
The spies were all released and dragged by magic down a huge hallway. The large door opened as they got closer toward the throne. A tired Princess Platinum sat on the silver throne.
The rescue squad stood in the cold blizzard, staying close to stay warm. The captain was shivering until he heard a cadet start to call his name in excitement.
“Captain Ace! Captain, we got multiple feathers over here!” The young cadet said.
The captain stared at the feathers, trying to make sure they were not just bird feathers. Usually rookies make this mistake a lot and it can jeopardize the mission.
“Well I’ll be damned. Move out, we got a code red,” Captain Ace said.
The squad of ten tired, cold, and hungry pegasus became excited. It’s been forever since we’ve had some action, the young cadet thought.
Princess Platinum stared at the pegasus spies with cold, apathetic eyes. Snowcone went over the two words she would say over and over again, “Execute them.” She knew it was only a matter of time before she would die.
Who knew today would be the day I die, Stormcaster thought, my son, my wife, all will fade away.
“Ahem,” Princess Platinum said. “What were your intentions, what were you looking for?”
Snowcone sighed in relief.
Overcast felt something new, excitement. He’s always wanted to talk to the other pony race leaders. He felt he could serve as an ambassador of some sort, perhaps finally bring peace, maybe even happiness to himself.
Overcast stepped forward which made the six guard ponies and Princess Platinum alert. He bowed and began to speak.
“Princess, our goal was to steal information on the amount of troops you have control over.”
“Overcast, what are you doing! You can’t give mission details like that!” Specter said.
Overcast ignored him and Princess Platinum raised an eyebrow in interest.
“Hmm, I suspect your awful leader Hurricane wants to wage war. Only a matter of time,” Platinum said.
“Please, I beg you not to go to war.”
Platinum shifted in her seat in interest. She never heard of a pegasus who doesn’t want to fight. “Why should I not go to war, you pegasus scum want it so badly, I’ll give it to you,” she said, haughtily.
“Because if you go to war, we’ll all die. The Earth ponies will side with the stronger force and one of the races will be eliminated completely.”
The spies stood shocked at Overcast. He never talks and he always sits with his eyes closed, pondering. Speaking aloud was unnatural as it was fascinating, Wind Turret thought. He’s trying to stop a war which I should have seen coming from a mile away!
“And what if you are the race that is completely eliminated, that would only benefit us with more food,” Platinum said, as her stomach growled loudly.
“I heard that. You’re hungry, your people are hungry, our people are hungry. We are both too weak to go to war, there isn’t enough supplies to go around. It’s suicide.”
“What is your plan, how can you stop the inevitable?”
It all came together perfectly, Wind thought. The war was inevitable, more spy missions are done every day, it’s only a matter of time.
“By uniting the races together.”
The room was quiet, even the guard ponies listened intently.
Princess Platinum stood and said the one word on everyone's mind. “How?”
The door was opened voraciously and loudly as the rescue squad ran through the room with war cries and swords in their mouths ready for blood.
Overcast turned around swiftly and yelled, “No wait!”
“It’s a trap!” One guard pony said.
The rest of the guard ponies charged their horns and fired powerful beams of magic at the crew. Princess Platinum was ushered urgently out of the room into a safe place.
War broke out, and the crew was unconscious.
Bucking kidding me, Overcast thought, as he fell into unconsciousness.
The crew sat silently and stared back at the fire after Overcast told his incredible story. They were pondering over all the details. Such as a negotiation with Princess Platinum, it seemed unorthodox for any pegasus to do such a feat.
Snowcone broke the eerie quiet by saying, “How come we can’t remember any of these things?
“You do,” Overcast said, almost in a whisper, “in your dreams.”
“I’ve never had the dreams, and if you were knocked unconscious, how come you can still remember wise guy?” Hawkeye said.
“I was the lucky guy, I had acquired my memories a month after the incident. But it did start with the dreams, I just pieced together the puzzle pieces.”
“Surely Hurricane must know about all of this?” Phoenix said.
“You’re damn right he does,” Overcast said, holding back a petulant attitude. “He knows that I tried to negotiate with Princess Platinum. He doesn’t know all the details, so he assumes that you guys were negotiating as well. We’re all charged with treason, the punishment is death.”
“W-What? No, no no no,” Phoenix kept repeating. “This isn’t right. I just- why would he do this?” She said as tears began to well up in her eyes.
“When I remembered Co-Op PARCHMENT, I told Commander Hurricane all of the details. And you know what he did, he bucking experimented on me!” Overcast yelled, sending reverberations through the forest.
“What did he do?” Stormcaster said.
“He blackmailed me, if I were to tell you guys about the mission, I would be killed. He took the blackmailing further to test how much of my memory I retained. So he tested if I still knew how to survive waterboarding,” Overcast said gravely.
Snowcone and Phoenix Flower gasped.
The forest resided to it’s pristine quietness, not a sound could be heard except for the crackling of the fire.
Snowcone stood up and walked slowly towards Overcast. At first she seemed to hesitate, but she grew over her fears and gave Overcast a warm, soft, and long hug.
“I’m so sorry Overcast, you didn’t deserve any of that.”
Overcast felt something for the first time in his life, it was love. Tears streamed down his eyes and he reciprocated the warm hug.
“Thank you Snowcone.”
The hug somehow warmed the rest of the group as well. She broke away, and Overcast wiped his eyes with a hoof. Hawkeye suggested bringing out some snacks from the food package and everypony complied. The enclosed circle of pegasi felt lively and joyous for the first time.
Hawkeye and his former best friend Wind Turret joked around. Phoenix Flower and Snowcone talked with each other with big silly grins on their faces about colts and various cosmetics.
Stormcaster hesitantly joined in on the conversation with Hawkeye and Wind, and was happily welcomed.
Soon, both the groups merged as Hawkeye threw silly jokes about the mares of the group and the latter reciprocated. The campfire was lively with laughs, grins, and chocolate covered faces from the hot cocoa they made earlier.
Overcast leaned on the log he was sitting on earlier and watched his newfound friends. He watched them and felt amicable.
“Come on buddy,” Hawkeye said, pointing at Overcast. “We got a fresh and hot one waiting for you.”
The rest of the crew beckoned him to join the circle as well. Overcast stood up and gave a warm smile that was surprisingly fitting for the stallion who never speaks nor smiles.
He began to walk over to the circle when a huge beam of red light shined to the right of the group. It seemed to illuminate half of the forest with a red hot color.
“Nows not the time for a joke is it guys?” Hawkeye said, gulping.
“Lets follow that beam!” Stormcaster said.
“And what if it kills us?” Phoenix said.
“Only one way to find out,” Stormcaster said, running after the beam with a daring excitement.
“It must be the sugar in the hot cocoa,” Hawkeye said, chuckling.
The rest of the crew followed intently behind the maroon shadow of Stormcaster. Wind Turret was happy that he could actually see the trees in his way now that the forest was illuminated.
Stormcaster suddenly stopped and said, “Whoa.”
The pegasus all caught up to Storm and stood gazing with confused but marveled faces. They were fascinated by the diamond shaped construct that beheld them. It was a huge red diamond that stood ten feet tall.
“What do you suppose it is Wind?” Hawkeye said.
Everypony turned to Wind Turret expecting a profound statement, but Wind simply said, “It’s the magic focal point.”
Wind Turret took a further inspection of the strange object and took out a notebook. He began to take detail notes on everything he could find on the object. When he looked behind the diamond, he saw a small engraving of hieroglyphs. The language seemed familiar to him, like olden Latin.
“There are hieroglyphs, but i’ll need time to decipher them. Until then, this is all we have, wish I had my microscope.”
“What do you suppose it’s for, diamonds don’t just fall from the sky ya know,” Snowcone said.
Wind Turret mused for a moment.
“It fell at a certain moment, and that moment was when we were having fun for the first time in this dreadful place.”
“Thats true,” she said.
“But what does that symbolize?” Storm said.
“I hope that these hieroglyphs will help me find the answer.”
The rest of the crew built a new campfire and traversed over their food and packages to the new camp while Wind Turret studied his books on linguistics.
The crew talked again at the campfire, but more quietly this time. Not wanting to disturb Wind Turret.
“Hey Overcast, why didn’t you tell us before, about the op?” Phoenix said.
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“You won’t like the answer.”
“Just tell us.”
Overcast sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. Eventually you would have all remembered about the mission. When you guys would have remembered, it would’ve been the death of you all by the hooves of Hurricane.”
“How so?” Hawkeye said, sipping on hot cocoa.
“Because, he still thinks you guys negotiated with Princess Platinum. No matter how hard you try to dissuade him. His plan was to get rid of us before we remembered. He found out about this forest and saw it fit the perfect place. He’s sent so many ponies into this forest and none of them ever returned.”
“So you decided how I am going to die?” Phoenix Flower said.
Overcast flinched at the cold remark, “I just thought it would be the best way. At least in the forest, we have a chance of surviving, with Hurricane, we’ll get executed or exiled to starve.
“I still don’t want you deciding how I die!” Phoenix said, with a hint of anger.
“Phoenix,” Hawkeye said, “leave the stallion alone, he chose the best death for us, we couldn’t have survived anyways.”
“Well why did he have to negotiate with Princess Platinum! This is the only reason we are in this predicament!”
Wind Turret’s eyes perked up when he saw a bit of the diamond turn black. He took notes on it and looked over to his friends to see a dispute bursting out.
“Interesting,” Wind said, whispering.
“I just wanted to bring peace to the pony races, I never meant for my best friends to be killed,” Overcast said, bringing hooves to his face. “I’m so sorry, I understand if you can’t forgive me. I just wanted to do something right for the first time in my life.”
Phoenix had concerned eyes and had a guilty countenance. “I-I’m sorry Overcast, you were just looking out for me, all of us, I guess it really is the best way to die. With your best friends.” she said as she stared at everypony around the fire.
The blackened spot on the diamond turned into a bright red again.
Wind Turret noted the change of color and said once more, “Interesting.”
The rest of the crew besides Wind Turret went to sleep with full bellies and chocolate covered faces. Wind just finished deciphering the olden latin language on the crystal and chastised himself for not reading it sooner. The decipher puzzled him, it seemed strange to him at first. What about these fears and guilts, he thought. When do we began to fear? What starts it?
He decided to sleep and tell the rest of the crew tomorrow of his discoveries. Seeing his newfound friends sleep blissfully made him smile.
Just before Wind could doze off he heard the howl of a timberwolf. His eyes snapped open and he immediately noted the sound.
How, he thought, there is no prey for the wolves to eat. How are they alive? Could this be apart of the fear scenario? But I’ve never feared an animal in my life, and if each fear coincides with each individual’s past, that just makes the wolves more mysterious.
Wind Turret decided to go to sleep, after remembering that wolves were usually afraid of ponies. An Earth pony’s strength, a Unicorn’s magic and a Peagasi’s combat tactics will scare away most big game.
Wind Turret dreamt of playing chess with Hawkeye and winning every game. Eventually Hawkeye flipped over the game board and said Wind was cheating. Wind laughed and laughed and finally Hawkeye joined in on the joke.
Wind Turret suddenly awoke due to a drastic decrease in the temperature. He couldn’t stop shaking. He noticed that the red glow from the diamond was gone; the diamond was black. He turned his head looking to see if his friends were around the campfire, but they weren’t there. It was pitch dark everywhere. All could be seen were the reflections against the edges of the diamond from an unknown light source
The fears have chosen me, Wind thought as he looked for his notebook. Though I suspect there is a more grandiose scheme to this place. He found his notebook and quill and started taking notes. He walked closer to the diamond, noted the opaque diamond’s properties, his surroundings, and his trepidation at what he believed was going to be his last night alive.
The dark crystal suddenly showed him as a young boy getting ready for his first day of school. Wind dropped his quill and notebook and touched the diamond.
Wind was excited to go to his first day of school, with promise of an actual education system that teaches you about different things in life. The thought of learning made the young colt salivate. As usual, wherever Wind went, he brought a large book, a notebook, and quills. He walked into the classroom, waving goodbye to his mother. His face frowned after looking at the inhabitants of the classroom.
All of the fillies were just shouting, screaming and playing, the teacher did nothing to placate the chaos. She just continued to read a book aloud, which Wind read at the age of two, and no one even cared to listen.
Wind turned shy at the sudden realization that he didn’t belong here.
He sat on an empty chair and tried to read his large book. The cacophonous noise prevented him from concentrating so he tried taking notes on certain words in his dictionary. Eventually some of the fillies were interested by the different behavior.
“Whatcha doin there,” a young filly asked.
Wind Turret looked up and hid his face behind his notebook. He said, “Oh nothing, just taking notes.”
“Let me see,” another filly said, as she looked at his notebook. She had a confused expression on her face. She couldn’t read print, let alone Wind’s nearly perfected cursive writing.
“Whoa, you’re like super smart,” She said.
Wind Turret blushed, he never thought that ponies would acknowledge something so easy.
“Nah, you’re smart too, we’re all smart. It just takes some studying and books,” Wind said.
A young colt saw that Wind was getting attention instead of himself. He was envious, so he plotted to destroy Wind’s reputation.
“Nerd!” the young colt behind the small group said.
Wind Turret was confused, did I do something wrong? The young colt began to laugh and soon attracted a large crowd of laughing fillies. Wind hid his face behind his book.
“What’s the matter four eyes,” the young colt continued.
“Four eyes four eyes four eyes,” he repeated.
Soon the rest of the class joined in on the teasing.
Wind couldn’t remember a time where he cried so much. It had only taken five minutes to destroy his life…
Wind later was awarded with many scholarly achievements and scholarships. He couldn’t feel proud, his teachers may give him credit, but his peers still hated him. Wind finally learned to cope with the teasing, soon learning that it was childish and monotonous, but some words, he learned, still hurts more than others.
He reached his academic climax when he made it to Pegasus University at his mid-teens. Grade school seemed too easy for the intellect.
Wind walked into his first class, noting how early he was and how he could potentially sleep for an extra five minutes. A few minutes later the large room filled with seats were filled by hundreds of pegasi.
The sight of so many students who wanted to learn, it made Wind feel like he belonged. The best part, Wind Turret thought, no one talked except for the professor giving the lecture on sociology.
Wind listened intently at the words coming from the professors mouth. It was a challenge to understand, and it made Wind determined. Before, in grade school, he already knew most of the class work, so he never bothered to listen to the teachers.
He suddenly heard whispers behind his row of seats. There were two stallions and a mare whispering and pointing toward Wind Turret.
“How is some fifteen year old chump in college?” The first stallion said.
“Probably a special student, the schools had no more space to hold him,” The latter said.
The others snickered and the first stallion prepared his aim to throw something at Wind.
Wind was writing detailed notes on the topic of the dispute between the pony nations. Surprisingly, Wind thought, the professor isn’t speaking with biased opinions.
He felt a bawled piece of paper hit against his head.
Oh no, not this again, I thought the students would be more mature! Maybe if I ignore it, he or she will stop the atrocity.
*Thump*
Another ball of paper hit his head, Wind heard snickers behind him.
It’s not worth it, what is education when you can’t even pay attention. What should I do?
*Thump*
Wind had a surge of anger swell inside of him and he turned around to confront the group of snickering pegasus.
“Listen you obnoxious, rambunctious, and premature children, I must learn how society is still in symbiosis with annoying bozos like you in it. So if you don’t mind, I’d love for you to stop throwing the damnable paper at me,” Wind said aloud.
The students in the large room stared at Wind, even the professor, who overheard.
The professor pointed towards Wind Turret and said, “Your intentions were at heart, but you displayed it in discord. Don’t stoop up to their level, and don’t ever interrupt me during a lecture again!”
Wind cowered in his seat, unable to hear the now resumed lecture of the professor. The students behind Wind left him alone. Wind Turret trotted out of the classroom, the memories of the bullies were nearly palpable. He could feel the cold insults, the relentless teasing, even the beatings he would receive.
It was all so tangible, he ran to his dorm and cried into his pillow. Wind ignored his roommate and the foulness of the things he was doing with his girlfriend. They suddenly stopped and tried to help Wind, but in vain. They decided to continue their heinous acts elsewhere.
What’s the point of it, i’ll always be tormented, I can’t continue this. No more pain!
Wind planned out the meticulous sin he was going to commit. He didn’t have a rope, but he tied the sleeves of his uniforms together and grabbed a stool. He tied his crude rope to the headboard of the top of his bunk bed.
Until he was standing on the stool, he didn’t cry, but now the tears came in red hot rivulets. He tied the rope into a lasso and wrapped it around his head, and took off his bifocals. So, he thought, this is it. I haven’t necessarily worked out a proper explanation to reincarnation, but if it does exist, maybe i’ll be reincarnated as a popular, rich, and handsome colt. He almost smiled at the thought of bullying the less fortunate beings. The irony.
He had difficulty with the stool, his legs almost didn’t want to kick it over. His willpower came over his legs and he felt the stool finally tilting over. Wind lost his balance and waited blissfully…
The enormous wolf with bloodstained teeth finally tore into Wind’s throat. Drinking all of the rich blood and eating the soft bones. The veins ceased to protrude through the skin, the body no longer gave it’s toasty warmthness, the heart ceased to beat. The brilliant brain of Wind would no longer be used in life. A million theories down the drain.
The wolf dragged the dead body, leaving bloodstains on the black, silt ground.
Dawn was breaking, and the monotonous fog was beginning to set in over the horizon, settling in to make it’s abode on the ground. The effect being a chilling wonder.
The others awakened immediately at the sound of the presumably lone wolf. They were cautious in their hoofsteps, knowing that Wind Turret was missing. They had checked behind the crystal, still looming red. Phoenix’s fear was palpable to the others and while they tried to coax her to calm down she seemed to snap out of some stupor.
Hawkeye and his eye for spotting things at an incredible distance saw a dark puddle yonder over the dark forest. He called for the rest to investigate. Storm grabbed a torch and trotted toward the puddle, when the light shined over the crimson blood, his dinner was thrown up. Phoenix was trembling, she leaned on the nearby Overcast for support.
They followed a long trail of blood until they heard a sloshing sound. The sound of slime over rubber, Hawkeye thought. Storm shone the light behind the tree, where the sound was coming from. It was horrifying.
Phoenix is still passed out, sigh, Hawkeye thought. I can’t blame the mare, it wasn’t a pleasant sight. She kept repeating a chant that creeped everyone out, including Overcast. Something about a fellow named Cyclone. Must be an old war buddy of hers who died gruesomely. I don’t know what to make of this forest, it’s mysterious, it’s frightening, and hell I won’t lie when I tell you this is the first time i’ve ever been afraid in my life.
Whatever happens next, or whoever dies next, I hope it’s me, and that these innocent ponies find a way out of here. My sins have caught up with me, what better way to die with a pack of wolves eating your bucking intestines. Wind’s insides spilled all over the ground, the smell was awful, it steamed because of how cold it was that night. It’s definitely going to haunt all of us in our dreams tonight, if there is a tonight.
Phoenix awoke with a vague sense of where she was, she stood up, yawned, and rubbed a hoof in her mane to get the mats out. She looked at the others, all quiet, and sad. She wanted to break the silence by asking why everypony’s being so gloomy, but she had small flashbacks about last night.
She trotted behind a tree where she tried to throw up, but could only gag.
“Where’s Wind Turret?” She said, hoping for the atrocity to be a dream, at the ominous campfire.
Storm spoke, but found it hard to find his voice, “Dead.”
Phoenix stepped back, knowing that tears in front of these agents would make her look weak. After all, she was a captain in the army.
She leaned on a tree, similar to the way Overcast leaned on trees for what seemed hours and never moved an inch. The tears came slow, but came in cascades as she began to remember the vividness of Wind’s death.
The intestines, they fell out, his stomach was being gnawed on, it reminded her of the many wars with the griffons. How they used their sharp claws to rip open a torso. Before a pony would realize his guts were on the ground. How that damnable war took something away from her, Cyclone.
She was suddenly confronted by the dark crystal, at first she felt fearful, but she assumed this must be how everypony is dying.
The crystal became the background it seemed, while a war was happening behind her. Shields, blood-tipped spears and swords lay on the ground. The battle still continued, airborne. Phoenix was inside a tent, the major called for her in mid battle, it was strange she thought.
“Major Cloud Sir!” She stood still as a statue and saluted the major.
“You always looked cute when you did that,” The major chuckled in between hiccups.
Phoenix turned her head away, she smelled a strong miasma of liquor on his breath.
“Sir, if I may, our numbers are depleting, we must retreat, there won’t be any reinforcements for awhile.”
“Tsk, tsk, well thats just bad,” Major Cloud said with indifference.
Ugh, I don’t have time for this! Phoenix walked away, she heard Major Cloud’s voice descending into nonsense.
“What’s the field status cadet?”
“Our main force is either dead or injured, we can’t hold up another brigade.”
Phoenix looked at the chaos on the battlefield, nearly crying. She saw a griffon swoop down and stomp a soldier’s face in. The sound of screeching from their beaks filled the whole world.
“Send in all the medics, we have to get those soldiers out of there.”
Phoenix withdrew her sword, knowing she would have to protect the medics as they picked up the mashed meat. Another pointless war, she thought, buck you Hurricane for all of this.
Phoenix flew into the fray, there were still about a hundred griffons left, sent to kill the injured. Her eyes darted to where a griffon was going to claw a stallion with his legs cut off. Knowing that pegasus were faster in flight, she assumed a perfect position and flown to the attacking griffon slicing it’s head off.
She spitted out feathers for what seemed a lifetime. A group of griffons saw the head of a fellow griffon fly off. They were enraged and surrounded Phoenix Flower. She glanced towards the medics picking up the injured and smiled.
“A pegasus happy to go to tartarus, let me escort you,” A griffon said, swinging a flail at her.
Phoenix was swift and dodged the attack and impaled her enemy through the heart. The beast went down with a loud thump. The other griffons swung flails at the same time. She dropped to the ground hearing a sharp clank of three metals and swung her sword in a circle motion, slicing off six legs in one swoop. Their legs reminding her of easily breakable toothpicks.
Phoenix looked for medics in danger and saw a few, giving them assistance. Some of the medics even fought back. She looked frantically for Cyclone, her fiance’, to see if he was okay. She knew he was a lover not a fighter and would die without a fight, even if he wasn’t strong, she still loved him.
A small division of griffons positioned themselves to fire arrows at the new target protecting the injured. A hail of arrows were fired, a portion of the sky seemed blackened. Phoenix flew as fast as she could, picking up a bloody shield on the way and putting it on her back. She amazingly got out without a scratch and flew to the next targets. As she flew, the griffons didn’t see her fly directly at their sides. Phoenix knew that the Griffon race had poor peripheral sight. In an instant the insides of griffons spilled out of their sides.
In an instant, an arrow flew directly into her thigh, a nearby griffon swung a flail towards her head. Phoenix propelled herself with one hoof to fly away. A surge of pain went through Phoenix as the flail hit her other leg. She knew she couldn’t fly correctly with two limp legs, the weight of them would sink her. As the adrenaline wore off, she knew she would die.
As she sunk into the ground, a major of the griffon force commanded someone to kill Phoenix.
A griffon flew toward Phoenix like a devastating hawk ready to catch it’s fish. The griffon’s claws were just about to strike when Phoenix threw her sword, directly hitting the sweet spot. The beast fell in mid flight landing on a dead griffons spear.
She knew she couldn’t survive if she couldn’t fly. She called out for Cyclone. In the fray it would be difficult to hear anything, but she had to try.
“Cyclone!” She yelled, attracting the attention of more griffons.
Three griffons confronted the still screaming mare. They raised their flails. Phoenix knew there would be no escape this time, just before she accepted her fate she saw an all too familiar grey hoof behind the three griffons.
The stallion held two swords, and slammed them down into the spinal cords of the left and right griffon. Before the center griffon had time to respond, the stallion broke it’s neck swiftly. The stallion exposed his rugged, handsome countenance to the relieved Phoenix.
“Better late than never,” Cyclone said.
He picked up the trembling mare and flew her to a safe area where hundreds of injured pegasus lay.
“Please don’t go Cyclone,” Phoenix said, holding onto Cyclone, digging her head into his soft pillow-like coat. Cyclone wanted to laugh, his tough spouse was nearly on the verge of tears, while he patched her wounded legs. The amount of blood was incredible.
He lifted her chin up and kissed her, “Who else is going to save those ponies. I’ll be back, I promise.”
He flew away, Phoenix felt like crying, but knew it had to be done. She waited impatiently, every now and then she would see him return with injured ponies, some injuries she couldn’t bare to stare at. But then Cyclone stopped returning, when a reinforcement squad came, they transported us to the City of Clouds. I didn’t want to leave, I thought maybe he was just late.
I waited at our home, for hours, for days, hardly eating or drinking. One day I heard a knock on the door. I was so excited, but felt so weak from malnourishment. I trotted to the door and opened it, trying to give my best smile to my returning love. Armoured soldiers were at the door, carrying a folded Pegasi flag.
I dropped to my knees, not remembering a time I ever cried so much. The bed was empty, I found myself turning in it, trying to feel the warmthness of Cyclones coat. I just wanted to die, but I knew he wouldn’t let me. The army demanded I return, or i’ll be charged with desertion. With difficulty I got back in shape, even felt a little happy training the new recruits.
I wonder Cyclone, if you loved me as I loved you. I know I never showed our love as publicly as you did. You know the rule in the army. But I still loved you, wanted to have kids, a calm life. If only you were here now to see how easily the new recruits would be K.I.A. if they stepped on the battlefield.
If only you were here by my side, loving me, supporting me, as I would do for you.
Stormcaster ran after Phoenix, seeing if he could calm her. He couldn’t blame Phoenix, everypony at the camp was scared, maybe not Overcast, but the rest. Those wolves, they weren’t normal. Before the wolf left, Storm saw that their eyes were glowing light blue, contrary to the yellow eyes of a timberwolf.
He walked to the tree where he could see part of Phoenix’s red tail resting limply. When he saw her, he thought maybe she was sleeping, but no pony can sleep that fast. She looked kind of peaceful, but then he began to panic.
Phoenix was petrified, as the skeleton of decayed flesh walked towards her. It was Cyclone, he was mumbling something, but she couldn’t make it out. When the zombie was directly in her face, she wanted to puke. The smell was unbearable.
“Before I depart my love, I want something from you,” Cyclone said.
Phoenix prepared for her final moments, remembering the good times she had had. Everything turned normal but excruciatingly boring after Cyclone died, but before that, life was perfect. Oh the dates they went on, the pranks they played on the new recruits. The races through the summer twilight sky. The night he proposed…
Tears freely came.
Cyclone came even closer to her face and said in an ever so quiet whisper, One last kiss my love. The apparition of Cyclone gave Phoenix the kiss of death as he suffocated her.
This is it, Phoenix thought, as she turned purple from loss of oxygen. It was a hell of a way to die, not being able to breathe, something we have done for all of our lives. How little acknowledgement we give to breathing itself. Now I wish I would have breathed more often. Something Cyclone said, whenever I would lose my temper, to just… breathe.
Phoenix saw spots blur her vision, and before she lost consciousness, the real Cyclone was in front of her. Combing her mane and giving a soft, wet kiss that always gave the sensation of flying in Spring. Phoenix pressed against his lips, not even noticing her depleting oxygen, just to be his once more.
He released the kiss and told Phoenix, as if he were talking to a child afraid of the dark, I love you, Phoenix Flower. The darkness finally consumed her.
Stormcaster ran to the campfire and told the others that Phoenix stopped breathing. The camp’s inhabitants all got up and ran toward the scene where a dead, peaceful Phoenix lay. The others couldn’t respond, a few cried silently with soft sobs. They buried her next to Wind Turret, quiet, the only sound to be heard were a few sniffs and hoofsteps.
Storm decided to snoop around, out of boredom for nothing else to do. He knew that Wind Turret took notes on the now turning black crystal, and looked for it. He found it lying near the crystal on the ground. He flipped through a few pages and saw that some were ripped out. Storm guessed that Hurricane didn’t want Wind to remember.
He flipped to some of the most recent entries. He read intently, absorbed.
October
It’s strange, I thought of how maybe I should have lost my balance when I kicked the stool that would finally end my frivolous life, but then regret that thought when I came across my possibly new-found friends. I hope it’s safe to assume that they are my friends. Everypony talking and laughing at the campfire, even the old grouch Overcast, it can get a stallion’s hopes up.
October
The crystal seems to rely on emotion as a power source, the source can be for mutuality, as far as I know, or it can be for evil, hence the death of Specter. The crystal suddenly comes out of no where when everypony is feeling happy for the first time in this forest, definitely not a coincidence. As we all know, red is the color for love, not blind rage. Friendship is love as well. Black is the color of death, it turned to that color when Phoenix argued with Overcast.
October
I have translated the hieroglyph on the back of the crystal. “Death will come, hate is it’s source, love; it’s enemy. Death will strike your past, the most painful moments in your life, your love, hate, guilts and fears.”
I can only imagine what the experience is like when death strikes. Who knows, maybe I’m next.
No time
I believe these are my last words, currently I stand in inexplicable cold, next to the opaque crystal. I can guess that death will strike my hate. Wait, I see inside of the crystal, my childhood…
Storm’s eyes were wide with shock, he couldn’t believe it, Wind actually solved the mystery of the forest! Storm ran back to the campfire, the others sat, staring with slack faces, filled with apathy. Storm nearly yelled telling the others of Wind’s notes.
They were slightly happy, yet sad about Phoenix's death and now reminded of Wind.
“How do we get out of here then?” Snowcone asked.
“With love,” Storm said.
“How do you expect me to feel any love after these events, Storm,” Hawkeye said.
“We can’t just give up now, we have the answers, we can get out,” Snowcone said, with a fiery tone.
“I just,” Hawkeye said, stopping to turn around and stare at the death of the forest, “I want to get back to my old life. Where I can try to get accustomed to marriage, see if children are as good as they say. Live the dream ya know?” Hawkeye’s head dropped into his hooves.
Snowcone put a hoof on his shoulder saying calming words.
“They didn’t bucking deserve to die, they were all innocent, I’m the one with sin.”
Storm wasn’t sure who Hawkeye was addressing. His memory before the mission still felt vague.
The camp turned quiet, dark was nearing. The agents took turns reading the Diary of Wind Turret. It was an interesting, yet sorrowful read, Snowcone thought. Overcast had his indifferent appearance as he read through it. Storm made hot cocoa for everypony and they delightfully accepted.
After a few minutes, Snowcone broke the silence, sipping her mug.
“Ya know, to think it was just yesterday when nearly all of us were sitting here, sipping cocoa, and joking around like fillies and colts in high school,” She said chuckling.
The thought gave everypony a warm feeling inside and they reciprocated the chuckle.
“Yea, the giggles coming from you mares was rather cacophonous as Wind put it,” Hawkeye said, smirking.
“Heh, funny how Phoenix and I could smell you stallions from a mile away. No offense Overcast.”
Overcast shrugged, giving a slight smile.
They all sighed with reminiscence. Have we really been here for just three days? It feels like a year, Storm thought and told the others.
“Yeah, it feels like a lifetime. Maybe it’s just this gray atmosphere,” Snow concluded.
With that nopony said anything for awhile until the attack started. The agents were dozing until Overcast noticed two glowing blue circles yonder in the opaque void of the woods at night. He woke the others and as he did so the glows of the pupils of their foes multiplied. They were breathing heavy, clutching on to various weapons.
Somehow, Storm noted later, Overcast could fit a large dagger inside his relatively short mane and keep it unseen. Snowcone looked at Overcast, wanting to clutch on to him, his countenance was fearless.
Hawkeye kindled the fire and it bloomed as the coals ignited. He grabbed his bow, knocked an arrow, and aimed toward the void to see a small glint of sharp, menacing teeth. He inhaled and released the arrow as he exhaled, taking the beast dead in the chest.
The timberwolves all attacked at once, the agents were flanked. Stormcaster swung to and fro with his double edged sword, slicing the beasts’ heads and getting filled with splinters. Adrenaline filled all of the agents, fiery and exasperated by the beast.
Overcast took most of the timberwolves out with swiftness faster than the wolves. One dagger inside his mouth, the other clutched in his forehoof. He spun in circle maneuvers, five wolves would drop dead in an instant.
The wolves didn’t stop coming.
Hawkeye dropped his bow, knowing it was too close for range, and he picked up his throwing knife belt and slung it across his shoulder. He gripped the knives in his mouth, took his aim, and propelled the deadly object in a straight line into the center of the wolves.
Snowcone, as out of shape as she was, still took down many beast. She strapped on a combat knife to her hoof and stabbed the beast as they got close to her. But the short range of her weapon would come to backfire at her. A wolf distracted her in front while the other attacked from behind.
“Ahhh,” Snowcone gave a loud yelp in pain as the timberwolf dug into her leg.
Stormcaster responded quickly and killed the wolf attacking her. He felt sympathy toward her pain, the wound was deep. The flesh was ripped to rags. Storm leaned her against a tree while he stood in front, protecting her.
The others continued to fight fiercely. They were all exhausted, but they knew death would come if they stopped. Storm could see that Overcast had a torn ear and his face was scratched by the beast's’ claws. Hawkeye had claw scratches on the back of his legs and back. Storm eventually had war wounds of his own when a timberwolf was too swift for the slow swing of a double edged sword. He winced when the wolf bit down hard on his arms.
Their faces showed no pain, the adrenaline was almost palpable and gave them invincibility.
Dawn neared.
“They stopped coming,” Storm said with a haggard voice, the sound of words nearly shocking him.
“Heh, we sure showed those puppies who's the big dog around these parts,” Hawkeye managed to say with a weak smile.
Simultaneously they all dropped to the ground falling asleep instantly.
They dreamed the dream, Hawkeye for the first time dreamed it. Co-Op-PARCHMENT. He was watching himself in the dream, seeing that Overcast was compromising with Princess Platinum. He wanted to stop Overcast from doing it, but couldn’t find his voice.
Overcast, to no avail trying not to sleep, had a different dream. The dream that follows after the first dream. He’s in a huge room with white walls surrounding him, blinding him. There is a nurse who checks on him three times a day, taking blood and pressure. He doesn’t know why he is there, but can’t find the energy to ask why. But then he quivers in fear when he sees Commander Hurricane walk into the room.
Overcast, he says, I really want to be your friend, how about we start from the top. Now, you say that you wanted to make peace with the Unicornia, and possibly the Earthlings? Hurricane gives him a quizzical look and laughs. Oh Overcast, you crack me up. The best part is you claim the others didn’t compromise with the Princess only you. You were in it all along, you knew I wanted to get a team into their fortress, you planned it with the others.
“You’re the one who’s lost their mind. You sure you weren’t there when the Unicorns attacked us?” Overcast said, managing a smirk.
Hurricane gave a fake laugh, and then nearly knocked Overcast unconscious. Oh Overcast you silly stallion. Hurricane mused for a moment and said, Ya know, you look dehydrated. I’m surprised the nurse didn’t hook up an IV to give you your fluids. I can fix that look on you. Hurricane walked out of the room and returned with a bucket and a rag. Overcast’s eyes widened.
“You still remember how to survive this right or did the Unicorns knock that memory from you?”
Overcast swallowed.
“Well lets just see.”
Overcast tried to run, but when he looked down his arms and legs were strapped to the hospitable bed.
There was a certain emotion to the air, it was foreboding as the rest of the forest. The emotion could be described as fear, confusion, apprehension. The forest embodied the inhabitants and the inhabitants took their abode in the forest without knowing the repercussions, Now they bury a friend from the past and the present, even though their memory of him is vague.
A dead silence follows the crew, not a sound could be heard except the clopping of their hooves. Hawkeye finished digging the life size hole and the others stepped away to retrieve the body. Strange, Hawkeye thought, how a pony can get used to death, but in a forest that is death itself, be afraid for their life. It seems there is no escape from death, yes of course everypony dies it’s only when a pony dies, but this is a different death. As far as I’m concerned in this forest, you just die for arbitrary reason.
How is it that there is an engraving on that infernal crystal telling us not to fear and to love, yet we still die?
Stormcaster could physically feel his mind slipping. I’m already dead, he thought, we’re all dead. There is no way we can stop it: the diamond. My family, they’re starving, I can hear their moans for food. I see them begging at the street corner. Blizzard is unconscious due to his malnourishment, and Wing Torpedo losing her beautiful color. She’s starved to the bone, Storm thought, I can’t save her. I can’t save anyone.
Snowcone and Stormcaster dropped the cold dead body in the hollowed hole. They knew that this would be the final resting place for their short lived dear friend. Hawkeye stood over the body, just staring intently into his forever black eyes, as if he were consumed by darkness itself. Snowcone shook Hawkeye out of his stupor. He began to speak.
“Overcast was a stallion of little words, but it is important to remember that he felt. He felt what it is to be wanted, and even if it was for those few short hours, he truly was wanted. And what he experienced brought out a smile that made the firmaments open. We will never forget you even after death, friend.”
Snowcone silently sobbed.
There it is, she thought, another dead friend, who dies without a smither of logic. When we all awoke after that great battle with the wolves, we noticed Overcast was still just lying on the ground. We just decided to let him get more sleep, on account of Stormcaster mentioning that Overcast never slept. At mid afternoon we knew something was wrong, Overcast didn’t move an inch.
Is it cruel to not feel surprised by the death of him? I think deep down we all knew he was dead, but no one wanted to say it.
The last three of the original seven.
After Storm finished dressing Snowcone’s wound and deeming it worthy of walking they began to plan.
The crew of what remained of it looked for ways to escape. They packed and walked away from the diamond that was blackened. There was no more need to be at that place. They tried breaking it with weapons, to no avail, even pretended to love one another. None of it worked.
Hawkeye sighed, walking through this monotonous gray forest, isn’t that how it all started with Specter? Hawkeye wondered sometimes at night about Specter. The leaf, or something, it was vague and mysterious. Like the ghost stories the soldiers made about abandoned bases.
They continued walking, not necessarily knowing why they were walking. Anything to get away from that diamond, Snowcone said when they were deciding whether to leave. Little did the crew know that they were walking through a forever circle of fog. When nightfall came they set camp and lit a fire. They shivered in place, waiting for sleep to overcome the tenacious grip of the cold.
Hawkeye was staring at his collection of finely sharpened knives and then looked at the back of his arm where he knew a large vein was concealed under all the fur. Snowcone saw this and placed a hoof on Hawkeye’s shoulder. Hawkeye was in a deep contemplation and when he felt the hoof he was frightened.
“Don’t abandon us Hawkeye, you’re the strongest one here,” Snowcone said.
Hawkeye felt sympathetic, a feeling of being needed by someone. It was strange. Yea sure, Hawkeye thought, I’ve been needed by the agency plenty of times. Whether it be killing some rebellion leader against Hurricane or the important political leaders of the other pony races. But this was a different feeling, one he couldn’t describe.
Hawkeye reassured Snowcone that he wouldn’t be going anywhere except with her and Storm when they escape the frozen hell.
That simple sentence, it kept him awake for most of the night in a deep contemplation. His last thought before sleep finally won him over was: I wonder if we’ll all be alive by morning.
The next morning they started walking, trying to make good distance. Same shit just a different day.
Storm was in constant threnody, everywhere he looked he saw his wife and son. They were begging for food, but whenever he tried to give them some they would disappear. He tried telling the others about what he sees but all that came out was his breath and a concerned countenance.
How could you abandon us like this Storm? Daddy, please help us. Storm could now hear the voices in his head. He dropped to the ground clutching his aching head.
The others decided to stop and treat Storm. Snowcone determined he had a fever. They lit a fire and spoke seldom. Snow covered Storm with as many blankets as they could spare, and dragged him near the fire. Snow told Hawkeye how to break a fever with heat.
“We can’t wait here for days until his fever breaks, our food won’t last that long,” Hawkeye said.
“If we move now, he’ll die,” Snowcone said, staring at the suffering body of Storm. He was clutching his head still, moving his lips, but no sound came out.
“So what do we do?” Hawkeye said.
The question lingered in Snowcone’s head for a long time.
Hawkeye was trying to figure out the mystery of Storm’s condition. He contemplated while watching Storm, his frail body, he seemed to be getting skinnier, he wouldn’t eat. He was now reading what Storm recently wrote in the dirt.
They’re starving
Writing that in the dirt took all of Storm’s energy and he collapsed back into his limbo state of torture.
What does it mean? The others died very quickly, but now we have Storm dying slowly, painfully. Times like this I wish Wind Turret were still here, he would know what to do.
Snowcone was sleeping, a strange sleep in which no dreams are dreamed, only darkness. She suspected with this dreamless state she’ll wake up in what feels like a few seconds, but what is actually eight hours. What do dreamless dreams mean? Does it mean that nothing is on your subconscious?
But it wasn’t a dreamless dream Snowcone realized after she heard the voice. It was a deep voice, ominous, a voice that demanded attention.
“Snowcone, the one with hope.”
“Who are you?” She said.
“Nothing. But I do have a message, a visual message.”
A burst of life and color suddenly came to view, Snowcones eyes adjusted and she beheld Specter at the time he ran off.
“Is that a leaf?” Specter said
Snowcone was surprised when she was in a third person view of the event. She could see the leaf. It’s orange texture. She saw a little colt Specter travelling in his backyard forest. She saw him walk to his home and even saw the draft papers that required Specter’s parents to fight in the Griffon War.
One by one she saw all of the crew’s past life until they died. She asked the voice why she was seeing this.
“Notice how all of the ponies had normal lives with troubling background situations. And what happened to them, they’re dead! There is no escaping the forest, death itself lives in the roots, it empowers the trees to grow. The fog is the very ghastly breath of death. The full moon that shows every night is the eye of death, watching you die. You will never escape, you will all die.”
Snowcone saw Storm, his dying body. She saw what he saw, the half dead bodies of a mare and a child. All as skinny as toothpicks, they looked as if the wind would blow them over any second. They constantly moaned how unfaithful Storm was, how starving they were. Storm just closed his eye, covered his ears and perpetually wept.
Snowcone screamed until a body was hovering over her shaking her awake. It was Hawkeye.
“Are you alright Snowcone?”
She leapt into Hawkeye’s arms and cried, soaking his chest.
Hawkeye would’ve felt awkward, but the feeling of sympathy overpowered it. He held her until her sobs stopped and a soft breathing came. He set her down and covered her.
What the buck is happening anymore, Hawkeye thought, falling asleep.
In the morning, Snowcone reluctantly told Hawkeye about the dream, how vivid it was, and what she saw. She never experienced anything like it. After she told the story, she said she might be losing hope in escaping.
Hawkeye tried to tell her otherwise, but to no avail.
So, I’m the last hope.
Hawkeye stood up and began to pack, Snowcone barely paid attention and Storm’s fever was still bad. Hawkeye never thought of himself as the leader type, but now he knew what must be done. This is what Wind would’ve wanted.
“Everypony stand up!”
Nopony listened.
“I said stand up!”
Hawkeye walked towards Snowcone.
“Did you not hear me?”
“What are you trying to prove? You’re beating a dead horse,” Snowcone said.
“We are going to get out of this forest, healthy, and alive. I don’t want to hear you getting fussed up over a dream, because that voice in your head is a lying son of a bitch. I know you can do it because you were the one who gave me hope. You were the one who gave Overcast hope. You didn’t give up on me so I’m not giving up on you.”
She was staring in Hawkeye’s eyes intently.
Hawkeye reached a hoof out, “Stand with me Snowcone and we’ll be free.”
She reached for the hoof, their hooves touched and produced the warmest feeling Snowcone ever felt in her life. There was a purpose now, and she had to power to pursue it without looking back.
“Lets get out of here Hawky.”
She walked over to Stormcaster’s limp body with a fierceness in her eyes. She knew what he was going through and she was going to get him out.
She leaned over Storm.
“Storm look at me.”
He remained in his unconscious limbo.
She shook him wildly and saw him rouse a bit. Then she leaned close to his ear and whispered in an ethereal soft tone.
“They aren’t real Storm, it’s all in your head. You are tried to escape reality, but fell into insanity. Now I want you to wake up and see your real family, they have full bellies Storm, but they are missing something. They are missing a somepony, and it’s you. Now get up and walk out of this forest with me so you can go see your beloved and son. They are waiting.”
Hawkeye’s mouth dropped, he saw Storm’s eyes were open with such a bewildered fascination at what Snowcone was saying the whole time. She stared at him for what seemed an eternity until an excitement came over Stormcaster. He awoke from his sleep ready for a party.
“Well what are we waiting for fillies and colts! Lets go home!”
They now stood with a fierce determination in their faces with a knowing certainty. They put their arms over each others shoulders and looked at each other.
“Lets go home friends,” Hawkeye said, the others nodded with smiles a mile wide.
The last three walked through the forest that was dissolving right in front of them. A wall of red light was shown in front of them and as they continued to walk they were closer. On the other side of the wall of red they could see a ghastly horse. Snowcone recognized it, it was the alpha and omega. It was there for the beginning with Specter and it is here for the end.
But, Snowcone thought with an even more confident smile, it will be the end of this forest. They were paces away from the wall, the wendigo was charging at them. The forest behind them was decaying into ash that flowed around the last three. They breathed the death of death itself with happiness.
“We’re already home,” Snowcone said as they walked through the wall of red. The charging wendigo that was in front of them dissolved into a gas of blue.
There was light.
The crew, the last three, the agents were out of the forest and were now in a grassy plain just a few miles from the City of Clouds. They shouted cheers of joy and cried tears of joy. But the most beautiful thing about the moment was the sky. The sky is a light blue with fluffy clouds in the sky and a warm sun looming over the horizon. A rainbow was arched over the entire expanse of it all to top it off with bliss.
Hurricane just returned from the summit that was scheduled earlier than he would’ve liked, but that was besides the point. Of course nopony agreed, but I’d say it resolved quite well, actually too well. After marching into unreal freezing weather I finally reached the destination. It was a beautiful land with blue skies and soil so rich you could eat it.
But what was odd is that the other races seemed to have found this paradise as well. We nearly went to war over it! That was until the greatest thing that has ever existed happened to me. The paradise suddenly turned into a tundra of cold and permafrost. We located our troops into a cramped cave, we fought over the sizes of our camps in a cave! As ridiculous as that is, it was pretty funny.
We did, however, say some pretty nasty stuff about the other races and I guess some wendigo, as Princess Platinum’s assistant put it, came from the ceiling and froze us. Everyone was screaming and freezing to death. And then the strangest thing happened.
Our assistants, who I now rather consider my best friends, became friends with one another over some small talk about how crazy we are! But what they said led me to a sudden epiphany. We’re all ponies. That simple three worded line has changed my life for the better. I now find myself reluctantly going back to what is now Cloudsdale. We decided to name that paradise, Equestria, so I did take the initiative of renaming some of our cities for the Pegasus. I wanted to stay a bit more with my newfound friends, but we all had obligations to our citizens.
It truly is wonderful to see the sky blue with fluffy clouds that are finished with their snowy precipitation. I can see a rainbow far in the distance. It reminds of something Clover the Clever told me.
