TInto the Storm: The Flight of Firefly
MLP: FiM
Dark
Adventure
Thriller
Before the Wonderbolts, there were the Bolt Knights. And before Rainbow Dash, there was Firefly. The story of Rainbow Dash's ancestor, the founding of the Wonderbolts, and the outbreak of the Great Pony/Gryphon War.
Gore
Violence
Alt. Universe
Celestia
OC
Other
Firesight · 421k words · 211 8 · 3.4k views

Part 17: The Flight of the Loyalty in progress · 5:36pm Apr 28th, 2019

As promised, here’s a teaser for the new chapter, which is about half done. I could actually break it off right where I am, but I won’t this time. This will be another double-sized chapter to describe the final escape from Epsilon, and all the myriad battles that happened within it. Duels, sharp fights, and naval action will be the order of the day, and you’ll get to see our Naval bridge crew and commanders in combat for the first time.

You’ll also learn a couple surprising things about our heroes in the course of the chapter, one mentioned directly and one only hinted at! But those will not be spoiled here. So without further ado...

Greetings to all who read this. I am Cirrus Stormrunner, former Celestial Guardspony and founder of Dominion Academy, a combat school open to all races designed to teach friendship through fighting. ‘Tis a concept that leaves some scratching their heads, but one I find a surprisingly powerful and harmonious way to create respect. For despite the lost battles and battle wounds I endured, methinks the greatest lesson I took from the conflict was to respect both friend and foe and to appreciate what I had; and from it, I learned to turn loss or even crippling injury to my advantage.

As fate would have it, I would have to begin learning that lesson quite quickly when the Loyalty battle group appeared and our evacuation began. ‘Twas certain the gryphons would not let us go so easily, however, and I regret I forgot myself and my duty when one individual in particular appeared.

--Sergeant Major Cirrus Stormrunner (ret.)
Headmaster
Dominion Academy

“Centurion Nael!” I shouted in my blue gem as I beheld the Fortis Knight who had slandered Celestia in my presence, and offered me a duel to settle such insults to honor.

Perchance if I was unwounded or calmer, the pain from the spearhead still lodged in my side a constant presence I couldn’t ignore, I wouldn’t have reacted so badly to the sight of him or risked my life--to say nothing of the evacuation--in a rather foalish confrontation, leaving the remains of my platoon behind just to try and kill one gryphon. But I’d been intent on the idea of dueling him since first meeting him, and suddenly, the opportunity to do so was in front of me.

“For the honor of Equestria and Celestia herself, I challenge you to single combat! Face me as you promised, so that I may end your life now!”

“Master Sergeant!” I heard Firefly’s voice call out behind me, who was only barely starting to organize the evacuation, the higher-pitched hum of lifeboat propellers making themselves known as they neared touchdown. “‘Tis not the time!”

I knew she was right, but at that moment, either due to my wound, the insults to My Princess or all the losses my platoon had suffered over the past day, methinks I did not care. In fact, methinks I did something I never had before--disobeyed direct orders, ignoring her to walk right through our freshly formed battle line, my gaze never leaving Nael’s, whose eyes narrowed at the sight of me.

Somewhat remarkably, it worked, as he ordered his century of advancing troops to stop, to the shock of many, most notably the Ravens at the vanguard. “As you wish, Guardspony.” He announced his acceptance of the challenge, and then marched forward to meet me, leaving us facing each other but twelve paces apart.

“What are you doing, Centurion?” One of the Ravens, a sky gryphon tiercel, shouted in shock, going up to him. “We have no time for this! They’ll escape to the ships outside if we let them!”

“That matters not,” Nael grated out. “‘Tis a matter of honor, not that I would expect an assassin such as yourself understand. I did indeed make him such a promise. And by my warrior blood, I cannot go back on my word!”

“You fool! You would let them go just for your honor?” the Raven asked derisively as the battalion behind me took advantage of the reprieve to begin loading the wounded onto the Loyalty lifeboats, all keeping a wary eye on the standoff in back of them. “Methinks ‘tis your idiot honor that cost us the chance for an easy victory here in the first place!”

Methinks I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but Nael’s only response was to lash out, quick as the manticore stinger, to grab him by the throat with his metal-gauntleted talons and shake him hard. “I suggest you mind your tongue, assassin! Try to stop me, and I will crush your throat right now!” he promised, clenching his fist harder for just a moment, letting him know he could do it.

“But sir…” some of his Knight underlings were no more happy about that than the choking Raven was, who was either unwilling or unable to break free. “Let us at least engage his compatriots!”

“No! I said stand down!” he then flung the choking Raven aside, his emotions looking barely under control as well. “I promised him a proper duel! And so he shall have it!”

With that, he marched forward to face me. “Present yourself, Guardspony!” he ordered, switching from Aeric to Equish, hefting his heavy, double-bladed battle axe. “For your dishonorable tactics this night, methinks your death and ruin is assured!”

“And for your slander of My Princess and unprovoked invasion of our lands, methinks I will take your life here and now!” I answered him attitude for attitude, a white-hot rage taking hold of me. Methinks that at that moment, my entire world was reduced to him.

“We shall see, so-called Guardian of Celestia!” he promised, then pointed the business end of his double-bladed axe at me. “I am Centurion Cassian Nael of the Fortis Knights! And know that this duel is to the death!”

“I am Master Sergeant Cirrus Stormrunner of the Celestial Guard! And I would have it no other way!” And then without any further preamble, we launched ourselves at each other, weapons wielded, the first clash of our blades sending a shriek of metal upon metal echoing throughout the cavern.

Best guess at this point is that the chapter will be draft complete in a few days, and then a few days more to get all prereads in. I’ll try to give some idea of a release date when we get closer.