//------------------------------// // Gone With The Wind // Story: Tales of the Battle Foals // by Sirdubya //------------------------------// Back in Canterlot… “Windrider, what’s the progress of spreading the word about the missing foals as of now?” Celestia asked her messenger. “Milady, I’m happy to report that every newspaper in the realm has put them in their headlines. Everypony in Equestria should be informed by now. I’ve even got a few reports of active search parties led by a town’s acting authorities.” Windrider answered. “Excellent! Surely those foals will finally be found in the near future. Have there been any more reports of runaways?” Celestia asked. Windrider shook her head. “No, milady. As of the last report we’ve received, there have been no further cases of foals running away. However, nopony has sighted those that already have either.” “I see. That’s good news at least.” Luna said. “Whatever do you mean, sister?” Celestia was a little concerned over her statement. “I meant that no more foals running away is good news.” Luna replied. Her thoughts were with the Battle Foals, namely their newest recruit. “Oh, of course.” Celestia said. “Thank you, Windrider. Let us know right away if anything else arises.” Windrider bowed to her princesses and left the throne room. “Let us hope that this is enough. Fire Fight has been very clever to avoid us thus far. If a Shadewalker truly is involved…” “I know.” Luna said. “Sister…..tell me. Why do you think New Moon believed what he did?” Celestia looked at her sister in surprise, not expecting a question such as that. “What’s this all of a sudden?” “I’m only curious. Unlike me, you knew him personally. Perhaps your experience with him could offer some insight on what urged him to break away from Equestria.” Luna said. Celestia let her sister’s words sink in as she thought back to the renegade warrior. “Well….I remember that he took his training very seriously, more seriously than his comrades despite their shared conviction. It seemed that his thoughts were with everypony’s lives save for his own, but he very much valued his personal freedoms; he was quite the free spirit. He’d scorn any who tried to tell him that he should adhere to norms even if his actions meant saving lives, even me.” Luna’s eyes became surprised upon that last statement. “Many began to call him a renegade, even a traitor, but he would retaliate by saying that they were the true traitors, accusing them of not making lives rather than norms their top priority.” Luna lowered her head sympathetically as she thought about how things must have been for New Moon. “What exactly motivated his actions is unknown to me, but it harbored a part of him that looking back now, I believe we were afraid to understand, and I regret ever scolding him for his….shall I say ‘misplaced’ valiance.” “If you could speak to him now, what would you tell him?” Luna inquired. “I would implore to freely speak his mind on every matter that wedged us and his comrades apart. If there was something even I was ignorant to that he was enlightened to, I’d want to know…” Celestia said. She sighed as she thought about what must have gone through New Moon’s mind the night he made his disappearing act. “I remember receiving a report that he’d been sighted in Foal Mountain, so we dispatched our best Bladerunners to apprehend him, but….there was nothing.” “And that’s how the Bladerunner’s stronghold came to be stationed there?” Luna asked. Celestia nodded. “Oh, New Moon…..If I ever did anything to hurt you……please forgive me….” Windrider suddenly burst through the throne room doors. “Your Highnesses! We’ve just received a report of another runaway foal!” she exclaimed. The princesses perked up immediately. “What!? Where!?” “In Trifectown! A filly named Bullseye!” Windrider explained. “We’ve already sent word to Princess Twilight!” “Very good, Windrider. Send a few of our own guards to aid her in her investigation.” Celestia ordered. “With haste, milady!” Windrider left the room without a second to spare. “Oh?” A sudden cloud of smoke appeared in front of Celestia and manifested into a letter. “What a coincidence! It’s from Twilight.” She opened the letter and let Luna read it with her. Dear Princess Celestia, You’ll probably soon receive word of another runaway foal- a filly from Trifectown named Bullseye. If you have the time, I’d like for you and Princess Luna to join me as I travel there to question her parents and peers. I received a mysterious item that showed me a truth behind her that I firmly believe you should see as well. I’ll explain more once we meet. I think that once you see it, you’ll realize its importance. -Yours truly, Twilight Sparkle The odd nature of the letter left the royal sisters a little befuddled. ‘Mysterious item’? What could she mean? Was it the work of the Shadewalkers? It would seem that they’d have to find out for themselves. “Interesting…..I trust you’ll come, sister?” Celestia asked. “Of course. If it’s something Princess Twilight truly believes warrants our attention, then I’m willing to trust her judgment.” Luna said. Unbeknownst to her sister, Luna felt relieved deep down for Fire Fight saving the archer from her hellish home, but she still remained ever watchful over the Battle Foals as they continued their journey. ***** After their encounter with the windigo, the Battle Foals decided to save any conversation over the matter for morning; they were all bushed and just wanted to sleep. The residual chill in the air from the fight didn’t even hinder them from wanting their much needed rest. Waking up the next morning wasn’t too easy. The hectic night had caused them to lose some sleep, and they woke up groggy and tired. It wasn’t until the middle of the morning that Fire Fight mustered the strength to cook some breakfast; Air Slash was prudent enough to find some bird eggs first so that Fire Fight could whip up some scrambled eggs and mushrooms. It was just the right pick-me-up. “ Not too shabby, hot shot.” Bullseye said. Even if she didn’t smile, Fire Fight could tell that Bullseye enjoyed her first meal with her new friends. “Glad you approve. You definitely earned it after taking out that windigo last night.” “Tch. Woulda been nice if it bled. Oh well…” Bullseye said. “I think that if it bled, we’d freeze even more. Those abominations are winter itself.” Quantum Tech said. “Never really know 'til ya see fer yerself, but Ah wouldn’t be rightly keen on findin’ out.” Kickback said. Bullseye chuckled. “Wouldn’t be too big a problem for you and those non-pea shooters.” “Glad ya see the cactus in the desert, Ms. Bullseye. Ah can’t say much less ‘bout that there bow an’ arrows.” Kickback said. “How’d ya even manage to get yer aim on its core anywho? Ah sure couldn’t see it.” Bullseye shrugged. “When you’re an archer, your sense tend to….you know, heighten. It just comes naturally to me.” She took another bite of her eggs. “Plus, I keep my mane long so that when wind blows, I have a little reference point to help adjust my aim accordingly.” She explained. “Hmm! Clever, clever!” Shadow Shroud said. “Tch. Not getting jealous, are we, little miss ninja?” Bullseye sneered. Shroud giggled. “Not at all. In fact, I’ll enjoy having a little competition.” “Hey! I beat you in a fight before, ya know!” Fire Fight said. Shroud flipped her mane and looked at him with a devious smile. “I wasn’t at the peak of my skill that night, and even if I was, I had intentions of speaking to you. Killing you would have only caused an inconvenience.” She teased. Fire Fight narrowed his eyes a little. “Hmph. Well, I’m a lot tougher now, so I could probably take you for real.” “Yes. You’ve grown up so fast since we first met. It almost brings a tear to my eye. ” Shroud teased. The other fillies followed suit, save for Crazylocks, who was trying to play rock-paper-scissors with a chipmunk. Fire Fight rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He mumbled. “Anyway, back to the windigo. Quantum, why do think Bullseye didn’t draw it here?” “Well, for starters, windigos have only appeared a few times in recorded history apart from pre-Equestrian ponies, and the times that they appeared have been in situations where a mass congregation of people have exhibited negative emotions that would draw them. Bullseye, while harboring a heart more tainted than King Sombra’s magic, is still just one pony.” She explained. Bullseye looked away from upon her comment about her heart. “Plus, Bullseye has harbored such feelings since long before we met her, so why didn’t the windigo appear then if she’s truly the one who attracted it?” “Hmm….Good point.” Spiral Galaxy said. She felt guilty having accused Bullseye of attracting the windigo, but didn’t apologize seeing as Bullseye probably wouldn’t care anyway. “And Zebota, I believe you said it felt ‘different’. Different how?” Air Slash inquired. “According to the texts I read on the creatures, they only appear in groups of three. Never has a single windigo attacking been recorded, and they are not supposed to attack people directly like the one last night did. Furthermore, their cryomancy, while reasonable to think is a skill they possess has also never been recorded.” Zebota explained. “Fo’ real? Maybe dat wasn’t even a windigo! Mighta been some ice ghost o’whatever that lives in these and comes out at night.” Turf War suggested. “While insightful, I’m afraid that it had to have been a windigo. It’s ethereal form before it encased itself in that ice armor was unmistakable.” Quantum said. “Why do think it decided to attack us directly and alone?” Greensprout asked. “I do not know.” Zebota asked. “But….I could feel that it had a connection to…..something. A bond akin to the one I share with Shrapnel.” “Maybe wit it’s otha homies it s’posed to roll wit?” Turf War suggested. “Perhaps, but why it decided to change its method of hunting is unknown to me.” Zebota said. “Much about windigos is unknown, darling. It’s probably best that we don’t dwell too much on the matter unless it were to happen again.” Quantum said. Crazylocks suddenly popped up in front of Quantum Tech. “THAT’S RACIST!! WINDIGOS ARE BLABARIANITES TOO, YOU KNOW!!” she exclaimed. Quantum didn’t know where to begin and just stammered in frustrated confusion for a second before Greensprout intervened. Greensprout put her hoof on Crazylocks’ shoulder. “Y-Yes, Crazylocks. They are, but they’re very misunderstood. Quantum Tech is only saying that we need to learn more about them.” She said calmly. Crazylocks went back and forth between eyeing her and Quantum for a moment before creasing a satisfied smile. “Ok!” she said. She merrily pranced back to her breakfast. “Ugh…You’re truly a saint, Greensprout.” Quantum said. “I’m doing what I can, sister.” Greensprout said. Air Slash couldn’t help but to gaze at her for a moment and smile. Once the foals finished their breakfast, they packed up and exited the tree. “So, where do you think we should go next?” Spiral asked. Shadow Shroud pulled out her map. “Well….The only places of real note this far to the west are the Smokey Mountains, Vanhoover and Tall Tale. Neither place is too heavily populated, so I don’t expect a great deal of difficulty.” “I didn’t know the Smokey Mountains were populated.” Fire Fight said. “Yes, apparently there’s a village on its cliffs and summits called…er…let’s see….Ah! Yodelneigh.” Shroud explained. “I….guess we’ll just check each spot as we go along?” Spiral inquired sounding unsure. “Don’t got nuttin’ else we can really do. I’m widit.” Turf War said. Seeing as they had no way to go but forward, the Battle Foals agreed to begin their trek north. A gust of wind suddenly blew from the north that seemed to catch the attention of Bullseye and Shadow Shroud. The two fillies looked out into the direction of the wind, and then at each other. “You felt it too?” Shroud said. “Of course I did. It’s what the mane’s for.” Bullseye said. “Is something amiss, you two?” Air Slash inquired. “We’re about to find out. Come on!” Shroud said as she motioned for them to follow. Bullseye went ahead of her. Deciding to trust their instincts, the Battle Foals followed their comrades towards wherever the wind would take them. ***** ??? They……took from me…… …….Everything....... ……………They’ll…….pay!............